The selection of FX on the MS-CDR70+ is more useful to me (as are 6 slots), and I don't really need the DI. However, after watching some videos, that UI is unforgivable. Sure would be nice to be able to swap out modules on the MS+ and B2-Four series. That was a nice feature of the MS-100BT.
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Zoom Owners' Club!
- Thread starter champbassist
- Start date
I started playing in a Gordon Lightfoot tribute in 2021 and I occasionally fly to some gigs and travel light, no amp. I’ve been using a Zoom 506 for years for compression and chorus but it is old and it has a lot of miles on it. I bought a B1Four last year and have used it a couple of times but still need to learn what it can do. Now, I am thinking about buying a B2Four and am on the fence. The thing I like about it is the built DI but I am not sure if the patches are be any better. All places I play have sound men that provide DI’s and I just plug the box into it. All suggestions, or comments are welcome.
With the caveat that I’m only familiar with one Gordon Lightfoot song, I’m going to assume that his deeper cuts aren’t deep funk, djent, or space prog. The B2 Four seems pretty perfect for your needs, really. Its compressors are surprisingly good, imo, and its SansAmp and MXR M80 sims are pretty spot on. The DI sims sound good. And if you need modulation or delay/reverb, it handles that really nicely.
The one thing that I will say is that the B2 Four works best if it’s your entire board or if your other pedals are things that would come first in your chain (compressors, filters, etc.), but it sounds like that would probably work for you.
The nice thing about the B2 Four (over the MS-60B+) is that with the foot-switches, you can choose between 3 patches. But you only have 5 FX slots. Sounds like you don't need the DI.
The MS-60B+ is smaller, cheaper, and has 6 FX slots. However, I can't recommend it because of the maddeningly dumb way they've made it difficult to change patches, and even see what patch you are currently on.
The MS-60B+ is smaller, cheaper, and has 6 FX slots. However, I can't recommend it because of the maddeningly dumb way they've made it difficult to change patches, and even see what patch you are currently on.
I will also say that, the footswitchable DI sim selector switch notwithstanding, the navigation on the B2 Four is excellent.
By default, the main four footswitches give you access to three patches (which, realistically, is pretty much all I ever need for a gig, if even that) and the fourth gives you mute/tuner. If you choose a patch, you can hit the footswitch in the middle of the arrow buttons and then the three footswitches let you toggle individual effects in the patch.
Despite a couple of questionable decisions (e.g., the footswitchable DI), it’s a really well thought out pedal in an extremely convenient form factor.
By default, the main four footswitches give you access to three patches (which, realistically, is pretty much all I ever need for a gig, if even that) and the fourth gives you mute/tuner. If you choose a patch, you can hit the footswitch in the middle of the arrow buttons and then the three footswitches let you toggle individual effects in the patch.
Despite a couple of questionable decisions (e.g., the footswitchable DI), it’s a really well thought out pedal in an extremely convenient form factor.
Here's my first attempt at modifying the button shapes on the B2 Four for easier foot access. It's really just an intuitive guess. It's not cured yet, but I'll report back with how it goes after testing and modifications. I'll post pix from other angles as well.
Here's my post with the additional images...
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/new-zoom-b2-four.1598433/page-32#post-28868617
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/new-zoom-b2-four.1598433/page-32#post-28868617
I'm chuffed with how this turned out. It's early days, but I can confirm that all 5 buttons are easily accessible. It's early days, so the long-term durability is still an open question. The adhesive is on there tightly, but it's hard to say what kinds of rigors it will withstand over the long haul.
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Got all 3 MS singing together w midi controller, finally. Was a long wait.
May I ask whether the clipping issue that was reported on the old version of the MS60b (see https://www.talkbass.com/threads/zoom-ms-60b-clipping.1287070/ ) is solved in the new MS60b+ ?
Can anyone report on this?
Can anyone report on this?
I can only speak for my own copy of the 60B+, but my passive basses (both fretted and fretless) have no issues with clipping. My active Ibanez 5-string has no issues either. Nor do empty patches clip in any way.
My active Yamaha TRB-1006 is hot enough to need moderate gain adjusting when I'm using the 60B+. I know it is, so I have separate presets for the TRB on the 60B+ as well as on my B6. No undesired clipping that I or the audience can detect.
You can also ask this in the MS+60B+ https://www.talkbass.com/threads/zoom-ms-60b-clipping.1287070/. So far I haven't seen anyone mentioning it though.
On my B2-Four (which I suspect has similar, if not the same audio architecture) is is fairly easy to clip the output stage--there are many ways to boost a signal beyond the reasonable ceiling.
For example, with one of the env filters, and noticed the output was clipping; so I put a compressor after the filter, and it cleaned up. This implies that there is plenty of headroom within the module path, but you have to make sure to get it down to a reasonable level by the time it reaches the output stage.
I suggest that it's generally a good practice to make it so the wet signal out of the pedal isn't any louder than your dry bass (or at least not much louder).
For example, with one of the env filters, and noticed the output was clipping; so I put a compressor after the filter, and it cleaned up. This implies that there is plenty of headroom within the module path, but you have to make sure to get it down to a reasonable level by the time it reaches the output stage.
I suggest that it's generally a good practice to make it so the wet signal out of the pedal isn't any louder than your dry bass (or at least not much louder).
Quick questions for B2 Four owners - can you power the B2 Four from a powerbank into the 5V USB-C port on the side of the unit?
Yes, as is the case with the MS+ series, as well.
I had one incident where the power bank drained faster than expected. It was still plenty of time. It only happened once. I'm not sure what I may have done differently that time.
Thanks guys - much appreciated! I was hoping this would be the case. I have one arriving tomorrow and will likely take it to a gig Saturday night. I was hoping it could be powered in a similar fashion to the B1 Four and B6.
Even though I'm happy with the B2-Four, I decided to get an MS-70CDR+ as well. At that price, it was kind of hard to pass up. The MS+ will be a bit easier to use, if I just pop some AA's in and use on short/casual gigs. I think I can deal with the way they've designed the buttons.
I see the MS-70... has a "mono synth" and "Z organ". Where the B2-Four instead has Z-Synth, Bass Synth, and BassTalk Synth.
I see the MS-70... has a "mono synth" and "Z organ". Where the B2-Four instead has Z-Synth, Bass Synth, and BassTalk Synth.
