Zoom B2

Just a quick look into the manual and I was able to start my own preset. Manual is done well, pictures with clouds showing what is what button/pot for, though the B2 is not so complicated to use.
Some of factory presets are very good and usable for me.
I use it for 2 weeks now.

First of all I'm guitarist and I've allways wanted to have my own bass. Now I have it and I bought zoom B2 to add some cheese to make my practise more fun. I have 87 Westone bass and no real bass amp, that's why I decided on FX unit with amp modelling. I looking forward to do some home recording directly trough B2 and USB audio interface. If it will sound so good when playing from hard disc I will love this BB even more.
Most of all I love this machine for the amp modelling.
My bass only have one pickup and volume/tone pots and this FX expand the limits of my bass enormeus. From metalic, distorted to smooth puffy bass.
I havent noticed any disturubing noise or glitches jitter.
My monitoring sistem is : Yamaha NS10's and Bayerdynamic DT 990 pro.
Preety much a bedroom/home studio with lots of grooveboxes and other electronic noisemakers.
I tryed B2 on my Roland JX8P analog synthesizer and all I can say WOW.

When I bought it it wouldn't run on batteries but all I had to do was to solder a wire leading to battery compartment. Chinaman was saving on solder I guess. Otherwise the unit works N.P.

never needed it so far

I thing this will be a long term relationship. For the price I've paid,
this thing is monster. I'd bought another if lost/stolen.
Good thing it is it runs on 4 AA alkalines and it has built in rhytm machine. For me it is very inspiring.
I've decided to purchase B2 because of all the good reviews here on Harmony central. I've made right choice.

Once you figure out the basic controls, the B2 is very easy to program. I have no issues with it in live performance, where I am frequently changing sounds in mid-song.

I play a Rickenbacker bass through Ashdown MAG 300 amps (stereo). I only have one channel running through the B2. I get very little hum out of the unit. I tend to go with Marshall amp modeling, and make extensive use of the effects settings (fuzz, chorus, tremolo, flange, envelop filter).

I have two issues with the pedal: the tuner seems to be off (flat). Not sure if this can be adjusted or not, but I have to use a different tuner now, which is very inconvenient, since I love having the tuner in line. Also, when I add an octave above to my sound (for that 8 string bass effect) it sounds like its not in tune up and down the neck. Frankly, I've had the same experience with other inexpensive multi-FX units, so its not a problem specific to the B2.

Since I don't have a backup unit, its always worked well for me, other than the tuner problem. It seems to be much more sturdy than my previous unit (a Digitech BP200, which I really liked, but had cheap plastic inputs that broke easily).

Tried to contact them about the tuner problem by email and got no response. I tried calling them, got put on hold for 10 minutes and then disconnected. Not good.

I play progressive rock, so I love to use many different effects and sounds. By far this is the best inexpensive bass multi-FX unit I've played. If it died or got stolen, I would probably buy a new one (or possibly upgrade to the B9. I love all the built in effects. I only wish the tuner was working properly.

My setup is a Morley Volume pedal to an ABY switch, the A side to the Zoom B2 and then to a Morley Bad Horsie Wah. The B2 fits in nicely.

Easy to progrsm once you read the manual

I cleaned out the user patches and started from scratch. I was able to get the sounds I wanted (I am only running one at a time). Since I play contemporary Christian I can get the subtle effects I need. I like the mild grit I can get, or the warm tube pre. Very quiet even with the znr off.

It gets pulled out for weekly rehearsals and worship, and daily practice with headphones. Tough made.

No

I play contemp Christian, which has subtle tone changes. I play a '98 Carvin LB-70. I would buy another.

Given that the display is 2x 7 segment LED, it doesn't look very explainative, but once you read the manual and start tinkering with the knobs, you'll get the hang of it. Patch editing is quite easy once you learn which knob does what.

I'm using a Schecter Omen 5 and and old Hohner Professional PJ, sometimes with a Trace Elliott 115 Combo, or a 350 Watt Laney R4H Richter with an 800 Watt Laney cabinet. This little thing is marvelous! I even tried it with flat-response systems and it really shapes the sound! I am no big effects-tinkerer, I usually have about 7 effects. This effect gives me all, Opeth-like warm bass sound or roaring metal sound. It's all in there! I don't prefer all those phaser and flanger ones, I rarely use it. It has a lot of effects, but the distortion isn't very satisfying. But as I told you, I don't like it that much. I programmed some synth stuff as well, it's quite fun but I don't think I'll ever use it live. And it's also noiseless! With a 32-bit chip and 24 D/A conversion at a sample rate of 96(!!) kHz, you can't go wrong!

This thing is made out of metal and thick rubber, you can punch it and throw it if you want to (I certainly wouldn't), looks very solid. It already has 5 gigs on record. You can use it without a backup. One little flaw: the red paintwork gets scratched off easily so watch out for that!

Never dealt with them.

