Zoom 9003

Some presets are useful, others are demo sounds but not usuable in real playing.
Editing is easy, there are two or three parameters in each effect.
The manual is good.

I use this multieffects with two electric basses (6-string and 4-string fretless) or a Korean Strat.
I use also it as microphone "with effects" for other instruments.
The amp is a SWR 15'' or my headphones.
Sometimes I use it in my mixer effects loop as reverb unit.
The bests sounds are the "clean" effects: reverb, chorus, ...
The drive or distorted sounds are useful, but I don't like (like in other multieffects units)
A good point: no noise background.

I only use this unit for study or home recording.
No problems at this moment.

I play jazz and I use the unit as study device (some drums presets are OK) or as Reverb/Chorus unit.
I've made some home-recording with it. The results are good (as home-record only).
I've bad-playing 20 years many instruments and the built-in microphone is useful for recording acustic instruments: I've recorded with this unit double bass, saxophone, trumpet, ukelele and the results are acceptable or good for home-study.

Here is a sample with double-bass and ukelele:
http://www.contrabajo.org/laclavedefa/uke/freddie.mp3
The ukelele has a very discrete chorus and reverb, the double-bass no effects and some Eq.

If it were stolen I will buy a more especialized device (Nano-Verb or simile).

This unit is not usable for gigs: no pedal, no external connections.
For home study and recording is a good and cheap election.

Excuse my poor English!

Pretty easy to get a good enough sound,but it sucks in front of an amp,better on headphones.Editing is easy,if you've had previous zooms,shouldn't be a problem.The manual is easy enough and tell you everything.Mine is a ver.2.No idea what version is the latesr.

I use a Ibanez RG770PN with a Carlsbro GLX85 combo.The znr is good but still abit noisy on max.Again, good for headphones,not in line,maybe effects loop it for the delays.

I have the previous 9002 and it does not output my guitar signal.I heard this was a common problem,I don't know how to fix it,can anybody help?I hope this one doesn't suffer the same problem,its over 10 years later,its no excuse not to solve the previous problems on products.Nah.....not a gigging item...only bedroom/hotel/travelling etc.

Not good enough customer service from the Parent company.How they have got so big with this type of customer service,beats me.I suppose there will always be a market for the cheapest products....thats definetly no excuse....Come on ZOOM,step it up a notch.....try putting a bit of profits into staff and customer service,not just putting you on to the closest dealer.....this is 2004 now..........

I'm into metal,heavy metal to black metal and everything in between.Good enough match,your fingers put you in the catagory your prefer.Nah....look at whats going at the time and check the reviews.Its small and easy to just set up and jam,excellent for headphones,the sampler at 30 secs is the best so far.Looked at reviews for the Korg PX3/4's,too expensive for a toy.The sampler helps me to learn leads,its invaluble and one of the only reasons i got it,30 secs is way better than 6 or 8 secs.

I purchased this used with no manual and it was simple to figure out.
With Mariner, I record in a dim studio and the lighted panel really helped.

I'm using a '68 Les Paul for my overdriven sounds, and an '86 Stratocaster for my clean sounds and tune down to E flat. All the presets in this unit sound fantastic, and are a great starting place. After editing one of the overdriven presets I discovered this "Air" setting. This is a jaw dropper!! It makes the preset overdriven sound come alive. It's stunning realizm. It sounds just like 4 Stacks cranked up to 11 in a large studio setting using the best mics. I've owned most of the popular modelers; Pod 2, Pod pro, Pod xt, Pod pro xt, Sansamp, V-Amp pro, Boss Amp Factory, Marshall DRP-1, Rockman, Jerry Donahue Session master, GK 250ML, Rocktron etc. and this puts all of them to shame. I don't record with any other Effects but I've tryed most of them and they all sound Pro. I think it has a great Reverbs. I understand that it also has a drum machine built in but I haven't used it yet. I've only used this for recording directly into the board with flatened eq. This is the first time I've ever written a review. I'm that impressed.

No problems yet.

Not needed.

For Rock, Metal, Pop, '60's (Great Fuzz setting, Fripp, ELP) it's fantastic! I've been playing and recording Hard/Metal Rock for over 20 years peforming live and recording. I plan on re-recording my last CD using this unit. I used the SansAmp on it and it sounded great, but the Zoom 9003 with this "Air" setting just sounds more real. I plan on buying another one as back-up. This has the best multiple Marshall stack "cranked" sound I've tryed yet. The only thing I wish it had is a metal not plastic body. I love the size and the backlit panel. I actually record with 4 Marshall Stacks on 10 in a large Detroit Mi. studio and love that sound. The Zoom 9003 sounds just like it in my small basement studio.

Once I put the manual away, things were pretty intuitive. The manual reads like it was written for a space shuttle pilot. I haven't got into editing patches yet, but I am sure I will need the manual for that.

You can get some really good distortion effects first up without much work. I was looking to see how much effort it took to nail some smooth jazz out of my Steinberger (now that's a real test of an effects unit). It really hasn't been doable yet, but I am not giving up hope. Otherwise, I was really impressed, especially when playing along in a hotel room with the drum machine component and a set of cans on. No complaints from the neighbours about my sound quality!

Too early to tell, but the thing is so damned light that I am little worried about the survivability of the plastic case in any place more hostile than a hotel room.

Haven't needed it so far. Finger's crossed.

Enough said for now. I will come back when I can provide a more definitive rating