Zoom Electric Guitar Multi Effect (G1X FOUR)

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Powered by batteries or 9V DC power adapter (not included, matching optional power adapter: Article Nr. 105835) I use this at home as my main effects unit. It's usually the only effects unit in my signal chain. Overall I'm very happy with the unit for this purpose. Another improvement over such units as the Multi-Stomp series by Zoom is that this unit also provides a resource monitor in the software, which shows how much memory a patch uses, unlike the MS70-CDR or G1on, where the user has no indication that a patch is using too much memory until he or she is alerted that memory resources have been exceeded. Perform Live Seamlessly switch up your sounds during live shows using either of 2 performance modes. PRESELECT mode lets you jump from patch to patch without affecting the patch you’re currently playing. STOMP mode lets you turn individual effects on and off with the tap of your foot. It's quite affordable, especially at the current price of 67 euro. With that, I have to say build quality is acceptable, but I would avoid stomping it with my feet (as I'm a heavy guy). Not sure how it would hold up outside of the bedroom. Cannot give it more than 4 stars for build quality.

Build quality: Except for the bottom of the unit, which is made of metal, the Zoom G1 Four is made entirely of plastic. However, the plastic seems sturdy and unlikely to break. Judging by how it looks and feels to the touch, I would say that it is probably polycarbonate, which is one of the most durable thermoplastics. Surprisingly, the footswitches do not feel flimsy at all and are not as easy to press as I had expected, which gives off an impression of quality. To sum up, considering the low price of the unit, it is built very well. The native presets were not particularly pleasing, mostly this is a bold distortion for schoolchildren. But no one bothers to set up exactly the sound you need. There are tons of videos on youtube with instructions on how to set up the sound of a particular group. Your Favourite Amps and Cabinets With 13 classic amps and cabinets like Fender, Marshall, Orange and more*, the G1 series brings big stage sound wherever you go. In terms of construction, I think this is a definite upgrade from the G1on. The construction is a little more heavy duty and the footswitches seem to be more suited for frequent stage use. Along with this, there are 68 ready-made rhythms which you can play along with and even use in conjunction with the Looper. Customise and Get Creative

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Gone are the days of low price = low quality and gone too are the negative implications of a “Made in China” label.

Controls are not the most intuitive but you get used to it after some time, setting up your sound. It could have been better - 4 stars for handling. X is for Xpression The G1X FOUR comes with ZOOM’s expression pedal, which provides control over effects such as volume, wah, delay and pitch. The target market for the G1on, as was the case with all of its previous G1 pedals, is the guitar gear newbie taking their first steps into gear land. However, this does a disservice to the power of this product and I think every guitarist has room in their life for this pedal, even if it’s just for the convenience of having all of the features in one box. Pedal simulations: This one blew me away... tubescreamer, big muff, tape delay, pitch shift, tremolo, sequencer, ring modulator... the list goes on. This pedal has all of them in there and they sound great! Using just four AA batteries you can power the Zoom G1 Four for up to 18 hours of use. Alternatively, you can power the multi-effects unit via USB or an AC adapter. Other Great FeaturesWhatever sound you’re looking for; be it classic, modern or something entirely new – it’s possible with the Zoom G1 FOUR Multi-FX unit. Changing the effect parameters is a bit fiddly, but no more than you would expect on a compact multi-effects unit. This is a fantastic little device for anyone that wants a huge range of tones in one handy pedal. For the price you are unlikely to do better. Finally, while there is a bit of a learning curve for editing the patches, if one has used the G1on, this is actually a little easier, especially when it comes to arranging the patches.

Zoom has long provided small form factor, working class multi-effects that shout value. The G1 Four is no exception. But news flash, this device sports a much improved interface to offset the large number of menus and variables. The new display and buttons remove two levels of complexity for the user, appealing to my need for simplicity. The interface software is a wonderful, Additional Improvement. So, a user can take full advantage of the range of adjustments in a visual format. The individual effects, amps and cabs are standard things, but faithful to the mainstream. This device is perfect for creating outputs that are reminiscent of hit records from the past. I run mine directly from the stereo output into a Yamaha mixer stereo channel. The mixer connects to a dual amp/speakers for good stereo separation. The Zoom G1 Four is the heart of my guitar sound for my recordings and small live gigs. The Zoom g1 four is very different from the previous models, the sound is much better, the drum machine patterns are more interesting. The second major improvement is that the algorithms are all software based instead of firmware based and the unit can be connected to a computer via the USB port to update the software, add/delete effects, and edit patches. This also means one can remove unwanted effects from the unit--such as in my case where I have no need for amp modeling or distortions. The default programs range from the not-so-subtle to the bizarre and amusing. However it's easy to create your own programs. A program can contain up to 5 internal effects. Many of the internal effects are emulations of specific standalone pedals. For example, there are emulations of the Tubescreamer ("TS Drive", Klon ("Gold Drive") and Zendrive. Don't let the eccentric default programs put you off. There are plenty of usable effects in this pedal. Changing effects midway through a song is somewhat impractical. It's achievable if you are switching between effects that are stored in adjacent memory slots. Otherwise you will have to keep hitting the "up" or "down" footswitches until you reach the program you want. The foot switches are "up", "down" and "on/off". The up and down switches cycle through the 50 programs.In addition to the wide array of effects available, you also have access to to 13 different amp models. The models are designed to emulate classic amps & cabs from classic brands such as Fender, Marshall, Orange, and more. If that's still not enough sounds for you, you can also take advantage Zoom's free Guitar Lab software which gives you access to loads of artist patches, effects, and more. Functionality Off the Floor The G1 FOUR/G1X FOUR’s control panel is also designed for hands-on, desktop use. Dial in tones and adjust level settings with absolute precision to craft your perfect sound. The only negative thing I would say is the plastic shell seems a little too light and likely would not hold up to heavy use. It should be fine with proper care. I've had some multi-effect units before, and they were all fine, but there was always something missing.