Korg AX30G

Basically a slab of plastic with 4 pedals and some knobs. For gigging: Each pedal has 4 preset effects, so 16 total. You can modify the pre-sets to suit your taste or make new ones and assign them to the pedals. Has EQ, Compression, Distortion, Chorus, Delay, Reverb, Echo, Trem, NR, you name it. This thing can make some funky-ass sounds. If your a recording type, you can fiddle around with the dials and buttons forever. It's actually very inspiring. I used to have a floor full of noisy little effects boxes. This is so much better. Oh yeah, has a built in tuner too.

If you can't find the sound you are looking for with this thing, you ain't gonna find it somewhere else.

Pretty flimsy outside, will break for sure if you drop it. But has not let me down in 5 years of steady gigging. I always bring backup.

They answered an email within 24 hours. That deserves a 10.

I have been playing straight up rock/rockabilly for 25+ years. Strats, Teles, mostly Fender amps. Stuff comes and goes. This is a keeper.
Cheers!

This little plastic thing actually sounds really great, the only problem is the matrix-editing which can get a bit anoying at times.
When I first bought this little thing the sound-editing was a big mystery to me, but when I had read the manual it all felt more logic.
Still the manual could have been a bit more clear about things!

I play a 2002 Gibson SG Standard, and a Squier Standard Stratocaster and they both sound great with the AX3G.
Like many other guitar-multieffects this thing can get a bit noisy when using to much gain, but it works just fine with humbuckers.
Most of the built-in effects sound ok, i don't really like the compressor where it could have been a few more editable parameters. I love the delay-effects and I could sit around and play with the filtron-effects for hours!
It also has got the basic setup of overdrive/distortion-pedals and amps, just to mention a few: Ibanez TS-808, RAT, Fuzz, Fender Twin, Vox AC15 & AC30TB, Marshall Plexi, JCM800 & JCM2000.....
I use this thing with a pair of headphones, or connect it to the computer or the stereo.
I play a lot of styles, mainly rock, pop, blues and some metal as well, and I can nail pretty much all of those tones with this unit!
The ampmodels I find myself using the most are Shred, Black 2x12, AC30TB and UK MDN.
I rate this a 9 cause I still think that there will be some time before an ampmodeller will sound just as good as the real deal.

As said before it's made of plastic.

I wouldn't use this at a gig not just because it's a bit fragile but it would be really difficult to try and edit your sounds on a dark stage using those small dials.

The AX3G works just fine so far.

At the moment I don't play in a band, I just play at home for fun and the AX3G is a great match!
I've been playing guitar for about 16 years now, and it's amazing how greatsounding this pedal is compared to my first multieffects-unit which was the Boss ME-6 (haha).
If it were stolen I would probably buy another one (cause it's so cheap).
I've owned a lot of other guitar-multieffects for instance Boss GX700, Boss GT-6, V-amp2, Yamaha Magicstomp, Rocktron Chameleon, Pod 2.0, Pod XT, Guitarport, Vox Tonelab, and Korg AX3G is definitely one of the bestsounding so far!
I really wish it was made of metal and had deticated buttons and knobs.
To my ears this things sounds just as good as the more expensive Vox Tonelab, I have never before heard such a tube-sounding ampmodeller!!

(And it's made of plastic!)

I have owned this effects processor for more than 8 years and it is Awesome. Programming and editing is a snap, just read the manual, within two or three pages you're off an running. No upgrading has been done to my unit, with all the patches available on-line I don't have a need.

I'm currently using a Vox Cambridge 30 Reverb Twin which has no effects loop so I plug my guitar into the AX30G Input and choose the Mono/Left channel to go directly into the Vox Input jack. I have had much success as well using the stereo input jack on the Crate Vintage Club amps. It can create additional hiss with excessive distortion but the Noise Reduction system covers it nicely. All effects can be adjusted subtly or aggressively. I use some Phazer and Flanger setups that allow me to duplicate David Gilmour and Alex Lifeson's sound. Massive distorion allows me to duplicate many overdriven band sounds. Classic tube amp can be muddy but the 3 Band EQ cleans that up just right.

I've never had one of these breakdown on me yet. I would have to have this with me gigging anywhere, especially if I had no backup band.

I've never had to contact the company directly. No need for upgrades or repairs.

