dannybuoy

If you want distortion, I would steer towards the B3n. It has a very capable Darkglass B7K sim that is missing from the MS-60B, and the Ampeg SVT model is quite usable as a distortion too (which I couldn't say the same for the previous Zoom generation). The octaver is also much better than I remember from previous Zoom units too. It gets my seal of approval as long time pedalhead anyway, it's the first cheap multi FX that I've found satisfactory!

I’ve never even tried to get synth sounds out of my B3n! 🧐

It's worth the upgrade purely for the improved SVT and added B7K, then just add a passive Orchid or Radial DI box and you're set! But you're right, removing the DI + audio interface was a bad move. They did add a headphone amp but it suffers from headroom issues for me and keeps clipping where it shouldn't, so still using the Bighead with it.

I'd be interested in a Helix if it could sound as good as the Ampeg, Sansamp and Q-Tron models in the Zoom. In my experiments with Helix Native though, I couldn't quite get there!

If you like the OCD sound but want more low end than the UD and a clean blend, I have a COG Mini 66 for sale!

Looks 14 times better with the pickguard ON.

You won't really lose much by trying one out. They're close but different and I'm not sure which I prefer! But the Mojomojo is on the board and the Blueberry in a cupboard if that helps!

BB734A spotted in the wild on the new Smashing Pumpkins tour: https://twitter.com/CptBozoJabroni/status/1017641162998333441?s=09

The profanity filter strikes again!

😂

Have you tried using the PitchRingMod (I think that's what it was called) for an OC-2 tone? Gets closer than the legacy Octaver does I think. But there are specific settings required that I can't recall but did post somewhere in the Helix thread!

I don’t know, the a major part of why the DP-3X is such a hit is due to the fact it compresses the lows and distorts the top. I think Doug would want to compete with this particular unit and offer the same feature, that’s what I would do anyway!

There are 3 new Microtubes X units on the way, specs are a mystery but they will be digital and hopefully include most of what’s on your list!

Crazy price differential. I understand the HX has exactly the same processors, just obviously less in terms of IO, screen and knobs? If so, sounds like they could have put the amp sims in that box for no extra cost but the marketing team said no!

Indeed, since you can put a crossover anywhere in your chain, send the lows to a compressor and the highs to a guitar amp, your can turn any guitar amp into a bass amp!

Many of you Helix folk tried the Zoom B3n? I'm pretty impressed with it on the amp/dirt front, it's leaps and bounds ahead of the B3/MS-60B/B1on. I have never been able to get a pleasing fingerstyle overdrive tone out of the SVT / B15 amp models in the Helix, BIAS, or the older Zoom units. I preferred to stick with the VT Bass. I can get some great dirty amp sounds out of the B3n however! Not sure which is the most realistic of course, having never played the real actual amps, but I do know which I prefer playing through. It also has a Sansamp BDDI model, and a pretty killer envelope filter in the form of the Z-Tron, which I prefer to anything other filter I've found on the modelling front. I also prefer the phasers in the Zoom, and the analog-esque octavers are about on par with each other. Helix of course wins in plenty of other areas though, flexible routing, analog delays, custom IRs, etc. But for the main FX I use (dirt, filter, phaser), I would be happier with the underdog B3n.

Can it emulate the oscillation and pitch bending of an analog delay (i.e. crank the feedback knob and mess with the time knob to get crazy sounds)? Not many digital delays can do it, although it's one of the things that the Helix gets absolutely bang on! The Zoom B3n doesn't even attempt it, the sound cuts off when you adjust the time knob.

Just a heads up, I just picked up a B3n and downloaded the Guitar Lab software to install. Windows 10 Defender refused to run it and deleted it - I uploaded to Virustotal to scan it and looks like it could potentially be infected! I'll reach out to Zoom to see what they say...

Don’t often see bass delays. Does the tone control let you filter the lows away from the repeats?

I hear the Chord OC-50 is supposed to be a close OC-2 clone for £40ish. Never tried one though. There is also the Chowny Pitchcraft. Not a great deal of reviews around for either of them though unfortunately!

Be sure to try the COG after the dirt also. I like an octaver going into a mild overdrive to fatten it up a bit, but prefer a more extreme gated fuzz to come before the octave so that you have a clean sub octave under that raspy fuzz.

There are TONS of other isolated options, but not any I'm aware of other than the ones I mentioned that will fit under a PT Nano/Metro. Until very recently, Cioks DC5 was your only option, the Strymon and Truetone models are pretty new, as is that Harley Benton by the looks of it.

Exactly - it's the 'recommended' one, not the only one that will work. What do you have now?

The Trutones kick butt. Mainly because you can pretty much ignore the mA labels and run silly amounts of each socket as long as you don't exceed the total for the brick. However the Strymon looks very good also with way more juice on tap - 5x 500mA outputs: https://www.strymon.net/products/zuma-r300/ Don't forget you can run splitters and daisies off these outputs to get even more mileage out of them. You don't need to run EVERY pedal isolated. I have 2x 3-way daisies and a splitter all hanging off my DC5! Hotrox stock all the spares for Cioks too.

Contact Taylor at IE and ask him what the optimal range is for the expression pedal. I'm sure it's not just the Moog it'll work with. Also any idea what resistance yours is? I think the Moog if 50K if memory serves.