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I blew up the Left output of my old stereo FX G2 pedal about a year ago. I had a power supply running on my desk while I was designing a pre amp and the tip of the Zoom pedal cord hit the B+ of the power supply. It was my bang around unit as the case had a couple of dings on it. The Zoom had been out of warranty for several years but I e-mailed Zoom to see if it were possible to get the output board so I could repair it. My only other option was to modify the output section which would have created several problems. These pedals run a set of headphones for 8 hours on 4 AA batteries and I wanted to use it for a clunker when I went to the park or fishing.. It has a built in drum section so I can tune out the world and jam my brains out while I wait for the fish to bite. (They seldom do for me, other than the carp and other garbage fish.)

The Zoom service dept said they did not carry parts for the G2 as it was discontinued but they would send me a new G3 pedal for $80.00 even though I blew up the G2 through my own carelessness. Naturally it will cost around $5 to send it back but I will be getting the new pedal for about 1/2 price. I already have a G3 and really like it.

I think that is a pretty fair deal. What can I say? I love all the sounds I get from those pedals and I have been using them for recording ever since I bought my first one. They are silent and versatile. I don't know if other companies have customer support like these guys, and I am glad that they are bailing me out. They aren't losing any money on the deal and I will have a 3 X newer model.. Nope, not a commercial, I'm just glad to see a company that tries to make it's customers happy. Believe me, I have dealt with a good many that don't. I could post all day on the ones that take you to the cleaners every chance they get. This is a new experience for me. To make a short story long, I'm a happy camper.

"What was that little Zoom multi-effects pedal that came out in the late 90s that was around $100??"

I was still retired during the early 90's and not playing guitar at all. I had quit for around 25 years and didn't have any desire to even pick up a guitar so I missed a lot of toys. After I began picking again I didn't use pedals for years.

I bet that 3 presets was quite the thing then, but now these Zoom pedals can store your parameters of up to 6 devices in any chain order you wish per bank. And they give you around 100 user custom banks of 6 devices each for personal presets. Not only that but the noise levels are - 120 db. AMAZING. But that's a waste for me as I generally only use one or two FX per bank if any. The outer space crap doesn't interest me but I do wish they had included a wider range of drum samples.

I remember when sound FX were just coming on the music scene. One guy would record a single with a phase shifter and all of a sudden every song had to have a phaser on it. Same with echo and wah. It was cool but really funny at the time. When Les Paul and Mary Ford came out with "How high the moon" I had to have an echo. When Waylon had a phase shifter I had to have one. And a chorus was the Cadillac of FX.

I always had problems finding a good phase shifter but these units sound like a good analog system, only without the noise. I can actually get a guitar running through a Leslie sound.

Guitar toys have come a long way. My son has a nice midi system mounted on a Stelle that I made. (A Swamp Ash Warmoth SG Body with a Maple Telecaster neck, sporting dual hum buckers) The first Multi FX pedal I bought was a J Station. Back then it was a highly prized piece of gear. Then I captured a 6 FX Digitech pedal, but it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO noisy I gave it away. The newer Digitech pedals really are nice these days. I also had a Line 6 Pod, but we just didn't get along. It was mutual I'm sure.

The Zoom pedals are the easiest to program that I ever saw. I didn't even have to read the manual it was laid out so well. The FX are all programmable and all you do is turn the knobs for the sound you want and hit save. I hate gear that comes with a manual bigger than a NY phone book. I just want to plug in and play not go to pedal college for a year.