Zoom 707 effects pedal (Guitars in general)

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Product:	Guitars in general
Date:	07/12/00 (365 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: loads of features

Disadvantages: not as gooda sthe real thing

The specification for this unit looks more like it should cost twice as much as it does. It offers extremely good value for money at £119 with a power supply and £99 without. It's only recently that you've been able to get an expression pedal with a budget effects unit and the sampler and rhythm functions add even more value.

It claims to have 48 different effect types with the ability to have 9 simultaniously giving 95 variations. In reality you will never notice but it offers a good selection of popular effects including distortion, wah, chorus, pitchshifter, reverb, flange and compresion.

The distortion will probably be the most used effect and it can be customised to all types. It has 16 initial types from acoustic to power drive then from each of those it allows you to alter tone and gain to create any sound. The heavy distortions are good and the amp simulator is a brilliant feature for anyone using a small practice amp.

The rhythm section has 45 different patterns which you can alter the tempo, it adds another dimension to playing and stops you getting too lonely without a drummer, it's fairly basic but I enjoy using it. The sampler function is probably the most significant improvement on the 505 and opens a range of possibilities. It allows you to record 6 seconds onto its memory either from you own playing or an external source like a cd.

Overall it is easy to use and the it's packed with useful features (even its own tuner). It's sturdy and well built with good sized pedals. The quality of the individual effects is reasonable but no way near the quality of the single stomp box or studio effects but isn't really aimed at the same audience. It could easily be used for performing but is probably aimed at more of the beginner at home. It offers a good chance to get a taste of the various effects and allows you to experiment and develop a unique sound for relatively little money.

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