Boss GT-3

well... as a previous boss user i know the drill about sound editing so it was pretty easy for me to get a good sound.. just about 10 minutes and i replicated some of the sounds that i've programmed in my previous unit(boss me-10)

about editing patches you have 12 modules, its easy to edit if you use basic effects but if you want like 8 or more its kinda tricky specially the pedal/assign module and the manual it's not that explanatory

the manual is quite big in size but sometimes its confusing in its terms but if you know about guitar effects it can be pretty easy

Firmware.. well i bought used so i dont know if the previous owner updated the firmware, but i really doubt it because im in mexico and its not that easy to do that in here

well my rig it's easy one dean playmate an washburn(cheap model) and a SG clone a dunlop crybaby standard, a zoom hyper lead distortion unit the boss gt-3 and my 40w amp

this unit if it is properly configured it can be quite noiseless(it has a noise supressor) the only noise i detect it,s my CRT computer monitor but it's normal i just turn it off and the noise its gone

if you like tweaking your effects it can be a pretty good unit, however some preset's can do job very well, the weak effects are the harmonizer, sometimes cant track very well unless you do some tweaks, the wah(lack's of frequency Q) the acoustic simulator its good but its a simulator so you wont be fooling anyone.. also the synth it's pretty lame specially when tracking but again it's a multi effect not a dedicated unit(also i dont use it) now the good features about thing... the modulation module its quite good, chorus, flanger, phaser slow gear and slicer(one of my favorite ones), it has great distortions(analog circuit) so it can do the job but then itgoes trough the other digital effects so it loses some of the magic, the pre amps are quite good but emulated i think in amp simulation the best right now are line 6, good delays . good EQ's a fair reverb also the auto riff its a good feature to do some weird noises and my personal favorite the manual mode, with this you can enable disable 7 effects

i like creating my sounds but also like to sound like others with this you can get close to that but un less you have some of you favorite artist rig you cant get the exact sound however with this you can get really close and even fool some amateurs

i never gig with my gt-3 but soon i will and i think it will do the job pretty well

i previously own a boss and i gig with it and i have no problem

in a gig sure i will use it with a backup its a boss so it can resist anything its build with metal and by the way its used but the brand its reliable

i never dealt with boss here in mexico because there are nowhere to go

my previous unit (boss me-10) fail me a month ago and the gt-3 its the succesor but the old unit and i mean old was 12 years old of extreme abuse so it did last pretty well

i play mainly rock(from chuck berry to new stuff and all in between) so this thing can match up really good an i can get almost every sound i like, also a like to experiment with electronic music, conceptual music so the unit and some of the effects can really create an unique sound

i've been playing since 2003 and i used a lot of gear(1 digitech,4 zoom, 1 korg, 3 boss) when i got my previous boss unit i decided to stay with the brand and it was a good choise

if it get stolen i would love to get another one back but its quite hard to find it here so i will upgrade to a gt-8 or a gt-10

i love the distortion unit because its analog circuit and the selection of effects, and as i say i love the manual mode and the CTL because i can switch from distorted to clean in the same patch or turn on/off any efeccts, ant the chain order feature it really helps when creating souns

now i own my first multi/fx a digitech Rp 50 and there is no point of comparision but i still use it to practice or when i dont want to carry the goos stuff,

also i have 2 zoom units the 707II that was my first good look at tweaking and i still love some of the sounds but the unit its on sale an the new g2 wich i found very easy to use and i use to practice or jamming and finally my crybaby wich i use it in every gig and the gt-3 cant substitute this one

i wish it has a on/off switch for the expression pedal but that feature came on the gt-6 but with some tweaking i can virtually do it

sorry dude the boss gt3 has got a battery in it its like the size of a quarter
,hummm???? is anything he said true? lol
i didnt know it had one either ,and i have one, but yes its got one in there

great equipment though!

Ive heard people say that this pedal is complicated to use its hard for me to say as ive used a few boss gt pedals so when i got this pedal it was all familiar to me... i think if anyone has a small amount of expirience with multi effects will find their way around this unit no problems

I got this GT3 after my boss gt8 was damaged at a gig (cracked screen) i bought it cheap of a freind as a temp until my gt8 was fixed.... i must say i was blown away at how good the gt3 was its sound quality is amazing i only really use a few effects like delay and chorus and it does it perfectly with pleanty of room to edit, the overdrives in this thing are great to and cover pretty much any style... i never really used the preamp modelling in my gt8 as went straight into the amp the gt3 has a few amp models that sound great but if you want a pedal to run direct with amp modelling i dont think the gt3 is for you.. i use this gt3 with a few stomp boxs and it works pefectly with them.. all in all a very good sounding pedal that sits well with any set up

built like a tank

very very good.. boss have always had good customer support.. my power supply was damaged at a gig and they sent me a new one free of charge

