Spoiler: It did more than I expected (and less than I hoped)

Pedalboards are great… until you have to haul them, power them, patch them, and pray they survive soundcheck. That’s where multi-FX units promise the dream: all your tones in one box.

So I grabbed Amazon’s best-selling budget unit — the Zoom G1X Four — and asked the big question: could this little plastic slab actually replace my pedalboard? I spent a week running it through every scenario I could think of — direct to PA, into an amp, at home, and even in a rehearsal — to find out.

Rig Rundown

Here’s the exact setup I used for this test.

Multi-FX Unit:

• Zoom G1X Four – Built-in expression pedal, 60+ effects, amp sims, drum machine, and looper.

Supporting Gear:

• Boss Katana 50 MkII – For “into an amp” tests.

• Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 – For direct recording into a DAW.

• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Headphones – For silent practice and tone checking.

First Impressions

Out of the box, the G1X Four is lightweight — and I mean light. The plastic build won’t fool anyone into thinking it’s boutique, but the layout is simple:

• Three knobs for editing

• Four footswitches (one is the expression pedal toe switch)

• Backlit LCD with readable menus

• Standard 9V power or AA batteries

The expression pedal feels surprisingly solid for a unit under $120, and the built-in drum machine/looper is a welcome bonus.

Test #1 – Direct to PA

I ran the G1X Four straight into a small PA, using only its built-in amp models and cab sims.

The good:

• The Fender-style clean models are perfectly usable for practice or casual gigs.

• The high-gain models are more than serviceable for classic rock and hard rock, especially in a band mix.

• Built-in effects chain flexibility lets you put wah before distortion, delay after reverb, or get weird with it.

The meh:

• Some amp models are fizzy at higher gain.

• The cab sims can sound boxy if you don’t tweak the EQ.

For a $119 box, though? Way better than I expected.

Test #2 – Into an Amp

Running into my Boss Katana 50 MkII, I disabled the amp models and just used the Zoom’s effects.

The good:

• Drives, fuzzes, and boosts sounded great into a clean amp.

• Modulation effects (chorus, phaser) were lush and full.

• The delay algorithms hold up against some budget dedicated pedals.

The meh:

• Reverbs are just okay. Not bad, but lack the depth of something like a TC Hall of Fame.

• Some pitch-shifting effects tracked a little slow for fast licks.

Test #3 – Home Recording

Plugged directly into my Scarlett 2i2, the G1X Four was a fun sketchpad tool.

• Amp sims recorded well with minimal tweaking.

• The looper + drum machine made quick riff ideas easy to capture.

• The noise gate is surprisingly usable for high-gain tones.

I wouldn’t record an album on it, but for quick demoing? Absolutely.

Test #4 – Rehearsal With a Drummer

This was the real test. Would it keep up with a live drummer?

Verdict: Yes — but with limits.

• The cleans cut through fine.

• Medium-gain crunch was articulate.

• High-gain needed extra EQ to avoid getting swallowed.

The expression pedal wah worked well, though it’s not as vocal or responsive as a Cry Baby.

Could It Replace a Pedalboard?

For bedroom players, beginners, and travel rigs, yes. The G1X Four is insanely good value — it’s like carrying 5–6 decent pedals and an amp modeler in your backpack.

For gigging pros, it’s a killer backup or fly-rig option. But it won’t completely replace the feel and depth of a dedicated pedalboard with quality individual pedals.

Pros

• Affordable (usually under $120)

• Tons of usable tones with tweaking

• Battery or adapter power

• Built-in expression, looper, drum machine

• Small and portable

Cons

• Plastic build

• Some amp models/cabs need EQ work

• Limited reverb quality

Final Rating

• Tone Variety: 8/10

• Ease of Use: 9/10

• Build Quality: 6.5/10

• Value for Money: 10/10

• Pedalboard Replacement Potential: 7.5/10

If you want a grab-and-go practice rig, a cheap way into amp modeling, or a reliable backup for gigs, the Zoom G1X Four is an easy recommendation. It won’t make you sell all your pedals, but it will make you think twice before dragging your big board to every session.