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Zoom G11 at Winter NAMM 2020
- Thread starter jimfist
- Start date
Mine came in today. As far sounds go, it's as great as I expected. I've only played guitar through it so far, but I'm VERY happy with the tones I can get out of it. The IRs are really a game-changer.
I'm not a fan of the touchscreen. It's a little finnicky, and I miss the face buttons on the B3n. The dedicated amp section is a welcome addition, but It doesn't give quick access to every amp parameter (like the ultra hi/lo on the SVT). Fine for a gig, but a little frustrating when settling on settings initially.
In general I miss the B3n's UI, but this is still very intuitive, I just need to adjust.
It also takes a LOONNGGG time to start up. Between flipping the power switch on and hearing sound out of the pedal was nearly a 45 second wait. I don't know how this compares to other high end modelers, but the wait is under 6 seconds on the B3n. That seems potentially song-ruining if it were to power down for any reason at a gig (an issue I've never had, but I still think it's worth noting).
I've heard people react negatively to the looks, but its a bit more subtle in person, and I'm fine with it. Solid matte black would've been my preference, but I have no issues with the carbon fiber thing going on.
The pedals seem to be the same size but the foot switches for scrolling are considerably smaller than the B3n. Not sure how they compare to the G5n. I don't think it'll give me any problems.
So far, I'm really happy with it. Please feel free to ask any questions.
Sloppy snapshot:
I'm not a fan of the touchscreen. It's a little finnicky, and I miss the face buttons on the B3n. The dedicated amp section is a welcome addition, but It doesn't give quick access to every amp parameter (like the ultra hi/lo on the SVT). Fine for a gig, but a little frustrating when settling on settings initially.
In general I miss the B3n's UI, but this is still very intuitive, I just need to adjust.
It also takes a LOONNGGG time to start up. Between flipping the power switch on and hearing sound out of the pedal was nearly a 45 second wait. I don't know how this compares to other high end modelers, but the wait is under 6 seconds on the B3n. That seems potentially song-ruining if it were to power down for any reason at a gig (an issue I've never had, but I still think it's worth noting).
I've heard people react negatively to the looks, but its a bit more subtle in person, and I'm fine with it. Solid matte black would've been my preference, but I have no issues with the carbon fiber thing going on.
The pedals seem to be the same size but the foot switches for scrolling are considerably smaller than the B3n. Not sure how they compare to the G5n. I don't think it'll give me any problems.
So far, I'm really happy with it. Please feel free to ask any questions.
Sloppy snapshot:
How many bass cabinets do they offer for stock IRs? Do they have multiple mics/placements for them?
No stock Bass IRs. They just carried over the SVT and Aguilar Cab sim. The IRs have a Hi and Lo control, along with a balance and volume control. I haven't plugged it into a computer to see if there are any additional parameters to adjust, but I doubt it. They have separate IRs for 1" away, 12" away, and a room mic.
Obviously, since it lets you load your own IRs, you can make sure your favorite sounds are in there. I think there are 170ish empty IR slots.
The cab sims seem like they were ported over from the G3n. You can turn the mic off, or turn it on and select a balance between an sm57 and an md421.
Obviously, since it lets you load your own IRs, you can make sure your favorite sounds are in there. I think there are 170ish empty IR slots.
The cab sims seem like they were ported over from the G3n. You can turn the mic off, or turn it on and select a balance between an sm57 and an md421.
Here's a rough mix of a demo I recorded direct from the G11, using it as an interface. All instruments were tracked through it with no additional processing except for the following 2 exceptions:
Clean bass track has a compressor and EQ plugin.
Guitar solo is the G11, but I doubled it with a mic'ed track (my B3n through 2 practice amps). The mic track had some sloppiness that I liked but couldn't replicate. Only the solo. The other lead type parts are all G11
The drums are programmed, and there's a synth lead at the very end.
I think it sounds pretty damn good.
Clean bass track has a compressor and EQ plugin.