I love this pedal and will probably use it live instead of the gt8... i love the size of this pedal as it fits in my pedal board also it only seems to have effects that are very usable (apart from auto riff) and not full of pointless gimicks like on most multi effects... this is definetly more a pedal to use with an amp rather than direct as the amp moddeling is not up there with the likes of line 6 and the gt6/8/10.... it works well with other pedals im using it with an ibanex tube screamer, boss blues drives and a vox wah all running straight into the front end of a vox ac30.. overall a pro sounding pedal that is built like a tank

I just wanted to correct the previous review on the site to download the user manual, the correct site is www.media.rolandus.com/manuals/GT-3_OM.pdf

good luck!!!

I found it very easy to use after downloading the manual... (media.rolundus.com/manuals/GT-3_OM.pdf)is where you'll find it. The sounds I got at home (for the most part) weren't usable at a gig, though. Some definite tweaking came into play.
The patches are easy to edit, once you learn how.

I'm using a stratocaster thru a yamaha G100-210 amp at home...and a marshall hybrid half stack with a crate 212 at gigs.
It's very noisy on any of the distortion settings.
The effects sound great at home, but, thin and harsh at the gig.
I need to learn how to tweak them some more, I guess.
As of yet, I've not been able to re-create the sounds of any of my favorite artists with the thing, but, I'd love to be able to get Stevie Ray's sound as well as Skynyrd's sound.

I just need to play with it for awhile...I'm sure it's everything I need.

I haven't dealt with the company.

I play Classic Rock, Blues & red dirt Country, I've been playing for 30 yrs.
I would buy another one if I could get it as cheap as I got this one.
I'm bound and determined to make it work for me. I've always heard great things about BOSS products, so I'll keep tweaking until I can't tweak no-more!!!

I have been playing for 7 years and been through several multi-effects including Boss ME- 50, also spent three years piecing together stomp boxes. I never could get the right sound. The GT-3 came along about a year ago and corrected that right away. To get your sound with any effect it takes time tweaking your amp, effects, and guitar to match each other perfectly. This unit does take a lot of time get to know and to find your perfect sound. Bu to get professional quality it takes that amount of time with any effect. Since it is base completely in menus instead of knobs like ME-50 it does take more time. But the possibilities are exponential comparatively. The manual is only helpful if you know nothing about the unit. Then you unless you know tech specifics it still doesn't help much. Once you get familiar the patches are somewhat easy to use.

Currently I am using this with the left output into P.A. and the right out into a raven RG-60 for stage sound. My Guitar is a Godin SD hot rod with Duncan vintage rails in the neck cool rails in the middle and dime bucker in the bridge. With the hot pickups the distortions are not necessary if you use middle or high gain in the preamp. The Tuner can be use as bypass and it sounds very clear. The wah effect is great. In any given bank i use one patch with an edited sound, that same sound in the next bank tweaked with a solo/ delay sound, the next patch tweaked for use with Wah Wah, and the last patch same sound with a heaver sound. I have never had luck with the Acoustic simulation. It is easier to find a good clean sound and add chorus. Or use an acoustic with anti feedback through a electric amp if it is necessary.

This thing is solid i move it anywhere from ten to fifteen time a week. It is Boss, It will last.

Never had to use it.

I play mainly Praise and worship. But i also have played blues and country. I have been playing for seven years and in large church and venues for five. I also Have an old harmony rocket modified with Emg's that play through a York man bass amp I own several basses and acoustics. I sold all of my effects when I got this. Which included Ibanez weeping demon, tudescremer (ts-9), Rat distortion, digitech blues drive, boss Metal Zone, Super chorus, Digital delay (DD-5, and DD-6) Chromatic tuner,MXR phase 90, and Ernie ball volume pedal. I had all the good stuff but since i move around so much it was a huge hassle to set up. Know i plug in three cords and i am done

I made new sounds for the gt3 with exelent reports from friends,and other profesional musicians.I tried the gt8,and attempted similar sound modifications,but the sounds were not as rich and powerfull like my gt3.Last year i use it live in concert and everyone kept looking were my sound was coming from because they did not see any amp,because i plugged directly to the PA console,and all the musicians were very impressed by the sound from this small unit.i will not trade my machine for any other.
Sinserelly Herman Nieves

Excellent sound,i use it for recording straight to my recording gear.I can soun from joe satriani,ingwie malmsteen or steve vai when i want,just pushing one botton.

always,i dont have a backup gear.I stop using stomp boxes years ago after i got my gt-3.

