Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

[Closed Eye]

I was considering purchasing one of the older Boss GT series effects units, from 3-6, for gigging purposes (don't want to get my pedals stolen at sh*tty gigs) and was wondering what the pros and cons of each unit are.

I'm interested in the GT-5 because of the "just effects" capability but was wondering what advantages there were to using the more updated or advanced GT-3 and GT-6 effects units. I'm interested in the GT-6 because of the knobs and the tweakability but am concerned about this "learning curve" I keep hearing about.


So, if you can, let me know what I need to know!

Thanks for the look, help, info.

 

[Dave_Mcpherson]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

Well...i've never tried the GT3-5..but i do have the GT8, it's basically a super-GT6..lol. The learning curve isn't too bad, providing you've had experience with effects processors before..it'll probably take a week or two to really start adjusting to it, but it's simple! The effects are fantastic, real studio quality, and you can tweak anything!! I've had the GT8 for 6 months now, and i couldn't imagine using anything else....My personal favourite is the wah-wah, you can customize it to your hearts content...The distortions are just as good as the pedals, along with the different range of pre-amps my favourite being the Mesa Boogie rectifier.....even though, if you get the earlier GT models, you won't have customizable options, really...Your probably best just forking out that extra bit of cash for the GT6, or the GT8....There aren't really any cons, it's worth every penny. There's midi ports e.t.c incase you want to record into different devices...And it's built like a tank, made from steel. Don't drop it on your foot....
I hope this helps...

Alex

 

[Jeroen]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

The 'just effects' capability is present on all GT-series models. The best feature of the GT-series, that many competitors lack, is that you can fully adjust the order of effects in the signal chain. And it has its own external FX-loop, enabling you to hook it up using the so-called four cable method. When applying that, you hook it up like this:

Guitar -> GT-x input;
GT-x ext. dist. send -> amplifier input;
Amplifier FX send -> GT-x ext. dist. return;
GT-x out -> amplifier FX return.

This enables you to place all effects in their correct position in the signal chain (i.e. compressor and wah in front of your amp, chorus and delay in your amps FX loop). The only trouble with older GT's is that you need to hook up your amp as an external overdrive/distortion when applying four cable method, thus overruling the overdrives and distortions in the GT-x. This problem has finally been solved when they introduced the GT-8.

I've owned the GT-3 and GT-6 and now own a GT-8, and have been very fond of all of them. They're very different beasts though. The GT-3 and GT-5 had analog overdrives and distortions. They don't just sound like the original Boss pedals that they mimic, they actually are very much identical. Then again, on the GT-6 and GT-8, the amp simulation is better. Especially on the GT-8, which sounds more dynamic and less compressed than its predecessors.

Oh, one more thing. You mentioned the knobs of the GT-6 as a pre. Don't be fooled by them. It may seem like this makes it easier to adjust, but the knobs only offer very, very limited tweakability. If you really want to tweak, you still have to take a plunge into several menu's with the cursor keys, and adjust with the jog dial. I've never used the regular knobs. They're just too limiting to me. They do offer good possibilities to easily dial in a basic tone, and start tweaking from there on using the cursor keys and jog dial.

Off course, this is just my opinion. But I hope it helps you out a bit.

 

[Jeroen]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

Oh, and about the learning curve you mentioned: Yes, it is fairly steep. As Alex says though, well within one or two weeks you'll know the basics and be able to create your own patches. Long after that though, you'll still be discovering new things (often things even the manual told you nothing about, lol). But to me, that's what makes the GT-x so interesting. It's just so incredibly versatile, and the capabilities and possibilities seem almost endless.

 

[Closed Eye]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

Hey guys, thanks for all the help!

I may end up selling most of my pedals and doing the GT-6 into a Crate PowerBlock driving a 4 or 2x12.

Anything else I need to know?

 

[Kev]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

Hey guys, thanks for all the help!

I may end up selling most of my pedals and doing the GT-6 into a Crate PowerBlock driving a 4 or 2x12.

Anything else I need to know?

My current setup is exactly what you want lol.

GT6- crate full stack. Very good really. The beauty of it is, you can use the gt6/8 4 CABLE METHOD in order to use your amps distortion in the future- so say you buy a 5150 or sumut link it all together ;P

 

[Jeroen]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

The beauty of it is, you can use the gt6/8 4 CABLE METHOD in order to use your amps distortion in the future- so say you buy a 5150 or sumut link it all together ;P

Exactly, four cable method rules. I run a Koch Pedaltone tube preamp in the FX-loop of my GT-8, and it works great. If only the Pedaltone were MIDI-switchable, hehe. I really should try this with my H&K Triamp combo once. My Triamp has a MIDI-interface and is fully MIDI-switchable. Should be cool

 

[wildstar]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

Hey guys, thanks for all the help!

