Boss GT-3

Well... It's got these handy little buttons on the front that link directly to the effect type in question, and a data wheel. This is alright for studio/eventide veterans, but us guitarists prefer knobs. Before I got it I used to spend hours in front of my amp (a peavey blazer 158 from the transtube range) tweaking the knobs to get just the right sounds; with the Boss it takes days of endless twiddling to get anything descent. This is especially true when fiddling with distortion or gainy amp sims. All the rest are fairly easy to use.
It is so very important to read the manual before even taking it out of the polythene bag... You could almost end up taking it back if you don't (particularly the yanks with no staying power). This is particularly true with regard to setting the amp's tone controls to 0/10/0 (bass/mid/high). And then what happens with an amp that only has two or one tone control(s)? Not good. Also the noise surpressor is very hard to get to grips with, noisy patches galore.

I use the GT-3 with an Ibanez JS100 with a tone zone in the bridge and a FRED in the neck. For distortion, it is best only to use the tone zone, due to the vast quantity of mud that can be achieved with anything else. For an example sound, try almost every solo on Joe Satriani's Engines of Creation album... I'm not saying it's a bad sound, but I don't think I could pull it off successfully. I also use this setup through a Peavey Blazer 158, which on it's own is very tinny and piercing, so the mud quantities are very suprising. On setting up high gain amp sims, the expected noise is acceptable, but there are also other interfering noises that make for unpleasant playing. For this reason my main distortion sounds are without amp sims, so the od/dist section is used greatly, and mind you, these require an awful lot of tweaking to sound good. For clean sounds, there is only one choice - that is the Clean Twin sim - killer creamy over drive when set high, especially when using the neck pickup on my Ibanez. This makes for a very versatile sound. This means I only need one clean patch. This I suppose is the only saving grace where sound quality is concerned.

This thing is built better than 15 Volvos put together. I gig without a backup all the time. It's had so many things dropped on it- the only scars it has are on the display from where I dropped my glass slide on it (incidentally I have scars from that episode - for this reason always buy brass!!!!)

I am a registered boss/roland user, and the confirmation came through the post within 3 days. Other than that, I've never had to deal with them.

Alright, but not sparkling. What were they thinking when the programmed the processor with that wah? Had to buy a Bad Horsie to get anything descent with wah in it. I usually play anything Steve Vai or Joe Satriani. Naturally, it follows that I am a tone freak with fast fingers (typed this report in 5 mins!)If you know how to use it, fine. But if you're starting out, get a collection of stomp boxes started, they're cheaper and more versatile. Some people will have to learn the hard way, like me. I am hoping to retire it and my amp soon in favor of a Line6 Flextone II XL.

*** READ THIS REVIEW FOR HELP GETTING GREAT DISTORTION SOUNDS FROM YOUR GT-3 ***. As for ease of use I'm going to say this time around, having owned the GT-3 for 6 months now, that it depends. For example, it is fairly easy to get decent clean sounds since most people don't tend to be as picky as in the case of distortion. In the case of distortion, it seems that there are so many endless variations that people may try to achieve, that perhaps even the best processor ever to be made will always leave some people unsatisfied. I believe that just as any pro uses various tools to create a unique "trademark" sound for his or herself, we too can create the same using the many tools we have in one unit- namely, the Boss GT-3. The trick is not so much in knowing how to use the GT-3, rather in knowing how to use various tools to get great sounds. Therefore, for the average user, I do not believe it it easy for many people to get great sounds, even though they are in the GT-3. Lastly, the manual is so sparse on this subject, that I have to wonder how much business is lost by Roland simply because they have failed to aid users in a much more specific manner.

Currently, I am playing a Les Paul Classic with a Lonestar Strat as a backup, into the GT-3, and then going from there into the EFX return of either a 30 watt Marshall, or a Peavey Classic 50. As with any processor that increase gain, the GT-3 is not noiseless. However, the noise gate works extremely well. My opiniopn is that the GT-3 gives us the capacity to approximate many of the sounds of popular artists, past and present, as well as the ability to create our own distinct sounds. I have effectively done both. Compared to what I've seen availible in its pricerange, my opinion is that the GT-3 is unbeatable. Though I do have a small amount of my own qwabbles with the unit, which I'd rather not disclose again here.

