Zoom 5000 Hybrid Distortion Pedal

This is a great pedal. Just plug in, turn it on, and start playing. Thats all you need to get a good sound. I gave it an 8 because of the external footswitch. I'm going to get one or make one for it soon. I can't comment on the manual (bought it used.)

I'm using a Yamaha guitar into a little 10-inch Yamaha amp, and I sound HUGE with this thing. I love it! I also own a Digitech Xp-100 Whammy wah and they sound great together. Putting the distortion before or after the XP-100 gives me totally different tones. I get a lot more white noise putting it before the whammy, but its cool because I use the noise to discover weird sci-fi like effects. The effects always sound great. Stack 1 and 2 are my favorite, extremely heavy. Combo 112 is also sweet. R+B is very bassy, I use it sometimes. Metal is pretty cool but not as good as the stacks, and zoombox is not as heavy as the rest, and I am already finding many places to work it into my music! I listen to bands like Tool, Deftones, Fear Factory, Spineshank, that whole genre, but also some other genres of music, so I play some very heavy, fast stuff, and also some slower songs, and this has worked for everything thus far.

Well, I am trying to get a band put together, and we're not gigging yet, but I would use it on a gig without a backup (but only if I had to, because I don't like being unprepared.) I have had no problems yet, but I've only had it for a week.

Never dealt with ZOOM.

Well, like I said, I am basically a metal guitarist, but not always fast and heavy, a lot of slower moody stuff, too. I give this bad boy a ten. I just wish it wasn't discontinued. And I need to get a footswitch for the "red/green" mode.

Not too hard...it's a little different then most pedals as it gives you the ability to save a setting for later access with an external footswitch. The manual is straightforward as well and easy to understand.

AWESOME. This is hands-down the best distortion generator that Zoom has ever made in my opinion. Well...at least for heavy metal music. I own the Boss Metal Zone, the DOD Grunge pedal, the SansAmp GT-2, and I've used a Danelectro Fabtone. This pedal so far is my favorite with the SansAmp GT-2 almost as good but very different sounding. Actually depending on the guitar sometimes the GT-2 will sound better in my opinion. Again I'm mainly using these pedals for extreme metal sounds for black metal, death metal, and gothic music. I mainly only use the Stack 2 setting which is a heavily mid-scooped distortion that sounds very rich and heavy with a beautiful crunchy sound when doing palm muted "Chugging". Occasionally I also use the Combo112 sounds as well. One of the settings that suprised me was the Zoom Box setting. It basically simulates the cab simulator and distortion of the old Zoom 9000 and 9002 mini-effects processors. While it's not all that great sounding, that setting is very cool for getting a very unique sound on recordings. Kind of a special effects type sound. Stack 1 is so-so...kinda trebly (I hate overly trebbly metal distortion sounds). The R&B setting doesn't sound like an R&B sound...more like a superbassy metal sound but with alot of mids. If you roll back the gain and use your neck pickup you can get some fairly decent blues sounds on most of the settings though. The Metal setting is also decent..but again kinda trebly. Stack 2 pretty much is it for me, giving me a huge rich Mesa Boogie type sound that is very rich and powerful for downtuned death metal sounds. I use this pedal mainly with a Guild Lance (Burnsides) Flying V electric and a Washburn Dime333 Dimebag Darrell signature series electric. The Guild I have downtuned to B#. Very very low, and using heavy gauge strings.

Most of it is a made of metal with a big rubbery footswitch. Overall it looks like it can take alot of abuse. But I don't abuse my pedals (except when I accidently step on their knobs or trip and fall on them) so I'm not too worried about that. Backups? I always take backups to gigs. You're stupid if you don't.

I've never dealth directly with them. The only time I've dealt with them was when I used to have a Zoom 9000S effects processor that needed a repair. It took them quite awhile but that was probably because I dealt mainly with the store and they warned me that If they shipped it, Zoom would take their time, where as if I shipped it, they would be quicker. I wasn't in a hurry so I just had them ship it off to Zoom for repairs. They did a fine job repairing it (it had a tiny crack in its board) and changed the battery as well. So overall I think they'll do a fair job if I ever need them.

