Boss GX-700

for experienced effect go-er fairly easy...you need to understand unity gain and a phenomenon called GAIN STRUCTURE...google search! learn it...I read alot of these reveiws and laugh and all the amatuerish mistakes...yes this is deep but you can get world class pristine sounds out of it.listen for analog distortion..its all in level setting.same difficulty of any other piece of rack gear

sound quality is among the BEST...maybe ever!I use a Jackson soloist (SL-1) had it custom made with duncan jb in the bridge, ran this thru the effects loop of my peavey half stack and sounds better than amp distortion.effects are transparent and that reverb is soooooo luscious..when properly set up you can hear right thru this and hear a pin drop...no kidding!the noise suppressor is perfect!all these effects can be set up to sound amazing...fave artists are megadeth,children of bodom,nightwish and scorpions,king diamond,whitesnake,van halen,slayer,testament,.countless classical and jazz artists .you know...anyone with world class talent.how am I to judge? owned some of the most popular effects /distortion units ever.me and my cousin ran a pedal, you may have heard of it..its the mt-2 metal zone and A-B it to the metal distortion...same settings and same guitar cabinet=same sound! proof that these models are accurate and the 5150 is accurate! how would I know..I own a 5150 head!same settings and it is to a T! for all the ones saying the distortions arent accurate to the boss pedals, how do you really know? did you run a test? we did!

reliable? like a kitchen light...no problems to a point you take it for granted and not even in the back of your mind that it might have a problem, awesome!

what support! (lol) am very loyal to roland/boss but...they are cluelass and the kind you meet in a bar and take outside...

I play metal in the vein of children of bodom or king diamond..yes I'm in a band...very excellent band, great match for metal, anything I would imagine...effects sound good dirty or clean. been playing since the 70's and this is among the finest I've ever owned (like my gt-3)use to own an engl,hughes &kettner,hafler triple giant,mesa triaxis(over priced),peavey tube-fex,rocktron voodoo valve and this beats them all...no kidding!more effects than all of them tooo...hmmmm for the money..the new champion ....the gx700

Well, of course it's easy to twist knobs or control parameters, but I don't think giving 10 to ease of use won't help any review readers. It takes some time to find your tone. I was using a Digitech GNX2 before this unit, and I was able to get some nice tones (not nice enough, that's why I sold it) from it easily. But it took 3-4 days full with tweaking with this one, for me to get an average tone for my tastes. But I had improved my tone after that, you can add new things to your tone all the time, it seems like there will be no end of this unit's capacity. But as I said before, you need some time and patience. My unit's verison is the latest one (something like 1.09, I am sure that it's the latest, but not sure of it's exact number)

I am using this one with an Epiphone Explorer and a Marshall MG15CDR. I am playing death and black metal, Swedish metal especially, like In Flames, At The Gates, Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquillity, Soilwork, etc... It's damn noisy in some settings, but don't give up, just continue tweaking and you will get a better tone with less noise. Effects are doing pretty good. I have a nice death metal tone, a crushing sound with clarity, but i sometimes think that it lacks some character, so i will try using a Sansamp GT2 and a bigger amp with it, 'cause some people say that this unit's OD/DS sucks. But I'll try that after buying an EMG 81(soon!), my guitar's pickups are not so good. The worst side of this unit is the Speaker sims, they are useless in my opinion.

I like what this unit is capable of doing, every combination of preamp&distortion brings another nice tone, extremely versatile.

I bought mine used, it's an old machine but it works perfectly, no problems at all, and I don't think it will cause me trouble. If you are having problems with it, I would advise you to update the version.

I haven't dealt with the company yet.

Like I said, my main style is Swedish Death, for nearly 2 years(I have played classical guitar for 1.5 years before that),and I like this unit. Very versatile. I would try getting another one but this unit is pretty rare, so I would like check out POD XT. I don't use much effects, I like the preamps and OD/DS (My opinion can change after using another distortion pedal for distortion though, I have a DOD FX86 Death Metal, but I think it won't make a difference, so I'm not using it with GX-700). I wish it had better speaker simulations. I think GX-700 is one of the best, comparing to other units you can get for this price.

Like I said before, I really like this unit, just be patient and TWEAK! Until your tone is perfect (which means, tweak until you get your dream equipment worth 10000$ :)).

Feel free to mail me if you would like to ask something.

It will take some time before you get the perfect sound. When I began using this unit I got a few good sound out of it, but after a couple of days f*ckin' around with it, the sound began to grow to my liking. I didn't even use a manual. So it's very easy to get the best out of the unit if you take a little time to figure the thing out.

The delays, chorus, etc.. are not bad. The overdrive/distortion wasn't much to my liking when I first sarted out. I ran my Boss Gx-700 trough a marshall JCM900 at the time. The unit was way to noisy and I send the sound out at a (master)volume of 30(a preset within the boss-unit itself). But it all changed when I bought a marshall 9200 power-amp. The overdrive really began roaring!! grrrr....REALLY GOOD.The gain in my perfect setting is now only at 50 in the metal setting, with a master volume of 100!!It's A BEAST!!!!As of then I only use my boss for the distortion, IT'S JUST F*CKING BIG!!!
This is mainly because the unit leaves a pause in between switching effects. For my effects I now use a TC electronics.

