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Zoom G5 Announced

(Updated, see below) Zoom has finally announced another product from their long line of Guitar Multi-effects pedal, the new Zoom G5. The specs:

  • Simultaneous use of up to nine effects
  • Real tube booster for amp overdrive
  • Four large LCD displays with intuitive amp and stompbox interface
  • 3D Z-pedal for multi-dimensional parameter control
  • Over 120 versatile effects including 20 amp models
  • Looper function with 60-second phrase recording/overdubbing
  • Integrated drum machine and auto-chromatic tuner
  • Balanced XLR output for DI use
  • USB audio interface for DAW recording
  • Edit&Share software available through free download
  • Includes Steinberg Cubase LE recording software

Personally, I find the appearance to be a combination of the latest Zoom G3 and the older Zoom B9.1ut. The beautiful graphical interface of the G3’s large LCD screen (Stompbox interface) on top of the sturdy and streamlined body of Zoom’s flagship pedal for the bass, the B9.1ut, without the clutter of LED buttons and knobs. I think this was the answer of Zoom coming from the users’ comments regarding the steepness of the learning curve to customize the sound from a Zoom product. Considering the processor of the G5, I believe it shares the capabilities of the G3, including its processing limit, i.e., not being able to use multiple amps at a time.

If the capabilities of this new Guitar Effects pedal is the same as the G3, personally, I would still prefer the older Zoom G9.2tt. It’s true that the G5 may sound a bit better than the G9, but I would have to go for customizability for this one. The G5 may handle 4 simultaneous guitar effects at a time (3 if you’re using an amp model), but the G9 can do more than that. For example, I can do with a Compressor+Wah+ZNR+Stack Amp+Phaser+Delay+Reverb all at the same time. But the beauty of the Stompbox interface is the ability to switch the order of the effects chain, something that the G9 can’t do effectively.

I’m sure that this G5 is just a prelude to something much better. I would love to have the Stompbox interface on the body of the G9, including the Energizer and Accelerator tubes for the analog feel. Also regarding about the numbering, what happened to the G4?

Update:

According to Samson Website, the G5 can handle up to 9 stompbox effects. And if we look at the Z-pedal closely, it is very much upgraded and now looks like a single pedal and doesn’t look like two pedals on top of each other. This time, I’m changing my opinion, I definitely want one!!

Source: http://www.zoom.co.jp/news/article/373, http://www.samsontech.com/zoom/products/guitar-effects/g5/

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MIYU: A New Guitar Diva to Watch Out For

A new girl will soon be conquering the YouTube bandwidth! Watch out for the début of this promising new guitarist, MIYU, all cute on the outside, rocking hard on the inside. Unlike musicians of her generation, she’s not Taylor Swift nor Miley Cyrus whose knowledge of music spans 5 chords. And yes, you won’t see any of those annoying screaming fan girls around her.

As I was browsing YouTube a couple of weeks ago searching for Takayoshi Ohmura videos, I accidentally stumbled one of her videos doing cover songs, mainly from Western artists. After the tedious process of verifying the guitarist’s gender (yes, videos can be misleading *cough*TissueHime*cough*), which I can safely conclude that she was a girl, I took notice of a promotional video about her début album this coming November 9, 2011.

According to her website (I suck at Japanese, BTW), the album will be titled “World Maker” featuring 6 tracks:

  1. KOHAKU
  2. Somebody’s voice
  3. Story
  4. Awakening
  5. End of sorrow
  6. Break out

Interestingly enough, the album credits Takayoshi Ohmura as the Sound Producer and the bassist in the album, which, also according to her website, was her teacher while studying in MI Japan.

I listened to the demo songs featured on her Audio Leaf account, which features 3 out of the 6 songs on the album (without vocals), with KOHAKU, being the de facto carrier single, included in the demos. The songs carry heavy metal riffs, common in Japanese metal songs with feel good lyrics typical of JPop. It’s like having a pop song sung with a metal band.

In my opinion, her guitar skills is not that polished compared to other known guitarists like Takayoshi Ohmura, Syu or even Orianthi. But I can assure you, in terms of guitar prowess, she’s better than the Jonas Brothers combined. Her style is not unique, though a bit refreshing if you get tired of the same old pop songs on the radio. And yeah, I’ve always admired girls who can seriously play the guitar.

Links:

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Takayoshi Ohmura – Never


The demonstration above is from Takayoshi Ohmura playing “Never,” the 6th song from his 2007 album, “Emotions in Motion.” In the demo, he plays only the essential parts of the song removing the song’s vocal parts. Based on what I know, these demo videos are included on some Japanese guitar magazine targeted to consumers who want to learn guitar thru video instructions or video examples with tabs included. Below is the Examples of the licks used in the demo above. Hopefully after watching both videos, we can play the song perfectly.

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Highly Strung by Orianthi feat. Steve Vai

I just want to share this amazing video that features the guitar prowesses of two great guitarists. One of them is Orianthi, a relatively new-comer in comparison with Steve Vai, but still amazes me with her guitar skills and playing. Well, I won’t say anything about Steve Vai, since he’s already a legend, and anything that I say is probably not enough. Anyway, here’s Highly Strung:

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2 Become 1 by Paul Gilbert

Yeah, I know that this song is not that new, but I’ve been wanting to play it ever since I heard it the first time way back years ago. I just didn’t have the time and the minimum effort required to study the song (too lazy). But a few days ago our bass player added this song to our set list for an upcoming gig in December. Damn, do I really have to study this difficult of a song? I better prepare myself for the worst! >..<

I find it funny when Paul Gilbert always makes fun of the Spice Girls’ musical virtuosity every time he plays this song live. About how the Spice Girls members came up with the chords of the song like Gm11, F#Maj first inversion, B and C#m11. At least by now, I know four of the chords of the song. Anyway, here’s a video of the song for you to watch, while I try to figure out this song: