Once you learn to use it (which is an uphill climb, I admit), there's really no tone you can't get with this unit. It's totally quiet, the effects sound lush (not digital to my ear), the EQ works great (important for direct digital recording), the built-in pedal controller is a total bonus, the construction is solid, and the programmable distortion is unique, to my knowledge. As in, you don't like the built-in amp sim sounds? Wanna create your own unique distortion, instead of just modelling an amp? No problem - use the software to BUILD YOUR OWN distortion!! Plus, the GFX-8 comes with a fantastic, easy-to-use software librarian that,in addition to letting you create distortion algorithms!!, lets you program any parameter for any of the patches in realtime, through your Mac or PC via MIDI. To my mind, this is the GFX-8's best feature. You can change parameters on the board itself too, but I personally prefer the software, where you can see all the parameters at once, and where you can open and save banksets for downloading into the unit. Way cool. Let's face it - if you're a purist with loads of dough, who needs amp sims, just buy the tube amps you like. But if you're a musician on a budget looking for the most sonic bang for your buck, the Zoom GFX-8 just plain rocks.

Sound:
I have a jcm 900 half stack that I've used live for years. I use an Se-50 and dbx 242 for effects and eq. I also own the GFX-8 plugged into the clean channel of a carvin belair. There is no way, no how I can get the jcm to sound as good as the gfx/belair combo. I've tweaked till my fingers went numb. I can't beleive I'm using digital distortion and loving it. Side by side there is no comparison. The gfx provides touch sensitive tone with masive distortion that gets even better when you crank it. That's the bottom line, I love the other features but the tone is unbelievable.

Overall:
I'm getting another one for backup. That's got to be the ultimate compliment.

Feature:
Its a realy good pedal board but I think it should have another pedal on it such as the volume/expression so one would b used for the volume n the other to control the effects' variations ... n some of the DLY/REV effects should b able to get mixed with the MOD effects and the Compressor should b apart so it would b able to get mixed with all the distortions.

Quality:
Its awsome but it could b a little better, Just a little !

Value:
awsome !

Desirability:
it looks realy nice ... its also realy easy to control the features ...

Sound:
its realy good !

Support:
I never had any problems with it at all !

Overall:
Its an awsome pedal however I supose I might need to use a suplement, (very little though) until the ZOOM factory atend to my needs ... (if they do, of course) !

Easy to meddle; no need to be taught!!!
Produce wide range of tones and modulations.
Provide different amps simulation; no need to
but different amps for different distortions.
Durable
Only disadvantage - no suitable size bag found
for this effect!!
If found any suitable-size bag, please let me know.
Thanks!!!

I owned Korg, Boss, and DigiTech. Believe me if you want something that sounds good through your rig for live shows this is it. The noise reduction and ability to easily control the effects level make it far superior in my opinion. Also it has more sounds out of the box I might actually use than any of the others. It is alot easier to edit also.

It's my first processor, it's great looking, it's really a big solid machine with serious features, but you have to be very good to master every of these features beside the effects, it's a pain in the ass for me the get a GOOD distorsion sound... I play metal, and I need the sound between pvy and dist, the basses of the peavy, and the half speed gain of the dist, no way, I can't get between those.
The custom distortions are great and wide but only 10% of all the sounds you can get are USABLE, the rest is too crunchy, not precise enough... but when you find some good dist, well you'd better keep it, it's hard to find it.

For PC/software patch flexibility, sound
quality, noise reduction and tonal enhancement
this unit "RULES". I use it w/ Strat, ES-335,
Les Paul Custom "Black Beauty" and re-issue
Fender '59 Bassman and Music Man 210HD One Fifty
amps. Blues, rock, Jazz, improvisation, composition,
etc. It's a GEM.

Slight distortion in the bass on some clean programs but fixed by taking down the bass a little. Otherwise it blows away anything I've tried in the price range and many more expensive units.

This is a awesome Effects Board that can do almost anything and make almost any kind of sound,Simply the best for the Money!

There hasn't been a sound that I couldn't reproduce. Well worth the price I paid for it. It's easier to switch from patch to patch then my Flextone amp from Line 6. Although the Flextone itself does really well in reproducing sound too. Definitely an excellent product.