Zoom MS60B stereo preamp/effects PLUS a Rowin Dumbler

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

SOLD!

DUMBLER PEDAL IS SPOKEN FOR, BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO CHANGE THE TITLE. PRICE DROP - $100 + shipping gets you an excellent, low priced, true stereo multieffects preamp that will drive a power amplifier directly.

The Zoom has are more effects than I could imagine using (142, according to the box), and it's both clean and quiet. I used it on a few gigs and learned that I don't like effects. It's like new, in current production, and one of the most popular multi-effects pedals available today. And the Dumbler is an amazing little Dumble-style effect that makes smooth, subtle O/D with a D-like shimmer. The effect gets heavier with the gain on high, but it's not a buzz bomb. The Zoom has several O/Ds in it, but none is as gentle and subtle as the Dumbler's effect.
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I bought this pedal less than a year ago for the stereo chorus because I wanted to try the big sound that Martin Taylor got with his stereo Yamaha earlier in his career. As has happened with every other effect I've ever bought, it was fun for a week but started to bore me after that. It detracts from the wonderful sound of my archtops, so it's not for me when playing jazz. I've used it on gigs no more than a dozen times. Zoom makes 2 versions of it - the MS50G for guitar and the MS60B for bass. They're identical in size and layout and very well made, with metal cases, solid footswitch, and decent display screen. The main differences are minimal. The MS50G lets you use 6 effects simultaneously and the MS60B lets you use 4 at the same time. The 60 has bass amp sims many of which are great for jazz guitar, while the 50 has guitar amp sims most of which are for rockers, shredders, and other musical miscreants. But of great importance to me, the 60 has a clean blend control on many effects that's not available on the 50. This helps tame the effects, some of which can be really irritating if not tamed with a dry blend. Since I play only 7 strings, I also thought the bass version might sound better for me, but I can't tell the difference between a 50 and a 60 with guitar. It may make a difference with bass - I've only compared the two with guitars.

These are true preamp pedals, with a maximum output level of +5dBm (more than enough to drive most power amplifiers directly). There's an easy-to-read onboard chromatic tuner that's activated with a 2 second press of the footswitch. It has a tap tempo mode to set the speed of effects with a repetitive action, e.g. delays. There are a few onboard synthesizers, an octave doubler, etc plus the usual range of delays, distortions, and other sonic aberrations.

It has a USB port for connection to a computer, so you can update firmware and download & install patches from the 50 to the 60 and vice versa. There's a large user group out there with support and editing programs. This one is a popular editor for changing and adding patches for both pedals to either one. I haven't modified mine at all because I bought it solely for the stereo chorus, which sounds big and lush if you like that sort of thing - I discovered that I prefer the sound of a plain old guitar.

It'll come to you with the original box and papers. It takes a standard pedal power supply if you want to plug it in, but battery life (2 AA) is pretty good. I've been playing with it in my recording setup since I got it, and the original batteries are still in it. I'll take them out to ship it.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

AUDIO CLIPS ADDED! Be like Joe - just take this with you on gigs and plug yourself into the house sound system. The SansAmp Bass Driver DI model is exactly what it's called, complete with the advanced EQ of the real thing. It has all the tone and character you need for any jazz date. Add a touch of a '63 Fender Reverb unit and you're back in the '60s with Wes and Grant. The Dumbler is spoken for, so the price is still $100 + shipping but now without the bonus pedal.

If you want to get into modeling and simulation, this is a great way to start (and it might just be all you ever want or need). It's a full fledged preamp with an output level of +5 dBm that will drive any power amp easily, but it also does fine straight into a guitar amp. The models work very well into FRFR systems, so the outputs are also great for DI use. I drive a pair of powered JBLs with it in my studio and I recorded the clips below directly into my interface. The L and R outputs are a true stereo pair for the stereo effects. It has a fine, easy to read tuner, and when switched off it's a full bypass. It's in a solid metal case and has robust controls and jacks.

There are a few EQ models, all of which work great (and the stereo EQ is a hoot). One of the clips below is just the basic graphic EQ set to a BF scooped mid sound. The stock software has several amp models that are great for jazz guitar, especially the Bassman and the Ampeg B15N. There are excellent models of many classic effects, e.g. the Tube Screamer, the Fender '63 Reverb unit, famous flangers, phasers, delays etc. You can download all the effects, models and simulations that come in the MS50G (the version marketed to guitarists) if you want them, but almost all are for rockers. Here's a list of the effects that come in the 60, and here's a list of the effects that come in the 50. I think the MS60B bass version is actually better suited to jazz guitar, which is why I bought it.

There are over 140 amps and effects in this one, so deciding what to demo wasn't easy. My wife thinks I'm nuts for wasting 2 hours to sell a $100 item, and she may be right. Here are just a few of the many models, sims, and effects that work great for us. I made most of them using only the top 6 strings, but I couldn't resist using the 7th on the Manhã de Carnaval bit in the stereo delay demo.

Here's the SansAmp Bass Driver DI set for just a hint of tube-y distortion with my Ibanez AF207 16" laminated archtop (Benedetto B7 pickup) using only the top 6 strings:



Here's a Fender blackface scooped-mid tone using only the grapic EQ in the Zoom and the same guitar (limited to 6 strings):



This is the Bassman model (no backing track on this one):



Here's the stereo delay set to a more dramatic effect because it's fun every once in a while (played on my Raines Tele 7 with Lace Alumitones):



This is the Tube Screamer model set at low gain. It makes the archtop a decent electric blues machine:



And this is the stereo chorus, also set to a modest level and used with the laminated arhctop:

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

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