Zoom G2 Four presets and settings
Floor unit that holds six effects and a pedal effect per patch, where the amp is one of the six, in 300 patch memories, with an 80 second looper and 68 rhythm patterns. The G2X Four is the same unit with an expression pedal.
⚡ Match a tone on this gearHow do you dial in a specific tone on a Zoom G2 Four?
A multi-effects unit gives you the whole chain in one box, which means the order of the blocks is as much of the answer as the values inside them. Settings for the Zoom G2 Four name the amp model, the block order and the parameters together, rather than handing you numbers with no chain to put them in.
Name the song you are chasing and Tonelify returns the settings for this exact multi-effects unit, not the settings the original artist used. Those are two different things: the recording was made on gear most players do not own.
Starting settings on the Zoom G2 Four
Values as the unit's screen shows them, on its own scale; each drawn knob shows that value's share of the range. They are where to begin, not Zoom's numbers: pick the amp model first, then move one control at a time from here.
Clean
FD TWIN-R, Zoom's model of the Fender '65 Twin Reverb. Gain 30, Bass 50, Mid 50, Treble 60, BRGHT on: Zoom notes the bright switch is most noticeable at lower gain. On this model the knobs run from 10 to 100, not from 0. Zoom builds each amp model with its own cabinet, so a clean patch needs one of the six slots for the amp, not two.
- Gain 30
- Bass 50
- Mid 50
- Treble 60
Edge of breakup and blues
FD DELUXE-R, Zoom's model of the Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb, on its NORMAL input. Gain 45, Bass 50, Treble 55, on the same 10 to 100 scale. Like the amp it models, it has no Middle control. MUDDY is one of Zoom's own amps, which it describes as a vintage-style sound with natural crunch for blues and rock, and UK 30A, an early class A British combo, has a Tone Cut control.
- Gain 45
- Bass 50
- Treble 55
Classic rock
MS 800, Zoom's model of a Marshall JCM800 2203. Input HI, Gain 60, Bass 50, Mid 65, Treble 60, Presenc 50, on a 0 to 100 scale. Keep the mids up: rock guitar sits in the midrange. MS 1959 models the 1959 Super Lead 100 and has two input gains, Input1 and Input2, in place of one Gain.
- Gain 60
- Bass 50
- Mid 65
- Treble 60
- Presenc 50
Metal
RECTI DUAL, Zoom's model of the Orange channel of a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, with Mode on MDRN. Gain 70, Bass 55, Mid 45, Treble 60, Presenc 50. Put ZOOM NOISE REDUCTION first in the patch: Zoom says it cuts noise in the pauses without affecting the tone. For tighter palm mutes, add TS DRIVE (Zoom: a simulation of the Ibanez TS808) before the amp with its gain low, and take the amp's Gain down a step. KRAMPUS, 7 HEAVEN and POLLEX are Zoom's own high-gain amps; Zoom aims 7 HEAVEN at 7 and 8 string guitars and POLLEX at extreme drop tunings.
- Gain 70
- Bass 55
- Mid 45
- Treble 60
- Presenc 50
Noise reduction, TS DRIVE and the amp use three of the six slots.
Lead
On the Effect Screen the footswitches turn the three effects shown on the display on and off, so a boost and a delay for the solo are each one press away. Use two spare slots for RC DRIVE, which Zoom describes as a booster covering clean boosts to light drives, and a delay, and leave them off for rhythm. To jump to a different patch memory in the middle of a song, the PRESELECT function lets you line up the next one while the current sound keeps playing.
