Boss GX-700

People say this can sound like a Metal Zone pedal. It cannot. All it's distortions are based on a single one, that is EQed different ways. The distortions are all crap - really, no lie. Becasue I only paid $180 for the thing I am not trying to delude myself into thinking it's something it isn't. If you want good tube tone, get a Peavey Rockmaster - THEN run it's signal into this thing for using the effects :) This Boss has very 'warmed out' effect box emulations. It is EXTREEMELY colored - useful for getting those '80's tones. For distortion, it is a joke!

Useful as a stomp box emulator - except the distortions, which all suck - NOT LIKE ANALOG DISTORTION, it is way too grainy, noisy, no sustain (comparatively speaking) no ethereal grind like you can get from a Metal Zone.

P.S.: You can emulate EVERY Boss pedal with the Metal zone - simply EQ it different ways BEFORE the distortion, AND after. For example, to get 'grindy' things, put more bass before. For more 'modern' things, put more mids/highs before, etc.

Boss and most other brands of this type are FRAUD products. They say they sound like XYZ, but they DO NOT! It is like how Bose speakers say they sound like a live concert - what a joke LOL Get real - it is all lies. I heard a Roland VG-8 and god what a toy - absolutely compressed, lifeless, no highs or shimmer - very closed in like a toy sound - pathetic! I'd even put the GX-700 above the VG-8 :)

If you want shimmer, get DIgitech. If you want Electronica/Industrial, get an Oberheim. If you want 80's rock, get a Tube Fex. If you want Hair metal, get Rocktron, etc. I own all of these units and more. They are colors on a painter's pallate. NONE of them will do what the others do. For instance, I find the pitch shift on the Digitech Valve FX very useful :) It tracks really well like using a trans trem type guitar - fun fun fun! And the oberheim and boss have nice shifters too. The boss will give you these Steve Miller synth sounds, and the Oberheim will make your guitar sound like a raging church or Hammond organ - the digitech will sound spacey. Even though you may set them the same, they have their own character - and it's more than EQ differences - it goes to the core of the sound.

In short, people, stop pretending you can get your whole sound from one box. It ain't gonna' happen - not unless you delude yourself into thinking so - or if your range of sounds you like is severely limited.

I would put the TRANSPARENCY of this product near the bottom - EXTREEMELY false and colored (but useful if you want false and colored!)

I would rank the USEFULNESS of this item about the middle :) It WILL NOT do analog distortion tone - it is way grainier. If you want metal zone tone, sorry, you still need a metal zone. I A/B them and there is simply no comparison - the metal zone is vastly vastyl superior (distortion wise)

I'll try to write the best as I can in english.

the gx-700 could be more easy to use if it has more knobs (it's not useful when you have to edit patches). you have to take your time to make the machine sound ok.

I have a telecaster 52 reissue and I plug my guitar in the gx-700 and the gx-700 directly in my Hotrod Deville. I have never heard something so much noisy. Maybe its because I don't have humbuckers on my guitar. But there is always and strange and disturbing noise and you have to use the noise gate frequently when distortion is on. The chorus is very bad, the distortions and overdrive don't have a very good sound too. You can't really bypass the processor and the machine changes completely the sound of your amp.

No problem with that.

Never dealt with the company.

I never sounded as I expected with the gx-700. On the effect side, you have a lot of possibility and you can do what you want (I use to play Gentle Giant and Frank Zappa's stuff at college) but it will alwas kill the natural sound of your guitar.
I always hated to manipulate the Gx-700. Maybe I didn't use the right gear with it. Anyway, it cuts the sound of your instrument and that is not allowed for me and I hope for anybody of you.

First about the Sound: WOW, never thought I can get such a sound out of my guitar. I got it as a "present" for X-mas (bought it for myself) and started at the same evening with testing. Started with some Factory-made-patches and with the first strike of the strings, the cabinet was roaring. After that I tried to make my first own Patch. Oh my god...so many parameters...but the manual is well written so that you can understand the GX-700 in only a few minutes. And for every effect there's a button so you can edit every effect seperately.

