Zoom G2

Very Easy
knobs, buttons and stomp switches. It doesn't get any easier

Well, the presets aren't spectacular but the distortions do not sound the same unlike what some tone def poster claimed, they simply do not yield enough gain.
The clipping is VERY dynamic and tube like, the level of harmonic distortion actually exceeds tubes. The response is easily as dynamic as well. Anyone complainging about dynamics is likely playing commercial guitars with commercial upgrades rather than frankenstein mod(how a $100 Johnson sounds better than a $2,000 Jackson).

I'm not some kid that knows shit about tone. I'm one of the few guys out there that actually knows why tubes sound the way they do and that guys who build tube amps from scratch, still lack the basic knowledge that harmonic distortion is what makes them sound the way they do. Responce is simply voltage controlled, nothing more. They tell you it's this that and the other, I've talked to them all. So if these guys are THAT clueless as to why things do what they do, some yamhead who buys a G2 knows even less about dynamics, response and harmonics.

Sounds great but getting a really hot signal is impossible cept for one setting, zooms DE homebrewed distortion. It's way brittle though and the only way to truly clean it up is on a mixing boards EQ.

The EASIEST solution, run a good overdrive into it. The Tube Screamer sucked but is a pedal no one likes until it is modified. My Arion Tubulator works AWESOME though!
Due to the gain short comings, I had to come back and repost.
Based on the specs, options, tonal qualities and lastly price, it blows the competition out of the water.
NO OTHER UNIT ON THE MARKET IN IT'S PRICE RANGE COMPARES

Unless you're a gear snob, it's still the best all in one floor unit there is it's price range and is the first of the model line.
Let's compare processors of the SAME CLASS.
Behringer V Amp floor unit - 31 Khz sampling and plastic sounding without an outside EQ.
POD - The cut down version is still $200 and has an overly tight sound making it sound great but totally fake.
Boss - Unless you spend $400 on one of their units, you run into the same cavern like dominating mid sound
Digitech - Majorly lack gain and no parameter controls..the TRUE kids toys in regards to processors.
All process at 24 bits

The Zoom G2:
32 bit processing, 96 khz 24 bit sampling
Parameter controls, greater number of effect combinations, heavier duty casing, METAL stomp switch AND pots, BATTERY powerable unlike POD and VAMP, up AND down expression pedal pitch bend unlike ALL the competition.
The list goes on and onSomeone who tries to compare this unit to other gear is blowing smoke up their favorite brands ass as well as their own.
The new line of ZOOM exceeds all the competition if you are actually HONEST about comparing them tonally and spec wise. I've owned a variety of processors over the years from a variety of Brands. Zoom isn't a toy, there are just far far too many experienced players that know absolute shit about gear and ORGANIC tone.

Very simple to use and program.

The person just below who submitted his review is a dick. I agree some of the presets are a bit overdone, but the tones this unit produces is unlike anything I've tried before. I am no kid, nor am I going to try to impress you because I own 127 pedals like the jerk below. Instead, I recommend you try one for yourself. I have been playing for 20+ years.

The clean and acoustic sounds are simply amazing. The distortions need more work. Also has a simple drum machine and tuner built in.

Seems well built. Metal chasis, metal plugs.

Absolutely the best thing going at this price range and sounds a lot better than any other multi-effects processor I've used, including the Boss GT-8 which costs over $300 more. This one is a keeper for me.

Easier than a 505 as it has four knobs. Easy to tweak drive, tone, and level whilst playing live. One new feature for a battery gizmo is an on/off switch so I think can leave your plug in. It has at least the illusion of heft. It looks great, like a piece off a nuclear sub. If you are a classic rock/shredder like myself you will hate most of the presets but it is very easy to edit.

