Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

[mantis]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

I had a GT-10 for ages and had to use a separate unit for distortion. I do use quite a lot of gain though. As far as I'm concerned the last multi unit they did with decent amps and distortions was the GX700 and then they seemed to get progressively worse. Maybe the GT100 is an improvement? That would be typical, seeing as I ended up buying an Axe FX.

Maybe I'm too picky. The other effects are - as one would expect from Roland - pretty good.

The OD and Distortion effects on the GT-100 are pretty good. They are not as good as the real thing but pretty close. Much better then the Gt-10 which I owned before the 100.

 

[mantis]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

It seems like a great box! They are likely to produce an updated model soon (gt200?) I think because this was released in 2012 AFAIK. I might consider it if I have the cashmunny available and the reviews are good.

I really hope so as the GT-100 is a good unit, I prefer a higher quality Effects ONLY processor. Modeling isn't even the GT-100's strong point anyway. I actually think Boss is pretty Horrible in doing so. But they make amazing effects and I think if they put all their effort into a new GT model Waza Craft style and use the GT for guys who have real amps I think they would hit a home run.

 

[mantis]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

We'll see how far I make it past the honeymoon phase, I had a 10 for a little while and went back to pedals. I really hate programming but am trying to make this work 'cause it's so nice just to carry the one thing.

FWIW, I'm still liking it, although when my ADD kicks in when I'm programming something I look at me pedalboard and go, hmmm...

The way the GT-100 works is awesome. It's is totally worth the time to learn the ins and outs of it. The Manual will get you going but it's so horribly written like most manuals.
The 4CM is the ultimate way to use the GT.
I've owned the GT-100 for a few years now actually I got mine not long after it came out. And I just learned the correct way to test your guitar input signal so it's not clipping out. That should be a patch factory standard as it made a HUGE difference in how it sounds.
There is a few video's on Youtube but this one will work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBq_5hvqar0

 

[Artie]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

Hey mantis. What do you mean by "the 4CM mode"?

 

[mantis]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

Hey mantis. What do you mean by "the 4CM mode"?

"MODE" might be the wrong word used but the 4Cm mean 4 cable method. What this wiring does is allow you to use your preamp or your guitar amp and put effects out in front of it like OD pedals, WAH , Chorus if you will, Fuzz etc. Then you can route the effects loops effects like Noise Gates , Delays , Chorus , Reverb etc in your amps effects loop. Then those signals hit your amp.
So the routing goes like this.
1) Guitar Out to the IN of the GT-100
2) SEND from GT-100 to the Front of Your AMP
3) SEND from your AMP's effects loop to the RETURN of the GT-100
4) OUTPUT of the GT-100 to the RETURN of your AMP's effects loop

In the GT-100 effects chain in order for this to work correctly, you have to turn ON the S/R which is the Send and Return.

AMP CONTROL
- There are 2 ways to control your amp
1) Mono 1/4 control cable. This will switch your channels of your amp but will not control the 3rd channel or Effects loop or reverb on and off. This is a HUGE flaw of the GT-100 and Boss thinking past their nose. They should have Provided a Stereo out which would allow you to control a 3 channel amp or a 2 channel amp with Reverb or Effects loop on and off. This would greatly improve the value of the GT-100. I'm hoping the next version has this.
2) MIDI - The GT-100 is fully Midi. It can make your amp do anything over Midi. Change channels, Turn on and off Reverb , on and off Effects loops etc. This is a fantastic way to control a more modern amp that has MIDI. Then control method #1 doesn't matter IF you have an amp with MIDI.

 

[Artie]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

"MODE" might be the wrong word used but the 4Cm mean 4 cable method.

As soon as you said that, I knew exactly what you meant. I've just never seen that acronym before, so it didn't "click" in my brain.

Good info, nonetheless.

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

I ran an GT-6 in the 4CM with my Soldano HR50+ back in the day, loved that amp, don't play anywhere I can use anything that loud now.

Mantis, thanks for the video, I'll set up a patch to check levels tonight. I don't think I am clipping anything, digital clipping is really harsh sounding.

FWIW, with some tweaking, I don't think the modeling in the 100 is bad at all, not Axe Fx or Kemper quality, but I wouldn't call them bad. I have been using them into a power amp and speakers though, I haven't been using the cab modeling direct so I can't really comment on that yet.

 

[Artie]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

Here's what's really cool about this technique. One of the four cables, is the guitar cable. That's separate. There's really only three cables between the "processor" and amp. So, you use old school "monster", or whatever, audio/video cables du-jour. Get some cheap RCA-to-1/4" adapters. For this app, top-end isn't necessary. At the flea-market, they're dime-a-dozen. (I mean the 3-in-1 audio/video cables.)

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

I used to make a cable bundle with tie wraps and color coded the ends with colored electrical tape.

