dave_bass5

Well yeah, if you need a comp 🙂

On paper it is, it’s mainly an EQ pedal and not even a paprametric, with a sub par OD and a one knob comp. For me the magic is how the EQ works, especially the high mid. I go from a grinding P bass to a scooped slap tone (not that I slap much) with just that one knob. In fact I went and got a BH800 based on owning the Spectradrive. I sent my first one back as I didn’t really gel with it, but second time around it made a much bigger impression. I even stopped needing my Q/strip.

Is anyone using either of the pitch shifters in the B1-Four? Being able to go up or down a tone (no more) is the main reason i use my B1 four over my Spectradrive, but when i use them i get a chorus type of ‘wobble’ to the notes. I have balance at 100% so its just the effected tone, but its very off putting. Maybe I’m doing something wrong but i dont get this with the B1-ON.

But neither are real bass playing 🙂

I stopped using a comp, both at home and with the band after quite a short spell with one. Never needed one, but got caught up in the Comp discussions and, well we all know where that leads to. Saying that, if you go from say, pick playing to slap, a comp will make a huge difference that the audience will appreciate, even if they don’t know why.

I too was surprised with the Glam Comp, quite nice what it does to the signal. I also like the Dual Comp. Nice and simple but still two band,.

I also almost got a Stomp (well, started looking in to one) a while ago. It seems like it can do almost everything, and way better than the Zoom boxes. My issue though, is i don’t want something that dose everything, i want something that does what i want it to do, and to do it in a way that is simple and fast. I know you don't have to use all the features os the Stomp, but it seems to me that if you have it why not get the most from it. I’d be tempted to keep tweaking and trying different patch routing etc. Quite distracting for me as all i want is a basic good tone to play with at home. The Zoom on the other hand allows me to place effects in an order I’m used to, and not really many other ways. Its much closer to mimicking a small pedal board, and so its very easy for me to get to grips with it and get the tones out of it without spending too much time with other options and reading manuals etc. This is why i prefer the B1. I’m not a technophobe, far from it, i love gadgets, but sometimes getting something that does the job quickly is preferable over something much more advanced but with features ill never need. I dont think I’d be happy gigging with a Zoom box though, mainly because of the size. Tried it before, became a nightmare on stage due to me hitting the wrong buttons with my size 11’s and then having to bend down and put things right. I prefer an on/off switch for each effect so will stick to individual effects for now, but at home the B1-Four is just perfect. Its definitely a step or two ahead of the B1-on as far as usability goes.

Ive just got a Zoom B1 Four, but have been using a B1-on, which are battery powered multi effects (unlike the B3n which needs mains), with line in and headphone out. The new B1 Four only costs £68. I also use a cheap wireless system, again 100% battery, so the only wire is for the headphones. I love the freedom batteries give, even though I’m at home so its bot really a big issue.

Just noticed there is a FW update for the B1. Just seems to be a bug fix for USB though. https://www.zoom.co.jp/products/guitar-bass-effects/bass/b1-four-b1x-four-bass-multi-effects-processors#downloads

I love my V7 5, and really loved the P7 5 i had but the bridge pup wasnt working as well as i though it should. If they reissue the P7 in one of these finishes I may be very tempted to try again.

Thats my Fav. Who buys white basses these days 😎

Just seen this on the Sire Facebook page. Looks like a really nice upgrade and great choice on colours.

It was a pain, and I have the exact same issue with my B3n so I sort of knew the workaround. I don’t think it’s the drivers as such, just that Guitarlab don’t seem to connect with them and so needs refreshing. Ive yet to use ToneLib with this one, do you need to use the Zoom software to get the extra effects first, or can they be got through ToneLib? Ive mainly been using the first patch, Cleansans, but with the blend turned almost full up. This is now very close to the tone I like to use with my rig.

Took me a while to get it up and running on my PC. I found i had to delete the USB drivers for it when its connected, and then re connect it and Windows would load the drivers again which seemed to do the trick.

Care to explain why a band cant enjoy the songs they play as well as the audience, and why they are ‘Twonks’?

Nice one Bas. I’d like to try mine out at the next rehearsal but I’ve still to run my new Paradriver and M82 through my gig yet.

On the very few auditions ive been to the band have been a bit disorganised. Meh, not a problem, thats why I’m here lol. Its difficult for a band to be spot on if they are missing an important instrument. An originals band once asked me to learn 4 of their songs for the audition, I learnt 7. They liked that and i got asked to join. I know i wasn't the best, but seemed to be the one (out of 4) that had the motivation and enthusiasm rather than just going through the motions to join a band for the money. Sometimes the attitude can win out of the skill IME.

Ive not done a side by side comparison, but the B1-4 sounds more solid to me. Less digital than the B1-on. Its a better engine, and the B1-4 has the two Drakglass effects that I absolutely love on the B3n. Talking of reset, ive just reset mine. I seemed to have mucked up the Motown patch. I dont mind starting again as first time around i wasnt too sure what i was doing.

I can see how that works for some. My thinking is ill overwrite the default patches as and when i need to, but ill also have some possibly interesting patches to play with when i get bored. I’d rather that then to end up with most ‘Empty Patch’.

Never say never, thats why I’m not going to wipe anything just yet. When i had my B3 i never saw the point in the drives and dirt settings, now its very much my flavour of the month.

Nice post Bas. I agree that the B1 is more than up to the job for those who want to keep it fairly simple. Its easy to get bogged down in routing, splitting the signal in to 7 different OD’s along the chain, getting something that sounds like a toy keyboard etc, but i think for the majority of those wanting a simple multi FX, with the ability to combine one or two tones in the traditional stomp box method the B1 is going to work very well. My only concern is that in the heat of the moment on stage, a box with limited footswitchs like this can easily go tits up. Its very easy to hit the wrong, or both pedals at the same time and get all manor of weird noises. This is where feel the B3n is better, although maybe not as convenient for transportation. If anyone is moving their Helix on i have a brand new B1-Four I’m willing to do a straight swap with 🙂

Yeah, thats what i was told.

Wow, great post and yes, very helpful. To be honest i dont need a thumpinator anyway, but i do understand what it can (help) do the the signal. Good to know there is that little bit of extra cab protection in the T21 stuff. I do also have the Q/strip which has a switchable HPF, as that doesn’t have a cab sim type of tone, but i like the Sansamp effect on my tone so dont really use the Q/strip Thanks again.

I like the Motown patch more because i play with a pick and it sort of rounds the tone a bit, takes the edge of the top end but still has a nice thump. Sort of what you would get with fingers anyway. So far i only need one patch so the rest can stay until i need to change or use them. I dont think ill be using it live just yet so its just for learning songs etc.

I love all those patches, other than Sub Boogie, as i have no use for it. Ive had a surprising amount of fun with the Jaco preset. Not something I’d use live but its good in a sound like a fretless.....sort of way. For me Clean Sans is the one i use the most. Ive added a pitch shift at the start for leaning songs in different keys. Not had a lot of time editing stuff, although its way ahead of the B1-on as far as editing goes.