Overall, this pedal is definatly a must-have pedal if you're into extremely heavy, but quality distortion sounds. On the stack 2 setting, there is no trace of that trebly harsh sounding stuff most other heavy metal type distortion pedals produce. This pedal also blows away the newer Zoom 500 series distortion pedals and effects processors when it comes to heavy metal distortion. The new Zoom pedals sound very artificial on their heavy distortion sounds and tend to get lost in a mix when playing live at high volume levels. Where as the Zoom 5000 has big deep sound that really fits in nicely in a live gig setting (if you have a decent soundman with half a brain(or ear). The 5000's direct descendent, the Zoom 510 Dual Power Driver, doesn't even come close. Neither does the Zoom 503 guitar/bass amp simulation pedal. I've tried them both and they were both rather disappointing to me though still ok sounding for some purposes (other opinions may differ). I really have no idea why they discontinued the Zoom 5000 Driver pedal. Hopefully they'll be smart enough to reissue this pedal before it starts becoming "vintage" and very expensive for a used one. They are already becoming extremely hard to find. The only thing I wasn't too impressed about was this pedal's direct recording prowess. While it does a reasonable job, it's not as good as say the SansAmp GT-2 pedal. However it does a great job when I combine it with my Ibanez VA-3 virtual amp simulator with a custom programmed clean patch that I use for running distortion pedals into for direct recording purposes. But usually I just mic my amp (a Peavey Stereo Chorus 212) with a SM-57 and WALLA! A big massive guitar sound. So in a word...awesome.

Without the manual it took me a couple of days. I think that I might still not have a 100% grasp of the red/green LED functionality. The way I use it, the red is for creamy Boogie-esque distortion, while the green is more crunchy like an old Marshall with a Power Soak.

One of the best distortion boxes I've owned, and I've owned a lot!

Heavy duty, but it definitely eats those six AAA's pretty quickly. Just imagine the look on your bass player's face, "Yo', you got 6 extra triple A batteries I could borrow?" ;-)

Great distortion. Killer tone. Balls in a box. The heavier distortion sounds is where I find this thing really shines.

i would say that it is easy.....with a manual of course....

The best distortion i've ever heard.from warm to heavy...yeahh only the r&b doesnt sounds like one..i like to use the metal sound most of the time..with the hi and low cranked down to 0.stack 2 is my second favourite setting...it has the rock sounding.... and r&b itself is better off to be relabel as core or heavy...cuzz when u palm mute while playing...the sounds is very powerful>> i dont really use the other settings like stack1 ,combo,zoombox.im using this 5000 with a roland solid state 10w amp...and a telecaster. it sounds good.

yeahh......i have this thing for almost a year..no problem for the time being...i use an adaptor most of the time cuzz the this baby consume a lotsa batteries.

good......cuzz they reply ma question via e-mail...i was wondering why zoom discontinued this product...and the explain why..but it is not that detail...and im still wondering.......

i would buy it again.i like the sounds.i used to have a boss ds-1 and a dod fx69 grunge...unfortunately....i've sold it,,,cuzz it doesnt suits my taste..and metal zone as well. i think its a great stomp box....only wish that it has another color like grunge and another knob for midrange .

This pedal is easy to understand. 4 knobs (bass, treb EQ, gain and output level) + 6 selectable colors (distortion + amp simulation). Has mono input/output and footswitch input. I bought mine from Daddy's Junk Music used and it came with the AC adapter.

I'm using a Yammaha Pacifica (Strat copy with S/S/H) into the Zoom 5000 out to my Fender Princeton Chorus (2x12 solid state). I've also tried it though my friends Crate GT-80 combo. In both cases this pedal has it's own sound and it breathes new live into whatever amp it wetens.
This was (still is) the best amp simulator + distortion effect you can find in a stomp box. I tried one of these out about 4 years ago and put it on my "things to buy list", then Zoom discontinued it. About two months ago I was in a local guitar shop and I tried out the new version of the Zoom driver (Zoom Dual Driver 510) and was very disapointed in the sound. Thanks to Harmony Central I was able to find a good used gear dealer and buy a used unit though mail order.
To rate it's sound quality I would have to say it's amazing... makes my little solid state combo sound like a tube driven stack... not kidding! Having 6 different colors/amp simulations to pick from is very nice. because they all sound very different. Stack 2 & Zoom box are my favorites. Does it give me my favorite artist sounds? Sure:
Stack 1 - David Gilmore Stack 2 - Eddie Van Halen ( modern VH sound like off their live album ) Metal - Pantera Zoom Box - Brain May All the effects (aside for maybe R&B) are very very good and unique.

Only had it 2 months, bought it used. No problems so far.

