Are you confused in choosing between Digitech RP55 and Zoom G1on? Well, to be fair, you are not alone. There are many people who have faced the same question. Digitech RP55 or Zoom G1on? Both of the two guitar effects pedals come with very similar designs. Each provides two footswitches for easy and simple control. They are great for people who want easy, no-fuss on-the-fly control over their sound effects when performing. Both also come from well-known brands; Digitech and Zoom are renowned names in the market.
Below, you can read the comparisons between Digitech RP55 and Zoom G1on based on several aspects, such as design, connectivity, features, and effects quality. Continue reading below to determine whether it is better for you to get Digitech RP55 or Zoom G1on.
Design
In general, both Digitech RP55 and Zoom G1on are very compact, lightweight, and portable. They are easy to bring along to gigs for live performances. Both come with a somewhat similar idea that they both are squarish and each has two large footswitches. Digitech RP55 is bigger and thicker, measuring at 152.4 mm x 127 mm x 54 mm. It can be difficult for you to slip the Digitech pedal into a tight pocket. On the other hand, Zoom G1on measures at 154.8 mm x 146.0 mm x 42 mm, and is easier to slip into a tight pocket. The two models have roughly the same weight.
Although Digitech RP55 is equipped with an ancient-looking seven-segment alphanumeric display, the design is certainly more intuitive and practical to use. The large red digits displayed are very easy to read from a standing height, and there are multiple light indicators to show you what features are currently active. You can have a good idea about the current effects settings just by looking. There are just a handful of buttons to keep it simple.
Zoom G1on comes with a good-looking backlit dot-matrix LCD screen, but it can be hard to read from a standing position, especially if you are short sighted. There are more buttons and a control knob for to help you make more intuitive adjustments. The footswitches are a little bit wider than Digitech RP55’s, so they are more convenient to hit.
Connectors
Digitech RP55 is quite a simple device, and it comes with just the basic input and output ports. There is a ¼” input port and another ¼” port for connecting a passive volume pedal that you can use as an expression controller. For output, there is a 1 ¼” stereo TRS port, which you can also use as a headphone output in practice sessions. There is no USB port whatsoever.
On the other hand, Zoom G1on comes with a standard mono ¼” port for input, a mini stereo 1/8” port for AUX input that you can use to connect a portable music player, and a standard stereo ¼” output port to connect to an amp or headphones. In addition, there is a USB port that you can use for firmware updates, but it has no interface capabilities to connect directly to a computer for recording.
Effects
Both Digitech RP55 and Zoom G1on come with 24-bit analog/digital converters. However, Zoom’s effects are generally considered better than Digitech’s. Most Zoom effects are great and convincing. The delays, reverbs, and choruses are great. The amp and cabinet models are pretty good. However, many people consider the overdrive and distortion effects are not very good, and it is advised that you pair a Zoom pedal with a dedicated overdrive or distortion pedal as needed.
Zoom boasts a large collection, featuring 100 built-in effects. You can use up to 5 effects that are chained in any order simultaneously. In addition, there are 68 built-in rhythm patterns, which you can use in conjunction with the 30-second looper. There is an onboard chromatic tuner, too, which supports all standard guitar tunings including open and drop tunings. There are 100 memory locations where you can store user-created patches, and the Swap function makes patch organization very easy. The Pre Select function enables you to select a patch silently while keeping the current patch working.
Digitech has gorgeous reverbs, which is not surprising because they are made using Lexicon algorithms. The choruses and delays are also great. The effects’ parameters are easy to set up. The other effects are pretty good. The presets, however, may require some tweaking to be fully usable.
Digitech RP55 has an awesome capability that it can chain up to 8 effects at once. However, it only comes with 20 effects. There is also a built-in chromatic tuner. Digitech RP55 features a drum machine that has 30 drum patterns. However, there is no built-in looper. The memory can store up to 40 user patches, in addition to the 40 factory presets.
Powering
One aspect that you may want to consider is the powering options provided by the guitar effects pedal. Depending on your needs and preferences, you may prefer a guitar effects pedal that run on batteries, USB power, or a power supply with an AC adaptor.
Digitech RP55 runs on 6 AA batteries, which can provide about 15 hours of continuous usage. It can also be operated using an optional power supply if you prefer to plug it to a power outlet.
Meanwhile, Zoom G1on runs on 4 AA batteries, which can provide about 20 hours of continuous usage. There is also an optional AC adaptor. But you can also power it via the USB port.
| Digitech RP55 | Zoom G1on | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | DigiTech | Zoom |
| Key features | - 11 Amp Types - 5 Cabinet Types - 20 Studio Quality Effects - Built-in drum machine w/ 30 patterns | - 75 effects - 14 Amp models - Up to 5 effects can be used simultaneously - 100 memory locations |
| Price | ||
| Customer Ratings* | 3.9 out of 5 stars | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| Best Deal* | Save Money Please click here | Save Money Please click here |
Conclusion
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In general, Zoom G1on is a better value for the money. It comes with more features. It has an AUX input, a USB port for firmware updates and power, more effects, and a built-in looper. Having 5 simultaneous effects is generally sufficient for extensive sound shaping. It has versatile powering options. However, if you can benefit greatly from Digitech RP55’s more intuitive design, or you need the capability to handle up to 8 effects simultaneously, then there you go. The easy-to-read display is particularly useful in live situations.