Zoom G2 Four amp list
Zoom's effect list has 22 amp models: 15 that model a named amp, one described only as an early class A British combo, and 6 of Zoom's own. Zoom calls them amp and cabinet models, each built with its own cabinet impulse responses, and the effect list has no separate cabinet effect. An amp takes one of a patch's six effect slots. Beside each name is the range of its Gain parameter, because it is not the same on every model.
| Amp | Gain range | What Zoom says it is |
|---|---|---|
| MS 45os | Two inputs, each Off to 100 | Marshall JTM 45 Offset |
| MS 1959 | Two inputs, each Off to 100 | Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100 |
| MS 800 | 0 to 100 | Marshall JCM800 2203 |
| FD B-MAN | 10 to 120 | Fender '59 Bassman |
| FD TWIN-R | 10 to 100 | Fender '65 Twin Reverb |
| FD DELUXE-R | 10 to 100 | Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb |
| FD MASTER | 10 to 100 | Fender ToneMaster, B channel |
| UK 30A | 0 to 100 | An early class A British combo amp |
| BG MARK1 | Two gain stages, each 0 to 100 | Mesa Boogie Mark I combo |
| BG MARK3 | Two gain stages, each 0 to 100 | Mesa Boogie Mark III combo |
| RECTI DUAL | 0 to 100 | Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, Orange channel |
| XTACY BLUE | 0 to 100 | Bogner Ecstasy, Blue channel |
| HW 100 | 0 to 100 | Hiwatt Custom 100 |
| ORG120 | 0 to 100 | Orange Graphic120 |
| DZ HERB | 0 to 100 | Diezel Herbert, channel 2 |
| MATCH30 | Two channels, each Off or 0 to 100 | Matchless DC-30 |
| KRAMPUS | 0 to 100 | Zoom's own: the low end of a modern high-gain amp with the brightness of an 80s British amp |
| REDLOOM | 0 to 100 | Zoom's own: the simple tone of early guitar amps with the overtones of a small 60s tube amp, for rhythm |
| VELVET | 0 to 100 | Zoom's own: a smooth amp that balances wound and plain strings, for lead and backing without switching |
| MUDDY | 0 to 100 | Zoom's own: a vintage-style amp with natural crunch, for blues and rock |
| 7 HEAVEN | 0 to 100 | Zoom's own: a very tight low end for 7 and 8 string guitars and metal |
| POLLEX | 0 to 100 | Zoom's own: a djent-style metal sound for extreme drop tunings |
Zoom G2 Four effects list
A patch memory holds up to six effects and one pedal effect, in any order. The list marks 54 effects with a star as Handy Guitar Lab additional effects: those are added from Zoom's app rather than found on the unit as shipped, and they are marked (app) here. Where Zoom names what an effect models, it is in brackets.
- DYNAMICS (10)
- COMPRESSOR (in the style of the MXR Dyna Comp), RACK COMPRESSOR, GRAY COMPRESSOR (Ross Compressor), OPTICAL COMPRESSOR (app), BLACK OPTICAL COMPRESSOR (Demeter COMP-1 Compulator), 1176 LIMITER (UREI 1176LN), ZOOM NOISE REDUCTION, NOISE GATE, SLOW ATTACK, MUTE SWITCH (app)
- FILTER (16)
