• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Zoom Owners' Club!

#1,161
I’ll take a number if you’ve got any left. I still have my 506 II that I bought 6 years ago.

Originally, other than the excellent tuner, and the fretless patch as a mid boost, I never found any use for the wild factory patches. So I put it away.

Well over Christmas break, I read about custom patches on it, and decided to try my own. With compression, edge, and some other things, I get amazing note definition and I just love the sound. I don’t want to go without it now. Thru my little Crate BX-15 set flat, my living room practice rig. Just been playing my Ibanez 5 string (essentially a Jazz) and Kramer P bass lately.

Gonna get an AC adapter for it, but the batteries lasted longer than I expected. I probably got 40 hours on the first set of batteries.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrentSimons, mexicanyella, Eli_Kyiv and 2 others
#1,163
mattattack187 said:
My B3n is still holding up well. Curious to see what you all think of this when it comes out.
Click to expand...
I've bought Zoom FP02 pedal for my Zoom B3n and am very happy with it.
upload_2023-3-6_19-27-45.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassbrad, mattattack187 and BrentSimons
#1,165
topper said:
the new B2 Four.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure there is enough here to tempt me away from the B3n. In fact I'm not sure what gap, if any, the B2 FOUR is meant to fill, given the expected price point, which appears to be within a few ££ of the B3n, at least if the G2 FOUR is anything to go by.

Initial 'takeaways', comparing to the B3n, are:
  • Dedicated Bypass footswitch could be a useful;
  • The higher input impedance is a good thing (1M vs 470k);
  • I can see the attraction of a built-in XLR output, but I suspect it might not be transformer-based (the manual doesn't say, but if it was I would expect Zoom to be kicking up a stink over it);
  • Although the total display area of the B2 FOUR is larger (at least in pixel count), I think the 3 individual displays of the B3n would prove more useful in a stage setting than the single display of the B2 FOUR which .
  • Fewer effect slots in a patch (5 vs. 7). OK the looper and DI have dedicated slots and there is an always-on master EQ, but why not just have more slots and let the competent user allocate as they see fit?
  • The acclaimed IR appear to be baked-in with the Amp models. You can't mix and match amps with cab IRs, nor can you disable the IR is an amp model is in use;
  • More board real-estate - not by much but still;
  • Reduced footswitch control - we are back to the 4-way 'Cross' buttons which can be problematic in live situations - scrolling through all patches/memories with the B2 FOUR has to be done with the 'Cross' buttons.
  • The B2 FOUR plastic case is probably less rugged than the metal B3n;
  • It does not appear to be compatible with the generic Guitar Lab management software. The B2 FOUR has its own dedicated app which is iOS or Android only - no Windows option, only mobile devices. If anyone remembers the MS-100BT, IMHO the iOS-only app with no USB connection played a significant part in the relative failure and eventual withdrawal of that product;
  • No documented firmware update facility (apparently). The device manual just says "firmware can be updated" but offers no procedure, and the user manual for the (iOS only) app does not mention a firmware update procedure.
I'm sure the B2 FOUR will find a user base, but I doubt it will steal current B3n users away, and I also doubt that B1 FOUR users that like/need the smaller footprint will be tempted by something bigger that much larger. So for me the jury is well and truly out, and likely to stay that way for some time.

YMMV.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gg22, champbassist, Eli_Kyiv and 2 others
#1,166
topper said:
Just discovered the club. My pedal chain is an MS-60B into a B3. It's a very flexible and capable setup. I like it a lot, but I'm also eagerly reading/watching all the discussion of the new B2 Four.
Click to expand...

Well, I just ordered a B2 Four from Amazon. It arrives Sunday. I'm very happy with my MS60-B + B3 combo. It gives me an effects chain of up to 7 effects. I know that I'll lose 2 of those with the B2. But I'm hoping the B2 will be better in a couple of ways.

First, is the size. The B2 will be much more compact compared to my B3+MS60b combo. Floor space is sometimes at a premium with my band, so every little bit helps.

Second, the one thing I don't like about the combo approach is where in the chain I have to put the amp sim. I'm using the B3 DI. So the MS60-B has to come first in the chain. I'd prefer to hide the amp sim in a slot on the MS-60B since it's always on. That way it doesn't take up a switchable effect slot. But that means it comes before the effects which isn't ideal. With the B2 Four, I'm thinking I can get them in the order I want and still have the amp sim and my other always on effect (compressor) out of the way but still easily accessible.

Anyway, I'll report back with my impressions after I get a chance to try out the B2 Four.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrentSimons and bassbrad
#1,172
My new B2 Four has this switch next to the input. Normally I'd expect this to be an active/passive input pad switch. But the manual says it is an impedance switch.

Is the manual right? An impedance switch has some utility. But I'd think an active/passive switch would be more needed.

I ask because I'm noticing some clipping when switching between active and passive basses.

If it is an impedance switch, which setting is right for electric bass? 1M or 10M?

20230611_144108.jpg
 
#1,175
I just wanted to post a quick note regarding the MS60b or any of the other MultiStomp line. I recently purchased an M Vave Chocolate and the MS-1 Bluetooth adapter to use with my MS60b, and it works pretty well. It has made the 60b a "much easier to use live" piece of gear. I am using it to access four individual presets on the fly. It can do a lot more, but that is filling my needs at this point. The switching is not seamless, so I have a line selector in each patch, so I can have my dry sound, and turn on and off my effects. Here's a vid from YouTube.
 
