If you want to get the best guitar effects pedal currently available for your budget, considering some Zoom models is a wise idea. Zoom has become one of the most well-known manufacturers of guitar effects pedals. Many Zoom pedals are affordable, but they offer such a great sound quality. Their pedals are also known for being compact and portable, very suitable for practice sessions as well as gig performances.
Now, you are most probably considering either Zoom G3n or Zoom G3. Interestingly, these two models are available in a similar price range. They are quite affordable and budget-friendly. Zoom G3n is a newer model, but it seems to come with fewer built-in effects. On the other hand, Zoom G3 is an older model coming with more built-in effects. So, which is the best guitar effects pedal for the money? See the comparisons below.
Design and Dimensions
In general, both Zoom G3n and Zoom G3 are compact, lightweight, and highly portable. Zoom G3n is only slightly bigger and heavier than Zoom G3. Well, the dimensions of Zoom G3n are 234 mm wide, 181 m deep, and 58 mm tall. The weight is 1.28 kg. On the other hand, Zoom G3 is 234 wide, 170 mm deep, and 54 mm tall, with a weight of 1.2 kg. As you can see, the differences are very marginal. Chances are, you will have no problem with either model’s size.
Zoom G3 has been a very popular model since its initial release because of the three separate display screens with dedicated controls. With these three displays, you can control three effects simultaneously. This is such a great feat. It brings tremendous control and flexibility, allowing you to adjust multiple effects on the fly. The display screens are backlit with orange panels. There are also three footswitches that are very easy to reach.
The great design has been brought to Zoom G3n as well. It also features three separate display screens, also with dedicated controls. So, it also offers great control and flexibility. However, the display screens are now smaller, so they can be somewhat difficult to read from a standing height. Apparently, the display screens are made smaller in order to make room for the three additional footswitches. Yes, that’s right; Zoom G3n is coming with a total of six footswitches. The three in the upper row look similar to Zoom G3’s footswitches. The three in the lower row actually look more like mini pedals, and are very easy to access.
Effects
As mentioned above, Zoom G3n actually comes with fewer built-in effects than Zoom G3. However, this is mostly because the company was trying to pack Zoom G3n with higher quality sound effects without significantly increasing the price. It is a newer product, so it is ideally packed with modern sound effects made using newer technologies. Zoom G3 still uses old sound effects. Most of them are pretty good by today’s standards, but the amp models are very unusable. If you compare Zoom G3n’s effects to Zoom G3’s, you can notice that the newer pedal is clearer and more defined. The amp and cabinet models are definitely better.
Zoom G3 comes with a total of 116 effects, including 20 delays and reverbs as well as 22 amp/cabinet models. There are also compressors, noise gates, equalizers, overdrives, choruses, tremolos, vibratos, and even ring modulations. It is able to handle up to six effects simultaneously, chained in any order. It can store up to 100 total patches.
Zoom G3n, on the other hand, only comes with 80 effects, consisting of 70 DSP effects, 5 amp models, and 5 cabinet models. The less popular effects have been removed from this model. There are essential effects such as overdrives, distortions, delays, reverbs, compressions, equalizers, choruses, vibratos, also flanging and phasing effects. Included are unique multi-effects such as Reverse Delay, OSC Echo, Seq Filter, and HD Hall. It can work with more complex patches, as it is able to handle up to seven simultaneous effects. The memory is larger, too. You can store up to 150 patches in the device, but 75 have been used for the included factory patches.
Other Features
Each of the two models comes with a standard mono ¼” input jack, a pair of standard mono ¼” output jacks for L/Mono/Headphones and R channels, and a USB port with interface capabilities. Each also comes with a control input jack for connecting with an external pedal and also a built-in chromatic tuner with a tuner range of 435 Hz – 445 Hz. The looper on Zoom G3 can only record up to 40 seconds; the looper on Zoom G3n can record up to 80 seconds. Zoom G3 has 41 built-in rhythm patterns; Zoom G3n has 68 built-in rhythm patterns.
However, Zoom G3 features an XLR balanced output, which you can use to connect directly to line-level devices, recorders, or mixing boards. Zoom G3n doesn’t.
On the other hand, though, Zoom G3 does not have any AUX input. Zoom G3n comes with an AUX input, allowing you to plug a portable music player and jam along to your music in practice sessions.
Zoom G3 can run on 4 AA batteries as the alternative if no power outlet is available. It can also be bus powered via the USB port. On the other hand, Zoom G3n can only run using the AC adaptor, and thus requires a power outlet in order to operate.
| Zoom G3n | Zoom G3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Zoom | Zoom |
| Key features | - 5 amp emulators, 5 cabinet emulators, and 75 custom-designed factory patches - Use up to 7 effects/amps/cabinets simultaneously, chained together in any order - Stereo/mono looper allows recording of up to 80 seconds of phrase recording | - Three large LCD displays with intuitive amp and stomp box interface - 22 amp (v2.0) or 94 stomp box models can be used in any combination, Over 100 built-in ZFX-IV DSP effects - Integrated drum machine and auto-chromatic tuner, USB audio interface for DAW recording |
| Price | ||
| Customer Ratings* | 4.3 out of 5 stars | 4.4 out of 5 stars |
| Best Deal* | Save Money Please click here | Save Money Please click here |
Conclusion
NOTE : Product prices, availability, ratings and save money information are accurate as of the date/time indicated on post time (as seen right bellow the tittle) and are subject to change. Any price, ratings, availability and save money information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
In general, Zoom G3n is indeed the better choice. It has the better sound quality and more footswitches for more flexible control. It also has a better looper, more rhythm patterns, and nice built-in custom patches that you can immediately use. There is now an AUX input, which is handy for practice sessions. Unfortunately, some Zoom G3’s features have been removed from Zoom G3n, such as the XLR output and versatile powering options. This is not a big deal, but you will have to work around if you really need the XLR output to connect to line-level devices.