I may end up selling most of my pedals and doing the GT-6 into a Crate PowerBlock driving a 4 or 2x12.

Anything else I need to know?

A friend of mine did this a couple years ago, and is happier than a pig in sh!t. He sold about $2000 worth of bow-teek pedals to buy a $200 used GT-3 and is still laughing at the rest of us.

My 2¢: go for the GT-8. It doesn't have to be any more complicated than you want it to be.

 

[Closed Eye]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

I thought about the GT-8 but that thing is nearly $500! I mean, seriously, I can score a GT-6 for about 200 bones, use the other 200 for the power block (being that they raised the damn price right when I want to buy it), and then still have some cash left over to spring for a cab after another paycheck.

I dunno though, the GT-8 is really, really, really tempting. I mean, man, that's the latest technology with "better" amp and sims than the 6 with those crazy mixes for effects. My only question is, does the 8 have all the cool stuff the 6 had? or is it a totally new platform?

Also, other questions:

Can I set the expression pedal for a 2 octave up pitch shifting ala the Digitech Whammy?

How would I set the EQ on the Power Block so as to get the most out the amp sims? Can I operate the amp/cab sims independently to get the "straighest sound" possible?

What're some other important things to consider when going the Crate->Cab->GT route?

 

[Jeroen]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

My only question is, does the 8 have all the cool stuff the 6 had? or is it a totally new platform?

All the cool stuff is there. The user layout is basically the same too, they altered some parts of the menu and added or modified some parameters besides the added FX and preamps, and relocated some switches on the front panel, but other than that, it's not a whole big deal of change, user layout-wise.

Can I set the expression pedal for a 2 octave up pitch shifting ala the Digitech Whammy?

Yes sir!

How would I set the EQ on the Power Block so as to get the most out the amp sims? Can I operate the amp/cab sims independently to get the "straighest sound" possible?

If you only want to use the ampsimulations of the GT, and not the basic tone of the Power Block, the preferable way to hook it all up would be to plug the output of the GT straight into the FX Return of the Power Block. Otherwise, you'd need to set the gain so that the thing still stays clean. EQ is a matter of taste. The GT has preset settings for different ways of connecting it. Depending on the GT-model, this includes connecting to a Roland JC120 input or FX-return, small practice amp, combo input or FX-return, stack input or return, PA or recording gear or headphones. These presets are EQ-presets, to alter the tone so the patches sound 'the same' on any device you hook the GT up on. But really, this too is a matter of taste.

What're some other important things to consider when going the Crate->Cab->GT route?

I guess the above pretty much sums it all up, but if you have any further questions, please feel free to ask

 

[Closed Eye]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

Thanks Jeroen! You've been nothing but massive amounts of helpful in this whole thread!

So, okay, some more questions:

How does channel/amp switching work? Do I assign to two footswitches or one dual function foot-switch? (say, from distorted and clean channel, to stay simple, how does that work?)

I can have multiple effects on one footswitch, right? Like, say, delay+phaser, and then have them both kicked on as soon as I hit the switch?

Extra expression pedal input = assignable expression pedal right? It's not just a pre-determined volume control or whatever?

What're the possibilities for the extra foot-pedals?

I'll be doing cover-band type of stuff (as well as originals, hopefully), and this seems like a stupid question, but this is probably the perfect tool for that, correct?

----

I've been trolling the GT Central forums too, just checking out what people have done with their 6's and 8's...

 

[Jeroen]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

How does channel/amp switching work? Do I assign to two footswitches or one dual function foot-switch? (say, from distorted and clean channel, to stay simple, how does that work?)

Depends on what type of channel switching you mean.
If it's switching between two amp channels within one patch, you'd have assign the CTL-pedal or an external pedal to do this, or you can assign the CTL-pedal or an external pedal to engage Manual Mode. This turns the other six footswitches into individual on/off-switches for effects. This can also include one switch to switch between two amp channels within one patch. Mind you, only the GT-8 can be set up to switch between two fully independant amp channels within one patch. On older models, you'd have to assign a LOT or parameters to the CTL-pedal to achieve the same thing (amp model, gain, volume, EQ-settings and so forth).
If you mean switching channels of an external amp, this basically works the same. This, too, is only possible on the GT-8. You can only substitute a one-button footswitch with the GT-8, using a regular mono jack cable.

