My 1st night on stage with the Zoom G5!

[Dan1948]

Well I've been a long time Line 6 guy and have been having no luck getting a good sound with my HD 500 no matter what I've tried. Last night I used my new Zoom G5 and after just a few days of setting up 3 patches at home the little **** kicked butt on stage for me! I was amazed at how easy it was to tweak on stage and the damn thing sounded great! No Fizzy's or Flubber's. Looks like the HD 500 is heading to Ebay next week!

Very impressive Zoom!

 

[rufedges]

I haven't tried the G5 or a Zoom in years, today should be my first live gig with my HD500 after having used my HD300 for nearly a year, BIIIIIG improvement, I found a good jumpin off point for a Lincoln Brewster patch on custom tone, did some subtle tweaking, and I honestly I cannot stop playing it sounds and feels so good. Very versatile too, I can cover classic rock, blues, and even VH1 with my EBMM Silhouette Special.

If it works for you, good on you...........I know there was a defininte learning curve with the PODs, I don't even feel bad for having had the HD300 for so long, I learned a lot with it, and can now really appreciate how much more awesome the HD500 is. I am glad I didn't drop 2 G's on a Kemper, I am sure it would be fun, but I don't need it.

 

[stratchamp57]

The secret for using the pod hd live is to use the Dr. Z cab. It cuts very well and sounds great with the plexi.

 

[Dan1948]

The secret for using the pod hd live is to use the Dr. Z cab. It cuts very well and sounds great with the plexi.

Playing in a 60's/70's/80's band I need allot more than a Plexi sound Stratch. I need some nice clean sounds and the Zoom delivered with fling colors. My distorted sounds were also great.

All I can say is if your having problems getting a good sound out of your HD500 you really need to try the G5. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what this little guy can do! Oh and as a bonus, it's 1/2 the price!

Like all modelers, it has it's rough spots but I didn't have to add 2 amps, 3 cabs, 5 eq's 2 different mic's etc, etc, to get a halfway descent sound that still has the fizzy's and overloads my PA channel......

Dan

 

[uglybassplayer]

Is this the same Dan1948 who said this back in March of 2011?...

Nice stuff. Like the Retro vibe. Your 500 sounds great! I'm also very happy with mine. Had it since release day and been using it on stage with great success.
Awesome piece of equipment!
Dan

 

[deanesque]

Well I've been a long time Line 6 guy and have been having no luck getting a good sound with my HD 500 no matter what I've tried. Last night I used my new Zoom G5 and after just a few days of setting up 3 patches at home the little **** kicked butt on stage for me! I was amazed at how easy it was to tweak on stage and the damn thing sounded great! No Fizzy's or Flubber's. Looks like the HD 500 is heading to Ebay next week!

Very impressive Zoom!

Exactly the same experience here. I sold my HD500 and use the G5 into the FX return of a Mustang III. I've never been happier.

 

[Dan1948]

Is this the same Dan1948 who said this back in March of 2011?...

That's me uglybassplayer (like the name by the way). I have been using line 6 stuff for many years as I said and to be honest I had better luck with the XT Live and the X3 than I had with the HD500. I tried to be as positive as possible but also expressed concern about many different parts of the unit. I guess I had "new owner GAS" and was trying to be happy with the 500 dollar investment I had made. Shame on me!

But after lots of tweaking and asking for help I have come to the conclusion that the HD500 has to many flaws for me to handle. I can only hope that the 1st night with the G5 on stage keeps improving and doesn't reverse like it did with the HD500.

Dan

 

[uglybassplayer]

That's me uglybassplayer (like the name by the way). I have been using line 6 stuff for many years as I said and to be honest I had better luck with the XT Live and the X3 than I had with the HD500. I tried to be as positive as possible but also expressed concern about many different parts of the unit. I guess I had "new owner GAS" and was trying to be happy with the 500 dollar investment I had made. Shame on me!

But after lots of tweaking and asking for help I have come to the conclusion that the HD500 has to many flaws for me to handle. I can only hope that the 1st night with the G5 on stage keeps improving and doesn't reverse like it did with the HD500.

Dan

Fair enough Dan... just trying to get a handle of where you were coming from.

 

[uglybassplayer]

So what if he did?

Wow, some of you are really angry that someone likes something new.

In the meantime, don't rag on a guy for trying out some gear and posting his opinion.

No anger here brother... As I said in my post above, I was just trying to understand where Dab was coming from. I don't feel the need to bash the Zoom or defend the HD500 for that matter. Personally, I have no vested interest in either unit at this point in time.

It does seem interesting though how you go out of your way to shout from the rooftops to defend the virtue of the G5, as well as slag on the HD... Much in the same way that StratChamp57 does exactly the opposite.