I play in a Metal band and in a folk-rock group, so I need a lot of variety on my bass sounds. I wanted warm, mellow-like bass sound and a very punchy one. This little red box has given it. I play bass intensively for 3-4 years now, switched from guitar, I own a Schecter Omen-5 and a Hohner PJ Professional, and I used the pedal on both basses. If it were lost or stolen, I would probably buy it again or the B2.1u, or maybe the new Zoom 9.1ut. You can definitely depend on this thing. I know older Zoom products looked and behaved kind of fragile, but they've done it with this one, with higher processing power than a Boss GTB processors!

I'm using this device in a way it was not designed to be used -- as a guitar modeler. That means issues with EQ'ing, especially since the B2 does not have quite the same interface as the G2.1u, which I own and love (see mpy review). You need to read the (excellent) manual to see all the ways you can shape the frequency response, notably with the built-in limiter, which knocks back peaks. That done, you'll get a very good sound, IF you like a powerful bass end... which I do, because I play finger-style and like the infamous two-guitar effect.

My style is Delta modern, slide and partial chords over heavy thumbpicked bass, in open D, G, A, E and dropped D. I bought this specifically to get the Bassman 100 model; I own a Bassman 100 (the vintage one), and to my delight, this box nails it. I've run it for the past week through a Kustom Tube 12A -- don't sneer, it's a dynamite small amp that I use as a stage preamp (line out) with great results, using Reverend USA and import guitars, excellent axes. They work very well with this device. The gain is thick, the bottom end is incredible. There are two octave divider settings on the unit in different places, and one of them makes the low strings on my guitars sound exactly like a bass -- this is a longtime bassist talking -- but still lets the top strings come through. The choruses and flanger actually sound better to me than on the G2.1u, less tubby and scratchy. The three onboard reverbs (room, hall, spring) are OK -- they get muddy and/or metallic quick -- but they're useable. I prefer the slapback delays, warm and punchy. The B2 also has a TubeScreamer setting, which the G2 does not, and it's very cool for blues. Really, I've been trying for years to get a very rich low end below my slide lines and partial chords (I even strung the bottom of my guitar with bass strings), and this box does it. The only issue is a tad of midrange peak, but I've been pretty successful at tweaking it out. I've also tried the onboard Hartke and Boss OD models; the former sounds Marshall-ish, the latter very dark. In my view the box is worth the bread for the Bassman model. I'm giving it a 9 only because, OK, it isn't really a Bassman. But for a pocket Bassman, WOW.

I'm assuming this one will hold up like the G2.1u, which is solid as a brick. The casing is metal, the stomp pedals feel solid. It also runs on 4 AA batteries for five-seven hours. I have done gigs where I walked onstage, put down the G2.1u, plugged and played, no hassle with finding an electric outlet. I bought this one to do the same. It's small enough so you could carry two easily; I may bring both the G2.1u and B2 to shows and switch between them.

No experience with customer support. I have a LOT of faith in Japanese products. Japanese consumers do NOT like to return stuff, and Japanese manufacturers try to sell stuff that won't get returned.

I've described my style above. I've been doing it over 40 years, live, road, studio, now do parties, sit in with pro bands, play an occasional concert in France where I live. I've owned Fender basses, guitars and amps, Gibson Les Paul, some garbage gear, and now have a range of reliable stuff to give me setups in different situations -- Pignose, Microcube, Tube 12A, Powerblock with Laney cab, Bassman 100. I also own a dozen guitars, most bought used (mint) or as closeouts, all sweet pieces. And I have four modellers -- Digitech RP200 and 100, and the Zooms. They're key to my sound, because the lightweight gear I prefer needs help to get good tone, and because they give me the same sound whatever I use to amplify them. In other words, I can practice and perform on the same gear.

My experience is that different modellers are better for different sounds. If you want a Fender tweed sound, go with Digitech; they really get it well. But for overall ease of use, flexibility in performance settings, and rich tone, I think the Zooms are superior. I may get the B2.1u just to have the USB interface for recording. In the meanwhile, the B2 makes me happy every time I plug it in. In fact, it extends the possibilities of my guitars; there are lines that just sound a lot better going through the device. Boss makes a Bassman modeller, but the Zoom gives you a first rate model plus the effects you'd want over most evenings, and it costs less. For $100, what I paid, I'd call that a 10.

Some of the factory presets are pretty good, but they still need some spicing up. Many of the presets are total crap!
Thankfully the editing process is easy, but it takes time.
I programmed 5 patches the other night and it took me close to 3 hours. The good thing is once you get the sound from your head to the pedal, it's awesome! This pedal has lots of rich tones and a palette of effects. It justs takes some time to get them the way you want.

This is the bass pedal. No noise due to the ZNR noise reduction.
Effects all sound great. The preamp simulation and modulation effects are terrific! I use it with a Crate BT-50 and a Peavey Combo 115, it sounds good with both. I also use it through a P.A. for practice and it sounds good as well. You could get any sound possible with this pedal, but you have to know how to use it. Make sure you read the manual. Some of the overdrives, distortions, and octave effects are nothing to brag about, but it has an awesome fuzz effect, go figure! All other effects are Cherry however!

I owned zoom products before and since this is made of metal over plastic, I'll kick it up a notch!

Never had to deal with them!

I play everything from rock, blues, disco, funk, and some fusion jazz. I had many digital effects from all the major companies and Zoom has the best sounds for the money!