- AUTO WAH, RESONANCE FILTER (app), LOW-PASS FILTER, CRY FILTER (app), ENVELOPE GENERATOR FILTER (app), LFO FILTER (app), SEQUENCE FILTER (the flavour of a Z.Vex Seek-Wah), RANDOM FILTER (app), STEP FILTER, GUITAR GRAPHIC EQ (app), GUITAR GRAPHIC EQ7, STEREO GUITAR GRAPHIC EQ (app), PARAMETRIC EQ, EXCITER (app), LOW EQ (app), HIGH EQ (app)
- DRIVE (26)
- EP DRIVE (Maestro Echoplex preamp), RC DRIVE, TS DRIVE (Ibanez TS808), GOLD DRIVE, SWEET DRIVE, ZEN O.DRIVE (Hermida Audio Zendrive), BG GRID DRIVE (Mesa Boogie Grid Slammer) (app), DYNAMIC DRIVE, PLUS DISTORTION (MXR Distortion+), DISTORTION ONE (BOSS DS-1), SQUEAK DISTORTION (ProCo RAT), RED CRUNCH DRIVE, VIOLET DISTORTION (Suhr Riot Reloaded), TB MK1.5 FUZZ, OCTAVE FUZZ, NEW YORK MUFF FUZZ (Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi), WAVE SHAPER DRIVE, RAZOR DRIVE, METAL WORLD DRIVE (BOSS Metal Zone) (app), HG THROTTLE DRIVE (Mesa Boogie Throttle Box), TS+BOOST DRIVE (app), RED CRUNCH DRIVE + BOOST (app), SPOT BOOSTER (app), UP OCTAVE BOOSTER (app), OUTPUT BOOSTER (app), ACOUSTIC SIMULATOR
- MODULATION (26)
- CHORUS (app), CLONE CHORUS (Electro-Harmonix Small Clone), CHORUS ONE (BOSS CH-1 Super Chorus), TRI CHORUS (TC Electronic Corona Tri-Chorus), ANALOG CHORUS (app), STEREO CHORUS, BEND CHORUS (app), DETUNE, TREMOLO, PHASER, STONE PHASER (Electro-Harmonix Small Stone), WARP PHASER (app), DUO PHASER (app), THE VIBE, VINTAGE FLANGER (similar to an MXR M-117R), KICK FLANGER (app), VIBRATO (app), SWELL VIBRATO, OCTAVER, PITCH SHIFT (app), MONO PITCH SHIFTER, HARMONY PITCH SHIFTER, POLYPHONIC PITCH SHIFTER, GEMINOS DOUBLER, RING MODULATOR, SLICER (app)
- DELAY (17)
- DELAY, ANALOG DELAY, TAPE ECHO, TAPE ECHO 3 (Maestro Echoplex EP-3), DUAL DELAY (based on the Eventide TimeFactor's digital delay), SOFT ECHO, SLAP BACK DELAY (app), PING-PONG DELAY, REVERSE DELAY, MODULATION DELAY, FILTER DELAY (app), PITCH DELAY (app), PHASE DELAY (app), AUTO PAN DELAY (app), SLOW ATTACK DELAY (app), ICE DELAY, HOLD DELAY (app)
- REVERB (17)
- ROOM REVERB, BRIGHT ROOM REVERB (app), SPRING REVERB, FD SPRING REVERB (the spring reverb of the '65 Fender Twin Reverb), PLATE REVERB, HALL REVERB, BRIGHT HALL REVERB (app), HD HALL REVERB, CHURCH REVERB, AMBIENCE REVERB (app), CHAMBER REVERB (app), AIR REVERB, EARLY REFLECTION REVERB, GATE REVERB, HOLD REVERB (app), SPACE HOLE REVERB (app), PARTICLE REVERB
- SFX (4)
- AUTO PAN (app), LOOP ROLL, SITAR SIMULATOR (app), BOMBER
- PEDAL (18)
- OUTPUT VOLUME PEDAL, PEDAL VOLUME, BLACK WAH (the Cry Baby), CHROME WAH (a British wah with a chrome finish), WAH100 (an Ibanez wah), VOICE WAH (app), PEDAL PITCH (app), PEDAL MONO PITCH, PEDAL ROTARY, PEDAL FLANGER (app), PEDAL VIBE (app), PEDAL DRIVE (app), PEDAL PHASER (app), PEDAL DELAY (app), OSCILLATOR ECHO PEDAL (app), PEDAL REVERB (app), PEDAL RESONANCE (app), PEDAL BIT CRUSHER (app)
Zoom G2 Four questions
What amps are in the Zoom G2 Four?