Never.

I play from rock,jazz,neo clasical,latin,etc.Been playing guitar for 28 years.and recording for 19.I test different boxes from diferent companies and sice i'm very picky about my sound nothing had given a more precise sound than boss pedals,and for that reason i tried the gt-3,and the result was more that i expected.

I have had this for seven years now and feel like adding an update, as many people have been pretty harsh about this unit. I do agree, however, that getting a good sound out of this requires some tweaking. I got "my" sound by first taking away everything from a patch, adding a bit of reverb and delay and then letting my amp and my Marshall Guvnor make the sound. This worked for years and when you count in the GT-3??s tuner, it was still a good deal - I would need three pedals for that basic set-up. The manual was not too helpful, but luckily a lot of good resources can be found on the Internet

I??m using the GT-3 with the Marshall Guvnor and an Artec Soloist Distortion in the effects loop. My main guitar is a Gibson RD Artist and my amp is a Marshall Bluesbreaker with a Marshall Power Brake. For years I was perfectly happy with my sound and I could use it for the different genres I play, but a couple of months back I joined a heavy rock band and I had to found some new sounds - specifically a distorted, compressed rhytm sound at a low volume. Imagine my delight when a GT-3 patch - 5150 Drive - provided exactly that with no tweaking at all. And I also rediscovered the JC-120 chorus sound which I now often use as my clean sound. I guess my point is: The GT-3 is a serious piece of equipment. It??s just that it is not that easy to make your own sounds with - especially not for guitarists who aren??t used to scrolling through menus

I have used it for seven years now without a back-up. It??s a Boss - `nough said

Have never had to contact Roland

I have been playing guitar for 32 years. As I said, I have been playing the Boss GT-3 for seven of those. Every time I have been thinking about removing it from my set-up - coz everybody knows that "real musicians don??t use multi-effects" - I have reconsidered, soz I have always used the GT-3 - and now I use it more than ever. If it was stolen I would certainly buy another one - especially since they are pretty cheap these days

I found the GT-3 very easy to get a good sound out of and relatively easy to tweak. I don't use any of the preset patches but editing is fairly simple. I use it only for effects and midi-switching of my amp channels.

I use the GT-3 with various Ibanez guitars, and Peavey amps. My main amp is a Peavey JSX 120 watt head but I also use an Ultra 112 combo. I use the midi out on the GT-3 to an Axxess electronics CFX4 to change channels on both the JSX and Ultra combo. It works fantastic and gives me the quality effects that I need. Reverb, delay, and mod effects plus EQ for a solo boost etc... I run the GT-3 in the effects loop of my amps and it is very quiet and does not affect the tone negatively.

Rock solid. I just purchased a second one used but have had mine for over 10 years without any problems. I have one at our practice space and the second one coming for home use.

Boss is rock solid. Never even had to call them.

The GT-3 works great and to this day I can't find anything better for near the cost you can get them used.

I really need to find a manual (I bought it off a friend) But, Using the presets, It's really easy, and it sounds great. It's great for playing live because you can switch from tone to tone very easily.

I would say it's okay. Personally, I think I've gotten better tones out of individual effects pedals, But, For having so many tones at access with such ease, There really is nothing to compare it to. I'm running it through my Line 6 Spider III, If you own one of these, Leave the channel on Clean (I add a touch of reverb too) Or else it will sound like utter crap.

I've only had it for a week or so, But, I would say it's pretty reliable, I'm not in a position to really judge it on a life or death matter, because most of my songs are played on a slightly distorted channel to begin with (That I can achive with my amp) I really just use it for the cool effects (Flock of Seagulls type effects)

I play Down-Tempo Industrial, and this thing really gets the job done, since 90% of my show is improvised B.S., This thing helps really make it something worth while, I really can't say anything bad about it, except that on some settings it doesn't sound very sharp (Noticebly so) But that's perfect if you're looking for a little bit of dirt. Also, Some of the tones on there are just stupid (Like Casio tones) Telephones, Helicopters, so on and so fourth. I don't personally use them, But if that floats your boat, then by all means, go for it. If you can find one for under $175, I'd say go for it without thinking twice. Don't pay more than $250-$300 for it though, Not that it wasn't worth it at one time, But you can find it for alot cheaper. I bought mine off a co-worker who just needed extra money and really didn't want the thing for $30. He bought it used for $150, From a guy who bought it new at $200, if that gives you any idea.