Is is worth $99? Yes. Will you go nuts over it? No. Now I don't know what you young kids like but if you like totally blitzed
distortions that have no dynamics and sound the same no matter how you pick you might like the presets. The clean tones sound overly
compressed to me. BUT let me say this. The G2 is very clear, clean,
and quiet. I don't need the noise gate. Now one thing I don't like about all these kind of gizmos is that the cleans won't grow hair and the overdrives won't clean up. So natural cruchiness is hard to find. Most of the distortions have that darn midrange "nosed pinch" squawk that us vintage dudes hate. Why, cause it obliterates the sweet mids and replaces them with a simple squawky sound. I got this unit mainly to practice with headphones and to play along with the built in drums which in my opinion have not nearly enough brightness. The snare and cymbals sound very very dull.
But this is what really makes me mad. I am a heavy reverb kind of guy and when you turn on the drums the reverb goes OFF. WELL THANKS!!
I need reverb. I feel like my pants are down when I play without reverb. But the reverbs, and chorus etc. are very smooth and very nice. Vintage players; (AC/DC, Led Zep, Sabbath, Deep Purple, Malmsteen) like me will probably like the tone of the Boogie Crunch best. Their Van Halen preset doesn't sound like Van Halen at all but I was able to program a decent Eruption in about 71 seconds.

It seems quite sturdy for $99. I have 127 pedals so I'm not worried about a backup. Runs on batteries for 7 hours.

I don't care. I mean is Emperor Hirohito gonna talk to me?
Do the Japanese dudes want to hear me tell them their presets
are horrible? I don't think so.

Will this thing help you keep your no smoking resolution? No.
Is is worth getting, yes, I think it is somewhat NEW and DIFFERENT.
What do I mean, well it is VERY, VERY CLEAN, CLEAR, and QUIET.
Amp tones are quite fine and the effects are great. People say the drums and great but hey, they have no treble, Have you ever heard
cymbals with no treble. I THINK NOT!!!! And don't forget, if you
are getting one for mobile headphone practice like I did you might be upset as I was that the reverb goes off when the drums go on.

typical of two pedal multi-effects to use with the addition of the knobs which make editing a breeze. The manual is ok.

I have owned this pedal for 2 weeks and I am blown away. I was using the Boss ME-50 which I hated (artifacts in the delays, clipping in my effects loop). I only use this pedal for effects in the loop of my dual rec with les pauls with emg's. the 24 bit/96khz sampling rate is pristine for effects. I own and have used many analog effects, been playing in bands for 25 years, mostly hard rock/alternative. I love this pedal, it is super clean and quiet. other reviewers often talk of "digital" sound, not true with this pedal. the effects are rack quality (chorus, phaser, delays) and do not get dull (ie. "warm") like many analog effects. IF YOU PREFER DULL, TURN DOWN THE TREBLE. I love the crystal clear effects that do not get buried when playing with a band. The price is great but that is not why I bought it. It is the PERFECT multi-effects pedal for easily getting different sounds for different songs, with tuner. I played a show with it and my band remarked how good my guitar sounded. Highly recommended.

Made of metal with rubber sides, metal knobs and switches. Battery also, though batteries ran low towards the end of the show (4 hours). Looks solid.

too soon to tell.

I have never written a review before, but this pedal inspired me. this is because of all the multi-effects out there this one stands out because of 24bit/96khz rate. all other manfacturers should take note that 32 khz is not a good enough sample rate for time delay effects.(line 6, boss, digitech...) most major recordings today are done at 24/96 and this is certainly advantageous for guitar. I do not use the distortions/amp models, so my review is only for an all-in-one effects pedal that does all the necessary effects/tuner.

One of the easiest mult-effect pedal/modeler to program, imo. On the other hand, unless you know what you are doing you are apt to not give this pedal a fair evaluation at the music store.

I'd rather not give a rating but simply give my observations and let you decide.

Firt, here's my signal chain: a humbucker-equipped Strat through the G2 into a Roland KC-300. I normally use a Barber Direct Drive SS--Yamaha DG Stomp--Roland and am very satisfied with the hot-rodded Marshall tones I get. The cleans, which I need, are lackluster on the DG so I figured I would give the G2 a shot.

