Boss GT-10

As an "on the floor" unit, this thing is tough to beat unless you want to spend about $1500. Before you even start trying to read the manual, just do yourself a favor and internet search "Boss GT-10 Advanced Driver (Name the kind of computer you have)" and then internet search "Boss GT-10 Editing Software." Make sure to go to the dropdown menus for help, manuals, whatever and save all the pdf's locally; you'll want them later.

The sounds out of this thing straight out of the box are Very good, save the problem every multi-effects unit suffers from: from one patch, bank, etc., to the next, the output levels don't match. This is where the software comes in. Yes, you CAN manually edit each patch through the menus and buttons on the unit, but it is a TON easier to do it with the software and then save the stuff to a hard-drive, thumbdrive, papyrus on the way out.

The note about S/N ratio and dynamic range is Spot On. The main reason I settled on this particular unit was the Roland / Boss Chorus; if it was good enough for Alex in the early days, it's good enough for me now. Anything claiming over 100 db Dynamic Range is a little out of my price range.

The BOSS GT-10is the best guitar pedal because it has the best dynamic range compared to other guitar multi effects pedals, lots of effects (including: flanger, chorus, delays, reverbs, amp models, speaker models, mic models, compressor/limiter, tremelo, uni-vibe, rotary, pitch shifter, transpose, 10-band graphic eq, parametric eq, 8-assigns (allowing you to control up to 8 custom setting changes assigned to the control pedals), full stereo sound, and much more all at a low price (compared to buying all of those effects individually). And now your BOSS GT-10 can sound like Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani and other guitarists studio album guitar sound with BOSS GT-10 Patches by James Limborg: https://www.jameslimborg.com/boss-gt-10-patches.html

The Boss GT-10 Multi-effects unit has just about every effect a gigging musician will need. Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Harmonist,Advanced Amp modeling and much, much more. Boss uses a new technology they call COSM or Composite Object Sound Modeling. While the average guy doesn't have to know what that is exactly, it equates the best sounding Boss multi effects unit to date. The GT-10 is equipt with USB capability, Parralel Effects chain, MIDI capability, and a digital out making recording a snap. It also comes with an expression pedal for various functions including wah, channel blending, pitch bends, and more.

UTILIZATION

Having been through several BOSS muti-effects units in the past including the GT-8 which was incredibly hard to figure out, the GT-10 is light years ahead as far as ease-of-use. I had it producing great sounds in ten minutes with the EZ Tone function. It took me ten minutes in the past to know the GT-8 was way too complicated and was going back to the store. It also took ten minutes to know the GT-10 was the perfect unit for me and was never going back. The menus are intuative enough for the average guy to understand and manipulate. When I did get stuck, the users manual was clear and concise enough to help me figure it out.


SOUND QUALITY

The sound quality is fantastic and works perfect through the effects loop on my guitar amplifier. The level control in an easy to access place on the top allows me to blend my volume by foot while on stage to match the loop level. In some cases the GT-10 produces such great tones, I will volume the unit up to allow its tone to dominate my amplifier's core tone.

OVERALL OPINION

Overall the GT-10 is the gigging musician's best friend. I now have two because I can't imagine going on stage without it. I love its ease of use and the fact that it can do just about anything I need it to in the context of a cover band playing many styles and types of music. The phrase looper is a great feature and is a great way to lay down a simple rythem and practice over it. Some people complain they need stomp boxes as the quality of a multi-effects unit usually falls short. Those players may not have tried the GT-10. The sound quality is unmatched by any unit I have owned or tried in the past. It has also been extremely road worthy and I have had no problems. If I had to find one thing that would be an improvement, it might be an extra long power chord for those places where power is tough to get to. All in all the GT-10 is a great choice and well worth the price!

OK, before I get into specs, I should tell you I almost sold this thing about three or four times...to the point of accepting money for it (which I returned promptly) and bailing out....It's been a love/hate affair but I've learned a lot and can speak intelligently about its use...