I went looking for this babby, not about to sell it, if I lost it I would quickly replace it. Haven't found any other stop box pedal that can do what this does. The newer Zoom pedals (500 line) are mostly crap in comparison.
Wish they would have put a head phone jack output in additon to the standard mono output. I've actually used a mono spliter cable (Radio Shack) and ran head phones into that... the sound was so incredible I'm going to try and (gasp) plug direct into my Tascam Portastudio soon.
Great heavy distorion + amp simulation, get one while they're still selling cheap.

very simple to use- 4 knobs, output, gain, low, and high. There is also a knob on top for zoom noise reduction, I don't even bother messing with it. plus there is the color selector for 6 different distortion types.

I have to say that its very impressive, I've used many multi-effects devices by zoom and usually there distortions leave something to be desired but not here. there are 6 settings- Stack 1, Stack 2, Combo, R+B, Metal, and Zoom Box. The first 2 obvious mimic stacks, the second setting having more midrange. combo is similar to stack 1 but with more bass I'd say, more rhythm souding. R+B? Yeah right. Its more like a very bassy, low mid distorition. Metal gives you lots of midrange like you'd expect, and Zoom Box is very impressive, kind of like old style tube distortions from the past. Overall they all sound good, like getting 6 good distortion pedals in one convenient, compact box. You really don't need to tweak the sound, I always keep the gain on full to give a rich sound. Currently I play it through a fender 2x12 solid state combo, I've yet to try it with my marshall 30th anniversary, I'm sure it'll sound 10 times better.

I've had it for about 3 months, its never given me any problems what so ever.

Since nothing has ever gone wrong, I saw no reason to contact them.

I have to say that its very impressive, only thing is its discontinued and I find I see it very rarely, but I'm sure I could find one again if need be. Orginally a friend recommended it, and I'm glad he did. It's got many different distortion options, most seemed to be geared towards hard rock or metal, but its good for any style really. Its great to have all these sounds in one box instead of buying a million different pedals, so its definitley a plus. I recommed buy one if you get the chance.

This is hands down the best distortion stomp box I've ever used. I got mine used, so I don't have a manual, but I figured it out pretty quickly. It has a jack for an external footswitch which you should connect to a pedal with a momentary contact switch (I forget if normally open or normally closed) With the external switch tapped ON, it gives you a green light. You can "program" this to any setting (rotary switch, gain, volume, bass and treble ) Then tap the built in switch. This gives you a red light, and you can then set the controls "live". (these settings do not store, so if you change the green settings, you have to reset the red settings when you are done.)

This has been a relatively quiet distortion box, for the way I set it. Most guitars pick up some noise (Flourescent lights, TVs. etc...) but it has a very effective threshold point. It has a "noise reduction" potentiometer, but I rarely mess with it. Between the rotary switch (color), Gain, Volume, Bass and Treble, you can get a wide variety of different distortions. Also, you can crank the gain on it and back off on your guitar a little, and it will give you a full sweet nearly clean sound when you pick or strum softly and total grunge when you slam the strings a good one. Of course, if you want nearly infinite singing sustain, crank the guitar.

I've had mine for about two years without any glitches. The case is very rugged, and hasn't even scratched although I can be very hard on my gear. The one I have eats batteries ( 6 x AA ) in about 4-6 hours, so I generally use it with a dreaded wall-wart (DC converter) amazingly, with no AC hum as a result. I trust it implicitly, and use it about 97% of the time.

Since I got my Zoom Driver used, I have no manual. When I first got it I was a little puzzled about the external footswitch, and concerned about the battery consumption so I contacted Zoom to request some info on it. They were very nice to me on the phone, but when I got my anxiously awaited envelope from them, instead of specs/instructions on my Zoom Driver, I received literature on some of their new products. Since I had figured it out before the package arrived anyway, I didn't pursue the matter any further. At the time they had just undergone some corporate structure changes and were a little disorganized. Since my day job is in a electronics company, I can really understand this type of confusion. They probably have a handle on it by now.

About a year before I bought mine, I knew a guy who had one and really loved it. At the time I was more interested in getting a multi-effects unit. Maybe something in a rack mount package, so I thought, yeah sure another damn stomp box. But I just happened to see it in a store that was going out of buisness, and figured what the heck, I'll plug it up and see what it sounds like. Well, once I heard it I had to have it.