I'm using the BOSS GX-700 with a "Westone Spectrum II Series" guitar, a "Epiphone Les Paul Studio" guitar, a "Vermona Graphic-Equalizer", a "bespeco Volume Pedal" and for the Amplification I use a "Rocktron Velocity 100" Power Amp and a "Hughes & Kettner 4x12" Speaker Cabinet.
The GX-700 is working noiseless and because of the included NoiseSupressor no patch is humming.
The effects sound great...really every effect is great! This Preamp can do really more with the sound than I ever expected.
I'm really impressed by the Ampsimulation-Section in the GX-700.
Especially the "Roland JC-120"-Simulation is great. Now my clean sound sounds exactly like James Hetfield's.

Reliability? Yeah! Absolutely!!! Yesterday (28.12.2001) I played over 8 hours with my band without any longer stops between the songs and the GX-700 delivered constant power all the time.
And yes, I would use this thing live without any backup. The Brand "BOSS" stands for quality and so I believe in its reliability!

I never had problems with the products of BOSS.

Me and my band play much of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal like Black Sabbath, AC/DC and Metallica. We are all Metallica fans and I'm a great Kirk Hammett fan. Everything I do must be as Kirk does, so my guitar has to sound like his and so on. And the BOSS GX-700 can take my sound as close to Kirk's that it sounds nearly the same. Okay, my guitarplaying is not as good as Mr. Hammett's but I think I'm not bad in doing the thing I like best and thats making music with friends.
The GX-700 is the perfect partner for me to get the sound I like and if it were stolen I would, yes I fucking would buy it again, no matter what it costs.

Quite easy unit in editing etc. Someone has written a piece of software (Soundstation) to edit patches and dump ur patches on the computer bla bla. Works nice.. U do need the manual (http://gx700.freeservers.com) if u want to use all functions of the unit. Manual is okay.

I have some dean d-92 guitar with h-s-h config. Not the best guitar but it was best i could pay for at that time. It's plugged in the gx700, then from the mono output to my Bassmann 70 (2x15"). Got a Viscount PX3000 fc with 2 swellpedals and a lot of buttons (bank up/down, 10 patch switching, mode button, bypass button).

I really like the modulation effects (flange, phase, chorus). Delays and reverbs suit me well too (i don't know much about delay and reverb quality). It doesn't have much choice in delay. Only normal and tap delay. U can make ping-pongs but no ducking etc. Pitch-shifter and harmonizer work okay. Bit sloppy tracking sometimes. But u really need ur guitar tuned perfect. Has got something to do with internal frequencies of the notes that r programmed or something like that. Doesn't sound like 2 guitars tho. But is nice.

Compressor i don't understand. Most times i don't like what comes out of it. But i also don't know how to work it well. They say it is fine.

I really don't like the distortions and preamps. Clean tone is perfect tho. But all overdrives and distortions do zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. U can make some hefty metal distortions and some real heavy stuff. I bought an ibanez TS-10 (has got a bit more grain than the TS-9). It sounds much better than all them gx700 overdrives. But perhaps i just don't like Boss overdrives.

So, Metal distortions i shall rate a 7, modulation a 9 (except for pitch shifter and harmonizer, but the unit is cheap. So no real complaints there.) Reverb and delay an 8. Overdrives and fuzz and stuff a 4.

Don't know if u can depend on it. Digital units tend to fail u after some years. I only have it a few months (occasion tho). We'll c. I'm still searching for my pedals. Those will be my backup.

Well, most ppl say that Boss customer support barely exists. Never dealt with them. Hope i never have 2.

In my band i play mostly rock and metal. Personally i play lots a stuff. Classic, jazzy, bluesy, metally. Playing guitar now for 16 yrs (of wich 5 yrs only acoustic). 2 yrs ago also started playing bass. I wouldn't buy it again if it where stolen. Would try such a floor multi effect (GT-3, Digitech RP-2000 or RP-21 wich has a tube), most likely it would be a digitech with a tube in it. Or i would buy stompboxes again and try such a Carl Martin combinator.

