Korg AX5G

This is an incredible pedal that (on the surface) is very easy to use. It has all the sounds and models of the expensive AX3000g (really, almost everything is here) for a fraction of the price. Almost all the presets sound great and work well instantly. Hidden in its simple format are lots of parameters for each setting that you can easily adjust once you understand how to do it. And...you can set this up as an amp modeler OR as a stomp box modeler with just effects. Plus it has 4 different output settings for 3 different amp types and one for PA, line or headphones. There is not a small, low priced unit like this on the market that has the editing parameters of this pedal (the review in Guitar Player Mag says as much). The manual is not the easiest to understand but once you do, it's all there. When you change amps or effects, the system defaults to an "ideal" setting for the rest of the patch and this usually is right on the money -- but you can still tweak to your hearts content. Even though the manual is just fair, there are lots of excellent Toneworks documents on the web that can be found in, believe it or not, Korg's UK web-site.

The tuner works great as both pedals are lit with large light bars across the top and when both glow steadily, you are in tune. The expression pedal is a bit smallish but if you want a wah wah, don't buy this pedal. It's fine for adjusting parameters (like rotary speed or delay time or volume) but is clearly not as good as the large pedals on full size boards. But you aren't paying $300 for this either and it is very portable.

As I mentioned this has all the sounds and models of the expensive AX3000g with just a few exceptions. Korg makes the modeling technology for the Vox Valvertronix amps which (IMHO) are by far the best modeling amps out there. The Pandora units are amazing as well, so I was not surprised that this pedal sounded so great. I A-B'd the pedal to Digitech and Line6 units and right out of the box, this is by far the best. I'm not saying you can't get great sounds from those others but you could buy this, plug it in front of your clean channel and play a gig within minutes. It also does what so many of the other fail at -- it has great clean tones and wonderful Vox sounds (no surprise here). You can go from sparkling, clean tones to shred with no issue.

The really cool thing for me is how easy it is to use this as a multi-effects "stomp box". You'll notice that all of a sudden the multi-effects makers are marketing units that they say work like a "pedal board". Well, Korg has done that for years with Toneworks stuff and the Vox Tonelab units. You can't switch individual effects on and off like the more pricey units but you can easily (as I have) set this up for a series of patches that will act like different stomp boxes. And using the expression pedal, which can control and turn on/off many of the parameters on the pedal, you can use this in place of an entire pedal board.

I use a number of different amps and set ups with this unit. As I mentioned, in one configuration I have a series of stomp box (mostly overdrives and distortions) only patches that lets me use this as a quick, easy and light substitute for my pedal board. I have a another series of patches that dials in about 10 of the best amp model patches that I can use direct into a PA or into a clean amp. I can play a gig with that set up as well.

As to which effects are best -- I like most all but the overdrive and distortions are superb (and I have compared them against the actual pedals that they model), the reverb and delays work great and the chorus and rotary are lush and cool. PLus it includes noise reduction, cabinet modeling, output for 3 different styles of amps (Fender, Vox and Marshall) and line out settings.

Finally, you can use this with headphones and practice with it. It sounds very good that way but really excels in front of an amp.

I have this as well as an AX3g (the same pedal without the expression pedal). I have never had any problem with it. This in not a heavy duty unit and if you need that, you should be buying the metal cased AX3000g or Tonelab LE. But mount this on a pedal board or use it in a practice or studio environment and it's fine. These don't cost a fortune and they are built with some compromises (lots of plastic) but treat it right and there's no reason to believe it won't hold up.

I don't understand where people gripe about Korg's customer service. I own a lot of Vox and Korg gear and when I email them, I always receive responses and have actually received phone calls to be sure my problem was resolved. There is actually a lot of Korg help on the web, but it does take a bit of skill to find it. Korg's own website has a link the their UK site. That web site has great support documents and data that is not on the USA one. I don't know why but it's very useful.

You cannot get anything that sounds this great for this price. They were cleared out by MF a while back at amazing prices (I tried to get an extra one and they "shipped" it to me -- only to have an empty box arrive at my house and MF could not explain to me what happened!). The chip inside has got to be the same as the AX3000g and has great tones. The other guys in my band are always amazed at what I can do with this pedal. I know it doesn't carry as much market appeal as a Line6 or Digitech unit, but I don't know why -- since it sounds so much better. You can use headphones with it and practice away in silence or put it in front of your amp and blast away as a modeler or stomp box. It's just a great pedal at an even greater price.

