Zoom GFX-707

The manual is excellent AND it's on the net in PDF format for free downloading, so you can actually learn how to use the unit before you purchase it if you so desire. This is what I did. However, if you're at all familiar with floor effects boxes and pedals, you don't really need the manual. It is incredibly intuitive and very smartly done in terms of user interface. Worthy of special notation are the parameter knobs that allow for real-time editing of any patch while in play mode. This allows you to adjust your sound while playing (ala stomp box), but if you like the sound of your adjustments, just hit the store button and save your tweaks to the preset! How easy is that? The very readable display is also excellent. I should give this category a 10 probably, but if I rave too much they may not post it. Comparing it with my Toneworks AXG1 (which I like very much), it is so much easier to use and especially to read.

I use the pedal with a Fender Roland-ready Strat. I am using the effects loop on my Roland GR-30 guitar synth to hit the GFX-707 and there is no loss of signal that I can decipher and the unit is very quiet, not noisy at all. I especially like the distortion and OD effects. I am well pleased with the reverb, chorus and delay and to be honest, I don't use pitch shifting and stuff like that very often. The wah is excellent (better than the AX1G), but the auto-wah is not so (but that can likely be adjusted to suit one's taste). The cabinet emulators are way cool and I haven't touched the noise reduction yet. Oh yeah... the drum machine! While I probably would never think of gigging with it, man does it open up avenues for creativity; a most excellent feature for practicing (beats the heck out of an obnoxious metronome). The 6 second sampler with the capability for slow play-back is also a very nice perk for those of us who are still trying to figure out what the heck "the Greats" are actually doing! You can plug in your favorite SRV CD and sample a lick, then play it back nice and slow while you figure out what ol' Stevie was thinkin'... way cool!

This is a platic unit, which has plusses (it's very light and small), and minuses (it's more fragile than metal). For me it's not an issue 'cause I play mostly in my home studio and at churches. I'm in a contemporary christian worship band and while we can get pretty raucous, it's not like there's a lot of opportunity for it to get damaged. I won't use a backup. In fact I plan on selling my AX1G, since, sound-wise, the two things are pretty much redundant and the GFX is imminently easier to use... and more fun!

I've not dealt with Zoom or Samson Technologies, but it comes with a "no strings attached" 1 year warranty. For the almost negligible cost of the unit, I think a one-year warranty is excellent!

When the Korg Toneworks AX1G came along (just months ago), I thought it was the greatest thing, and I still like it. I also checked out the Zoom 505 before I bought the AX1G. I have to tell you, the GFX-707 blows them both out of the water. It beats the AX1G because of it's easiness and readability and feature list. The AX1G beats the 505 on sound and features (especially the pedal, which is why I bought the AX1G). But the additional features and sounds of the GFX-707 clearly beat them both, and within the same price range (i.e. under $200). In my opinion, this is a value that just can't be beat, although I'm very interested already to see what's coming next?

This multifx pedal is easy for a beginner. I dont have much trouble editing my sounds, compared to my RP3. The features are also simple yet compact. The manual provided are clear and concise, and for a familiar multifx player, you dont even need the manual to operate this baby.

I am using my Les Paul Custom 98 Black Beauty with my Hughes and Kettner Tube 50 Combo to test this thing. It seems to me the sounds are not to what you expected. Rp3 does sounds a lot better compared to GFX 707. If they can enhance the sound to a stereo sound it would the best. I connect this GFX with Rp3 to gain the maximum sound, and it works. The stereo sound of GFX is termendous and you'll be surprised with it. GFX707 has great effects blended into one compact processor. So, no worries, superb effects. I love the Wah stereo sound of this pedal. I have a VOX wah pedal and DOD volume Wah Pedal. GFX Wah sounds better than DOD, but less than the VOX. But, still the best Wah sound compared to RP3 and Zoom 505.

This is of course a plastic, fragile baby. You cant throw or drop it anytime u like. so, no aggressive use is adviced. I would certainly use a backup when using this pedal. I have tried numerous Multifx pedals, like RP12, ME30, RP7, Zoom 3030, etc, and I will need a better pedal for backup. This pedal is great for a jam session and not for a gig, indeed.

I play various kind musics, rock, Jazz and blues. I have playing guitar for 5 extensive years, and this pedal can be graded as versatile. I love the percussion feature (first to built this), and if we cam edit the drum, would be better. Anyway, I love this pedal.

it is pretty easy compared to some though if you have never used a multifx pedal its not exactly totally easy, but its probably one of the easier that i tried comparing to the boss gt3 and digitech rp3 and 7 the coolest thing is the super large alphanumeric readout... the engineers get a thumbs up on this one... as far as giging, it outdoes the digitechs and the boss by far especially if your as blind as me...

the distortions are the best, though zoom is known for that so that is not much of a suprise... the chorus is really good the reverb is pretty good.. the echo is the only thing that you really have play around with to get a non artificial sound... this pedal would have a ten if the when you changed effects the previous effect would fade out... it just switches which most of the time is not a problem at all but on some effects switches it really is a problem i am pretty sure the nicer effects units offer this function, though i am not certain... but i prefer the compact size of this pedal to the more exspensive boss and digitechs... now i tried the digitechs and the rp3 is more majestic sounding but it is filled with little static clicks and glitches, known as artifacts to audiofiles.. and really makes it in my opinion unusable... and the distortions are bad... the rp7 has the distortion problem as well but i can not confirm whether it has the artifact problem... the boss gt3 has better distortions then the digitech but not better then the zoom... the gt3 is just too big and exspensive as well... people have complained about the zoom 505 having a serious noise problem well zoom fixed this prob cause the 707 is way quiet i think only the gt3 is a quieter of all i tested...
the drum machine sounds good and if your into that you will really like it, it would have been really cool though if they allowed you to control the drum tempo with the expression pedal, and even let you change the drum banks with the foot pedals... now if they ever get that working you could really be a sweet one man band with this thing so hopefully zoom includes that on the next model... anyway i wanted to give this a 7.5 because the lack of a fade out on patch switching which really is a weakness as far as having the total fx package, but that dont allow decimals so ill up it... i think though this is the pedal to get, you shouldnt spend anymore until you get your first gold record... plus maybe you find out your a folkie at heart and you dont like fx...

plastic but it seems sturdy

they would get a ten if they had the fade out function, but like i said thats really only an issue with a few effects switches... but still i dont like to feel limited... it would get and 11 if it had that drum conrol i suggested as is i would give it and 8.5 but again no decimal so i'll go 8 so as to encourage the zoom engineers to take my suggestions and build in my suggestion

This is a whole editing, recording, playing back system in one. With the detailed intructions you can do all of that in 10 minutes. I love the ease of this pedal. It is NOT AT ALL hard to use.

I use it with my Ibanez and it sounds terrific. Each preset sound is excellent in its own way. From Van Halen to the blues, take your pick.

Definately. Hey, it even has a built in drum machine! Wo can beat that? If you need dependable sound, function, or backup, it's all here.

I've never dealt with ZOOM one on one, but it does include a one year "limited warrenty" so if it busts they can fix it or send a new one.

I don't want to waste your time. It is the best pedal I've ever owned and since it can do so much, you can't get a better pedal. I would give it a thumbs up! What are you waiting for, go get it!