I never feel safe in front of 500 people with nothing between me and the fruit and vegetables in their hands except a computer. Do you? (However, sometimes that's just tough-titties, isn't it?) Generally there's no question that it's solid and well built.

I couldn't care less.

The GT-3 is a wonderful and amazing unit. I feel that it has rekindled my desire to play the guitar. I feel that I can get perhaps 90 percent of the sounds I'm after. The trick is in knowing how to get good sounds in the first place, and then applying that knowledge to the GT-3. If any of you would like to share my theories concerning distortions and tones which Ive learned over the years, I am now putting together a document, free for the asking. email me at: sauceydog_2000@yahoo.com (don't forget that underscore), and I'll send you a text document. I hope to help people at least understand some basic principles in understanding ways to get better tones from the GT-3. If I lost it, I'd buy no other!!!

The Dialog box for this section asks " How easy is it to get a good sound out of it?" The best way I found was to unplug it. I have never been so dissapointed in a piece of gear in my life besides an ART piece (guitar processor) This thing does have some nice sounding preamps built in but they sound nothing like what they are labeled. If a 5150 sounded like that Eddie would shoot himself in the head. But more on this later. It is easy to use, Trust me , I have even read the manual to make sure I was doing everything correctly. Fairly straight forward. It s the typical , push effect button, scroll through parameters with left and right buttons and set value with wheel. Easy

I tried a dozen combinations from 150.00 headphones to My Marshall 2550 direct, also in return of loop, I tried a stereo tube power amp direct into my 4x12, I tried a QSC power amp into my 4x12, Through PA cabinets, Into my Mixer then into headphones and all this with a half dozen guitars and numerous cable checks in between. I almost actually believe there is something wrong with this thing. Some of the cleaner settings sound real good with an excellent chorus but the majority of the sounds are so bad that they would have to improve just to suck. The EQ was all wacked out, Horrible tinny sound with overly processed sound. 3 of 4 presets are totally useless. I tried to build a usefull preset but could not get past the distortion sounds. The nice clean sounds and chorus/reverb/delays are not worth the asking price. It is full of the gimmick sounds that the engineers at Roland think we get off on. Crap Crap and more Crap. The acoustic setting are laughable. "Shrill" comes to mind.

I'm sure it will be reliable and sound consistently bad for years to come.

I don't think anyone has ever needed Boss/Roland for customer service. It does not generally break unless you really try.

Thank God I bought this from a mail order house and can return it. I am absolutely unsatisfied. After 20 years of playing I know a good guitar sound when I hear it and this isn't it. Yes, some parts of it have their strengths but as a all-in-one processor it really misses the mark . I would much rather use my Sterile sounding Line 6 AX2 than this GT-3. I would strongly urge anyone who is considering this piece to TRY IT FIRST!

Yes, it is quite easy to operate and get sound out of it, but you get confused to what exactly you want to hear. Editing patches is easy and the manual says the basics. no upgrades known.

I use it with a custom made strat and it is Ok, although the amp modeling and pickup simulator isn't so convincing. Some fx have not as many parameters as i'd like... I usually use it throught a Stack Marsall loaded with 4 12'' spkrs. Its not silent but its not very noisy to. The exp pedal is not very accurate. The distortions are not so good and I feel that they are "week". some effects are there just to impress and have no use at all (such as auto riff). I love that there's a sub eq and a short delay! The patches have no equal output and I have to sound check more than an hour to get a sound that doesnt freak the sound man....! And some presets are only for feedback and nothing else!

Yes the only sure thing is that it is very relieable and never need a backup. I used boss pedals for more than 10 years and never had a problem.