I've never had problems with it!

As I said it is REALLY GOOD!! together with my marshall 9200 JCM 900 that is!

Pretty easy. The manual sucks so I got the Video Manual. Look for 'em on ebay.

I've owned 3 over the years (still have 2). I refuse to use it for anything other than recording leads. It makes my Marshall TSL 100 sound like shit live. I used to use it with a Marshall 8008 power amp, and it sounded good. The noise is terrible on these things unless you place the Gate at the end of the signal chain. The compressor sucks. Delays are good.

THe only trouble I've had out of all 3 units is the Value dial. It jumps and skips all over the place, but I use the FC-200 to Cannel Up/Down so it's not a big deal.

I've heard they're assholes.

I play death metal so I require a lot of gain. Again, the noise is terrible and you shouldn't buy one unless your playing Mellencamp or Dave Matthews.

Getting good sound out of this unit is a piece of cake all the precet patches are prettty good sounding for starters
Editing is not too hard even without the manual you can figure it out pretty easilly
The manual is clear so anybody should be able to program this puppy in no time
I don't know if mine is upgrated

I use this unit solely for recording cuz i like not having a bunch of noises on our recordings Them not being the noise i make myself
I use a B.C Rich Warlock with EMG 81 in bridge position and 85 in neck
and Jackson KV2 with Seymour Duncan JB's
Like I said it's not noisy Thats why i bought it I play Deathmetal and i have been searching for a long time for and effects unit with a GOOD metal distortion I fell in love with the Metal bottom effect which is a preset i don't use it but it made me realize what it had in store for me after trying everything from Rocktron through Digitech and what not
Don't use it with an amp straight into the mixing board
Best Distortion unit i ever came across... if ya need drive this is the best unit for it.... If ya can't affort a Mesa triple rectifier that is

It Never let me down so far... had it for a cppl of years now
Don't use it on stage if I did I would use it without backup defenately

Never dealt with the company so dunno

Like I said I play Deathmetal so I use it for the Distortion and preamp sections on it
been paying guitar for 18 years,Other gear I use Marshall JCM 900 SL-X 100 watt head for gigs with 1960A cab Boss MT2 , GE7
If it got stolen or lost I would defenately get a new one couldn't live without it ... need it for the studio work I'd be lost without it

Patch editing is a breeze, IMO. Just start out with some preset that's close (or just grab one and disable all effects) and go from there. Simply pushing a button will enable that effect group, and some clicking and turning a knob and you've got that effect ready. It pretty much operates like you had a big pile of stomp boxes at your disposal.

The manual is IMO very easy to understand (got me up and running in some 15 minutes reading, and this is my first ever multi-fx).

I run this thing stand-alone, just guitar->GX-700->computer->headphones. The guitar is either a Jackson KE-3 with an EMG 85 in the neck and an EMG 81 in the bridge, or some cheap strat clone with some passive single coils in it.

I get slight noise using the KE-3 (EMGs, mind you) on both dist and non-dist patches, but then again I'm sitting in front of my computer (meaning two computer monitors right into my guitar). I wouldn't say noise is a problem. Of course, the noise gate is constantly enabled.

I mainly use COMP+(OD)+PREAMP+EQ+SPSIM+NS effects groups (not in that order), sometimes some chorus or reverb or modulation. Nearly no wah, delay or trem/pan. I find all the effect I use to be at least satisfactory. The tracking on the pitch shifter and harmonizer are lacking when you play lower than a normal low E, but they work well in the higher registers. Bending does confuse the harmonizer though.

I wouldn't say I can get the sound of my favourite bands, but I can get sounds I like for the music I play, so I'm happy.

So overall, it's good to my ears, but it's not perfect to the point where it just "sounds SO RIGHT!!!".

I've had it for uhm.... I think 6 months or so now, and it's never to the best of my memory failed me. I just keep it in my house though, as I have no band to gig with.

I'd use it live without backup, partially because I've got nothing to use as a backup, but also because I pretty much trust it.

Never dealt with them

I used to listen to nearly only metal (Iced Earth, In Flames , Cryptospy, Soilwork) but has since opened up alot. For me this unit works well. I get the sounds I need (both dist and clean).

I've been playing for 4.5 years, and this is my only "ampish" piece of gear.

If stolen, unless I quickly got enough money for a more complete rack setup, this would be my first buy.

What I love? The orangish color!!! It's just sooo sweet!

I'm giving it a 10 here because it (at least for me) is great value for it's money. Compared to what I'd need to fork out for a comparable amp+pedal setup, it's very cheap.

very easy to use!