Guitar solo is the G11, but I doubled it with a mic'ed track (my B3n through 2 practice amps). The mic track had some sloppiness that I liked but couldn't replicate. Only the solo. The other lead type parts are all G11
The drums are programmed, and there's a synth lead at the very end.
I think it sounds pretty damn good.
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Quick clip I recorded. Some of that dirt mcnasty going on with the bass. Probably a bit extreme for most, but I dig it quite a bit.
The Reeves wasn't used. This is just my phone's mic picking up the Zoom running through my studio monitors.
I e-mailed Zoom asking some questions/making some suggestions. I mentioned parallel processing, as well as removing what seems to be an arbitrary effects limit (with 10 effects slots full I'm at less than 70% capacity for the processor, but can't add more.
If this was $499 or $599 it would be a ridiculous no-brainer. At $799, I can't help but think that people who want a "serious" modeler are going to look elsewhere. I think the lack of parallel processing is actually a huge deal, while not a real essential for my needs.
That being said, I'm still very happy with my purchase.
I ordered the bluetooth adapter to use my nice headphones with, so we'll see how that plays out.
Tomorrow is my first rehearsal with the G11. I'll be running the bass through the PA. I'll let you know how it goes.
I know this thread really isn't making waves, but I'm gonna keep updating it with my experiences in case anyone is curious and does a search.
Maybe I'll do a belated NPD thread.
Rehearsal went really well. The drummer we played with is a big plugin guy. He's got tons of high end gear, plays on tons records (mostly metal it seems), is big on all the modeling and amp sim stuff out there.
He said that it sounds "unreasonably good." Price or brand never came up. He was just commenting on my tone. This was direct in through the PA.
The only issue I had using it "live" is that my foot hit the patch up/down switches by mistake a few times. I just need to adjust to the form factor.
The main patch I've built for bass uses the Aguilar amp sim, the stock Zoom Fender Bassman IR, a comp, and a few different drives.
I've asked Zoom if they'll be updating the G11 with more bass stuff, so I'll keep you posted when I get more info. Don't shy away from it because of the current lack of bass specific options though. The lo control on the IRs can bring some serious thunder. Combine that with the amps and various other EQ controls, there's no bass lacking unless you want it to.
If you're willing to spend the time with it, I'd be shocked if you can't find good/usable sounds. From thump to grit to sparkly cleans, it can do everything.
I still found it more intuitive than the Helix, for whatever that's worth.
The FX loops are awesome. I have a clone of the preamp section of a Traynor TS-50 (not a Rusty Box) that I've been using in the loop in place of the on board amp sim, and it works/sounds great. I think there's a ground loop issue when I try to use the actual Traynor, which I'm trying to sort out. So if you have a specific preamp sound you love, you can easily integrate it.
The G11 really has me rethinking my rig. A reference cab like a Barefaced Big Baby 2 and a nice power amp would really be all I'd ever need.
I'm exhausted and rambling, so I'll stop. As always, feel free to ask any questions.
Also, big thanks to Jimfist for the Gold Drive suggestion. That really did the trick, and I don't feel the need to throw my Emma Stinkbug into the mix. I a/bed the GD with my dad's Keely Tumnus (another Klon clone), and I actually preferred the Zoom. They sound VERY similar though.
Maybe I'll do a belated NPD thread.
Rehearsal went really well. The drummer we played with is a big plugin guy. He's got tons of high end gear, plays on tons records (mostly metal it seems), is big on all the modeling and amp sim stuff out there.
He said that it sounds "unreasonably good." Price or brand never came up. He was just commenting on my tone. This was direct in through the PA.
The only issue I had using it "live" is that my foot hit the patch up/down switches by mistake a few times. I just need to adjust to the form factor.
The main patch I've built for bass uses the Aguilar amp sim, the stock Zoom Fender Bassman IR, a comp, and a few different drives.
I've asked Zoom if they'll be updating the G11 with more bass stuff, so I'll keep you posted when I get more info. Don't shy away from it because of the current lack of bass specific options though. The lo control on the IRs can bring some serious thunder. Combine that with the amps and various other EQ controls, there's no bass lacking unless you want it to.
