Zoom Multi-Effects for Electric Guitar

I aquired this product on the internet from www.gak.co.uk (Guitar, Amp and Keyboard)for the sum of £159 including £10 delivery charge. This ergonomically friendly product hosts a vast array of interesting effects and simulations which can be effectively applied to all types of music. It includes Variable Architecture Modelling System(VAMS) which is designed to enable the user to create exactly the sound they want, 33 distortion types, 120 ready-to-use patches which can be freely modified, Auto-Repeat Real-time Modulation (ARRM)which lets you create totally novel sounds, Integrated drum machine and a 6-second sampling feature. The GFX-5's combination of knobs and pedals provides an intuitive interface which means a smooth operation in developing your own sounds and settings in your bedroom or for the stage. It also can run on four AA batteries for up to 10 hours or the alternative of an AC adapter. Personally, the downside of the GFX-5 is the short sampling time which I feel, even though easy to use, is not long enough for a more complex riff or sample you're trying to record(for example, some extreme or progressive metal!) The easily portable unit comprises of an LCD screen and combination of a solid metal chassy and strong plastic buttons and knobs. It is well designed for resistance and should ensure a long lasting life. The Zoom GFX-5 is a sophisticated guitar effects processor which is ideal for the enthusiast who likes to experiment and at a reasonable price for the pleasure. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

At a Pawn shop, "Nearly New", (wink wink), for $89.00. The sounds aren't too bad. Although the eq left much to be desired, the FX were decent. (Through my cabs, anyhow. Who knows how it will sound through yours!) This pedal is way undependable. If you plan on playing out with this thing, don't. It is terribly unreliable. The two pedals gave horrible response, and didn't always switch when I stepped on them. The way they are laid out (flat) is not very ergonomic. The jacks also came loose. The hardware sucks. It's cheap plastic and the expression pedal is stiff and sticky. Also, the jacks are practically floating around in the back of this thing, so if you happen to move at ALL when you play, you can count on cutting out. I never played one show with this thing all the way through. It's continuously cut out on me at every show. Also, it tends to act up if it gets a little cold. All in all, I would definitely not reccomend this pedal to any serious musician that plays out alot. ESPECIALLY if you use multiple effects in a song and do a lot of switching or moving around. It's not worth it. Mine is getting sold on consignment and it is SO lucky, cause otherwise it would have been smashed with a hammer at my last band practice. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I paid $79.99 for the unit from Alpha Music in Virginia Beach, VA. I also brought a cabinet simulator direct box with this. The Effect sound very nice. I like how you can set the unit up to Queue up patches instead of changes one patch at a time. The built in tuner is very accurate. I have not started making my own patches yet but it's straight forward and easy to program. Did not come with an AC Adaptor. Thank God for Radio Shack. It does not have a switch so if you leave your guitar connected and forget to take out the batteries. Count on it being dead the next day. Construction seems good. Light weight and small enought to throw in a gig bag. Quality also seems good. Only time will tell. I think for the price and would you get it is an excellent buy. It just needs to come with the adaptor. For my setup it has a lot of potentional and I'm sure I'll get some good uses out of it. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Bought the Zoom GFX707II at one of the popluar internet music stores for $149. Had heard alot of hoopla about it and wanted to check it out myself. Great sounds as in the first GFX707 pedal. Good solid space age plastic construction that is usually far superior and forgiving that metal. Ease of operation as in the first model. Well, here it is in a nut shell kids, from a long time professional: If ZOOM would have had the insight to allow all effects and drum backgrounds to be recorded during sampling, the sampling would have been 44khz instead of the old 31khz, and there would have been impedance matching inputs and outputs, this pedal would have been THE HOLY GRAIL. BUT...they didn't and DIGITECH has nothing to worry about. If they had, DIGITECH would need to buy into ZOOM stock or merge so as not to get plowed under. Save your money and just hope they get it right the next time around(if we are not greyhaired by then) and pass on this one. Construction quality is good as usual. Space age plastics that are far superior to metal fabrication. ZOOM had a bullet, but shot themselves in the foot. Even ZOOM fans will be disappointed. Just save your money, pray they get it right the next time and pass on this one. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I needed a multi effects unit as my collection of trusty old anolog stomp boxes was getting too big to manage. I tryed out the Boss ME-50, the Digitech and the J-station before i spotted this little beuty. Got it for $600 (Aust) new from a guitar shop sale. This unit blew away the others. Spent 3 hours in the shop just going through all the sounds - amazing. Comes with software so you can design your own patches, built like a brick dunny, possibilities are endless. Also the distortion feature kicked arse, you can model just about anything! Not much to dislike, my girlfriend doesn't like the amount of time i spend tweaking the patches on the computer( i dont mind at all). Expression pedal is a bit weak. Solid as a rock! 4 seperate pedal switches to change between patches on stage. Easy to use once you get past finding out what does what, LED is good for gigs. Great distortion and good crisp clean effects. Expression pedal weak. Fantastic bit of kit, outdoes all units in this price range. Ive got a crybaby so the poor expresssion pedal doesn't worry me. Suits any style of play. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this pedal at a local music store 2 years ago for 200 dollars. I got it for the effects and multiple distortions and EQ settings. I like how you have access to a lot of different sounds and effects. The memory bank is also handy if you plan on having a lot of favorite settings. The pedal is made of plastic and if dropped many times would break easily. When you switch between settings in your bank there is a short milisecond delay and this is horrible if your playing live with a band. One more dislike about this unit was how you can't combine all the effects together. The pedal is pretty easy to figure out but the durability isn't the greatest. For any intermediate pedal wanting a different distortion and some effects all in one i'd recomend this pedal. Anyone in a band don't buy this pedal if you plan on some serious playing. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought my zoom 1010 from this guy who had absolutely no clue as to how to use it.I borrowed it for a day and figured the whole thing out......i bought it for a mere 120us$$(Indian Rs6000).......it's definitely worth the money:) I bought it coz i didnt have an effects pedal. I acquired the 1010 about 6 months back and since then there has not been a dull moment with the guitar.....the kind of fine adjustments that can be made in the zoom 1010 coupled by the cost and fine look makes it a semipro's dream come true.It has all the basic effects like flange,chorus etc.....but the level of variation that can be made in each of the effects is phenomenal.It has 8 basic amp distortion's which can also be simulated....so an overall of 16 distortion's.It also includes in its list of effects a compressor, pedal wah input, delay, hall, room and an amazing equalizer with presence control. There are 30 presets and 12 user defined channels in the zoom 1010.the zoom 1010 is a must-have for someone looking for quality and diversity in music. Probably, the only fault with the unit is relatively less compression in comparison to the zoom 505 and zoom 3030.....and ofcourse a lack of autowah......that effect kicksass.....apart from that,it's cool:) The quality of sound from the zoom 1010 is far better than the zoom 505 and the cleanest of tones can be achieved.i've got some patches which come as close as possible to some of the stuff played by steve vai(except for the sustainence). The construction is no big deal.....it's the sound which matters......and the sound's great:) The bottom line is that it is an amazing unit for the price you pay.........if youre looking for something affordable and kickass, this is the one:) This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

i paid 120$ from musician's friend because i thought this pedal was going to be something else. nothing. all the effects are terrible. you can mix and whatnot but it's an extrme pain and is still sounds bad. the power supply broke within a few months and therefore the pedal cuts on and off. the only was to keep the power on is to put a 15 lb weight on the power supply where the adapter plugs in. the 5 second recorder is a joke. Obviously since the power supply gave me trouble within 2 mo's of the purchase, the construction quality of the unit is piss- poor. I advise that everyone stay away from zoom products. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com