Zoom G5N

ZOOM G5N £249
An all-in-one fl oorboard processor that won’t bankrupt you
THE
G5 is Zoom’s fl agship
product, and this
tweaked update from the
multi-effects specialist promises
a bevy of amp sims and effects
for even more fun. At home, it’s
a handy practice tool, with a
headphone output, onboard drum
rhythms, 80-second looper and
aux input for a music player.
For recording, you get a USB audio
connection direct to your
computer, and on stage you can
run the G5n straight into the PA,
making the most of the amp and
speaker sims – or you can use it
effects-only, as a complete
pedalboard in front of your amp.
With 200 memory locations
spread across 50 banks of four –
you can run as many as nine
simultaneous effects per patch –
though be aware that DSP-hungry
combinations can limit that
number. Amps take up two blocks
and speaker sims take up one,
while the looper and drum
machine take up one each. Taking
a leaf out of Fractal’s book, Zoom
says that the G5n will be the gift
that keeps giving, as monthly
fi rmware updates will add new
amps and effect models – our
review model features fi ve amps
and their appropriate speaker
cabs, plus 68 effects.
A well thought-out switching
set-up makes live use easy. The top
row of footswitches offers instant
access to the four patches in a bank
or switching four of the effects in a
patch, depending on whether you
are in Memory or Stomp mode.
You can switch between these
modes using one of the fi ve
Monthly firmware updates will
add new amps and effects
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
switches in the lower row, which
also offer tuner access, tap tempo
and a scrolling function – either to
change banks or, in Stomp mode,
to effectively move the upper
footswitches to access more of the
effects in a patch. Remember, you
can have up to nine, but there are
only four footswitches, so set those
patches up carefully…
The amp and cab models are
pretty standard, including classic
Marshall, Fender and Vox models.
They cover plenty of tonal territory
for recording, and could cut it for
live work straight into a PA – the
footswitch for the second block is
even set up as a solo boost. The
effects cover just about every
overdrive and distortion you could
need, while reverbs, delays and
modulation effects, particularly
the tremolo, are impressive. We
really like the treadle-operated
ChromeWah, too – no need to fork
out for a separate pedal here.
At around the fi fth of the price,
the G5n is in a different sonic
league to the likes of the Line 6
Helix or Fractal AX8, but its
fl exibility and huge range of
sounds mean it could fulfi l
similar roles for anyone who
can’t afford those mega-
processors. As far as rig-in-a-box
pedals go, it’s a bargain.
Trevor Curwen
GEAR ZOOM G5N
SUMMER 2016 83
TYPE: Multi-effects processor
CONTROLS: Data entry, menu
button, master level, output
boost, output tone 16x ‘soft’
knobs, 8x buttons, treadle
SOCKETS: Standard guitar
input, mini-jack aux input,
standard outputs (L/mono, R),
mini-jack stereo phones output,
USB, control input
BYPASS: Buffered
POWER: 9V DC adaptor
500mA (included)
CONTACT: Zoom UK
08432 080 999
www.zoomcorp.co.uk
AT A GLANCE
© Joseph Branston
OUTPUT BOOSTER
THIS non-switchable
section affects the signal
just before output,
emulating a valve booster
and emphasising high or
low frequencies
TOP ROW
THESE footswitches offer
instant access to four of the
effects in the loaded patch
in Stomp mode. In Memory
mode, they select the four
patches of the loaded bank
SCROLL
THESE allow you to change
banks in Memory mode.
In Stomp mode, they scroll
the effects in a chain so that
they coincide with the
upper footswitches
TGR283.gear_zoom.indd 83 14/07/2016 15:35