Review: Zoom 606 Guitar Multi-Effects Pedal
Zoom
Posted 2002-01-02
Zoom has a history of creating inexpensive, feature rich products for the guitar effects market that make great entry level pieces for most young or budding guitarists. The 606 is next in the series of these entry level multi-effects pedals. The 606 is not more of the same, however, but is a significant leap in tonal quality and features while still somehow managing to remain very competitive from a price point standpoint.
Our last experience with Zoom products was with the 505. We reviewed this unit at MusicGearReview.com and were very impressed with the capabilities of the unit. However, soon after there was a flood of units that hit the market at similar price points that in many cases outperformed the 505 either in features or sound quality. It seemed that all the manufacturers wanted to get on the entry level price point bandwagon with multi-effects units.
Enter the 606.
This pedal features 35 effects types (9 simultaneously), 42 patch locations, a specific Drive knob selecting 11 Drive Types (including 5 modeling effects and 3 types of Amp Simulation), Up/Down Gain buttons and an Expression Pedal. While you stop and take a breath, consider this last tid-bit of information – the tonal quality has also been radically improved.
The different effects types range from various choruses, flanges and other modulation type effects to reverbs, delays and even ZNR or Zoom Noise Reduction – an especially useful selection if you suffer from super high-gain or noisy pickups. Let’s not leave out the pitch shifter that’s capable of using the expression pedal as a mixer between the source and effects signal or as the control to shift the pitch! We played for an hour just with this feature. Although we’ve only touched on a few of the effects, the Zoom 606 has a smorgasbord of choices for your creative pleasure.
The construction of the unit, once again, is a high-impact type of plastic which should serve you well unless you plan to take this on the road with you. We don’t typically abuse test gear around here, but we have a feeling that the unit probably wouldn’t hold up to the rigors of the road – and that’s certainly not what it’s designed for. Even with the plastic construction, though, the unit is very well built and took everything we threw at it, including some good hearty stomping while switching patches through some of our favorite, spirited test songs.
The unit also features a built-in tuner, a 2-digit 7-segment LED display and runs on 4 "AA" batteries or an optional AC adaptor.
Bottom Line:
By expanding on their most popular effects pedal line Zoom has created another successful unit by adding more effects and patches, as well as new drives, modeling capabilities and an attached expression pedal that is assignable.
The unit sounds as good as or better than most others in it’s price range, and although it’s not designed for professional road use, it should give you years of enjoyment jamming with your garage band friends or in the comfort of your own home.
