In defence of the Zoom 1010 (& other maligned effects)

Revolutions

I just plugged it in for the first time in years as I'm selling. Through my 2204 head, a lot of those drive sounds are actually pretty nice. It made me think quite how many things I've written off over the years due to general public perception, or more likely, not knowing how to use it properly.

ICBM

I had a Zoom 505 not long ago and found some good sounds in it, mostly by turning everything off or down to the minimum and starting from there. I only sold it in because it has a not very live-friendly programming and patch selection interface - I really wanted it as a pocket DI solution.

I’d actually quite like another 9002, I had one back in the day and thought it sounded great, if very ‘distinctive’. The onboard rechargeable battery died - they all do - and I eventually sold it on Ebay for spares or repair. These days it shouldn’t be too difficult to find an alternative battery that would do the job…

LionAquaLooper

My very first multi fx was a 1010. I do miss it and I wish I'd kept it. 

DiscoStu

I used to gig a Zoom 4040 in to a Valvestate head back in the 90s.
I used the 4040 for the effects rather than the distortions, and for the pitchshifting. I loved that it had two expression pedals.

thermionic

My first modeller was a Zoom 503 Guitar Amp Simulator. I think it was about £45. Absolute game changer at the time!

p90fool

I still have my late 90s Zoom 2100, I kept it because I love the envelope filter in it. 

Similarly, I've always hung onto my Alesis Nanoverb, because it contains the only flanger I've ever had that you can stall mid sweep. 

nero1701

p90fool said:

I still have my late 90s Zoom 2100, I kept it because I love the envelope filter in it. 

Similarly, I've always hung onto my Alesis Nanoverb, because it contains the only flanger I've ever had that you can stall mid sweep. 

I had one also, easy little unit

CarbonCopy

My friend had a Zoom 1010. It was the first time I'd tried any effect pedal and to me at the time, it sounded amazing. I remember it distinctly. The flangers, phasers, delays etc. were fascinating to me. I was very jealous!

LionAquaLooper

And at the time was reasonably priced as well, esp  considering there weren't that many multi fx units to choose from. 

monquixote

Am I right that Brian May used one for a Queen track.

maltingsaudio

monquixote said:

Am I right that Brian May used one for a Queen track.

Yes he had a zoom rack unit in his rack when I saw it back 94/95 what he used it on can’t say