Specs:

AD Conversion
24-bit + AF method (*1)

DA Conversion
24-bit

Sampling Frequency
44.1 kHz

Program Memories
400: 200 (user) + 200 (preset)

Nominal Input Level
INPUT: -10 dBu
RETURN: -10 dBu

Input Impedance
INPUT: 1 M ohm
RETURN: 220 k ohms

Nominal Output Level
OUTPUT: -10 dBu / +4 dBu
SEND: -10 dBu

Output Impedance
OUTPUT: 2 k ohms
SEND: 3 k ohms

Dynamic Range
100 dB or greater (IHF-A)

Digital Output
Coaxial type (conforms to IEC60958)

Display
132 x 64 dots graphic LCD with backlit
7 segments, 3 characters LED

Connectors
INPUT jack (1/4 inch phone type), OUTPUT L/MONO, R jacks (1/4 inch phone type), PHONES jack (Stereo 1/4 inch phone type), EXT LOOP jacks SEND, RETURN (1/4 inch phone type), AMP CONTROL jack (1/4 inch phone type), EXP PEDAL 2/CTL3,4 jack (1/4 inch TRS phone type), USB connector, DIGITAL OUT jack, MIDI connectors IN, OUT, DC IN jack

Power Supply
DC 9 V (AC Adaptor: Roland PSB-1U)

Current Draw
800 mA

Accessories
AC Adaptor (Roland PSB-1U), Owner's Manual, Roland Service (Information Sheet)

Options
Footswitch: BOSS FS-5U, Dual Footswitch: BOSS FS-6, Expression Pedal: BOSS FV-500L/500H, Roland EV-5, Footswitch Cable: Roland PCS-31L (1/4 inch phone plug (stereo) - 1/4, inch phone plug (mono) x2)

System Requirements

Windows
OS: Microsoft® Windows® XP, Microsoft® Windows Vista®, Microsoft® Windows® 7
CPU/Clock: Pentium®/Celeron® or Pentium compatible processor 1 GHz or higher
RAM: 512 MB or more
Hard Disk: 190 MB or more
Display/Colors: 1024 x 768/65,536 colors (16 bit High Color) or more

Macintosh
OS: Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later
CPU/Clock: PowerPC G4, G5 1 GHz or higher/Intel processor
RAM: 512 MB or more
Display/Colors: 1024 x 768/32,000 colors or more

Size and Weight

Width
542 mm
21-3/8 inches

Depth
272 mm
10-3/4 inches

Height
77 mm
3-1/16 inches

Weight
4.9 kg
10 lbs. 13 oz.

Maximum height is 104 mm (4-1/8 inches) when pedal-up


UTILIZATION

This thing is hard to use, let's be frank...Especially if you plan to utilize the GT-10's loop and the 4 cable method...That's why I got it...The FX, the loop, and the MIDI control....I use Egnater/Randall MTS amps and wanted an all in one solution....In short the 4CM didn't work for me...I couldn't get the send/return levels set up despite my attempts at standard "unity gain" applications...I have wound up using it to switch channels on my MTS amps as well as run inline effects...No 4CM....And it works great....The Noise Suppressor is weak after I've become accustomed to ISP G series products...

The manual is clear but if you are a beginner, you're gonna need help...There's an easy to find forum with tons of helpful people....That's how I have survived....


SOUND QUALITY

The amp models are something I don't use...I don't care for them but to be fair, I don't care for any digital models...Anyway, the FX are great and you have many options that are all fully tweak able....This thing sounds excellent when used in conjunction with a great amp....

The FX can be wet or transparent....The MIDI control is great....You have a TON of EQ options as well as any effect you could imagine...Wah, volume, shifter, etc...All here...

OVERALL OPINION

I really like this thing, you can arrange your effects any way you want...Order them any way you want....It gives you a lot of control in one box....It really can function the same as an expensive pedal board...It just takes a bit to get to know it and how to use it....Ask questions online and get answers...Dive in, this one is great!