• 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 Vs. Korg

AX5B or B1X?

  • Korg AX5B

    Votes: 16 57.1%

  • Zoom B1X

    Votes: 12 42.9%
  • Total voters
    28
E

EAdanikDG

Oct 26, 2009
428
1
Adelaide, Australia
#1
I'm in the market for a beginner multi-effects pedal, and im contemplating between the B1X and the AX5B. I'm looking for many diverse cabinet sounds on the pedal, a good compressor, lots of drive sounds, de-fret and the ability to use many of those effects at once (at least 5 effects at once.) Could someone also point out all the differences between the Zoom B1 or B2, because all i can see is two less knobs on the B1, and one less effect. Thanks
 
#5
Crystalman85 said:
Korg definitely has my vote. I owned a korg processor and I'm very satisfied with it. they have a large variety of effects, amp and cab models, they have good sound quality, and they're affordable. I definitely recommend korg processors.
Click to expand...

Im kinda leaning towards Korg, mainly because they have more cab models. Im considering zoom, because they name the cab and amp combo in the effects list (such as ampeg, SWR etc. which are some of the sounds im interested in.
 
#7
EAdanikDG said:
Does korg base their cab/amp models on real amp manufactorers? Also can i use more than one effect from the same catagory, like 2 amp models and 3 pre-effects?
Click to expand...

Korg usually hint what the amp and cab models they have are based on(except for vox since they are associated with the korg company in the U.K) mainly because they couldn't pay copyrights to the manufacturers of the amp and cab models. so they have to hint on what they're modeled after. they do the same for the distortion channels.

On one bank, you cannot use two amp models on one bank. you can only use one amp model and one cab model. unless you're talking about switch back and fourth on two different amp models, it's possible to do that by programming one amp model on one bank and another amp model on a second bank. as for pre-effects, you only use one pre-effect. the only other effects you can add to the banks is modulations, reverbs, and delays.
 
#8
EAdanikDG said:
I'm in the market for a beginner multi-effects pedal, and im contemplating between the B1X and the AX5B. I'm looking for many diverse cabinet sounds on the pedal, a good compressor, lots of drive sounds, de-fret and the ability to use many of those effects at once (at least 5 effects at once.) Could someone also point out all the differences between the Zoom B1 or B2, because all i can see is two less knobs on the B1, and one less effect. Thanks
Click to expand...

The difference between the zoom b1 and the zoom b2 is that the zoom b1 is cast in plastic and the zoom b2 is cast in metal. if you like cab models, the korg ax5b would be a much better choice because it has more variety of cab models than the zoom processors.
 
#9
I haven't tried any Korgs but of course have heard good things. I've had 2 Zoom multis, a PFX 9003 and a B2. The B2 was really very nice for the price. I'm not a huge fan of amp modeling in general but I thought the B2 covered the basics pretty well. The controls for each model are not the same as the modeled amp but the basic ball park sound is there. I liked the Bassman, the Ampeg, the Sansamp, but mostly the Tube Pre as it had the warmth of the classic amp models but a flatter frequency response and sounded more like my bass. The resonant filter and auto wah were pretty nice, the octave was great, I liked the phaser although it was a tad noisy and the tremolo was good too. The delays are pretty impressive IMO as you can set up two at once. Tape echo + phaser is very nice. The compressor is a little strange in that it sounds like compression(very effecty) but sort of isn't, while the limiter is more transparent and effective at actual compression. All in all, I think it's a great unit for the price range. You probably can't go too wrong either way.
 
#10
I just got an AX5B last week cuz I ahd extra money on a gift card and it was cheap. I also previously used a Zoom B2 so I can give some helpful insight.

Zoom B2 - Great for modeling. Was able to get a really good sound out of it to record into a not so great amp. Really warm and clear. Effects weren't anything to write home about. Compressor was so so. Kinof a pain in the ass to program, B21.U would be better just for the sake of USB programmability.

Korg AX5B - Just got it for $40. Easier to program, but you defenitely still need to sit down with it and program some stuff out. Models actually sound decent, I've got better equipment now so I don't use them. Effects are pretty good on this unit. Synths, Ring Mod, Pitch Shift, defretter, slow attack etc... All pretty good. Delay's, echo's and chorus's are all good. Can control level of everything and blend of almost everything. Expression pedal is amazing. Has clones of many saught after efffects, RAT, White Crybaby, Muffs....The BAD news, defenitely colors tone. Got it just before recording this week, so i threw it in my chain just to try it out. having it bypassed in the signal chain will alter your tone abit. Enough that I wouldn't be able to leave it in.

I plan on getting a LS-2 so I can have some effects out of my signal chain. Fun to have, more fun than the B2, just depends if you want modeling, or effects.

Forgot to add. The Korg AX5B has a dedicated synth processor. These are some pretty damn good synths.
 
#12
I'm not sure which knobs the B1 doesn't have but I would definitely go for the B2 instead. I didn't find it too complicated to program but I wouldn't want any fewer knobs. I'm sure you can download the manuals on their web site. Search Samson.
 
#18
for the record, B2.1u does not have USB programmability. Programming is still manual. USB port is for recording. I use the USB for playing .mp3's and CD's from the laptop into the unit, I then throw on the headphones and have instant silent practice that is reasonably portable.

I'm not a guru at programming the B2 (B2.1u)...but after a couple of years of using it, I don't find it unfriendly in the least, anymore :)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back