Why the GT-100 Is My Favorite Multi-Effects Processor

The Boss GT series is a great pedal for live performances, practicing and studio recording. If you haven’t heard of the Boss GT-6, 8, 10 or 100, it’s basically a multi-effects pedal that contains all your gear. From stomp boxes, amp models and rack gear, the GT series has it all incorporated into one simple interface.

I remember buying the Boss GT-8 years ago and being blown away by the sound quality. I actually feel like kicking myself for getting rid of it! Fast-forward to today, and the GT-100 is now the flagship modeller, and it sounds better than ever. According to Boss, the GT-100 was built from the ground up and features 6x the processing power of its predecessor, the GT-10.

Of course there are other popular modellers on the market today, such as the Line 6 POD HD 500X ($499), the Fractal Audio Axe-FX ($1999.95) and the Kemper Profiling Amplifier ($3797). If you factor in sound quality as well as price, my opinion is that the Boss GT-100 ($499) is definitely the way to go.

I recently started playing live shows with a well-known vocalist who performs with backing tracks. For this specific scenario, I found that a tube amp isn’t particularly ideal. Not only is it a hassle to carry it around to each gig, but also when performing with backing tracks it can be overpowering. I found that I like to hear how my guitar is sitting in the mix from the PA speakers, and when using a tube amp this isn’t really possible, as you have sound coming from 2 (or 3 if monitor speakers are used) different locations.

This doesn’t mean that the GT-100 cannot be plugged into a tube amp, however it does include cabinet and microphone simulation, allowing you to plug directly in to the mixer and still achieve great sound quality.

I won’t get into the specifics of the pedal, however below I’ve included a list of gear included in the GT-100. Imagine being able to change between an ACDC tone, Van Halen crunch, or a smooth Jazz sound with the touch of a button. This is what makes the GT-100 so powerful.

The complete list can be found here:
http://cdn.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/GT-100_Training_Guide.pdf

In my opinion, the GT-100 is a great companion for the gigging musician. I don’t think of it as a replacement for a tube amplifier, as it serves a different purpose. Of course in certain situations, especially when gigging with a loud rock band, I still much prefer a tube amp. However, the GT-100 can definitely serve as a great back-up plan if your gear fails on you at the gig.

Below I’ve made a list of things I like about the GT-100 in terms of playing live.

You may have noticed that the rear panel of the GT-100 contains a USB port. This will allow you to use the Boss Tone Studio software to quickly and easily create and edit patches on your PC. This is usually a much easier way than editing the patches directly on the GT-100 itself. Boss Tone Studio is also compatible with the desktop version of the GT-100, the Boss GT-001.

Essentially this also allows people to easily share patches with each other. If you create a patch you like, you can simply email it to a friend. You can visit Boss Tone Central to access their vast database of additional patches, some created by well known artists. There are also a handful of YouTube users that have also made their patches available. Check out the examples below from Jack Thammarat.

The video below represents just how powerful the GT-100 is, with a short sample of the following presets.

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