https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/zoom-gfx-1/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:37:19 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/zoom-gfx-1/#post-79476 Sun, 12 Dec 2004 21:39:01 +0000
Oh, I agree with you. I have heard quite a few bands that use Line 6 for gigs. Probably most were using factory presets, while Muse tweaked it to perfection. I'm sure I could get great sounds out of it. But that's just it. I don't want to spend 4 hours every night for weeks tweaking a pedal. I like to play guitar, not tweak effects. And all those parameters just get confusing. I am a simple guy who likes simple pedals.

I really liked my old Zoom pedal (forget which model) except for the delay and the switches were way too close together. But I found it very easy to tweak on the spot, much easier than my old Digitech. I did not like the cheap plastic case of the Zoom, but it never broke on me. I loaned it to a friend who never returned it.

I don't think the amp modeling is too good, but we'll see. I also want to see how well the expression pedal works. I used to love the Whammy on my Digitech, but the pedal went bad on me after one year.

Arjen, you know I am always impressed with you. You not only debate well, but you really know your stuff on this new gadgetry. Keep up the good work. You are a great asset to GuitarNoise and I appreciate and value your opinions.

Wes]]> Live Sound Wes Inman https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/zoom-gfx-1/#post-79476 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/zoom-gfx-1/#post-79465 Sun, 12 Dec 2004 20:30:59 +0000
A few small remarks (as usual): Assuming you are mostly going to use it as MFX, and get the basic tone from your hotrod, you might want to be real carefull with using multiple effects at once. When I tried this one in store last week I noticed it is quite a tone sucker when you push this unit too far. Not really unique though, Behringer, Line6 and Roland have the same probs with their cheaper units. No real problem if you only use these effects mildly.

As for Line6 not cutting through, that is really untrue IMHO. However, as you already said these units have really insane ammounts of parameters, and it is really easy to make not-so-good sounds of such units. Listen to one of the Muse concerts where they use a HD head and tell me the guitar doesnt cut through. ;)

But anyway, Zoom really seems to have their stuff together. When I compare their new stuff to their old 505/606/707 etc units the quality has increased tremendously. It's also the only unit with this pedal functionality in it's price class. Can't wait to read your review.]]> Live Sound Ignar Hillström https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/zoom-gfx-1/#post-79465 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/zoom-gfx-1/#post-5519 Sun, 12 Dec 2004 19:27:53 +0000
Zoom GFX-1

I have had a love/hate relationship with these multi-effects pedals for years. I love the wide variety of effects and distortions you can get. But I hate the fact that every preset has a different volume level, most effects are WAY too much for live use, and the dreaded delay between presets. Sometimes they are just TOO much. I used to spend endless hours tweaking these things to get decent sounds I could use live.

I had been looking at the new Line 6 PodXT Live. But I decided the thing was way too complicated. I don't want to get lost in an endless maze of tweaking. I also downloaded a video from Line 6 demonstrating this unit and it just sounded too artificial for me. The price is great for what you get, but I really didn't want to pay that much.

I looked at the Boss GT6. I have a buddy who owned this and played it through my Hot Rod Deluxe. It sounded pretty great. But it is a little too complicated for my tastes as well.

So why did I order this?

I have owned Zoom pedals before. I found them much easier to tweak than other models. For instance, volume you just push a button either up or down. You can hear the volume as you tweak it. Find the right volume and just hit save twice. It's done. All of the parameters work like this on Zoom pedals. So I like that.

Their effects cut through. With Zoom effects you can hear it in the mix, especially a band situation. I have paid attention to Line 6 for several years now. They get lost in a live situation. I am not putting them down, but this is how they sound to me. But I had used a Zoom pedal a few years ago and was impressed with how you could clearly hear a distortion even in a crowd. Your solo would cut through.

I like this setup. It is both simple but provides good variety. I could have a nice clean sound with whatever effect I want under the first switch, maybe a nice crunch distortion under the second, a heavy distortion under the third, and then a great solo sound under the fourth. That's pretty good. And I could do this 4 preset setup 10 times. That seems plenty to me without being overkill.

Now, I know there are some downsides to this unit. I know that Zoom has a delay between presets. But in my new band we have a second guitarist, I usually play rhythm only. Sometimes I will come in on solos with him or have a little duel. But he is the main lead guitarist. So, I don't have to worry as much about that moment of silence as when I was the only guitarist.

Some Zoom sounds are pretty corny. They have presets that sound like a steel drum or a flying saucer. But I can edit these presets to useful sounds I can use.

I really liked the low cost of this pedal. I also like the metal construction and on/off switch. Also, I like the look of those switches. For once it looks like someone realized a human foot is much more than 3 inches wide.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I ordered this thing, maybe I'll get it by the end of this week. I'll write up a nice review when I do.

If you are interested in this pedal, there are good details at Zoom. Just hit cancel when the boxes pop up to ask if you want the language update. It's all in English. You will see the GFX-1 to the top right.

Zoom

Wes]]> Live Sound Wes Inman https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/zoom-gfx-1/#post-5519