 

[evan47]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

i totally agree on everythin being said about the GT. setting the output select appropriately is very important. if you are goin direct to mixer console, speaker simulation is important and it is very finicky. something that works for one thing might not work at all for another. you will have to do your share of experimentation. the only thing that I have to add on top of this is that, i have only able to get consistent results goin direct into the mixer only after i introduced Radial JDI.

IMO the only thing that has sucked so far in BOSS GT-series is that they have skipped XLR outputs for so long, which leaves such wide grey area as to how best we can go DI into a mixer.

Yes, the output select on the gt6 I owned years ago was very important as to how it affected the units sound quality. If the wrong output mode was selected the sound was a bit "meh" but when the correct mode was selected the gt6 was very good indeed.
Time after time I came upon user reviews where people did not use the correct output select mode and were dissatisfied but when they did engage the correct mode were elated as to its performance.

 

[evan47]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

What would be the multi effect of choice under £1000 for home or studio use?
I have the Boss me80 at the moment and although the effects are the usual boss quality have a few niggles about it, namely the lack of a good amp model, lack of speaker emulation and its interface (ok if you are plugged in to a computer).
When I set up a guitar sound I like to start things logically from the beginning, ie; the amp first, then speaker, effects added later.
With the ME80 the lack of a good amp and cab modeler leave me having to resort to a pedal-form preamp which, to me defeats the object of having an all in one floorboard like the ME80 as I just want to pick up one unit and plug n play.
I would like a do it all unit with better amp models, cabinet simulation and a slightly better interface, also, i dislike wall-warts.

 

[dave74]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

I used to make a cable bundle with tie wraps and color coded the ends with colored electrical tape.

simple brilliance

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

What would be the multi effect of choice under £1000 for home or studio use?

The Helix LT, Headrush Pedalboard, Amplifire 12, or Fractal AX8 will all do what you want, not sure what the prices are there. BTW, where is there, UK?

 

[evan47]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

The OD and Distortion effects on the GT-100 are pretty good. They are not as good as the real thing but pretty close. Much better then the Gt-10 which I owned before the 100.

Years ago I had a GT6 and really liked one of the boogie models in particular, the ME80 I just ebayed didnt have any satisfactory amp models although its effects were great so I ended up using a re-valved blackstar ht dual for dirt.
I have a GT100 on its way to me and am hoping it has an amp model I can bond with, but if not the H Tdual gives great overdrive

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

You can run the HT in the loop of the GT, just like using the 4 cable method with a real amp. I use the models in the GT for now, takes some tweaking but there are decent sounds in it. I think the ME-80 uses the same algorithms but the GT does have more choices.

 

[evan47]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

You can run the HT in the loop of the GT, just like using the 4 cable method with a real amp. I use the models in the GT for now, takes some tweaking but there are decent sounds in it. I think the ME-80 uses the same algorithms but the GT does have more choices.

Yes. In fact I am thinking of getting a cased pedal board big enough for both the gt100 and blackstar (and velcroing both power supplies to the board). maybe I could add a Seynour Duncan powerstage too.

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

The Powerstage or ISP Stealth with a cabinet will probably give you better tone than running into the THR10. You could also use the cab sims and run through a full range powered cabinet.

FYI, it is important to have the output settings correct on the GT-6 (not sure if the ME-80 gave you options), if you are running direct you need to have it set to direct/headphones so it turns on the cab sims, for running to an amp or power amp and cab you the other settings turn off the cab sims.

 

[evan47]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

The Powerstage or ISP Stealth with a cabinet will probably give you better tone than running into the THR10. You could also use the cab sims and run through a full range powered cabinet.

FYI, it is important to have the output settings correct on the GT-6 (not sure if the ME-80 gave you options), if you are running direct you need to have it set to direct/headphones so it turns on the cab sims, for running to an amp or power amp and cab you the other settings turn off the cab sims.

Yes. I owned the GT6 years ago and found that it was crucial to assign the correct output mode in order to get the best sound.
I expect the GT100 to behave in the same way.
The me80 did not have the output options of the gt6 nor did it have patch naming and its user interface gave less info on parameters which along with its lack of good amp models let it down badly IMO.

 

[wilkinsi]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

I've used a GX700 and the entire GT series, except the GT1 and GT001. The GX700 was so much easier to nail the sound I wanted, the GT10 had the most functionality. I feel the GT100 was just a stripped down version of the GT10 with an extra screen and cheesy ACCEL effects. The only thing the GT100 has that appealed to me was the Guitar to MIDI feature, though the amount of latency and tracking was too unstable unless you played the guitar like a keyboard. I didn't like the GR55 either.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Boss GT-100, anyone using one?

You guys are funny....

Any of those later Boss multi-floorboards has 10x the power of an old 80's rack of Doom

I was happy with my Boss ME-6 and totally sussed some great distortion sounds out of it. As always, I think people get way to caught up in the name of a patch/box/amp sim whatever. Make good sounds! I'm saying if you can't make a good sound with one of those things, it is not be cause the unit is incapable.