If you're willing to spend the time with it, I'd be shocked if you can't find good/usable sounds. From thump to grit to sparkly cleans, it can do everything.
I still found it more intuitive than the Helix, for whatever that's worth.
The FX loops are awesome. I have a clone of the preamp section of a Traynor TS-50 (not a Rusty Box) that I've been using in the loop in place of the on board amp sim, and it works/sounds great. I think there's a ground loop issue when I try to use the actual Traynor, which I'm trying to sort out. So if you have a specific preamp sound you love, you can easily integrate it.
The G11 really has me rethinking my rig. A reference cab like a Barefaced Big Baby 2 and a nice power amp would really be all I'd ever need.
I'm exhausted and rambling, so I'll stop. As always, feel free to ask any questions.
Also, big thanks to Jimfist for the Gold Drive suggestion. That really did the trick, and I don't feel the need to throw my Emma Stinkbug into the mix. I a/bed the GD with my dad's Keely Tumnus (another Klon clone), and I actually preferred the Zoom. They sound VERY similar though.
Welp, all I got was a generic "we'll forward this to our engineers" e-mail.
I didn't expect much more than that, but hopefully my suggestions will reach the ears/eyes of someone who has the power to do something.
I didn't expect much more than that, but hopefully my suggestions will reach the ears/eyes of someone who has the power to do something.
The G11 firmware is essentially .tar archive, so I've extracted the effects from it. They are the same as of B1 Four - format, filesize and contents. I believe it is possible to load all the bass stuff into G11. Also, effect-wise I think G11 should sound the same as current generation of multi-fx. Maybe better I/O and chips inside will do wonder, though.
P.S. I'll check the format of amps models if they one or two slots format somewhat later.
P.S. I'll check the format of amps models if they one or two slots format somewhat later.
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I'm sure it is possible. I had figured that the models were identical (save for the new models exclusive to the G11). I never had any issue with the quality of sound out of my B3n though, so that's perfectly fine for me.
I think that might make the $799 price tag harder to justify for most when the b3n/g3n can be had for under $200.
I'm hoping Zoom will continue to expand this and do something a bit more interesting with it. I'm definitely a fanboy at this point, which is why I bought in so early. Still happy with it (I've managed to impress a few axe fx loyalists), just hoping for more.
I've been using it in a completely different way than I use the B3n, so I can't say for sure if it sounds identical. The B3n was very much a pedalboard replacement in a traditional rig. The G11 IS the rig for me. I never found a way to be satisfied trying that with the B3n.
I think that might make the $799 price tag harder to justify for most when the b3n/g3n can be had for under $200.
I'm hoping Zoom will continue to expand this and do something a bit more interesting with it. I'm definitely a fanboy at this point, which is why I bought in so early. Still happy with it (I've managed to impress a few axe fx loyalists), just hoping for more.
I've been using it in a completely different way than I use the B3n, so I can't say for sure if it sounds identical. The B3n was very much a pedalboard replacement in a traditional rig. The G11 IS the rig for me. I never found a way to be satisfied trying that with the B3n.
I've checked the amps models of g11 vs. b1four. Unfortunately, they somewhat differ and if I load the same SVT from g11 to b1four - it displays 'missing effect' error. They also differ from B3n's.
Yeah, I was surprised by how well the Gold Drive worked for bass, but unfortunately it's not a B3n item (without using the software crack to swap the blocks between the bass and guitar versions). Glad it hit your sweet spot. We both seem to have pretty similar tastes in bass tone & style.
I appreciate that you keep us informed with the G11. The current price tag really is out of my budget for such an item, but I'd seriously consider a G11 if a significant price drop or sweet deal comes available...somewhere on the order of $500-ish. I actually enjoy the simplicity of design and WYSIWYG pedals w/controls.