I can have multiple effects on one footswitch, right? Like, say, delay+phaser, and then have them both kicked on as soon as I hit the switch?

Only on the CTL-pedal or an external pedal. In Manual Mode, each switch can only control ONE effect. However, you can choose to have one or more fx switched on when engaging manual mode.

Extra expression pedal input = assignable expression pedal right? It's not just a pre-determined volume control or whatever?

Nope, fully assignable.

What're the possibilities for the extra foot-pedals?

You can hook up one or two additional footswitches using a stereo jack cable. Switching possibilities are virtually unlimited. I have never used this feature, but I've come across these possibilities often in the menu.

I'll be doing cover-band type of stuff (as well as originals, hopefully), and this seems like a stupid question, but this is probably the perfect tool for that, correct?

This is a stupid question
The GT's can cover a lot of ground. I don't think there's any style you could not play through a GT. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to coax any sound from it.

 

[ShredFetus]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

I had the same amount of questions when I was looking at getting a GT-8 too...I was just really trying to get my head around how the thing worked. But seriously, within a few minutes/hours of playing with it everything made sense...it's just something you have to physically play with to really appreciate. I am so happy with mine and do not regret spending a single cent! The option in the GT-8 (that no others have) of having two separate amp models running simultaneously in stereo is just to die for!!!

 

[Jeroen]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

The option in the GT-8 (that no others have) of having two separate amp models running simultaneously in stereo is just to die for!!!

Hell yeah. I've not had the chance to play mine through two amps simultaneously often, but when I did... :notworthy
I especially liked the results I got when sending a big, fat (but relatively low gain, set at 35 with the Gain SW set to medium) Rectifier tone to one output, and a Marshall High Gain tone through the other output (also with the Gain SW set to medium, but gain at 45, and with the EQ relatively flat but with a slight midboost). Man, that sounded like a brick wall! The delay feature between the two outputs is also great. I only used 5 ms of delay, but it made the tone a tremendous amount bigger and fuller. Makes me wish I had two amps at home! :yell:

 

[Animal]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

Last year, for my sound engineering course, I recorded a band where the sole guitarist used a GT-6 as his pre-amp. I was quite impressed with the sounds he was gettin'. He used an Ibanez S-series or Prestige (I think) into the his GT-6 and plugged straight into the FX loop-return of a Peavey Triumph 120 Head (6L6 valves) so he would could bypass the pre-amp of the head. He had to use the volume knob on his GT-6 to control the overall level. Finally he sent the signal into a Marshall JCM900 quad box.

Here are some snippets of the recording session. Please excuse my crappy mixing/EQing:
GT-6-Sound-Clips

Rhythm guitars were double tracked, and individually miced in a close/far arrangement with a Sennheiser MD-421 and AKG-C414. IIRC, no compression was used on the guitars and the only EQ on the guitars was a high pass filter at around 100Hz or so to get rid of most of the boomy cabinet resosnance. Looking back, I wish I had used a tiny bit of comp and EQ around 2kz so that I could bring out more of the brightness of the guitar tone in the mix.

 

[Kev]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

whilst im still @ this thread, i'd advise you that there is probably no need for a gt-8 when you can pickup a 2nd hand gt6.

I always bypass my amps pre too, sounds FAR better.

 

[ColdHit]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

Don't mean to hijack this thread but how would a Boss GT8 compare to a Toneworks AX3000G? Any experiences with these?

 

[Kev]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

Don't mean to hijack this thread but how would a Boss GT8 compare to a Toneworks AX3000G? Any experiences with these?

Ive seen the unit, but ive enver been sure about how good korg effects are :blackeye:

 

[Dave_Mcpherson]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

I'm pretty damn sure the Boss GT8 kicks any Korg processor's arse . Just check out the specs and what they do and don't have, and decide for yourself .

Alex

 

[blacktopsk8er]

Re: Can y'all tell me anything about the Boss GT-series?

Hey man i actually just sold all my pedals and picked up the gt8 and i say if you have $500 worth in pedals wich is normally about 4 or 5 pedals it is way more worth it to spend 500 on the gt8 and get all thoes pluss it seems the possabilities are endless. its great

B