I play in a band that plays almost anything from jazz and blues to drum and Bass and folk - traditional music. I think that if you spent a certain amount of hours on it and memorize 340 presets you maybe be able to play almost anything... I sold the pedals i owned after buying this baby... If it was stolen or lost probably i 'd buy something else as it is in a category with many competitors. I bought it as it was a good deal. As for making music with it i dont recomend because you get too confused trying to control the sounds and you forget what you originally wanted to play.
I suppose I have a love/hate relationship with it!

??A??!'A ???<?I?I ?o?uAo?? ???o?I ?? A??!?I
?O???| ?E?o AO'U A?AU?y?? ???? ?i??Ao ?E'U

>c?i??? ?I?>CI?e AU?O?? ?!?>A?'U'A ?>?U?! CO?o ??'U
?>?! gfx-8A> >c?eCI'U?! AI?E??'A?Y A??> >c?i?? A??????!?-
A?AI?! ?-'U

?- AI?E ?OCA??AEAI???! ?O?i?!Ao?? 'U'?'U
?U?e ????C??I ??A??Y...

A?~~~ ?????!AI???! CE?aCO?I??'U'A?C?!?
???? ?????!AI?? CI?e AAA??? 'c??CIAo ?E???
?I?? A?AI'U

A?~~ ?>?! ????CI'A A??CA??#?I Au?? ??C?AI'U
?- ???>??A< ?i ???>A??#?| AA??CI'A?Y ds-1A> ???A?- ?''U
???a'U ??A! >u???o ???????c?| >c?eCI'I?i ?? ??CI?<AuAI'U
???<?? ??A> ?o ??'U

Took a while to learn everything. terrible in live situations when you have to tweak a patch... i fould it painfully slow. the manual isn't terrible but not perfect... I used it on my computer with the midid cable so thumbs up there

Fender Fat>Carvin SX100D (no cabs)
Nice sounds. after tweaking my amp and guitar a bit i got some
awesome clean 'coustick sounds to driving metal distortions. Good pickup simulator for more twangy sounds.

I would not go to a gig unless i tested the volumes and eqing 10 times. it's suprising the sound different on headphones and you amp :)

Boss products break?

Good pedal. play around with it before you commit. I would consider a korg ax1000g too... nice little thing.

It's very easy to get a great sound out of the GT-3 after browsing through the manual. It's very logical and I was creating patches within 30 minutes of setting it up. the manual is typically BOSS and it really isn't that great..but it'll get you into the basics and by them you'll rarely need to refer to it.

My unit has the 1.01 software revision and I believe that there is a version 2.0 out but I don't know what new features it offers or which bugs, if any, it addresses

I am using several different guitars (all Carvin) and a Peavey Bandit Transture 100 watt amp with the SX-112 extention speaker about 7 feet away from the amp to give me a big sound.

There is little, if any, noise from the GT-3. It's a quiet unit. The factory effects patches are pretty nice but I really wasn't thrilled until I tweaked some and made up my own and put them in one bank. I set a Distortion (based upon the Matchless Lead 18-1 patch)and A chorus, a clean and a phaser patch (based upon the Black Panel patch 26-3) These are all minimal effect sounds as i am not a big fan of heavy effects...they just give me a nice warm realistic clean amp sound. These are just right for backing up my vocals since I am a soloist and don't have to compete with other instruments to be heard.

I have not tried to emulate other artist's sounds but I am sure that you can get really close to whatever sound you are looking for as long as you are willing to spend some time tweaking the unit.

The distortion sounds are killer and you don't have to tweak much to get a great sound. I have a few GS and XG MIDI modules hooked to my computer's MIDI OUT and i like to jam to sequences. The dirty sounds on the unit will cut through anything and always sound good to my ears.

The GT-3 has a metal chassis so it is pretty much bulletproof. It's not waterproof though so I wouldn't wanna spill any liquid on it.

I feel confident using this without a backup unit..if it ever did go out on me it would be easy to just plug into my amp and get a decent sound anyway.

never had to deal with service but I imagine it would be decent just because of the name BOSS..they make good stuff

I play rock, metal, jazz, blues, country and ballads and it handles all the sounds I need very well.

