Using customized Zoom B3 in a large ROCKCase and Trace Elliot Tower

• Overview and Wiring diagram (more or less current setup, but without MS-60B)
• The signal from the bass arrives (1) at a wireless receiver from Line 6 (Relay G30). Its output goes to the main instrument switch (see below).
• The signal from the e-cello arrives (2) through a cable with a female jack (6.5 mm).
• For level and sound adjustments I run the e-cello signal through following device before the main instrument switch: The MXR Kerry King 10-band EQ MXR KFK-1 (3) from Dunlop for some equalisation and further level gain.
• Next the two instrument signals go to a Y-switch arrangement (4, 5), since I play either bass or e-cello, even if the bass dangles in front of me while playing the e-cello for quick instrument switching in the middle of a song. LED's tell me which instrument is currently connected to sound system:
      •   The red LED is for e-cello playing,
      •   the green LED for bass playing.
  This Y-switch is performed by a very special switch arrangement: The actual signal is switched by a very versatile AB-V Selector Box (4) from Nobels. Input A receives the bass signal, Input B the e-cello signal. Output B sends the signal directly to the amp. However, that switch box, the versatile it is, is NOT a stomp box and I needed a stomp box to be able to trigger the instrument switch with my feet. I found no product on the market, which would have done the job. I needed a stomp box switch that can trigger the switch in the Nobels AB-V box and which shows me clearly the status by two easily visible LED's even on a dark stage. Thus I built myself a latching stomp switch MusEQ FS-LAF (5). That switch shows nicely the status (• - b / • - cello) under all light conditions. This custom built switch arrangement allows me to switch between my two instruments in the middle of a song absolutely noiselessly without any click nor other audible noise!

  Option

  I can optionally use a separate amp for the cello, e.g. a little Fender amp. Using an AB-Y stomp switch (7) from Morley. For this alternative I connect the e-cello to the center IN/OUT plug of the MorleyY and then output A to the extra cello amp directly (no need to adjust the e-cello signal to that of the bass, since all tweaking can be done at the two separate amps separately). I can still play the e-cello also over the main bass amp, since output B of MorleyY goes the "usual e-cello signal path" (2), i.e. into the FDR-1 (3). This way I can play the e-cello both over the bass amp or the extra cello amp (amp choice by switching the MorleyY). That's fine for switching between songs. However, switching instruments in the middle of a song requires to play over the same main bass amp and using my custom built stomp switch (5) triggering the Nobel AB-V selector box (6) to switch among my two instruments.

• The output from the instrument switching AB-V switch (using either the bass or the e-cello signal), is Y-ed and goes then either into the wet preamp-effects signal chain or leaves directly the board (10). The latter dry signal goes to the main input on my big amp bypassing any effects (the only exception to this is the fact that the e-cello signal passes through an EQ; note, that serves mostly also the adjustment of the signal levels between the two instruments). Note, impedance and all signal levels are adjusted such that no signal deteroriation or other problems are created. Using this setup I can choose via my effects loop stomp of the Trace Elliot amp conveniently the traditional amp use (dry from bass, EQ-ed from e-cello) or using the wet output from the B3 effects unit as a preamp. All this switching works without any clicks or other noise and thanks to basic unity gain settings generally without any volume change. The preamp-effects signal chain is made wet by first a MS-60B (not shown in Overview and Wiring diagram) and second the B3 bass effects and amp simulator (5). The output signal coming from the B3 leaves the effects case via cable (10) and goes to the amp's effects loop return (mono/right). The B3 is also connected to an expression pedal FP02 (6 wiring diagram) to control volume or a wah-wah etc. All devices in this chain, i.e. the B3 (discontinued), the MS-60B, and the expression pedal FP02 are from Zoom. Note, this wet signal chain completely bypasses the preamp of my big Trace Elliot amp intentionally.

  Option

  Insert in the wet signal chain a "Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Amp" FDR-1 from BOSS for level gain and tone before going into the Zoom B3 instead of the MS-60B

  I modified the Zoom B3 by adding a stomp bar (7) to control efficiently patch select, rhythm and tap tempo on stage (in the Overview my custom stomp bar is shown at the bottom sitting just in front of the B3). For details see my modification of the Zoom B3.

  Finally note, on the back of the B3 there is an XLR output and could be connected to the front of house mixer. However, the two post EQ etc. DI outputs (left, right) on the back of the amp provide the best output for the front of house, since they correctly reproduce all settings, regardless which instrument I currently play and regardless whether I currently use the preamp-effects signal wetted by the floorboard effects or the dry signal as wetted by the amp's EQ, compressor etc.

• The many devices in the case call for power: I am very happy with a Dunlop DC brick (8) providing 9V DC power to the stomp devices. The power supply unit for the DC brick is plugged into into a power strip (11) that offers power for further needs, e.g. the stage light of my e-cello or a device used by the singer.
• The board is connected with the amp via 3 cables, forming a little "multicore" (10):
  • First there is the cable that connects from the back of the amp (external control) to the footswitch BFC-6 (9) to control the amp conveniently and remotely from the effects board.
  • Second the dry output signal coming directly from the instrument switch connecting to the main regular input of the amp.
  • Third the wet output signal from the B3 connects to the return of the effects loop at the back of the amp (mono/right).
  Thanks to this arrangement I can bypass the B3 by disengaging the effects loop of the amp (stomp switch 'LOOP' off, see 9) or using the B3 by engaging the effects loop of the amp (stomp switch 'LOOP' on, see 9). This arrangement is soundwise much better than having the B3 in the effects loop of the bass amp. Using the B3 as a preamp as I do (cf. wiring diagram) results in a significantly better sound and avoids a somewhat slightly muddier sound, which I would get if I use the B3 in the effects loop and having the preamp of the Trace Elliot daisy chained with the preamp of the B3. In this configuration I use only the Trace Elliot's power amp and totally bypass its preamp. If I do not use the B3 I use the ordinary Trace Elliot with its preamp and power amp. A lot of flexibility, the best of two worlds!

Using Pod X3 and a Carvin Cyclops Combo and Trace Elliot Tower

As effects processor I use in the effects loop of my Trace Elliot amp a POD X3 from Line 6 on top of the amp head (model description, manufacturer). I control the POD X3 over the legacy Line 6 foot pedal FBV Express (model description, manufacturer) contained in the effects case of my standard stage setup.
For other items see above

Using Digitech BP8 and a Carvin Cyclops Combo

Effects processor BP8 for bass made by Digitech; click here to get patches from the patch library (model description, manufacterer)
Tuner 19" rack mountable (RT-1601) made by Sabine; I have actually mounted it in the rack of the amp-combo case (see below) instead of the head. A little stomp box (6) allows me to mute the entire rig.
Amp and speakers are from a Carvin Cyclops Combo. The amp is a R600 (2x300 W) head which supports bi-amping. The amp head is actually mounted in a separate head case. It's easier to carry that way. The rest of the combo enclosure contains the speakers (1x15", 2x8", 1 horn) and the light-weight rack tuner (see above). The amps settings can be controlled by a foot switch (7). With a little help from a friend I have customized this foot switch. It shows me now the current settings via LED's. Really neat and most useful on a dark stage! (amp overview, amp details, amp manual, actual Cyclops Combo is no longer available from the manufacturer). I have custom installed an extra power outlet in the amp head, which is switched by the main on/off switch of the head. Turning on the main switch does now power up all gear in the amp rack.

Last modified 12/24/21