Zoom 508 V Zoom g2.1u.

[frankmarvin]

I am constantly baffled as to why the 508s are so expensive on e-bay, regularly having an asking price of £200 / £250 : Is it just popularity or nostalgia ? beats me, surely the G2.1u or even the humble G2 are far superior and I must say that the sound files I have heard on you-tube seem to confirm this but yet a G2 with EFTP can be had for around £90 and a G2.1u with EFTP for around £120 ( both superb units in my experience) even the G2.1nu, G7s and G9s dont achieve anything like the price of a 508: Am I missing something here? does the 508 have * hidden assets* not at first obvious to the observer? Mr Hall doesnt seem to think so in his published ratings and I wholeheartedly agree:
Dont think for a minute that I am knocking the 508 ( one mans food is another mans poison, etc) But the price differential seems to me , quite inexplicable: Any thoughts / theories on this would be welcomed: Regards and a merry Christmas, Frank:

[peterbower]

Have the sellers cottoned on to the Shads echo connections with the 508, so are charging a premium.

Peter

[eltrasero]

sadly, there appears to be a desire among some people to rip off their fellow Shads music fans when it comes to selling gear. It doesn't just apply to the 508. Anyone who has tried to buy an Alesis on the well known auction site will know where I am coming from.
Having owned and used the G2u and 508, I'd say the G2u is far superior in every way.

[sheendigs]

For 200 or 250 pounds...one can buy an Alesis Q2...surely!
(And much more powerful that the ZOOM 508)
Sheendigs

[Bojan Drndic]

With the right amp it can actually sound pretty good

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JCIDnnxew8

[frankmarvin]

Bojan, thank you for the sound file, the amplifier has a great tone, but I do think the echo patterns re-enforce my initial post :
Peter and Eltrasero, I think your both right:
Sheendigs: I doubt that you can now buy a Q2 in servicable condition for that amount, if one came up, you would be trampled in the rush
Thank you everyone for your answers : Merry Christmas: Frank:

[hank2k]

Just brought a q2 in good condition for 180 on the well known auction site

[frankmarvin]

Steve, in that case, I stand corrected. you did well there
Sorry Sheendigs it looks like I was wrong, but I have not seen any priced as low as this for a long time:
Cheers all, Frank:

[peterbower]

Several years ago, Bryants music shop in Denmark Street [Tin pan alley] London were charging £250 for a tatty Roland 201 space echo and £300+ for a tatty 301. Mint ones were going for £500 + and one I saw was £700. The shop owner was fully aware of Hank's history with the Roland, so I guess this was reflected in the prices.
Its still one of my favorite echoes.
Pete

[didier]

Q2 and 508 were discontinued many years ago, and service could be a problem in case of failure.
The G2.Nu are still being made.

Didier

[frankmarvin]

Hi Peter, I dont know what you mean by the Shadows connection to the 508? did they actually ever use these? I have no idea , if so of course that would explain the premium price now being asked: Cheers , Frank :

[peterbower]

Hi Frank,
The Shadows connection on the 508 was the Shadows echo Patches that Geoff Strachan had designed and made available for the 508. Some used ones may still have them installed.

The 508 has not been available now for several years and I'm not sure if Geoff can still supply this service. Check him out

Have a merry Christmas.

Pete

[Deleted]

Hi All,

Geoff's patches can be found on Goran's site together with some modified versions.

goran.tangring.com/

The Zoom 508 should not be underestimated, it is a very capable device and produces some very nice echos. I certainly wish I still had mine!

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year.

Best Wishes

Ian

[frankmarvin]

Pete: AHHH I see now, sorry I thought you meant the Shadows had used a 508 at some time:
Naaaa, I'm not after a 508 or the patches I am ok with my EFTPs thro a G2.1u untill Charlie pulls his finger out ( joke) and finishes his unit Then its time to introduce the piggy bank to the hammer, I assume he would accept payment in 10 pence pieces?: It was simply that I couldnt understand why they seem to command so much money when much better units are cheaper:
Thanks for clearing that up and a very merry Christmas to you and yours, Regards, Frank:

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Pete,
I appreciate that you are trying to be helpful but I also wrote free patches for the 508, available from ***, and you should remember what I have said in private conversation about Geoff so I don't appreciate his getting a plug here. Enough said.
Regards,
Charlie

[peterbower]

Sorry Charlie

Forgot about the past history with GS, he was the only person I can remember who was originally involved with programming the 508. I didn't know you or Goran had some input. Enough said.
Agreed, its a nice little echo unit and very useful for live gigging.

Happy New Year

Peter

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Peter,
Thanks for your reply.
I had understood that Goran was hosting Geoff's settings for free, which I don't have a problem with. Not aware whether Goran had done any settings of his own but I don't believe that's the case.
I hope you have had a nice Christmas Day and wish you a Happy New Year.
Regards,
Charlie

[Bojan Drndic]

On a number of occasions Charlie ranked the various echo units that he programmed and the Zoom 508 was consistently at the bottom of the "food chain." There can be no question as to Charlie's opinion because he is the person who is best qualified to make such an assessment.

But, let us remember that when it appeared, the Zoom 508 created quite a stir, even a revolution among Hank wanabees and Shadows fans. I am quite sure that 90% of the guitarists on these Shadows forums at one time in the past had (and possibly still have) this little pedal. And it did the job quite well. I think that this huge popularity is the reason it is relatively expensive.

[Deleted]

Hi Charlie,

In my post regarding 508 settings, I mentioned some modified versions available on Goran's site. These are settings that have been modified from the GS ones by Brian Holden. I did not mean to infer that Goran had done his own.

Best Wishes

Ian

[frankmarvin]

Hello Bojan: Yes I understand what you say and the 508 was good when it had very little competition , however there are much better units for sale with Charlie's echo patches included that sell for considerably less than a 508, its this price differential that I dont understand:

Charlie: I apologise if I have inadvertantly created any friction, it was not my intention, I am sure Peter was simply trying to educate me as to the 508s history:
Regards, Frank:

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Ian,
I wasn't aware that Brian Holden had modified the GS 508 patches, or that they were on Goran's site.

Hi Frank,
No problem, it wasn't any doing of yours.

Regards,
Charlie

[grochamedeiros]

Hi friends. I have a Zoom 508 in mint condition since 2007. Where do i find Charlie's patches for it? Thanks!

[garystrat]

I don’t recall Charlie doing patches for the Zoom 508, there are patches still available on the late Goran Tangrin’s website (you need to select them from the panel on the left):

goran.tangrin.eu

[didier]

Oct 31, 2023 7:10:24 GMT garystrat said:

I don’t recall Charlie doing patches for the Zoom 508, there are patches still available on the late Goran Tangrin’s website (you need to select them from the panel on the left):

goran.tangrin.eu

Charlie Hall had made patches for the Zoom 508, and supplied them free of charge. I don't know if he still have them, but I have them in my files, and could supply them if it's OK with Charlie.
Those on Goran Tangring's site are from Geoff Strachan.

Didier

[garystrat]

I stand corrected, I missed it in the above threads, apologies to Charlie if I inadvertently crossed into sensitive territory!