Right , i use the 4 cable method to plug the preamp of my Ampeg VL 1002 in the loop of the GX 700 , the loop in the Ampeg is boosted in return by a dedicaced preamp tube witch seems to work wonderfully . I use to the same hooking before with a GT-3 but , even if it is 24 to 22 bits the GT-3 is much less usefull in this configuration . And now i have a few questions for you !
Do you feel that the GX suck a bit of the preamp tone throught the loop ; if it is like the GT-3 for witch i've read that there is a bass cut at around 250 hz , or related to the quality of the A/D converters of the GX ?
To reach a level of 65-70% in the loop of the GX , with setting the preamp of the tube preamp at 65%, i have to put the master of the tube preamp at 100% ; is it normal ?
The level in the effect chain of the GX rule the ouput returning in the power amp of my amp , that's good , but what is the effect of the knob in the back of the GX witch say -10 db to +4 db ?
I have read that the od/dist section and the loop where analog circuit but what is the benefit if anyway it is converted in digital for other effects ?
Thanks for your help .
Fabrice

It is rock hard builded and beautifull looking baby !

I play symphonic metal and this product seems to me the best effect processor ever concived for its architecture ; especially with the loop .

When i first got the unit i didn't have a clue what to do but when you read through the manual for an hour or so and lay with it irt becomes child play.

I use mine with an electro acoustic (fitted with a kaman feedback buster)and all of my sounds come from the GX700. I use alot of filter and modulation sounds and heavy distorted sounds (although it sounds un orthodox seing as im using acoustic!!....it works!)

Eediting the patches is a breeze....Put on the effect you want...play, listen and edit...simple as that...the menus are simple to use and navigate.

the maunal was useful to me..especially when i was trying to work out MIDI for the first time ever and when i tried to save patches and name them etc...however, ive had my unit for about 3 months and i rthink ive now lost the manual! bu tthere isnt anything within the BOSS i cant do so thats nk problem really....it's not like i'll be ever selling it.

I have the most recent firmware version...1.4 i think....something liek that..i only ever checked on the first say that i got it...to be honest i could personally use more than 4 assignable parameters within each patch...5 or 6 would be nice as i use each patch as 2 channels..changing via MIDI expression pedals..more on that later..

as i said earlier. i use an electro acoustic with feedback buster...gx700 and a marshall MG100DFX combo.

The noise supressor works briliantly as a feedback controller so even when im rocking it large i only ever get a teeny weenyt amount oif feedback if any!

is is a very quiet unit. I've had no problems..especially as it has a noise supressor in it.

all the effects are great....My favorites are the autowah (althought it took me a few weeks to get how i like it) and the metal ditortion....


Ive tried to model my autowah and overdrives on WHEATUS...im pretty close as i use a similar guitar...

id say that the worst effect on the GX700 is possibly the fuzz overdrive..but again thats [probably just my guitar.

ivbe had no problems at allwith my GX700

im buying a second one..but thats because i want one for clean setting and one for overdrive..i can swell each one in and out using the 2 expression peda;s on the BEHRINGER FCB1010.

n/a

a brilliant uint..go get one!.....i was going to buy a digitech 2120 but i realised althogh thats has a couple of valves..the boss has a shit load more features so it works for me!...i wish it has a second effects loop so i could slap in 2 more units into the chain but thats me bcing picky..when i buy my secong gx700 in a few weeks ill be able to to that anyways!...

the unit is great.......espeically when teamed with the FCB1010..i control everything via midi when im playing live and its a dream!

email me danielzieba@aol.com if u wanan chat abot the unit!

No es dificil de usar. Tampoco lo mas sencillo. El manual es bastante preciso por lo que no entrare en detalles.

Muy buena calidad de sonido. Ninguna queja al respecto, este procesador puede dar muy buena calidad de sonido, pero hay que saber controlar los parametros porque son muchos. En relacion a los amplificadores simulados no los uso mucho. Pero los efectos de por si son muy buenos. Me funciona mejor este aparato conectado luego de mi preamp y antes del power. en effects loop no me ha dado mejores resultados pero todo depende de los equipos de cada quien.

Es Boss, lo mas confiable del mercado.

No tiene nada que envidiarle a otros procesadores que he probado incluso de TC Electronic. Me gusta mucho este procesador y se adapta muy bien a mis demas equipos. Espero que nunca me sea robado...

It's a snap to get up and running (even if all you've used are pedals) and changing sounds is a breeze and fairly intuitive - the presets offer a good range to start - 100 writable patches and 100 unwritable means you can't screw up the presets, they're always there to work from. If you get ambitious, there are Windows programs and a GX 700 online community that swap patches and utilites.

I use the GX 700 into a Fostex 4 track for mixing and straight into the PC-Cakewalk. It's super quiet. I also run it into a Roland JC 120, makes a perfect combination. The nicest thing about it is the subtle differences you can infuse from one song to the next - the GX700 makes it so easy to change patches and make new ones, that you do and your recordings take on new depth and new atmosphere - it gives you the ability to tweak distortions, change amps and even play with mic/cabinet placement.

Never had a problem. I'm going to back up my patches soon but I've had it for 5 years and I haven't had any crashes or lost patches yet.

Haven't needed support

Paid $625 and would buy it again in a hearbeat. It's ease of use and range of texture has made it my favourite piece of gear. I write and record everything with a Gibson 335 and the GX 700 and I can make that combo sound like pretty much everything from a STRAT in a Fender amp to a Gretsch through a VOX.