I have been playing for 12 years and I play Classic Rock, Ballads, Christian Rock, Worship and metal and the AX30G keeps all my patches in tact and at my feet. I play an '89 Fender Strat with a Clapton pre-amp custom installed. This gives the Lace Sensors additional warmth or overdriven crunch, I decide. I would replace this with the same model any day. I play a lot of clean and the Chorus with a little Delay is awesome for that. I compared this with a zoom pedal that made too much noise. The effects alone will inspire me to write new music.

well it's not easy to get a flawless sound
but it you're willing to spend one or two hour for setting
the sound can be pretty great~


and i can learn how to use it thru 3 hour without user manual!!!
and also set few great sound with it!

sound is great!!(how great?)
i can set a sound very similar to My Chemical Romance - i'm not okay
and also when i tone a high gain distortion , the sound have never stuck together~~~~~~~~~~~you know what i mean? i was used to using
zoom 505II, i tone it high gain,if more than 4 string are sounding
those sound just stick together as a rubbish!
but this unit doesn't!
noise gate is so great that i just put a low level and it work very well
and flager,chours etc...isn't deserve that value,i mean this unit should cost much more money!!!

if you're not a super rock star such as LINKIN PARK OR metallica
it's great for you ,no matter where you use,you can use it live or just practice at home!

it doesn't sounds like a ten years ago effector~

you can get almost any sound you wish... must test all his capabilities and use different configuration of effects.proper use of distors sounds great.. i menage to get a sound close to blackmore/ malmsteen.clean line also sounds great.the wah effect is not so good...it depends on the intensity of the input.

i have a fender squier and a 10 watt amp for home use.
it makes noise with the input setting at high level,but anyway i recommand using it at half way.
the standard effects are extremly bad.... they show nothing on this unit can do.
overall the effects are good.. you have to experiment a lot with them and eventually you will get the sound you want from the processor.

i bought it from a friend... he had it for 7 years.. and 1 and half year it passes since i buy it.. and it works fine ..sometimes when i plug the adapter, the display black so i have to replug it 2 -3 times.but after it started nothing stops it :)

i play heavy metal/hard rock/blues and its perfect.i play for 3 years.i have a fender squier.i guess i wouldnt buy again ... no becouse its not good.. first of all.. i wouldnt find another.. and i wanna use something newer..
i like it.. you can get almost any sound of it.but i wish the distors would be better

as simple as it can get. really, there ain't nothing simpler than this!

well, it's ok, but nothing compared to all other pedals I've used throughout the years (playing for 10 years no). I guess that for the price it costs, it's ok, you can't ask for more.

well, the design at first seems to be hard as a rock, but the pedals are too rough, the "pressure" pedal is way too strong, and you have to step on it as hard as you can.
the power connection is always coming out, and when it's turned on again, sometimes it reaches peaks of electricity and it blows up. that's what happened to mine. dead now, asked me for 75? to fix it, told them to f*** off and bought a boss gt-5

well, they are nice, but 75? to fix this?? seriously, f*** off!!

well, the change between sounds is slow, sometimes pedals block, mine reseted two times the effects I had without my permission, the power thingy is always coming out... but the effects are ok, but you have to use it with another pedal, or else you won't have nice distortions.

How easy is it to get a good sound out of it? - Easy as pie (unless you're reading the manual) once you've figured out how to work it, although with the potential of putting so many FX in one patch it can be easy to overdo it and end up making everything sound plastic-y...

How about Editing patches? - give it a couple of weeks to learn how to work it properly, after that it's a piece of piss. Could do with more than 16 user patches though...

How is the manual for it (if there is one)? - best to just mess around with the unit to figure out how it works, but the bit that explains what all the effects do and what the various parameters for each effect do was very useful

Do you know the firmware revision number? - eh?

Has your unit been upgraded? - not that i know of... i do have the Expression pedal for it.

What setup are you using this with? -various 'SuperStrat'(humbuckers/floyd rose) type guitars, CryBaby wah, Boss MetalZone, Carlsbro amp (with the band) Fender 15watt amp (at home)

Is it noisy? - No.

