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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Zoom G5 Tips and Tricks
Zoom G5 Tips and Tricks
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HarpNinja
3306 posts
Apr 29, 2013
11:50 AM
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Just a quick note that the G5 has models that translate well to some of the popular guitar effects for harp:
Exciter = BBE Sonic Stomp
OptComp = APHEX Punch factory, but is similar to the BBE Opto Stomp
Noise Gate = can be used similar to the Lone Wolf Harp Shield
Para EQ = could be used similar to a LW Tone+ if you know the low and high frequency you want boosted and the size of the Q
Octave = Micro POG (can handle chords alright)
Spring = LW Reverb - can adjust the highs and predelay
Analog Delay = DM2, LW Delay, etc...can adjust the eq of the delays
Resonance = AF9 Auto Wah
I am NOT saying these are going to be the exact same, but the ones I've tested get you pretty close. I've owned the actual pedals I compare to (not the LW Verb or Wah - but I've played the wah), and although I prefer my Lone Wolf Board (Harp Break>Flat Cat>Delay V2>Tone+) for their tone and tweakability, I thought some might overlook the G5.
FWIW - the LW Harp Tone+ is an amazing pedal, even if you are playing cleanly straight to PA. I should have picked one up a LONG time ago.
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boris_plotnikov
863 posts
Apr 30, 2013
5:56 AM
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How good is Zoom vs POD HD?
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isaacullah
2419 posts
Apr 30, 2013
6:06 AM
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Thanks Mike. Except for the Exciter, these are the main FX I'm using on my G3. I've got some more "out there" settings that use the synth and some of the oscillation and filters, but these are the ones I use the most. FYI, the only reason I'm not using the Exciter is because I don't think the G3 has the Exciter, but it has all the other models...
Oh, and I'd say that the octaver on these Zoom pedals is the best one I've played besides the HOG (I haven't played a POG). They seem to track really well, and you can string a couple of them together to get several different octaves at once.
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Last Edited by isaacullah on Apr 30, 2013 6:10 AM
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mr_so&so
670 posts
Apr 30, 2013
10:52 AM
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Thanks HarpNinja. I bought a G3 following Isaac's reviews and I'm pleased with it. I didn't know the corresponding relationships to harp-friendly pedals. I find that now I mostly skip the amp models and just use my vintage CM mic, an EQ and analog delay. I'll look more closely at those other effects now.
edit:
Quite a few of the amp models, e.g. US Blues = Bassman?, sound OK with treble off, and bass cranked up. I think I like the "FD Vibroverb" best maybe. Anyone have any favs?
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Last Edited by mr_so&so on Apr 30, 2013 11:04 AM
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isaacullah
2420 posts
Apr 30, 2013
1:13 PM
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@so&so: The two that I use are the FD Combo and the Deluxe-R... I had to significantly re-tweak all my amped patches after I updated to the V2 firmware (which is the same firmware as in the new G3X), and I've still not dialed the new patches in all the way to where I'm totally pleased with them. My current solution has been to add a noise gate to the front end of the FX chain so I can crank the amp model into the right distortion range, but I'm finding it alters the dynamics too much. I'll have to revisit the FD Vibro and see what it can do. Perhaps it's the solution I'm looking for! I haven't had a lot of time to spend tweaking sounds recently, but the semester's almost done, and hopefully I can get some more harp time in the next little while! :) I'm using a low-z Behrninger XM-8500 mic, by the way...
Interestingly, and as an aside, I'm not overly fond of the US Blues (Bassman) model in the G3, but I really liked the Bassman model on my old Digitech...
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Last Edited by isaacullah on Apr 30, 2013 1:15 PM
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mr_so&so
671 posts
Apr 30, 2013
1:22 PM
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Isaac, thanks for the reminder about the firmware update. I haven't done that and I should. I will try the noise gate too if I mess with the amp models some more. Like I said, I like the sound I get with just some simple effects though.
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Komuso
149 posts
Apr 30, 2013
6:31 PM
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I've been using Zoom since their first model, & I'm really liking the latest V4 DSP. I recently got a G3 and was impressed enough with it to also get a MS50G to replace my old G7 for guitar (I also want to be a little portable for live gigs). I looked at the G5 but it didn't really have enough to grab me, even though I love the tube in the G7. Prices are also dirt cheap for them here in Japan at the moment.
For Harp I'm finding the FD Vibro model has a little more bite than the other fender models, with the ParaEQ set at 250hz boost and a 2khz cut before the amp to shape/warm it a bit. A booster before the amp pumps it up a bit as well. Add FX after and good to go. I'm using a stock Strnad mic on rack, and for now I'm just going direct into the G3 - I want to see what sort of sounds I can get before sticking the Harp Commander 3 in front of it as well.
Straight into a Roland Cube Street works well, either on the Mic/Line channel or using the Guitar channel set to "instrument" which seems to emulate a keyboard FRFR type amp, which is what FX units like Zoom like best.
Still tweaking but really liking the dynamic responsiveness for both guitar and harp so far.
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Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
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Last Edited by Komuso on Apr 30, 2013 6:54 PM
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AW
145 posts
May 01, 2013
6:46 AM
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Thanks for this. As my other instrument is a UBass, I got the zoom B3 and have found it lots of fun for both bass and harmonica. All the effects you mentioned above except resonance are on the B3. I look forward to focusing on the ones you highlighted to tweak them a bit.
Key differences between the G series and B series is that the B3 still limits you to three effects and the amp models are all different. There are several more synth options on the B3 but you do drop off some other effects.
How do you all tweak your settings? Listen live through your amp, through head phones or into the computer? I have a hard time separating what I hear from my own playing from the sound out of the box sometimes.
Last Edited by AW on May 01, 2013 6:47 AM
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isaacullah
2421 posts
May 01, 2013
8:08 AM
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@AW: My method for tweaking my patches (going way back to my digitech days too) is to first dial it in with headphones, so I can really hear what's going on. Then, I patch it through my amp (my street rig), and I hear what it sounds like there... Typically, I'll have feedback right away, so the first thing I do is to try to get rid of that (the noisegate works well for this). Then, it's a matter of trying it out in different spaces and seeing what sounds good.
My main issue is that I ideally want my patch to sound good live AND in direct through USB recordings. This is a tougher goal than one would think... So far, I've not fully achieved this. One thing I've recently fooled with is making two versions of the same patch, one tweaked for headphones/USB, and the other for live playing... It's a lot to keep track of though, especially as you start changing in stuff in one, and then trying to achieve the same type of change in the other....
Right now my challenge is to have an "amped" patch that I can also beatbox through... I like to have some 'verb on the beatbox, but everything I try is waaay to much 'verb when amplified. I might try what Komosuy suggests and put the amp sim BEFORE the reverb. That's something I'd not thought of, but it might make a huge difference!
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