I have been playing for 30+ years and have a lot of different amps and guitars, most of which is name brands like Peavey, Carvin, Roland, Yamaha, Boss, Alesis, Lexicon. Tascam, etc. The GT-3 interfaces with them all very well.

If it were stolen I would have to replace it because it has the sounds i need and they are easy to access in the GT-3.

I originally was looking at the Digitech RP-2000 but after comparing the two I decided on the Boss because if offered more options.

One thing I would like to share. In my humble opinion I think that the way to get a good sound out of an electric guitar is to let the amp do the work and control the overall volume from the guitar volume control. I rarely if ever turn the volume on the guitar to 10 when using clean sounds. Keeping the volume backed off a bit cuts down on the high end of the sound spectrum and keeps the treble under control. i don't have much use for treble sound when I play. I do like to turn up to max volume on the guitar when playing dirty to get the most response from the pickups.

One thing I have noticed with all effects units is that I must keep the guitar volume on 10 to get the best sound outof the unit..I keep the volume controlled from the footpedal on the GT-3.

this trade off on technique and method is more than compensated for by the GT-3's killer sounds so I don't feel like I am sacrificing anything at all.

I plug the GT-3 into my amp's Effects Loop Return so i bypass the Peavey Bandit's preamp section and this is what Boss recommends to get a good sound...they weren't lying about that. It sounds great.

This unit, once you get the hang of it, is pretty user friendly.

I use a Fender USA Deluxe Plus Strat with a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp. That sounds good in the first place, but the GT-3 makes it sound so much better. Though everything has it's flaws, the GT-3 could be better in certain areas, like everything in it's own way. But all in all, this thing ROCKS!!!

As i'm typing this, I've had it 2 days, But it's BOSS and it's built BOSS tough, it's great.

I've never had the pleasure...

Overall, this is an awesome Multi-effects unit, and at a darn good price for what it has. I do wish it had a few more effects, like the reverse and hold on the DD-5, but it's an incredible Value.

This is basically an update to my other reviews.

I think that generally, the sound quality of this unit beats everything else out there, hands-down. My friend has that Pod thing, but to me the pod is not as good, is shaped in the image of an ass-print, and they make you buy their stupid pedalboard separately, which uses ethernet wire instead of a midi cable, which would have allowed them to create it MUCH cheaper.

I'll include this in the next section...

By now (after 4+ months), I'm so dependent on the GT-3 that I'd rather not play without it. However, I am a bit disappointed in the following apparent limitations:
- Sometimes after power-on, all the effects parameters seem to default to their minimum setting regardless of where the pedal's position is. It seems I need to tap the pedal in order for the GT-3 to synchronize with the pedal position in this case. What's really bad though, is that many of my patches use the pedal to adjust the distorton/gain, and sometimes, seemingly at random, the GT-3 cannot recognize the pedal-position upon execution of a patch change. I'll be changing patches in the middle of a song, and I have to also tap the pedal to synchronize! Poo-poo. I'm going to cal the company about this soon.

it is very easy to use. i have had mine for only about 5 days and i
can and have programmed in some real nice patches. including the fact
that when i bought mine it didn't come with a manual.

i use a fender mexican fat strat through the gt-3 into a fender
deluxe 112 plus.(i also have a metal zone and an acoustic sim. pedals
both by boss, but i don't use them much with the gt-3). the sound is amazing! it has the absolute nicest distortion, modulation, delay, reverb etc. i've ever heard on a floor unit.there is not much i can say except it is phenomonal for sound quality.

yes i feel i can depend on it because it is made of sturdy metal, plus
it is made by boss.

the only time i've dealed with was a couple days after i bought this unit. like i said already it didn't come with an owners manual when i bought it (i beieve it is the sores fault though, because it was the on the shelf model so the manual must have gotten lost somewhere in the back) but anyways i e-mailed roland and asked if they could send me one. they politely replied right away and said that they would send me one free of charge. so far i know that they are real good with customers.

this is one awesome unit. you could use it for any genre of music because of how versatile it is. i definetely suggest anyone that doesn't have try one out amd but it.