What is it?
The Zoom MS-50G+ is a compact pedal offering guitarists 100 different effects, including overdrives, reverbs, fuzzes, filters, delays, modulations and more. It’s an update of the previous Multistomp MS-50G pedal and now includes four additional buttons alongside the main footswitch, as well as preamps and IR technology.
There are dozens of affordable multi-effects pedals on the market now, so does the MS-50G+ do anything different or special to separate it from its competition? As I find out, it’s certainly got a lot going for it.
Specs
Launch price: $129/£129/€149
Type: Digital multi-effects pedal
Controls: 100 effects, up to six simultaneously, 100 patches, stereo output, multi-colour LCD screen, built-in tuner
Features: The key features the pedal offers e.g number of amp and effects models
Connectivity: Input, output (L&R), power in, USB-C
Bypass: True, buffer, both (switchable)
Power: 9V DC (500mA), USB-C, 2 x AA batteries
Dimensions (LxWxD): 133mm x 79mm x 61mm
Weight: 353g
Contact Zoom
Build quality
Build quality rating: ★★★½
The MS-50G+ Multistomp metal casing certainly gives a sturdy first impression. But it’s interesting that one of the pictures on Zoom’s website shows someone wearing some very heavy-duty boots while stamping on one of the four Cross Key buttons that surround the main footswitch. For me, these are the only potential weak point as far as build is concerned as they’re made from plastic.
The four encoder knobs that sit in a slight dip on the top of the pedal make them a little more awkward to get to, but also means you’re not accidentally nudging them with your foot.
One consideration to make before you buy this pedal is how you’re going to power it as there are three options. You can use two AA batteries, or a USB-C plug, in addition to the more traditional 9V power supply, though it’s worth bearing in mind that is has a draw of 500mA, and the pedal doesn’t really accommodate for right-angle power supplies because the socket is recessed.
Usability
Usability rating: ★★★★½
The four knobs control different parameters depending on what effect you’re on. You find out what those parameters are when you tweak a knob. It would perhaps be more useful if these were already labelled before having to touch anything, as it feels like there’s definitely room on the LCD screen.
When it comes to crafting your sounds, you might think that a small multi-FX pedal that allows you to hold up to six effects per patch but only has one proper footswitch would be awkward to use. It really isn’t.
Personally, I would ere on the delicate side with the four plastic cross key navigation buttons, but you can access different effects using these with your feet – just maybe opt for Converse instead of Dr Martens.
What’s particularly useful about this design, and indeed the others in the Multistomp series, is the color-coded display screen
You can flick through the different sounds you’ve got saved in your patch and easily switch them on or off using the main footswitch. The up/down button switches then allow you to scroll through your patches – so you can essentially access all of your sounds without having to bend down.
What’s particularly useful about this design, and indeed the others in the Multistomp series, is the color-coded display screen. There’s a different color background for each effect type so you can quickly determine where you’re at – very useful for making changes on the fly in a live situation.
Sounds
Sounds rating: ★★★★★
The delays and reverbs are great too, whether you want to use them as a subtle ‘always on’ addition to your sound, or something more extreme
With a unit this affordable, are the effects any good? Yes! They really are; some of them are great, plus is an audience member going to know (or care) that you’re using a digital emulation of an analogue delay over the real thing? Probably not, and at $149, neither am I.
I'm especially impressed with a lot of the chorus and modulation effects – you’ve got a few different types allowing you to dial in a lush, thick warble or a more dramatic, harsh wobble and anything in between. The delays and reverbs are great too, whether you want to use them as a subtle ‘always on’ addition to your sound, or something more extreme.
The selection of effects really is very good here. For those who want to get super experimental, there’s enough here, but for players who just want a few select effects to augment their sound, the pedal represents a compact and affordable solution.
Sometimes digital pedals can fall short with drive sounds, but there really are some good options here. There are gentle overdrives that can play nicely with a tube amp, but personally I found it a more useful tool as an overall tone-shaper for a clean solid-state amp.
The names of the preamps make it obvious what they’re trying to do, for example, MS 1959 is going for a Marshall Plexi sound. It’s not particularly close to the real thing, especially against the significantly higher-priced modeling competition, but it’s certainly in the right ballpark. In the context of value here it's part of a highly impressive suite.
Verdict
There’s enough to get your teeth into without being completely overwhelmed
With 100 effects, nearly split into categories such as modulation, reverb, drive, preamp (with IRs loaded), there’s enough to get your teeth into without being completely overwhelmed.
For a beginner looking to explore the world of effects, or even a more seasoned player seeking a compact solution to requiring a plethora of different sounds, I’d definitely recommend it. The Zoom MS-50G+ Multistomp is really intuitive and easy to use, though you do have to be quite precise with your feet.
Guitar World verdict: The MS-50G+ is a very reasonably priced multi-effects unit that’s smaller (and cheaper) than some single-effect pedals. With 100 different effects and a tuner built in, it’s hard to knock it.
Also try
$249/£199
The most affordable and compact member of the Helix pedal family doesn't have the amp options of the bigger models and you can only use one effect at a time. But there are over 270 of them.
Read more: Line 6 HX One review
$179/£179
New from TC and possibly Zoom's most immediate competition for us, and with 14 onboard effects and no amp sounds, if it lacks in numbers it will likely deliver with the proven quality of its algorithms.
$169/£159
An oldie (well, 2011) but a goodie, the M5 can be picked up. It's bigger than the Multistomp but offers five categories of quality Line 6 effects.