Some words in french.
Assez facile d'utilisation, mais le manuel ne doit jamais etre bien loin au debut... Les effets sont accessibles facilement, il faut seulement etre bien au courant des parametres et des possibilites de connexions, assez nombreuses et tres utiles pour profiter pleinement de l'engin.

Tres tres bon son sur les effets "standards", similaires aux pedales Boss bien connues. Les effets plus exotiques sont un peu riches pour une utilisation normale, mais les possibilites sont infinies. Les preamps et simulateur de HP permettent de bosser au casque avec un son monstrueux, et peuvent apporter un plus meme dans une chaine GX700-preampli-ampli-baffle. Je branche le GX dans un Quad Mesa-Boogie, soit en entree soit en boucle d'effet, et le son du Mesa est toujours bien present.

Aucun probleme, ca a l'air costaud. Le mien a 5 ans (achete d'occaz) et n'a aucun probleme, ni connectique ni boutons...

Jamais eu de problemes, donc jamais eu affaire a Boss.

Excellent pour le prix, tres polyvalent (je joue du Jazz et d'autres choses plus rock). Teste avec plusieurs guitares (Telecaster, Firebird, Jazzmaster, ES175...), le son est toujours tres convaincant.

I found my GX-700 extremely friendly, with its lighted buttons for each effects "module" to tell me which effects were active. Pressing one calls up that effect and you scroll through the parameters with the knob. I'd swear Roland/Boss manual's are written by people who don't speak fluent english, though. They're never very descriptive. It's better to experiment to find out what the parameters do. Getting started is easy. You can just flip through the presets with the knob.

Thanks to the COSM amp simulations and analog-sounding effects, this rig sounds very natural, like an amp and pedalboard combination. It can also be just as noisy if you aren't careful with your gain and gating. Don't use more gain than you need to get the sound you want or the preamps do just what a tube amp does - go over top, get flappy, lose attack and sound like frying bacon. Just one parameter value can make the difference between "perfect" and "too much". Also, never forget that its a digital device. You have to "gain stage" every module in your chain. Some modules, especially the modulation module, can't tolerate a high input level while they're operating. Keep an eye on the clipping lights and palm mute to bring out the bass and check distortion.

I'm using my GX-700 with only a stereo 31-band graphic EQ, a power amp, and a pair of small PA speakers. I *always* us a preamp even if it's just a clean one, and I use the onboard cabinet simulator. I use the FC-200 midi controller. In my home studio, the stereo outs from the GX go straight into my VS880EX digital workstation.

The effects are all comparable to stomp boxes but without the hassle. I'm particularly pleased with the flanger, since I have a special way of tuning the sweep for a custom modulation effect I like to use. I also use it to simulate a Univibe, Robin Trower's "In City Dreams" wide flange, and the high end of my 3-speed Leslie patch. I'm surprised the phaser sounds so rich. Digital phasers usually stink. My only complaint is that the auto wah can't handle any gain. I have to cut down the level going in and boost it coming out or it distorts.

I know the word's over used, but I'm an "eclectic" guitarist. My first rock concert was Boston in Philadelphia and I remember Tom Scholz standing in a frosted spot making his guitar play itself. I have a GX patch called "Spotlight" that sounds like that, along with a whole bank of Boston patches. I also have everything from Police, David Gilmour, and Stevie Ray to Eric Johnson, Allan Holdsworth and Satriani. My GX is flexible enough to do it all. Recently, I duplicated some of Steve Hackett's old Genesis sounds.

One little trick I like to use is to put an overdrive module in front of a preamp to simulate an extra gain stage. You set the drive *very* low so it just clips, and the output so its only barely a noticable boost. Start with the tone of the OD module flat. You'll probably have to make it dark because the extra gain will brighten things up. A little "vintage OD" can turn a 1959 Marshall (inputII) from a JCM900 into an SLX-1 with edgier, thrashier gain. Some "blues driver" can turn it into a HiWatt.