Trust me, we all get it... The G5 is the greatest thing out there since sliced bread... Everything else is just old news

 

[Dan1948]

Fair enough Dan... just trying to get a handle of where you were coming from.

@ uglybassplayer..... I'm not bashing the HD500, I'm just expressing an opinion after a few years with the unit. Maybe the sound became harsh and flubby and distorted after one of the updates. I don't remember but I do know that the last few times I gig'd, the thing sounded like crap and the more I tweaked the worse it got. Like I said if I have to add 2 amps, 3 eq's, etc, etc, to make the thing work for me om stage than I'm no longer interested in the unit as I just don't have the time or desire. The G5 is doing it for me as of now and the HD500 isn't. Will that change down the road, who the hell knows. There are some features I wish I could steal from the 500 and put in the G5 for sure but ain't that the way it is?!

I think I'll do more lurking and less talking from now on though as I feel a
little ****** right now.

Dan

 

[uglybassplayer]

I think I'll do more lurking and less talking from now on though as I feel a little ****** right now.

Dan

Dan, if my statement came off as judgmental or condescending, then I am truly sorry, as that was not my intent. Please accept my apology.

Don't ever let someone make you feel like you are wrong for making the choices you do. We don't have to like your gear, nor do we have to play it... You do. If it works for you, that's all that matters.

 

[clintmartin]

I'm pretty happy with my HD500...thrilled when it's used with my DT50, but I wouldn't mind checking out a G5. I would like to have another tool for the studio and I really just like getting more guitar stuff...what can I say?

 

[clintmartin]

I have a feeling my Wife is about ready for me to quit spending this year...I'm getting the look. It's been a good year though. A new ADK pc for the studio, Sonar X1 then upgraded to X2, New headphones (audiotechnica ath-m50s), 1.5 tb external hard drive, bunches of Vsts and software, midi keyboard. Around 3 grand in total. I sold about 2 grand worth of stuff to help, but I think she needs a break. There is always next year though!

 

[stratchamp57]

I'm getting that itch to try a g5 again...

 

[uglybassplayer]

I'm getting that itch to try a g5 again...

 

[stratchamp57]

What is that supposed to mean?

 

[clintmartin]

That's us hiding from our wife!

 

[stratchamp57]

Oh I see.

 

[otter5555]

Playing in a 60's/70's/80's band I need allot more than a Plexi sound Stratch. I need some nice clean sounds and the Zoom delivered with fling colors. My distorted sounds were also great.

All I can say is if your having problems getting a good sound out of your HD500 you really need to try the G5. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what this little guy can do! Oh and as a bonus, it's 1/2 the price!

Like all modelers, it has it's rough spots but I didn't have to add 2 amps, 3 cabs, 5 eq's 2 different mic's etc, etc, to get a halfway descent sound that still has the fizzy's and overloads my PA channel......

Dan

I couldnt agree more. the g3/g5 are EASY to get good sounds out of. no batteling fizz, etc.

 

[scunnydude]

Just thought I'd chime in on this.

I seems I too am one of many who have struggled and battled with a HD500 for a long time, in fact I bought mine when they came out along with a James Tyler Variax 69 and then later to complete the rig, a DT50 head to connect to my Line6 4x12 stereo 300 watt cab.

The Dream Rig was actually more of a nightmare than a dream.

To cut a long story short, I bought at huge expense a new powered pedal board and an array of top end pedals to replace the HD500 which of course worked very well as one would expect but I had gone back 20 years and relearned how to tap dance.

Then, I bought a Zoom G3X to replace a few pedals on my board and that made a huge difference to the dancing technique. Because of the quality and ease of use I maintained my interest in the Zoom product brand and consequently bought the Zoom G5.

I now use the G5 and the G3X together as one complete unit and I have to agree wholeheartedly with the previous postees, setting up a good sound takes minutes and not months as with the POD. Of course there are a few things which I wish I could borrow from the POD but I have a feeling that may be what makes the POD so difficult to work with (inherent complexity because of the vast amount of features). I have been using L6 stuff for ages and still use my Vetta for jams which in my opinion has never been bettered as a complete system that plain works.

I had Pod 2 (sold), PodXT (sold), Pod X3Live (still have) Pod X3 Pro (still have for studio use) and Pod HD500. So one would think I would be able to get the best out of a HD500 but that just is not the case. Great at home but live was another story.

In summary, there is nothing wrong with the HD500 in terms of it's capabilities in the right hands, just not mine.
Zoom have made a wonderful product that is simple and very effective and is a solid choice for guitarists looking for a viable alternative to Line 6.

I have used the Zoom G5 and 3GX into a
Mesa Boogie 50/50 tube head and 4x12,
Sessionette 75 watt solid state amp,
pair of Roland Cubes(stereo),
mixing desk to PA,
direct into DAW.
It sounds good through them all and to increase capability I have already placed an order for the expression pedal.

The quest continues