I'm not keen on multi fuction buttons on units such as this but after going through the manual once you kinda get how to use it.

Sound quality is brilliant. Not sure of how well they emulate them all but it certainly gives you loads of tonal veriety. I didntuse thepresets, just strated playing and finding which amps and stuff I like. The distortions are ok but with some being mainly guitar pedal (tube screamer, fuzz face) they are lacking in low end. The synth stuff is brilliant. Dont believe what everyone else has written. It may be sloppy and hard to control but simulates old anaolgue synths well in that respect and was a real bonus on finding out just how well the synth works. The cab simulations are a bit pointless really, a bit of a waste of a button and time.

Havent had it long enought, but hasnt shown any signs of being a problem.

A bargin for the price and has loads of options to help you perfect your bass sounds. Even if you just use it as a tuner, eq and pre amp booster then its worth it but then you'd only be touching the tip of the iceberg.

It's easy after spending a bit of time with the manual. I should mention that the maunal isn't always translated well - Zoom is a Japanese company, and it's apparent that their manuals are not witten originally in English. Using the EQ can be tricky, but I've never used this style of EQ before.

First off, I'm a guitarist. I usually just play bass for home recording and demos. I've got an Ibanez Soundgear 5-string. I forget the exact model, but it's got active pups with treble and bass controls.

That said, this box gets the most usage direct to recorder. Before, I was using a Line 6 POD 2.0 (not the bass POD, the guitar one). I could get a GREAT crunchy bass tone through the POD's Bassman clone, but I couldn't get clean, punchy, bass amp tone. The models in this thing can definitely give you that. All of the amp models are usable, but as others have said, I can't comment on how well they emulate the real thing. The overdrives are not so great... they're either too messy or they don't have enough low end. My POD does a better job. The synths are no good at all. The effects are okay, but bass effects are not really my thing. I use the chorus a bit, and the auto wah sounds cool though I don't think I'll ever use it in a song.

This unit gets an 8 for great amp models, but I can't give it a 10 on account of the lame overdrive and synth sounds.

Looks to be built well, but I only use this on the desktop. No stomping for me.

They respond to emails pretty quickly.

This little box gives you some great sounds for not a whole lot of money. It can even work reasonably well direct to PA. If you're buying this for distortion, you'll probably be disappointed, but if you just want some multi-effects, this is a cheap way to get some good sounds.

The manual is very straight forward and easy to follow so getting to know the unit is a fairly quick process if you have got the time. Editing isn't too difficult, although it did take a little bit of work for me to dial in the right tones because I do not know a lot about parametric eq and there are so many different amp choices it is kinda hard to pick.

First of all this is a good little rig if you've do not have many features on your amp, me I have an Ibanez Soundwave 65 (sucky, i know). I like a wide variety of playing from slapping to hard rock distortion and i can usually find it an this thing. It does take awhile to figure out what sounds the BEST, because many of the patches can sound ok, but i wouldn't expect to find what you like right away. I also like the SWR patch, very versatile, and the tube screamer is a great boost/distortion. The chorus, phaser, and synth I thought were very weak.

I haven't had any problems and I don't expect too. It is a solid little box.

I like the distortions on this pedal and it can also produce a very CLEAR and pristine tone with great mids, unlike most i have seen. The compression and limiter are also very handy.

If nothing else, the beat box on this thing is really nice if you are playing alone. I use it every time I play to write sweet licks and what not.

I??d been an analong pedal whore for quite some time, I??ve owned Dunlop, BOSS, MXR, EHX... however I had problems with most of my pedals! So I got tired and sold them all (except for my compressor, which is a lot better than the one the B2 has), and about three weeks ago a friend mentioned this pedal, I read positive reviews and I got it, let me tell you it wasn??t easy for me to get good settings right away, cause I never had a multi fx unit before, but the manual is quite good, you will have to read it to get the max out of this pedal.

I play a Luthier made 5 string bass, with EMG J style active pickups, I go into an MXR Dynacomp, and then into this ZOOM B2. Right now Im playing in a three piece rock band (Chevelle meets Incubus kinda thing). I was surprised by the quality of the effects. This thing is practically noiseless! and the modulation and delay effects are excellent! The only downside is the synth/drive section, only a few are usable, in my opinion, the only good distortion I found was the fuzz face. But still, for this price, you can??t getter better effects, and let me tell ya, you can fool a lot of people, making their ears think you use analog pedals.

Hell yeah I can depend on it! This is a quality pedal! Not like the old Zoom pedals I??ve seen... the switches are very strong and resistent, so is the metal case. I was surprised by the quality of the construction... Zoom has made an excellent product. I will use it live, and I??m not gonna use a back-up, I really trust this pedal.

Never dealt with them

This pedal is a great match for any style! You can get that Palladino tone, you play jazz, you can play funk... and you can definitely play rock... for the Tool fans out there, you can now play practically any Tool song, and with great sounding effects. It also brings drum patterns, which is another cool feature, although I don??t use it much. I think every bass player out there should give this pedal a shot, hay man, you even get an awesome floor tuner in the package.