Fire 30 Review

35 Watt Amp. 10" driver. 22 built-in amp models. 7 effects modules. 19 effects types. 10 user programmable patches / 20 Zoom preset patches. 3-band EQ. Auto-chromatic tuner. AUX input.

Features:	9
Sound:	6
Reliability:	8
Impression:	8
Overall rating:	7.8
Users rating:	3.9
Comments:	3

overall: 8

Featured review by: Gibson808, on february 04, 2004

Features: The Zoom Fire 30 (36Watts) is a combo amp package that features modelling amp' systems and a rack of built in effects and combo 'patches'. The available modelling positions replicate 4 popular amp makes (Fender, Marshall, Mesa and Peavy) as well as catering for another 7 generic positions such as fuzz, metal ,acoustic etc, and all postions can be altered to mimic either solid state or valve variants. The effects board on the amp covers 14 pedal facilites that offer sustain, boost, edge, bottom, chorus, synth wah, tremelo, slow-a, ring mod, phase, step ,flanger and doubling. A delay/reverb dial allows lateration of reverberation effect and a chromatic tuner allows fast and accurate tuning changes. The dozens of inbuilt 'patches' are pre-set options that offer combined effects and level positions that aim to replicate certain guitars (ie, 7 string), effects (a wah setup that works better than simply using the auto-wah effect) and amps (rotating Fender amp etc). Saving your own patches is also possible. A footswitch input allows the user to switch between to selected patches although this unit has to be bought seperatly. // 10

Sound: The range of effects are immense and surprisingly good quality for such a low priced amp. But there is a drawback that may deter some potential buyers..the amp suffers from an intrusive hum. I have found out that this is a problem with all Fire 30 amps and is very audible when the amp' is turned up to a loud volume. Zoom have attempted to rectify this by fitting a switch that cuts the hum buy lowering the output when it detects that you are not playing. Although this helps, it does seem as a roundabout way of fixing the problem and I would have preferred to pay a bit extra if it meant that they could produce the amp without any interferance at all. The auto-wah effect is interesting as it doesn't use a manual foot pedal but instead increases the wah effect in relation to the intensity of the users playing. It isn't always convincing however and often ends up making your playing sound like a demented talk-box. The 36 watts may be 'just' enough for playing small gigs, but it's probably more suited to jamming and home recording and a power damp feature allows the amp to be played at low volumes while still having the drive of loud volume playing. I play mostly classic rock and blues so I nearly always have it in the Marshall position with some reverb dialled in with no other effect but I still feel that I would prefer to have all the options of this amp over a similarly priced solid-state Marshall as it's always fun to experiment with all the different sounds whe trying out a new playing style. // 6

Reliability & Durability: The amp' does feel like a quality piecec of kit, all the buttons turn satisfyingly and the body is heavy and solid, even my home hi-fi mad friend was impressed. // 8

Impression: I don't know how Zoom managed to get all this into a low-price package, maybe it has something to do with the humming, but it's still very impressive nonetheless. Having the range of effects helps you find your favourite tone that could help you decide what amps/guitars you want to get in the future. I enjoy the amp' a lot and it's not too big that you have to turn it up to an immense volume to make it sound good and it's not too small that you would be ashamed to let people see it. // 8

overall: 7.5

Reviewed by: mynamewontfit, on august 02, 2005

Features: // 8

Sound: The countless different soudns you can get with this amp are all OK, but none of them are amazing. The clean chorus is probably the best sounding of the lot, but all of them sound very digital and fake. Also there is a slight hum whenever the amp is on, but this isn't too noticeable when the volume is up. I'm not sure whether to give this a 2 or a 3 for sound, the quality of each sound is probably worth 2, but the amount of sounds available brings it up to 3 probably. // 6

Reliability & Durability: // 8

Impression: I was drawn to the amp for its cost and the effects. I think the Fire 30 is good value for money, especially if you plan on using more than one or two of the effects. It is a much better sounding amp than other similarly priced amps that I've tried, but I've only tried rubbish. If it was lost or stolen I would probably save up and buy a slightly better amp I would only recommend this one if you want lots of effect ones. And even then you'd definately want to buy the footswitch, as it's annoying having to stop playing to press a button. Could be better, but definately could be worse. // 8

Comments

[butch99]

the fire 30 is a piece of crap. my jack plug broke and i waited one year for the part and never got it. Do not buy this amp!!!!

[Local666Union]

My input jack broke up 3 times...this amp is not very good in terms of reilability.
At least the acoutic channel sounds good.

[djmay71]

i went to try this amp at the music store with a seven string, and i was making sure the top string was tuned right when the amp blew out.
funny thing was, they didn't care.