I've been using this box for four years without a single glitch so what else can I tell you? So far, it's 100% reliable. Having used BOSS equipment for years and never having had anything they made break down, I wouldn't be concerned about taking it to a gig.

I've never had a problem with my BOSS equipment, but I have dealt with their parent company, RolandCorp. When I first bought my Roland VS880 digital studio, it locked up on me. Being something of a technophobe and afraid to do anything and possibly breaking it, I called them. They were extremely helpful and their expert advice ("Shut it off and turn it back on.") did the trick. :-)

I'm an original progressive rock artist. I've been playing 28 years. My music requires a wide variety of sounds and that I change sounds often. I find my GX-700 to be flexible enough to give me what I want without being unduely complex, and it sounds like an *amp*. I'd buy it again if they still made it. It's like having a room full of amps, and I can custom design my own project amp and tinker with it. I know they said they wouldn't print "glowing reviews", but seriously, I can't think of anything I could replace this with. You'd have to pry it out of my cold, dead fingers.

The GX-700 is quite easy to use, with direct access to every single effect (straight from the front buttons) and to every parameter of the effect you are editing. A little more complicated is to change the effect chain order...it's not as intuitive as editing an effect.

I use it with an ENGL screamer 50 head, a 4x12 ENGL cabinet with vintage celestion speakers and a left-hand american Fender stratocaster (...yes i'm left handed..SOB!!!) The signal path is quite complicated: I plug my fender into the GX-700 and then from the loop-send (of the GX-700) to the input of the ENGL head. Then from the loop send of the ENGL head to the loop-return of the GX-700 and finally from the left (MONO) out of the GX-700 to the loop return of the ENGL head (into the power section). I found this (terrible !!) wiring scheme much more versatile and good sounding than putting the GX-700 in the effect loop of the ENGL head. Acting on the loop send level (on the GX-700) i can control the signal strength on the ENGL preamp, thus obtaining a wide spectrum of tones in every channel of the head's preamp. I also use the vintage OD\DS BEFORE the ENGL preamp clean channel and the result is a wonderful crunch sound, with a lot of clarity and warmth. I never use the PREAMP effect because the ENGL preamp section is a lot better (all valve of course!!).
Again using the lead channel of the ENGL preamp and pushing the loop send level of the GX-700 i can obtain an incredibly sustaining lead sound (increasing "de facto" the head's gain: quite good with a single coil pick-up guitar). The best GX-700 effects are (in my opinion) the delay and the reverb units. I play a lot of U2 songs using as a consequence a lot of delay, and this unit is very good.
The chorus and the tremolo FX are also good.
With this rig i can get the sound i ever wanted and i like the tonal versatility i can get from the ENGL head via the loop send level (as i wrote before) using it quite as a midi preamp.
The unit can be a little noisy when used with high gain settings (on the head or on the OD\DS) but the noise suppressor works well.

I've been using this unit in live concerts for 2 years and never had any problem. I heard (from friends) about some problems with the rear input (??) i use the front input!

I've never need any support so i can't evaluate this point.

I play a lot of U2, Police, Lanny Kravitz ....and i found the rig i described before a perfect one. But i can play also heavy metal licks with very convincing sound. I think the overall setup is very versatile especially for rock and rock & blues sounds.
If my GX-700 were stolen i'll probably buy it again or perhaps i'll buy a ROLAND GP100 wich is the natural "father" of the GX-700. I like very much the Control 1\2 feature that let you change some parameters of any effect through a footswitch pedal in the same patch. This is useful when using a patch with a lot of delay effect...the change to another path kills all the delayed sound resulting in a muted sound during the change.
I wish it had the external control feature (programmable, like the Roland GP100) that let you automate the head channel switching.

