Q2 or Q20EFTP vs my Zoom2000EFTP?

[sixchannel]

Hi All
Pardon my lack of knowledge - I've been a Zoom2000EFTP user since Forever!
I have been offered a genuine Charlie Hall Q2 with the "79" patches (whatever they are) and all documentation is complete.
What is the difference between a Q2 and a Q20, how old are these units, which came first and will I really hear a sonic diference in Shadows echoes between the Q2 and my much loved Zoom2000EFTP.
Its quite a few bob to buy so I dont want to waste my cash -er - obviously!
Any help would be appreciated.
cheers
ian

[garyallen]

Hi Ian..Im using the q2 with the 79 upgrade and find the echoes are more organic and authentic compared to the zoom.However the zoom is still very good for clean stuff.Charlie will have more info on the q20.....Gary

[sixchannel]

Hi Gary
How are you, my friend?
Thanks for the info.
I love my Zoom2000 to bits but now that I'm doing a fair bit of "modern" Hank I find the Patches like 36 for the fat Meazzi type echoes a bit"thin". I tend to boost the signal up with Compressor and also added Reverb to try and get the sound I'm after.
I have used a Q2 when using someone elses back line and been impressed with the sound but have never been sure how much was the Sound Engineer and how much was the Kit.
cheers
ian

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Ian,
I am sure you will hear the difference. My Q2 and Q20 programs to me are still the best sounding ones I have written. Not because I did a better job but because the unit's versatility allowed it.
The RFX-2000 units have a less than ideal input impedance for direct connection from a guitar, the rear input is 10Kohms and the mic input is 20Kohms.
The Q2 and Q20 inputs have a much higher input impedance that suits a guitar, but only if two capacitors are removed. Most owners who have installed my new 79 program set will have removed the capacitors. The capacitors are harder to reach on a Q20 than on the Q2.
Q2s were made from around 1994 to 1997, Q20s were made in 1998 and from serial numbers I have seen only a little more than 5000 were made, so they are hard to find which is probably why they are more expensive. The Q20 is very similar to the Q2 and can be considered as a MkII version of the Q2. They sound the same, except that the Q20 is slightly cleaner with a little lower background hiss because of the 20 bit ADA converters as against the 18 bit ADA converters of the Q2.
If you can find out the serial number I will check that it is genuine.
Regards,
Charlie

[keithinalps]

Hi Charlie,the unit Ian is enquiring about is mine that i bought your eftp last year, do you want the No (is it on the reciept you sent)to save me getting it out of the fl/case,regards Keith Mantle(Hankies)

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Keith,
Thanks for replying as it has saved me time. I know the serial number of your unit and that it is genuine.
Regards,
Charlie

[GuitarPhil]

Charlie I have been using a ZOOM RFX2000 (with J Patches, sorry!) and I am connecting its rear inputs into the FX loop on my amp. The guitar plugs straight into the amp. Should this give a better sound than going from guitar straight to mic in on the Zoom?

Thanks,

Phil.

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Phil,
Yes, definitely a better sound the way you are doing it. The only problem with effects loops is getting used to adjusting input and output levels and coordinating that with the overall volume level you want from the amp.
Regards,
Charlie