Clean tones: these really are the best modeled cleans I think I have ever heard. The choices in this category include Fender, Class A, JC-120, and an Acoustic simulator. I have used the Fender and Class A models live and was satisfied.

Mild Overdrive: not bad and better than many. I added some grit to the Class A model and it was okay live but still too soon to say definitively.

High Gains: I am very disappointed in these. I get some decent crunch tones out of the Boogie Crunch model but that is the closest I can get to a useable tone. The others have buzzy highs, cocked wah mids, and flabby, farty lows. I tried and tried to dial out these tones and just cannot do it.

Effects: the compressor isn't bad but needs more versatility. I wish there were more cab models to choose from. There is one default cab for each amp/distortion model. The other effects are very good bordering on fantastic for a $99 pedal.

The pedal is metal and the jacks are sturdy. Looks solid but too soon to tell. Again, for $99 I think it is a good value.

Cannot say.

I really needed clean tones and I got them. I really liked the Twin model on a Boss GX-700 I had but that had that weird digital tone behind it and that unit did not respond to guitar volume adjustments whatsoever. The Zoom G2 does allow you to clean up this way.

But I also need at least one useable high gain tone and haven't found it, perhaps the Boogie Crunch will do. So, I am debating whether to keep this pedal. My gut says "keep it" since the effects alone make the pedal an incredible value. Also, I am waiting to use this pedal like a stomp box in front of a regular guitar amp. I expect good things from this. The Roland KC-300 tends to be buzzy on the higher frequencies thanks to the poor tweeter so I don't want to be too hasty.

Read the manual!
It's fairly easy, but becomes very easy to do after you have had a good look at what the pedal can do in each mode

Im basing this review using the G2 in the effects loop of various tube amps.
Im pretty stumped! I originaly had a Boss DD-3, a Boss BF-3 & an eq pedal in the loop - until i messed about with this thing!
As odd it may seem this cheap pedal literally blew the boos pedals out of the water as i was able to do so much more than what i anticipated. Using the modulation this pedal has some great sounds, the flanger easily beats the BF-3 i had & can even go to 'zero' flanging which was pretty cool. You can set up multi delays & have them run at different times to get 'u2' type delay effects. Theres a few versions of chorus, pitch shifting, vibrato etc when used tastefully can sounds pretty impressive.

I never worried about using the amp/pedal module as i just used my amp for the distortion

Looks pretty sturdy, it's metal with rubber sides & the pots actually look like they have securing nuts! (Never really seen that on something like this before, I thought i'd see the pots just go throught the pedal housing and then mount to the PCB)

It's got warranty - im happy

Pretty damn cool unit - easily supersedes the older models & allot of competitiors effects. It's getting scary what digital can do! ...coming from an old tube snob :)

I have tried this in the shop but I was unable to figure the controls without the manual. I borrowed this before buying, I wanted to really test this unit. As other people have already said, if it was a 4 digit readout it would really be great.

I bought this as a practise amp solution and for this purpose it's more than good. But as I said I really wanted to test this before buying, let me explain.
I have a home recording studio with many VST amp sim, I also have JM60 (let say it's similar to J-Station only without good cab sim, but on the other hand it has a tube in the premp section)
I tested G2 against GRig, GSuite-JCM900 and my JM60. Clean sound from this box is amazing, it's just a fraction behind GRig and way better that my JM60. If G2 would have even better cab sim I think this unit would be better than GRig.
As far as the Rectifier and JCM sounds I think GRig, Gsuite and even my JM60 are better but don't be discourage it's not far behind, just slightly thiner not so 3D.

I didn't test this unit as a stomp box. I believe it would do just fine but I can't say for certain. As I said I bought this only as a practise amp and I believe I will use this as a amp sim recording unit as well.

The effects are very good. For this price even grate.