I spent $299 for the G5n when it first came out, and it doesn't come stock with anything for bass. I'd consider the G11 to be a G5n on steroids that does include bass stuff, but again, at current asking price, I can't do it. Would absolutely be able to justify one for a bit cheaper, though. It would allow me to flip my G5n and B3n, and I'd also be able to put my Atomic Bass Box in the loop of the G11, giving me a ton more flexibility for dual amp switching type stuff.
Yup, $500 would be the sweetspot for this unless they add some more features. The fact that there's no case available leads me to believe that this was somewhat rushed out.
If they could shrink this down to roughly the size of the B3n (taking away the expression pedal and 2 stomp boxes should do it) but keep the processing power and loops, this would be an insanely great unit.
I like my boards to be plug and play. I would need a pretty large board to throw this on there with some things in the loop as well. That's just not practical for me. I'd love to add my C4 synth pedal and an external tuner for simplicity. Maybe a preamp or some fuzz/drive.
Also, for anyone wondering, if you don't own an Apple device, the bluetooth remote doesn't add any functionality. My phone sees it as a device, but can't connect to it. And there aren't any bluetooth options on the G11 that I can see (for connecting headphones or an alternative to using the aux in)
If they could shrink this down to roughly the size of the B3n (taking away the expression pedal and 2 stomp boxes should do it) but keep the processing power and loops, this would be an insanely great unit.
I like my boards to be plug and play. I would need a pretty large board to throw this on there with some things in the loop as well. That's just not practical for me. I'd love to add my C4 synth pedal and an external tuner for simplicity. Maybe a preamp or some fuzz/drive.
Also, for anyone wondering, if you don't own an Apple device, the bluetooth remote doesn't add any functionality. My phone sees it as a device, but can't connect to it. And there aren't any bluetooth options on the G11 that I can see (for connecting headphones or an alternative to using the aux in)
Price drop to $599 according to online vendors. IMO this should have been the initial release street price, but oh well. I don't have need for a pedal so large, but I think if the G11 can be had for $499, a lot of people might be swayed.
@primussucks9126 : can you tell me if the G11 will allow you to put more than one amp block in a preset? It seems like the new design (dedicated amp controls on board) lends itself to a single amp preset approach. If you CAN do more than one amp block, how does one know how to assign which of the multiple amp blocks to the on-board knobs?
599 is not too shabby! I may get one for my brother. He loves mine. I tracked a whole record with it a few weeks ago. The engineer loved the tone. I can share if there's any interest.
Nah, unfortunately just 1 amp at a time. I'm still really hoping for some substantial updates. Removing the arbitrary effects limit and being able to program which effects are visible on the "board" so you don't have to do any excessive scrolling would be pretttttty cool. A proper case would be nice too.
Hmmm....IMO that single amp limit/per preset means less flexibility within a single preset. I agree, that the stomp switches need to have a configurable "snapshot" mode or other programmable settings to make them more useful.
I see the door open for a lot of update possibilities. The question is: will ZOOM walk through the door and tidy up some of the features...or not? I hope they do.
I see the door open for a lot of update possibilities. The question is: will ZOOM walk through the door and tidy up some of the features...or not? I hope they do.
That's awesome news! I saw that the B6 was coming out and was worried that the G11 was getting pushed to the side.
I still really like mine, but I picked up a Headrush MX5 recently, and the processing power and routing versatility are undeniable, especially for the price. There are still plenty of things I like better about the G11, but I still think having no parallel routing options is a major strike against it.
I still really like mine, but I picked up a Headrush MX5 recently, and the processing power and routing versatility are undeniable, especially for the price. There are still plenty of things I like better about the G11, but I still think having no parallel routing options is a major strike against it.
Can you achieve a form of parallel routing by using a physical jumper from fx send to fx return, using a Send block at the beginning and a Return block at the end of the chain?
Yes! You can do that but it's a lot of extra gear and wires. The fact that the mx5 can do it (up to 4 different amps and cabs simultaneously per patch) in the box for only $399 is pretty dang cool. But like I said, there's a lot I still like better about the G11