Zoom's effect list has 22 amp models: MS 45os (Marshall JTM 45 Offset), MS 1959 (Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100), MS 800 (Marshall JCM800 2203), FD B-MAN (Fender '59 Bassman), FD TWIN-R ('65 Twin Reverb), FD DELUXE-R ('65 Deluxe Reverb), FD MASTER (Fender ToneMaster, B channel), UK 30A (an early class A British combo), BG MARK1 and BG MARK3 (Mesa Boogie Mark I and Mark III), RECTI DUAL (Dual Rectifier, Orange channel), XTACY BLUE (Bogner Ecstasy, Blue channel), HW 100 (Hiwatt Custom 100), ORG120 (Orange Graphic120), DZ HERB (Diezel Herbert, channel 2) and MATCH30 (Matchless DC-30), plus six of Zoom's own: KRAMPUS, REDLOOM, VELVET, MUDDY, 7 HEAVEN and POLLEX. None of the 22 is marked as an addition from the app.
How many effects can the G2 Four use at once?
Six effects and one pedal effect per patch memory, in any order, and an amp counts as one of the six. If a patch asks for more processing than the unit has, PROCESS OVERFLOW appears and that effect is bypassed. There are 300 patch memories, which Zoom's specifications list as user memories; by its product page, 250 of them come filled with presets.
What is the difference between the Zoom G2 Four and the G2X Four?
The G2X Four has a built-in expression pedal for the pedal effects, such as volume, wah and pitch; pressing the front of the pedal turns the pedal effect on and off. The G2 Four has a jack for Zoom's FP02M expression pedal instead. The G2X Four is 274 mm wide and weighs 951 g, against 184 mm and 707 g for the G2 Four.
Do you need a cabinet effect on the G2 Four?
No. Zoom lists the 22 as amp and cabinet models: each is built with what Zoom calls Multi-layer IRs, impulse responses captured from the cabinets at three volumes and blended by how loud you play. What you do set is OUTPUT in the menu: AMP when the unit feeds a guitar amp, LINE for headphones and monitor speakers.
How does the Handy Guitar Lab app add effects to the G2 Four?
Handy Guitar Lab for G2 FOUR is Zoom's phone app, for iOS, iPadOS and Android, connected with a USB-C cable. It manages patch memories and edits and adds effects. Zoom's effect list marks 54 effects as Handy Guitar Lab additional effects, and its product page now speaks of 57; they are marked (app) in the list below.
How long is the looper on the G2 Four?
Up to 80 seconds, in mono, and it can be synchronised with the rhythm patterns, of which there are 68.
Does the G2 Four save changes by itself?
Yes, by default. With AUTO SAVE on, a change to a patch memory is stored as you make it. With it off, a mark at the top right of the display shows that the patch has changed, and you save it by hand. The manual also has a way to revert a patch memory's changes.
Can the Zoom G2 Four run on batteries?
Zoom's specifications give two power sources and batteries are not one of them: the AD-16 adaptor (9V DC, 500 mA, centre negative) and the USB-C port, which supports bus power. With ECO mode on, the default, the unit switches itself off 10 hours after the last operation.
Can the G2 Four be used as an audio interface?
Yes. Over USB-C it is a 2-in, 2-out interface at 44.1 kHz and 32 bits, which sends the processed stereo sound to a computer or a phone.
What are the best Zoom G2 Four settings for metal?
RECTI DUAL in MDRN mode, Gain 70, Bass 55, Mid 45, Treble 60 and Presenc 50, with ZOOM NOISE REDUCTION first and TS DRIVE before the amp. These are starting points rather than Zoom's numbers. If it fizzes, lower Gain first and Treble second.
How do you build a patch on the Zoom G2 Four?
Pick the amp model first, then set its controls, then add the blocks in signal-chain order: drive before the amp, time and modulation after it. A patch built the other way around ends up compensating for the wrong stage. Tonelify returns the model, the order and the parameters together.
Does Tonelify support the Zoom G2 Four?
Yes. Name it in the tone matcher along with the song you are chasing and the settings come back adapted to it. Gear does not need to be in the catalog for a match to run.
Sources
Panel, specifications and dates checked against these on .