A little hard to understand, but makes better sense after a while. Manual is ok,nothing special.

I use Strats with Humbuckers in the bridge and single coils elsewhere. My amps are tube amps, Ampeg SuperJets mainly.I play everything from 1960 to the current. I also teach guitar and have over 20 students. I am an avid pedal guy, and like to have a wide variety of sounds available in my gear (I need to!!!).

I bought this as a succesor to the 411fx, which I liked alot but lacked flexibilty (I felt). But in some ways its better, but in other ways its not...dammit.
The 411fx has a mid tone control which isnt found here. That is a really important control when playing guitar..so I couldnt tweak EQ as much as I needed to in many,many instances.
I give KORG credit for making this unit a stereo device when used with a Y cord. This a smart feature that costs little to include, but means so much to those of Us who dabble with running 2 amps. Thank you,again KORG, for this feature.
Each of the effects is ok, but nothing amazing. Good at this price point, but processing has moved on..and I know Korg can do better. They make some amazing stuff.

I think ts dependable, but I havent gigged with it. So far its not as buggy as my 411fx. Apparently my 411fx had a hard life, it looks really bad and gives me trouble. This unit hasnt given me any trouble. I just wish it was as small as my 411fx and had a mid tone control, like the 411fx had.

I never had to work with KORG.

Im a rock-pop player. Been at it 25 years. Ive owned lots and lots of gear. I have been really lucky to know alot of gear. Some stuff is musical and some stuff isnt,imho. I think KORG does alot of things so well..but for whatever reason this unit doesn't work out for me. Its not as musical as I had hoped, its not intuitive to use, its kinda large (wont fit in the back of some combo amps),and it eats batteries.
I dont mean to be damning...but FOR ME, this just fails in the areas that mean so much to me. As a first Fx pedal, its quite ok...but if you get into expecting alot (and I know I do) its not what it could be. I own an old, screwed up 411fx and thats what I still turn to. Its smaller,cheaper, lighter sounds as good (imho) and is a littler easier to program. Oh yeah, its eats batteries, just as well..too!!!
I think Korg needed to revamp the 411fx and made this unit...I think they went to far...leaving all that was right and adding some aspects that were wrong (size,no mid contour eq etc etc).
For guitarists on the go, this pedal was just so-so. And again, this is just one guys opinion. If you love yours, please tell why,ok?

Getting sounds are pretty easy on this unit. If you are familiar with multi-effect units this should be a breeze. Editing patches are straight forward . It took about an hour after reading the manual to get up and running with full functionality. Just dial in each effect or model and then edit each parameter as needed. The presets will need some tayloring. The manual doesn't go into detail as it should. It just gives you a basic understanding of how to get around. You need to know some basics to understand this unit.

Sound quality is excellent!. In bypass mode you don't lose amp tone. In fact just shutting off each effect/model sounds pretty close to original amp tone. Wah takes some getting used to. The pedal is quite small, and the whole unit moves a bit when operating it. Amp models are excellent. Pre-effects good. Noise reduction descent and Cabinet models ok. I'm running this through a Marshall DSL100 head and it sounds good . I have the amp on the clean channel with the gain maxed. Seems to be the best way to set it. Noise is comparable to other units I guess. The only thing that doesn't sound right are the acoustic models. I'm still working with them but haven't been able to get anything close to an acoustic sound. Very disappointing since this is one of the things I was looking forward to.

This unit is made of plastic but seems to be well built even though. I'm very careful with all my gear so I don't anticipate any problems with durability. I would definitely gig with this unit without a backup.

Haven't dealt with them.

I play all kinds of music but mostly rock. I think this unit will be fine for what I need. I could see upgrading later on to maybe the AX3000G or maybe going to the Vox Tonelab. Been playing for 38 years and own a Marshall DSL, Mesa Mark III, Crate Vintage Club 50, an old Valco (which I love), and some newer Epiphone tube amps which are ok for practicing, etc. Pretty much all tube stuff. A bunch of Boss pedals which are also great. Stats and Les Paul's. The typical stuff. I would probably upgrade if this unit was lost or stolen. I love the size of this thing. Throw it right in my gig bag and go. Nothing too fancy and pretty user friendly. Don't really hate anything about this thing except very displeased with the acoustic models as stated. It's pretty much what I expected when I purchased it.