A Gateway to Creative, Affordable Bass Tone
The Zoom B1X Four is not just a multi-effect pedal — it’s a game-changer for beginners, home studio players, and even pros who want a compact rig for practice, writing, or fly dates. Retailing at a fraction of the cost of most single boutique pedals, it offers a staggering variety of tones, amp models, effects, and tools. The “X” version adds an expression pedal, which significantly expands its usability, especially for real-time control of volume, filter, pitch, or modulation effects.
Make no mistake — this is a budget pedal, built with cost-saving in mind. But within its humble plastic housing lives a powerful sound engine and a highly functional layout that puts a ton of sonic exploration at your fingertips.
What You Get for the Price
The Zoom B1X Four includes:
- 70+ built-in effects: Compressors, distortions, modulation, delays, reverbs, synths, pitch effects, filters
- 9 amp/cab models: Based on classics like the Ampeg SVT, Aguilar DB750, Fender Bassman, and more
- 5 simultaneous effect slots
- 50 user patches
- Built-in drum machine and looper
- Tuner and headphone out
- Expression pedal (exclusive to B1X model)
- Battery power or USB/bus-powered operation
- Zoom Guitar Lab software for patch management and loading additional effects
All this in a small footprint and at a cost often lower than a single mid-range overdrive pedal.
Sound Quality and Performance
Let’s get this clear: is it studio-grade, boutique-level sound? No. But that’s not what this pedal is trying to be.
What the B1X Four does offer is incredibly usable, musical tone that can be customized, layered, and dialed in for almost any playing style. Many of the effects are very well-voiced for bass and have clearly been optimized to preserve low-end integrity — a frequent issue in cheaper multi-FX units.
Effects Highlights:
- Compressor: Several options, with the DBX model offering especially usable squish
- Overdrives/Distortion: Not boutique-tier, but the Bass Muff, Bass TS, and Agro models are more than adequate for grit and drive
- Modulation: Chorus, flanger, phaser, and envelope filters are surprisingly good. The “Z-Tron” and “Ba Cry” (auto-wah) are fun and playable.
- Synths: Simple but effective. Think gritty square wave or sine wave fuzz, not boutique Sub Octave-type voices.
- Delays and Reverbs: Clean, digital, and reliable. Don’t expect dreamy shimmer or tape degradation, but great for practice and ambience.
- Pitch Effects: Octavers are usable, though they can glitch on fast runs or chords. Whammy-style effects work better with the expression pedal.
Amp Modeling is a strong suit. The SVT, Bassman, and Hartke-style models offer distinct voices and enough EQ flexibility to anchor a solid DI tone. Through headphones, they can get you surprisingly close to a “real amp” feel. In live settings, the amp/cab sims make it easy to go straight to FOH or into an audio interface.
Expression Pedal Use
The B1X model’s built-in expression pedal is one of the most important upgrades over the standard B1 Four. You can assign it to:
- Volume
- Wah/filter sweep
- Modulation depth/speed
- Pitch shift
- Effect mix
It’s plastic and a bit short in travel, but it works, and it’s very useful for real-time dynamics or morphing effects.
Utility Features
- Drum Machine: 68 patterns across genres — great for practice and quick jam ideas. Timing is solid and tones are usable.
- Looper: 30 seconds of mono looping. Not competitive with high-end loopers, but very helpful for practicing or layering ideas.
- Tuner: Fast and readable
- USB Interface: Works as a basic audio interface — another major value add
Build Quality
Yes, it’s plastic. Yes, it’s light. The footswitches are soft-touch, not mechanical. The knobs aren’t premium. But for careful home use, travel, or low-impact gigging, it’s surprisingly robust. Keep expectations in check: this isn’t built like a Strymon or Boss unit — but it’s also a tenth of the cost.
Who This Pedal Is For
- Beginners who want to explore tone shaping, learn about compressors, filters, modulation, and more
- Home players who want a headphone amp, looper, tuner, and drum machine all in one
- Busking and travel musicians who need a battery-powered rig
- Studio writers or producers looking for an easy way to record bass with amp simulation
- Gigging musicians as a backup board or compact fly-rig solution
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Incredible value for the price
- Tons of usable effects and models
- Amp/cab sims are very functional for DI or headphone playing
- Expression pedal adds serious versatility
- Easy to use and program
- USB audio interface capability
- Lightweight, portable, and battery-powered
Cons:
- Plastic build may not survive abuse
- Some effects lack depth or realism (especially fuzzes and octavers)
- Interface can feel cramped; editing deep patches can be fiddly
- Looper is basic and has limited memory
- Only 5 simultaneous effects — some patches may need workarounds
- No XLR out for DI use (1/4″ only)
Conclusion: A Budget Giant That Punches Well Above Its Weight
The Zoom B1X Four is not trying to be a boutique pedalboard. It’s not handmade, analog, or vintage. But for under $100, it gives bassists a shockingly wide and deep palette of tools to explore. It is, in every sense, the best value in the multi-effects world for bass.
Whether you’re just starting out or need a compact Swiss-army knife for sketching, jamming, teaching, or traveling, the B1X Four delivers an experience that is musically rewarding and creatively inspiring, without punishing your wallet.
If you need versatility, portability, and features over fancy aesthetics or analog nuance — this might be the smartest pedal purchase you ever make.
