ZOOM G1X FOUR

If the Kemper Stage is a gourmet burger with the lot, then the Zoom G1X Four is but a simple Vegemite sandwich. But you’ll only pay around $180 bucks for that sarnie, so fair enough.

What’s astounding to us is how good this pedal is, regardless of its price and position with other competitors. Its sounds are not the best in the world, granted, but they are worlds away from the ugly digital cack that Zoom was known for back in the late ‘90s. And though it’s true the sounds lack a bit of character and polish compared to their more well-heeled brethren, it’s undoubtable they’d still hold their own at a gig or for beginner recordings.

What feels the heat of the unit’s low price isn’t nearly as much the tone as the features – you just don’t get that same input and output flexibility. No stereo, only mono. And then there’s the issue of build quality, too – at this pricepoint, the housing will always feel a bit more vulnerable. But on the other hand, lots of good stuff has been stuffed into this little guy, such as a looper, tuner and drum machine.

As guitarists these days, we take so much for granted, like amp and cabinet simulation and quick workflow based around a ‘live’ digital pedalboard. It makes us grin to think that this tech is available so cheap to kids at home or school who are just getting started with the guitar. And cheap as it is, a little Zoom is still a great introduction to the vexed, yet joyful quest to make a guitar sound good.