Are the effects weak or do they always sound great? - I mainly use this unit for Delay/Modulation FX, these are all fantastic except perhaps the 'Talkbox' type effect (i think it's one of the Random Step filter settings) and the AutoWah is shite...the normal Wah can make some decent sounds but it's no Jim Dunlop CryBaby... I only use the disortion for 'Bluesy' overdrive sounds, but i find hi-gain Thrash sounds can be a bit plasticky so I'm sticking with the MetalZone.

Can you get the sound of your favorite artists? Who are they? - it makes MY SOUND and that's all that matters. i did find an old patch i'd made that sounded very Metallica, i guess it depends what guitar/amp you're using

10 out of 10 for the FX I use, but 8 overall.

Can you depend on it? - yes. It's pretty durable. I've had it for at least 5 years now and never had any problems with it. The other reviews on here all seem to mention the mains adaptor, I got mine secondhand and it came with a Super Nintendo plug so ther you go! the SNES plug broke so now i use those Multi-adaptor plugs you get in Poundstrecher for about #3.

Would you use it on a gig without a backup? - As far as I can remember I've used it without backup for every gig I've ever played...I'm now thinking of trying to get another one and duplicating all my patches on it! anyone got one going cheap?

Bought it secondhand from Spenders in Newcastle Upon Tyne so I've never dealt with the company.

But it's never broke, so i reckon that's a moot point...

What style of music do you play? Is this a good match? - I play a lot of metal and some 'other stuff', but i reckon it'd be good for any type of music. Unless you're a vintage/retro freak, in which case you won't be interested in a digital MultiFX unit...

How long have you been playing? - 12 years

What other gear do you own? - various 'SuperStrat'(humbuckers/floyd rose) type guitars, CryBaby wah, Boss MetalZone, Carlsbro amp (with the band) Fender 15watt amp (at home)


If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else? - I'd try and get another one of these, I need that Hyper Resonator!

what do you love about it? What do you hate? What is your favorite feature? - I like trying to find uses for the daft sounds like the Random Step Filter, and just playing along to myself with a long delay. My favourite feature is probably the long delay settings, and the tuner is indispensable. The only thing I really don't like is the short pause when switching between patches.

Did you compare it to other products? Which ones? Why did you choose this one? - i think this may have been the first one i tried...i chose it because it was #90 and much beter than the Boss Multi-FX I used to have.

Anything you wish it had? -
1. no break in sound when switching between patches
2. more patches
3. proper expression pedal instead of pressure pedal
4. better-sounding distortions from the AX1500G
5. talkbox effect from the AX1500G


Does it help you make music, or does it get in the way? - It helps! Just last night I set up a subtle overdrive and a long delay, and spent a couple of hours pretending to be Dave Gilmour...

Anything else you'd like to share? - If the Korg AX1500G had the superior editing functions of the AX30G then Korg could be onto a winner...

this is the first processor i have ever owned,and the ease of use was very user freindly and simple without compromising the chain of effects. overall the ease of usage would come down to about a 8.5-9.

korg outshined themselves with this model.experiencing previous model and post models is rather dull and lifeless compared to the flavor and accessivness of the ax30g. I found that while I was listening to its performance through the direct feed to the headphone jack it was alittle 'sonic' but you can use an amp simulator to eliminate that sound or feeling. Also recording directly through the headphone jack can produce that same problem and solution.
I use two guitars to record;a wasburn dimebag series w/factory pickups,and a Jackson professional w/factory pickups.
All of the effects are very reasonable in quality of sound when chained right,and it pays to run them whatever amp your using on a by-pass or a clean channel.
i found u can really get a randall amp sound out of the studio gain setting,and a lovely warm sound from the chorus with the equilizer settings.it can be abit noisy but obviously you can reduce that w/noise reduction. All in all the effects and sound quality are enormous if your using the right settings.

Any good musician knows the changes and/or multitude of effects they will be using throughout a gig so utilizing the pedals channels and there within(i.e. the individual swithings.)is a vital part of its dependancy,and yours. I have used the ax30g on a number of occasions throughout my many bands and the only problem I encountered was the fact it wont really mix with other pedals very well. I depended I my ax30 then and i WOULD AGAIN, IT JUST BEATS TAP DANCING ON 5 OTHER PEDALS while trying to remember the bloody songs.

