Zoom MS-100BT

The Zoom MS-100BT is a guitar multi-effects pedal built into a single stompbox-sized enclosure, loaded with 100 effects and amp models¹. Zoom describes it as "a powerful, easy-to-use guitar stompbox loaded with 100 of the world's most popular effects and amp models"², and it was promoted as the first multi-effects pedal to incorporate Bluetooth technology¹. The Bluetooth connection is what set it apart from the rest of the MultiStomp line: it let players download additional effects and amp models to the pedal wirelessly.

The pedal carries 92 stompbox models and eight amp models, and allows use of up to six effects simultaneously³. Its internal memory stores 50 patches⁴. Physically, MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen noted that the MS-100BT is very close to the MS-50G MultiStomp, Zoom's earlier single-box multi-effects pedal with amp modeling⁵.

What it does

The MS-100BT puts a full multi-effects engine in one compact box. The 100 onboard sounds break down into 92 stompbox models and eight amp models³, and a patch can chain up to six of them at once³, so a player can build a complete signal path, for example an overdrive into a delay into a reverb, inside a single pedal. Fifty patches live in the pedal's internal memory⁴.

The Bluetooth feature was the headline when the pedal launched. Guitar World reported at introduction that the pedal was the first multi-effects pedal to incorporate Bluetooth technology, allowing new effects and amp models to be downloaded to it⁸⁵¹. Optional StompShare amp models were sold this way, and Guitar World's reviewer wrote in June 2013 that "The optional StompShare amp models are all impressive and worth the additional $1.99"⁴.

The pedal also includes a built-in auto-chromatic tuner³.

Display, knobs and footswitch

Control comes from a large LCD screen, a single footswitch, and analog-style parameter knobs⁷⁹. Three control knobs, which also function as push switches, handle jobs such as editing parameters and selecting patches⁴. MusicRadar describes the layout as a 4mm by 3mm LCD display allied to three push-and-turn "soft" knobs, with a four-way cursor surrounding the main footswitch⁵. Premier Guitar's reviewer compared the surrounding buttons to a familiar music player, noting that "Four circularly oriented buttons, much like those found on first-generation iPods, surround the single stomp switch"⁹.

Power and connections

The MS-100BT operates via an AC adapter, sold separately, as well as battery power⁷. Two standard AA batteries are included, and they provide seven hours of continuous mono input use, or five hours of continuous operation when using the stereo inputs⁷. The pedal accepts stereo inputs in addition to its mono input⁷, which MusicRadar notes makes stereo input possible⁵.

Where it came from

Zoom announced the MS-100BT in late 2012 as a Bluetooth-enabled addition to its MultiStomp range, at a retail price of $149.99⁶. Premier Guitar's launch coverage described the pedal's combination of "a large LCD, single footswitch and analog-style cursor keys/parameter knobs"⁷. The design follows the MS-50G MultiStomp, which MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen reviewed as a pedal packed with 55 different sounds, 47 effects and eight amp models, six of which could be used simultaneously¹⁰; the MS-100BT keeps that single-box format and expands the sound set to 100 while adding Bluetooth.

What reviewers said

MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen reviewed the MS-100BT as "another stompbox sized multi-effects pedal" from Zoom, finding it physically very close to the MS-50G⁵. Guitar World's 2013 review highlighted the 100 preloaded effects and amp models and praised the optional StompShare amp models as "all impressive and worth the additional $1.99"⁴.

Videos

Click to load

Click to load

Click to load

Questions