With so many effects, great features and sound shaping options, the Zoom G1 Four is an incredible sonic experience for both you and your audience. Power Options The G1 FOUR/G1X FOUR runs on just four AA batteries. Alternatively, it can be powered using the optional Zoom AD-16 AC adapter or via USB bus power. Changing the effect parameters is a bit fiddly, but no more than you would expect on a compact multi-effects unit.

The only negative thing I would say is the plastic shell seems a little too light and likely would not hold up to heavy use. It should be fine with proper care.

In terms of construction, I think this is a definite upgrade from the G1on. The construction is a little more heavy duty and the footswitches seem to be more suited for frequent stage use. For convenience and demo purposes the unit comes stuffed with preset patches. There are 10 banks (A-J) each capable of holding 10 patches; any and all of these can be overwritten and you can move patches about to fully customise your new best friend. Oh, and the unit has a built-in looper with a maximum 30-second recording time as well as the ability to overdub countless times using different patches. There are 68 rhythm patterns to play along with. And there’s a tuner that can be set for five open tunings as well as standard. It’s quite an impressive list. However, where this pedal comes into it's own is patch creation. You can use the pedal controls or PC-based software to make a patch using a huge range of amps, cabs and pedals. If you can dream it, you can probably make it... or at least a close approximation of it... on the G1X. BUT: It is by default set to "amp" output mode and it does NOT have a global switch to change to "mixer" or "headphone" mode (!!??). So you have to trigger a cryptic "microphone" feature in the cabinet simulation to get a decent sound when playing via the livingroom stereo or even listening to it via headphones (!?) I mean, you can do that, but you have to do it for EVERY patch you use. Okay, no problem so far, but you need to inform the customers about that. I guess most of the time the device is gonna be uses in a livingroom or with a computer or a DAW or headphones. Not with a "real" cabinet. Learned about that "microphone" mode from the interent. When students ask for a good starting guitar pedal, lets explore one that might be a good one to explore.

Your Favourite Amps and Cabinets With 13 classic amps and cabinets like Fender, Marshall, Orange and more*, the G1 series brings big stage sound wherever you go.Looper for recording up to 30 seconds / 64 beats of CD-quality audio with seamless start and end times Off the Floor The G1 FOUR/G1X FOUR’s control panel is also designed for hands-on, desktop use. Dial in tones and adjust level settings with absolute precision to craft your perfect sound. I'm not easily impressed by multi-FX pedals--having tried offerings from all of the major players over the past 25 years--Zoom, DOD, DigiTech, Boss, Vox, and Korg--even Alesis, and Behringer. This sets the bar for all of them and it is high. Pedal simulations: This one blew me away... tubescreamer, big muff, tape delay, pitch shift, tremolo, sequencer, ring modulator... the list goes on. This pedal has all of them in there and they sound great! Whatever sound you’re looking for; be it classic, modern or something entirely new – it’s possible with the Zoom G1 FOUR Multi-FX unit.

There's plenty to explore in the G1X Four with over 70 effects to play with. You've got your classic effects such as overdrive, compression, and fuzz; but you also get crazier effects like ring modulator, pitch-shifting delay, and sitar simulation. Finally, while there is a bit of a learning curve for editing the patches, if one has used the G1on, this is actually a little easier, especially when it comes to arranging the patches. A gig-rig in a box, the Zoom G1 FOUR multi-fx pedal is overflowing with potential, allowing you to perfect your sound and experiment with new ones. Zoom G1 FOUR Guitar Multi-Effects Processor Key Features: Along with this, there are 68 ready-made rhythms which you can play along with and even use in conjunction with the Looper. Customise and Get Creative Comparative product: I don’t think there are any products that do drums, loopers and have different tone presets all in one box!To move from patch to patch you use the foot pedals, which will take you up or down through the banks. To bypass the unit altogether, press both simultaneously; this also drops you straight into tuner mode, which is very useful, but you can also toggle through the banks using the up/down cursor keys. There’s a preselect mode that lets you set up a second patch while continuing to play the first… very handy for live playing. As with any digital amp modelling pedal, the sounds coming out of this box aren’t especially suited to a valve amp and this isn’t going to replace your high-end “boutique” pedal board, but for a fun and practical practice tool, the ZOOM G1on is unrivalled for this kind of money.

It's quite affordable, especially at the current price of 67 euro. With that, I have to say build quality is acceptable, but I would avoid stomping it with my feet (as I'm a heavy guy). Not sure how it would hold up outside of the bedroom. Cannot give it more than 4 stars for build quality. The second major improvement is that the algorithms are all software based instead of firmware based and the unit can be connected to a computer via the USB port to update the software, add/delete effects, and edit patches. This also means one can remove unwanted effects from the unit--such as in my case where I have no need for amp modeling or distortions.I've used DigiTech, TC Electronics, and Line 6 units through the years. While it is possible to get great sounds out of any of them, they take a lot of work. Not the case with this G1 Four unit. A few simple tweaks and you're in tone heaven. Between these extremes, though, are some great basic guitar patches that showcase the real potential of the unit. If you have a nice-sounding amp you’ll probably want to turn the amp sims off and just use the FX potential. Alternatively, this little box will drive a clean power amp very effectively. Amp sims are also very useful for computer recording and these sound great. Spend more money if you want enhanced realism and interchangeable cab sims, but these models capture the spirit of the amps they seek to emulate. I've had some multi-effect units before, and they were all fine, but there was always something missing. When the effects are bypassed the volume knob becomes a pitch adjustment control for the tuner. However the signal is still affected by the volume setting. You just can't change the volume.