It's well built but I will just have to wait and see....

My thing is jazz & blues, so I'm very touchy about the clean sound. This thing really shines in this department. The heavy sound in my opinion could be better but on the other hand I'm not an expert for this type of sound.
I use this unit with Fender Strat Plus and Ibanez AR250, I play the guitar for 25 years. Zoom really changed my mind about their products. Until now I wouldn't even look at Zoom products but this is something else nice looking, good sounding....

The G-2 is fairly easy to use. For as few knobs as the unit has, Zoom did a great job keeping them from getting confusing. Each knob has buttloads of uses for scrolling through and tweaking effects etc..The user manual is easy to read and understand. Editing user patches isn't hard. The only thing I'd change is the digital display. It only has a 2 digit readout. Makes it a little confusing at first as to which effect or amp model your using. You get used to it quickly though. If it was a 4 digit readout it would really be great.

As far as sound goes, it still isn't what I hoped. I've never heard a unit that I loved, but the G2 I like!!! In my opinion it beats out Boss, Digitech on the amp modeling and the delays, flange, and phase are amazing. It still sounds digital to me but it's not as thin sounding as other units. I give this unit a thumbs up for user friendliness, overall sound, effects quality, and PRICE...This thing is cheap for all that's built in to it. I'm using a Peavey Wolfgang and Fender Strat with a Crate Glx halfstack. yes the crate is solidstate and has effects built in. But it is the best sounding solidstate i've heard. As close to tube as possible. Crate 4x12 cab makes the Zoom G2 sound good also. ZNR is awesome. I still think it's good for helping a guitarist achieve his own sound. G2 still doesn't nail tones of great guitarists like Van Halen, Lynch, Malmsteen. It does do Vai and Satriani fairly well. Oh yeah, check out the acoustic simulator. It's outstanding!! Wah's are ok. I don't have an expression pedal for it yet but expect the wahs to wail when i do. The drum machine is incredible. See, the G2 has so much stuff on it i keep adding stuff to my rating. So just go check it out yourself.

Dependable so far. Seems pretty rugged. I don't see any problem if someone wanted to gig with it.

I haven't had to deal with them.

I play metal, hardrock, blues, and easy listening stuff. The G2 does a good job at metal, excellent job at hardrock and blues, and kick ass job for clean chanel easy listnening stuff. Wasn't able to really get a great de-tuned sound as in today's metal. The chorus/reverb/delay are great with the acoustic simulator. I've been playing 15 years and the G2 is the best unit so far i've tried. If it were lost or stolen I'd buy another. It's small and doesn't get in the way.

How far can ioo bucks take you? Pretty far with this cheap ass box. I bought it because I liked my zoom gfx4 alot but it was pretty outdated. I will not cover the features it does have wich are many. But I will say it would be nice if they made a live pedal with maybe two more footswitches and an expression pedal. I like the physical desighn of this pedal. All steel chrome knobs, rubberized sides.

I would have given a 10 but I wouldn't say it's pristine compared to tube amps or other products well over 100 bucks. But it dous sound very good, the best multifx unit I have heard to date(I have not heard bossgt8 or line6 pod). I play metal and the distortions just flat out kick-ass. I've had it for 2 weeks and I have been tweeking like a madman, both amp and pedal, and I already have about 5 sounds to call my own. Aside from the distion I like the stereo chorus and pitch harmonizer. You don't loose any tone character, punch, or crunch while using effects.
I am using a B.C.RICH Virgin with EMG 81\85 pickups. I down tune to B. I am using a Line6 spider2 212 combo. This pedal really woke this amp up!!! I run it staight into the front, primarily through the red clean channel. It sounds killer. I know alot of people don't like this amp, but the spider2 is 150 watts and it gets LOUD AS HELL. And now with this pedal I can get an even wider array of sounds.
My biggest influence is the immortal DImebag, and know I don't think I ever will get his distinct tone. Every time I listen to him I get the adrenaline rush9and always will). Right now I would say my tone sounds pretty damned close to FearFactory's Archetype. This is what I want. My other influences are Meshuggah, Necrophagist, LambofGod, Bynight, Nile, Gorguts, Emporer, CephalicCarnage, Death, Jame Murphy, Testament, Marty Freedman, Lynard Skynard, Zepplin, Joe Satch, and Steve Via. And many others. Chuck Shuldiner is also one of my biggest guitar heroes. Why are we dying? I can pretty well achieve all the sounds I desire frome low volumes to medium gig volumes. I love this pedal!

