I always built mine from scratch and I only ever used the thing in stomp mode, I did not use the preset patches much.
As for the individual effects, I would rank them from best to worst:
Compressors: all I tried were great.
Amp/Cab Sims: Tied with the compressors for #1, these are mostly awesome and are very useful.
Modulation effects: Mostly good, the choruses are great (really liked the Corona tri-chorus model), some of the others were a bit noisy (but so are the real pedals). I didn’t play with the filters enough but they seemed cool. The Octavers were good actually, IIRC.
Distortion/Overdrive: The raw fuzz effects (like the Big Muff model) are ok but the overdrives did not please me much at all. I like my real Big Muff more than the model but at least the fuzz was passable.
I didn’t do much with the synthbass or auto-wah. Not really my thing.
Generally I always had a compressor and amp/cab sim going. Then usually I would have a chorus and fuzz that I toggled with the footswitches. Even that simple chain made me really, really appreciate the B3n layout over the smaller Zooms. It’s just so much better to be able to tweak three sets of parameters at a time.
It’s not as good as a real pedalboard but it’s a much nicer UI than the smaller multis.
Yes, that’s one of the reasons I got the multi effects pedal, primarily for compression, so I can tweak it at the same time as amp / Cab and chorus (one at a time on the B1four). So I am jazzed to have that pedal for sure. In fact, If I like it that much, I could see getting another if it were to pop up for sale for $40 or less.
Ther, I said it, now one will pop up for sale. A bass one, there are already guitar ones for sale. Haha
Yes, I only ever used thepresets to study, and see how they were put together, as in, what order, plus seeing how they were set up / tweaked in.
Compression, why do they have to be so noisy. That’s one thing I hate about them, But I think ai will get a better handle on it in the multi stomp then the B1four.
Also, I was thinking about a noise suppressor or Gate. I personally feel they will only be good if you can loop the chain thru it instead of it just being inline. The Boss, or the TCElectronics is what I am thinking about mostly.
There is a Boss for $60 on Offer Up. If I decide I want it, I will offer $40
Or, I have a pedal I am returning to Amazon (I think, gotta get the multi Comp first) and a
stupid Hum eliminator I tested out, so I have enuf in credit for the TCE Sentry Noise Gate in credit.
What are your thoughts on these @howard, and anybody else with knowledge or experience with these pedals, or any noise gate pedals.
This is true. However, I do not use any cab sims, and also, I consider fuzz to be the devil incarnate for bass. I will use the compressor in most any case, but that’s about it.
I’m convinced that, beyond a certain point, the more knobs and buttons I have, the bigger the window of opportunity for me to screw up a perfectly good sound.
On top of that, if I have to choose between fidgeting with gizmos or practicing, I know which activity is going to improve the sound of me playing the bass best.
does anybody here grow tired of the zoom processed sound?
for some reason i cant listen too it for too long, than i feel the need to hear my bass directly from my amp again
P.S. I caught hell (ASL version) from my deaf spouse, Sara for ordering this. I told her to take it up with @howard since he’s the one who got me interested in this.
Where did you get your Zoom B1x-four @PamPurrs? Due to Covid, extended return policies are still in effect. You could possibly / probably return it for a full refund.
I beleive I got my B1four before you, and my return date just passes on May 31st. That was amazon. GC and others had even longer return dates, up to 6 months.
Yeah, I knew that one, I benefitted off that purchase, (thanks much), like someone will off this one. Now I only need to ask myself @PamPurrs, do I want to upgrade to the “x” model???
Let. E ask you, how often do you use the expression pedal, do you find it to be a “must have” feature?
I wouldn’t say “Must Have”, but it sure is handy and fun. I’m able to play around with the effects, making them fade in and out at various times. Mostly, I use it to mute the bass when I take a break so it doesn’t make a bunch of racket when I put it on the stand