Very easy to use, I mean, you can't miss anything. No particular setting give you bad sounds. Mind the red-n-green light programming mode, though. It doubles the fun.

A good distortion box, period. You can choose from combo (my favorite), Stack I & II (simulate stacks of different sizes and settings), metal (hard distortion, fancy but usable), Zoom (weird out from hell cool distorted sound!) and oops, R&B (the weakest part: not the bluesy tube tone as it may sound...)
The sound is great and you got a lot of power when you chose stack, crank up the drive and the low filter: blows your head off on a Marshall. Noise is very limited (it has got build in NR), and you get a great variety of sounds out of it.
The only minus is you can't get no bluesy tube sound from it.

Build like a tank in sturdy aluminium casted box.

A good deal (I bought it in a sale two years ago). It is hard to find, though. I kicked out the thin sounding Korg G3 and I want more variey than Boss Overdrive and MetalZone. This pedal delievers what I wanted.

Extremely easy, if you read the manual (some people have trouble with red-green-off- this is the coolest thing about the pedal- you can plug in an external switch pedal and have two different distortion sounds as well as clean). Other than that, the pedal is intuitive and fairly standard. The manual is thorough and clear (I hate bad English translated from bad Japanese translated from Korean).

ALL distortion pedals have inherent noise, but the Zoom features built-in NR, which helps a lot without cutting off attack or sustain (it's well-tweaked for guitar). All the settings (there are 6) work very well, though R&B is a bit of a misnomer. My favorites settings are Stacks 1+2 (David Gilmore), and Zoom (Brian May). The Hi and Low EQs really are useful to fine tune the effect to individual guitars. Switching between on/off or setting 1/setting 2 is very quick and silent (no pops or scratches).

It's built like a tank. It's all metal and is heavy enough that I don't kick it around on stage. I've never have it crap out on me yet.

Never had to.

I own 3 of these, and I'm always looking out for more. (Just in case they discontinue it. I LOVE THIS PEDAL!

Easy as pie. If you're into using your feet for "real-time" settings changes like me, this one's a little tough because the knobs are smaller than most pedals. It's got a really big selector-type knob that also doesn't work too well with your feet...you might need to play barefoot! I didn't receive a manual for this. As a result I don't know why it goes from "off" to "red" to "green" and then "off" again.

I could hear a little noise....and then I discovered the mysterious "ZNR" knob on the side. I assume that stands for "ZOOM Noise Reduction". If it doesn't, oh well, because that's exactly what it did. There are 4 control knobs: out, gain, low, high. The fifth knob is a 6-position selector-type thing. The first selection is STACK 1: thick Smashing Pumpkins sound (like from Cherub Rock). This is my second favorite sound. 2nd is STACK 2: kind of a weaker version of the first, but a different tone. 3rd is COMBO 112: a little "softer" than the first two, but more mid-range, and thick sounding, like a combo amp. 4th is R&B: not the old kind...more like John Butcher of something. There definitely seems to be the slightest hint of Chorus in this setting, because it has that squelchy sound when you do rhythm. This might actually be a bit of compression. 5th is METAL: the tinny Smashing Pumpkins sound (like from Rocket). I don't really like this sound, but it's great for cutting through rhythm while doing leads. And last, but definitely not least, the 6th setting is called ZOOM BOX: this SHOULD have been called BRIAN MAY HEAVEN, because it IS that classic Brian May sound. When I was looking for a distortion pedal, and I tried this pedal out at a music store that had an in-house model that they wouldn't sell, that 1st and especially the last selection motivated me to search the world, high and low, fore this pedal. It is worth it. They say a used pedal is worth about $11 per knob (in general, of course).

I can't wait to use this live. I've used it in the studio with nothing else...there's so much "color", and it's never caused problems. Just bring a lot of batteries.

Haven't had the experience.

Well the way I look at it is you get 4 controllers, 6 settings, and a noise reduction controller. That's 11 knobs. Folks....get this pedal! I would definitely pick one up if I saw one. They are VERY hard to find, unless you search on the 'net for about a week like I did, and I have a feeling that they might go down in effects history (like the TS-09 that I've heard so much about). It definitely doesn't give you that tube sound. My only wish on this pedal is that it had a mid range tone control, but hey, we always want something more, don't we! It's definitely helped define my recording sound (I have yet to use it in a live setting). Also, I don't think this pedal could break, either. I mean, it could be considered a dangerous weapon if used for that purpose!