Only time will tell, but it has very sturdy construction. My ZOOM GFX4 has never let me down and I take could care of it but still it has suffered some abuse.

Sound is very subjective. I always recomend trying somthing out before buying. These reviews at HC really help out when this is not possible. I plugged this thing in to my home stereo and it sounded god like. This is a damn good value. Just wish it had more foot control, but I will be ordering expression pedal very soon. The new chip they use has exlent sound quality. The 6 band EQ really helps achieve your tone, most versatile EQ I have seen in a multifx. Well I have to get back to tweeking and shreding. peace.

Pretty intuitive. However, the abbeviations on the display are quiet cryptic though. You definitely need the manual to program this thing. The manual is satisfatory. It tells you how to do everything that the unit is capable of doing in a straightforward manner. Editing and copying patches is quite simple.

The flexibility of the delays are great. They have many tweakable parameters.

I bought this unit mainly for the time-based effects (delay, reverb, chorus), not for the distortion. However, I was pleasantly surprised that they pretty much nailed the JCM800 2203 sound. I happen to have one and a/b'd it. I could barely tell the difference. I can't speak for the other amp models because I don't own those amps, but they sound kind of buzzy to me, especially the 5150 and Rectifier models.

The reverbs, delays, chorus, tremolo, vibrato, all sound superb, just as good IMO as any separate Boss pedal. The spring reverb especially sounds and feels remarkably close to my 68' Fender Vibrolux. Until now, I haven't been able to find a digital reverb that could do a reasonable surf-guitar sound. They just all sounded too artificial to me. This thing blows the Boss RV-3 away. The delays sound as good as a rack unit.

The compression sounds great, but as I stated above it's not as flexible as a Boss CS-3 because you can't control the attack continuously.

The intelligent harmonizer sounds great, but occasionally it screws up if you play a sloppy note and hit an extra string very lightly. However, that may have to do with the fact that I had some compression running. I can't really say how it compares to the Harmonist or and Eventide as I've never own either one.

I've only had it a week, but it's made of metal and rubber. So I don't think it will have any durabiltity issues. Also, I tend to baby my gear. This will probably stay protected in my pedalboard. This thing eats batteries. So I recommend using an adaptor. It came with one, but I use my pedalboard power supply instead.

So far I haven't had to deal with them. Knock on wood.

I needed a multi-effects unit for my pedalboard. I use analog distortion and I wanted to way to add ambiance, delay, trem without having to tap dance. Selected patches for these functions was a much more practical route for me. I needed something that was small enought for my pedalboard and served the function of several pedals. This fit the bill quite nicely. I would definitely buy it again.

A few things I would like to see:

Instead of having two discrete attack setting for the compressor (fast / slow), they should have made the attack continously variable.

You can only add a momentary footswitch to bank up, not down. That means you have to hit the switch 7 times if you want to go down one bank. They should have made this take a stereo jack so you could use a double footswitch, or made it so that hitting the external footswitch toggles the the function of the footwswitches between switching patches and switching banks.
I really like having the silent tuning option as well.

I wish it had a programmable loop so I could select a patch and have my analog overdrive automatically added. But for the size, sound quality, and price, I can't complain.

I would also like to see a way to program drumbeats into the patches, but heck, for 100 bucks, I'm probably asking too much. Overall this unit has exceeded my expecations.