Zoom G2 first impressions
Having upgraded my guitar, my thoughts turned to upgrading my effects. I’ve had my faithful Zoom 505 for about a decade. It was an affordable multi-effect device at the time, and I was pleased with its versatility despite its shortcomings. The biggest flaw was probably the inconvenience of changing the settings with only six buttons: once I had set up some patches I liked, I mostly left them alone.
However, technology has moved on in ten years: 32 kHz, 16 bit processing is no longer cutting edge, and some of the effects on the 505 sound coarse.
I was tempted by newer devices, and when I saw that old 505s are still selling for £20-£30 on eBay, I couldn’t resist any longer. If I can buy a new effects box and get that kind of return on my old one, why not?
I decided to go for the Zoom G2, a bargain at £42 including a mains adapter, and highly rated in reviews. I did consider its brother the G2.1u, which is basically the same thing with USB output and an expression pedal, but I’ve never been able to get the hang of wah pedals, and it’s twice the price.
The Zoom G2 is, I suppose, that grandson of the 505. It’s familiar enough that I could get the hang of it right away.
What’s better?
- It’s got knobs on! Twiddling parameters is much better than pressing increment/decrement buttons.
- It sounds great. Perhaps that’s the higher sampling resolution (96 kHz/24 bit), or perhaps it’s improved signal processing algorithms.
- The cabinet-and-microphone simulation sounds good through headphones.
- You can set some parameters—the echo delay for example—by tapping. Very simple and intuitive.
- It’s more robust. Or at least the metal case gives that impression. To be honest, the 505 held up very well despite being plastic.
- The tuner is more responsive and usable: it clearly indicates when the correct pitch has been achieved.
- Very low noise, even at high gain.
The default patches are more of a shop window of effects than usable sounds. The parameters are cranked vulgarly high. Hear that chorus shimmer! Listen to the flanger whoosh! Notice the notice echo the echo! Turned down to subtler levels, I was able to coax some convincing sounds out of it.
Before I put my 505 up for sale, I should try to record some riffs with equivalent parameters on each effects box. That will show whether there’s really a noticeable difference in sound quality.
I’m pleased with my new acquisition so far. For home recording and practising, it’s just what I need.
2007-03-06 23:35 UTC. Comments: 5.
Tom Armitage
Wrote at 2007-03-14 13:32 UTC using Firefox 2.0.0.2 on Windows XP:
To amplify my new electric, I bought a Behringer X V-Amp – the pedal version of their V-Amp. Very impressed with that, too – lots of the default patches are doused in effects, but it’s very easy to strip them back or knock stuff up from scratch. The sound’s really excellent, especially the Fender/Vox/Marshall simulations. Also, given that one of those “doused in effects” patches is as-near-as-damnit the opening from How Soon Is Now?, I’ll forgive them for that. I’m sure the G2 is also a good unit, but thought I’d mention another very acceptable £50 modelling amp box.Paul Battley
Wrote at 2007-03-15 23:26 UTC using Mozilla 1.8.1.2pre on Mac OS X:
That’s a really good price for a box with an expression pedal. How easy is it to use? I notice that it’s only got two knobs, which makes it look as if its operation might be more convoluted.Anyway, what’s the new electric? Anything interesting?
Jaime Iniesta
Wrote at 2007-03-16 14:58 UTC using Firefox 2.0.0.2 on Linux:
I still have my Line6 POD (first version), and a Roland Microcube as amplifier. It sounds fine to me, I don’t like to overuse guitar effects.Tom Armitage
Wrote at 2007-03-23 16:21 UTC using Firefox 2.0.0.3 on Windows XP:
It’s dead easy, actually; one knob chooses, primarily, amp model; the other chooses (by default) gain. When you tap one of the five buttons, you alter that “thing” – eg, when you hit reverb, the right knob can choose from the four reverbs; the left adjusts it; tap acts as a shift key for a secnodary parameter.The two knobs are actually endless rotaries, with leds around them, which is a major plus.
There are some functions that require two button presses, but they’re rarer; the frnot five buttons handle reverb, delay, modulation, noise gate, and compressor; the pairs of buttons handle bass, output volume, presence, and what the pedal does.
(Pedal can do: gain, be assigned to an effect parameter, pitch-bend, or wah; it’s got a switch built-in for wah).
So, quite fast, you can fly around it – really easy to strip down the factory presets, given that it’s only amp-selection that uses all 16 (32 with tap) positions on the right rotary – most functions only apply to at most six items on the right knob.
And, of course, both pedals pushed down mute the output and engage the tuner. The manual/high-res shots at Behringer’s website should explain better :)
New guitar: Squier 51 in blonde (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squier_'51) – Tele neck on a Start body with P-bass inspired design. Front pickup is lovely tele chime; rear humbucker is loud-as-hell punk. Rear pick-up has a coil tap, too, for twin-single-coil rhythm fun. £104 – utterly lovely guitar for the price, great for learning on, and now discontinued. Love it to bits.
kevin Brown
Wrote at 2007-05-03 09:41 UTC using Internet Explorer 6.0 on Windows 2000:
Greetings from New Zealand,I have the 505 II. It sounds sweet thru headphones, particular the reverb but the sound is not as good thru my amp (Peavey Blazer 158) Did you experience this as well? Thanks – Kevin