  • Like
Reactions: champbassist, Eli_Kyiv, BrentSimons and 2 others
#1,176
JoshBass84 said:
Just found this forum/thread so I'm saying hello... I just pulled the trigger on a Zoom B3n. It arrives tomorrow and I'm excited to start playing with it. Hoping to use it for live performances where various songs require varied sounds/effects combinations. I'm sure I'll be back here begging for help and advice soon.....
Click to expand...

Welcome! I've been using my B3n with a separate transparent DI pedal (MXR M80) for years. The bottom row foot paddles make it easy to select whatever effect chain you created and wanted in front of you for any given song live, and then switch the display with your foot from 'memory' mode to 'stomp' mode to view each individual effect in that specific chain (up to 3 effects across the 3 screens can be viewable at a once before you need to foot-paddle left/rightwards to view the other 4 blocks in that chain in order to stomp them on/off or tweak their parameters). You don't have to bend over to do anything other than tweak the parameter knobs on a given effect, swap out an individual effect in the chain to something else entirely (something you likely won't be doing live), or enter the unit's overall settings/menu for whatever reason. Navigation between memory-mode/stomp-mode/effect-views/tuner is easy with purely your feet using those recessed foot paddles.

That's one of the reasons I haven't bought the Zoom B2four. Those small arrow navigation buttons at the top left of that unit don't look particularly easy to use with my toes while hovering my foot over the unit without hitting something else by mistake. Plus the effects in the B2four are largely the same as those in the B3n, although it would indeed be nice to have the XLR out, dedicated headphone out etc. The Zoom B6 is a different thing entirely with higher effect sampling in a considerably higher price category for those that like touchscreens.

Also FYI: Be sure to update your B3n via a PC & Zoom GuitarLab to ensure you get all the added effects they released after the initial product launch. If I recall correctly, the Rat Distortion, MXR Envelope Filter, and LowEQ/HighEQ-hpf/lpf effects aren't installed by default amongst others that I can't remember.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Eli_Kyiv, SteveCS, BrentSimons and 1 other person
#1,177
Zarcsby said:
Welcome! I've been using my B3n with a separate transparent DI pedal (MXR M80) for years. The bottom row foot paddles make it easy to select whatever effect chain you created and wanted in front of you for any given song live, and then switch the display with your foot from 'memory' mode to 'stomp' mode to view each individual effect in that specific chain (up to 3 effects on the three screens can be viewable at a once before you need to foot-paddle left/rightwards to view the other 4 blocks in that chain in order to stomp them on/off or tweak their parameters). You don't have to bend over to do anything other than tweak the parameter knobs on a given effect, swap out an individual effect in the chain to something else entirely (something you likely won't be doing live), or enter the unit's overall settings/menu for whatever reason. Navigation between memory-mode/stomp-mode/effect-views/tuner is easy with purely your feet using those recessed foot paddles.

That's one of the reasons I haven't bought the Zoom B2four. Those small arrow navigation buttons at the top left of that unit don't look particularly easy to use with my toes while hovering my foot over the unit without hitting something else by mistake. Plus the effects in the B2four are largely the same as those in the B3n, although it would indeed be nice to have the XLR out, dedicated headphone out etc. The Zoom B6 is a different thing entirely with higher effect sampling in a considerably higher price category for those that like touchscreens.

Also FYI: Be sure to update your B3n via a PC & Zoom GuitarLab to ensure you get all the added effects they released after the initial product launch. If I recall correctly, the Rat Distortion, MXR Flanger, and LowEQ/HighEQ-hpf/lpf effects aren't installed by default amongst others that I can't remember.
Click to expand...

What you describe is (I think) EXACTLY what I'm hoping to use this for. Here's a question: Lets say I want to use the SansAmp simulator for more than one song, one song were I want a dirtier setting and one where I want a cleaner setting. Will I be able to create a two patches...both with the SansAmp simulator but with different settings on each? Or will changing the settings on one patch will it also change the settings on the other patches that include that same effect? Pardon my ignorance...
 
  • Like
Reactions: SteveCS
#1,178
JoshBass84 said:
What you describe is (I think) EXACTLY what I'm hoping to use this for. Here's a question: Lets say I want to use the SansAmp simulator for more than one song, one song were I want a dirtier setting and one where I want a cleaner setting. Will I be able to create a two patches...both with the SansAmp simulator but with different settings on each? Or will changing the settings on one patch will it also change the settings on the other patches that include that same effect? Pardon my ignorance...
Click to expand...

Oh yea you'll be fine.

Lets say you have open patch slots (each can be filled with up to 7 effects - Sansamp sim effect takes up 2-of-the-7 open blocks in the chain heads up) in slots #100, #101, and #102, each of them with the Sansamp sim effect placed within amongst other various effects. No matter what you do to the #100 patch's Sansamp effect settings, it will have no effect on your Sansamp settings in patches #101, #102, nor any other patch slots containing the Sansamp sim for that matter. Make the Sansamp sim in #100 dirty, #101 clean, #102 bright as hell, whatever really.

Whatever settings you change for any given effect placed within patch #82 (or whatever #) will only be retained to that specific patch.

Go through both of the main B3n PDF manuals on their website and save them as you'll be referring to them all the time at first. The 'B3n Operations Manual' does a great job explaining the navigation and general functions of the unit, while the 'B3n Effects List' breaks down precisely what each parameter does on every single specific effect right next to the picture of the effect itself. There's a few effects missing from the PDF list heads up as they didn't update their manuals after they released a handful of new effects a few years later.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eli_Kyiv, SteveCS and JoshBass84

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back