My dealings w/the co. were pretty disasterous.I needed a new volume pedal for the ax30 and they told me it was obsolite after purchasing it 2.5 years prior. the reality of it seems to be,if its over 6mths old its out the door.

I love and play heavy metal although I play a variety of music and the ax30 is the shit as far as im concerned. Ive been playing for 13 years+ and all those boss and dod pedals etc just pissed me off with all their crappy sonic sounds and the tap dancing factor. I do wish the ax30 didnt have that pressure pedal and just used a real pedal instead. Those people who own a korg processor are generally happy customers unless they cant play well or dont understand the concept of a processor. I know this because I worked in a music shop selling instruments for 1yr and I sold about 5 of the ax1500g( even one to my best friend).In terms of creativity w/the ax30, I just smash away generally and leave the settings alone so its not in my way. I'll play for 30 minutes or so and then listen to everything, if im happy i'll change the settings and go for it again. Live is different though because I like to use the individual switching style more, I'll leave the channel open, which usually has four things available to me; 1 dist (studio) 2 chorus 3 reverb 4 delay (tap).

Easy to use but takes time to get a sound just right.

Absolutely fantastically great in all respects except one...the distortions sound a bit digital and unorganic. Passable but not great.

Yes and no...
I found it to be sturdy and reliable.
It did break down once at a gig...but that was due to an OAF spillng a whole pint of beer onto it! Even then it kept working, but I couldn't switch channels with the pedals. I opened the case at home, removed the exess moisture and sticky residue and left it on a radiator for a few hours and she was back to her best.
One criticism of Korg though, the packaged power supply was flimsy as hell. I used one from a nintendo games console when gigging!

No need to contact them....I repaired it once myself when it was out of warranty.

I used it mainly in loop after the preamp put in the distotion. Foundit good for most uses and there were lots of great patches straight out of the box. I wouldn't replace it now as it is a bit old hat but was a good investment. I worked equally well as a vocalist's unit with a mic. Distortions were not great but more than useable, and editing patches was longwinded but worth the effort. But this was a product of its extreme versatility. Sound quality 11/10 if you don't include the overdrives. If one comes up on ebay and you already have a nice valve amp with an FX loop, snaffle it!

Fairly simple to use. Not too complex.

This unit is pretty good sounding actually. Much better tone than amp modelling units today. I much prefer it over Tech21 products as well, even when recorded line in using its amp simulator, though I do use an external cab simulator for direct.

For earlier reviews which bash this unit for bad distortion or bad delay, I would think they dun really know howda setup the unit for a good sound. I've owned this lil piece of gear since '96/97, and it has served me well, and it has been a no of years. Be it sparkling clean tone, tubey Santana type drive or heavy hi gain sounds, it delivers. I even use this with my fretless bass, and by using the exciter, even a fretted slap sound could be obtained.

My trick to getting a good distortion sound on this lil gem is by running Dist 2 channel thru 6L6 simulation, then fixing a phaser efx on low freq and adjust the manual and resonance controls to thicken up the tone. I do admit that the factory patches are terrible.

The only thing I wish it had was the ability to blend patches when switching, rather than the short delay present when switching. Oh yes, for those who find the pressure pedal a pain to use, u could do a lil surgery to it and remove the rubber block under it to lower the tension.

I wouldn't say it's designed for the road. But it's been with me for around 6-7 years and has never failed. I'm even contemplating buying a used one as a spare just in case the day comes when mine dies... However, the power adapter had died a couple of times. The wiring breaks too easily, I had to cut the wires and resolder em bout 3 times thru the 7yrs.

Didn't need any...

It's a gem. I use this fella for a couple of applications. Be it electric guitars (Ibanez RGs, Gibson Les Pauls, etc), bass (fretted & fretless) or even as a preamp for my piezo equipped cello. Gets me virtually whatever sound I need, be it by itself, or with aid from other equipment. I play a diverse mix of music, ranging from prog rock/metal, new age, fusion jazz, classical, etc.

Thru the years, I've tried a no of pieces of preamps. Whether guitar preamps, bass preamps, acoustic preamps or multi efx boards. I wouldn't call the Korg studio quality in terms of modulation, ambient efx or compressor. But it's a workhorse and imho has served me better than equipment like Tech21, Digitech rackmount studio preamps, Line6 & definately over those lil Boss/DOD type stompboxes.