This unit was my entry into digital FX and could'nt have been easier to use.it took only seconds to edit, change & save patches.The tuner is great and is really easy to see at gigs. The speaker simulator is exellent & I have used it both thru a P.A and a 4 by 12.there is also virtually no gap between patches when using a foot controller(I use an ART- X15

The overall sound ,I thought , was great. There is a great deal of scope in all the patches but as with any unit you have to take time. The Auto-wah is worth an extra mention.

I have gigged this unit constantly for 5 years and have only recently had technical problems ,which are only due to exessive use and rough handling between thousands of gigs.This unit will be hard to replace!

I prefer heavier stuff but am a very fussy semi-pro and play all manner of music 4 times a week the GX-700 has allways suited my needs

I 've no idea about it's firmware ver but this is a KILLER "machine" !
Very easy editing,you can have your own sound in minutes.

I use many guitars ,such as a BCRich Warlock (with Dimarzio pickups),a Kramer Vanguard (with Seymour Duncan pic ups) ,a Gibson Explorer,etc., and I have the best possible HUGE sound I want.It's an amazing effect processor at all the ways.With a small 12" Marshall or a JCM 900 or even a Valvestate,this processor works perfect with a brilliant sound,clear (no noise if you use the amazing NoiseGate),it's distortions are great but better try to experiment through it';s Metal Distortion & EQ to have the characteristic sound of a Metal Zone pedal.It is ,also,great for practise with headphones (the amp simulators sounds so real...) and I recommend you for direct recordings as I was surprised by the result ...Huge and Heavy !!!

I use it very often at gigs without any problem so far.But,I recommend you to use the reverb of the amp instead of Boss ones as you 'll get better quality. I don't care for it's small LCD screen as it's very readable in darkness and on the other hand you only need 4-5 different pre-sets witch is easy enough to change while on stage.

Their customer in Greece was much friendly with me.They also let me try it at their studio room and that was enough, in seconds I was ready to buy it !

I use GX-700 for more than 3 years without any problem so far. Recommended for Heavy,Thrash,death,black metal !If someone stollen it,I 'ld buy a GT-3 'cause I 'll save the extra pedal-footswitch a GX-700 needs but...maybe no. Another GX-700 'ld be OK as it's what I need. Excellent treble sound ala SATYRICON & EXODUS (Bonded by Blood),huge distorted sound like CARCASS,everything is here !I love Boss distortion sound and this is my "dream machine".

took me a while to get the hang of it, needed to look at the manual for a very long time b4 it sunk in!

i use a PEAVEY valve rack amp and an old Marshall Bass cab (which incidentally used to belong to defunct rockers CHELSEA, bass player BILLY IDOL!!)which has g12-80's instead of bass speakers. Guitar is Gibson Explorer custom shop special, and use Roland FC200 footpedal (ace!) I can always get the sound i want (eventually) by finding the nearest preset patch and modifying it from there. footwah takes a while to set up right, but once you get the settings..its killer! Get a really convincing Slayer sound on the o/d and a really nice rough drive for FOO FIGHTERS covers!! Chorus is naff but very slight pitch shift is better!!! Dreamy! Love the delays! hate the stupid 'laughing' effect!

Have used it in about 4 different bands, and found it to be very adaptable to different styles (metal/electric folk/indie/acoustic!!) Only problems ive had with it are A: knob fell off after 3 days B:rear jack socket has gone michrophonic and squeals whenever you try to connect the guitar or wireless to it, can only use front jack. Has behaved itself up to now, ive had it 4 years, and its been well gigged, so yes i would trust it on the road (in a very good flight case)

n/a

i play all styles, it follows where ever i go musically. ive been playing since i was 11. im now 35. Other gear? Peavey heritage VTX combo/samson wireless/fender acoustic. if it were nicked i would buy another. hate the stupid sounds (laughing) bets feature is the ability to set almost 2 second delay, then set a slow rise and get a dreamy keyboard effect, loaded with chorus and reverb...yum! compared to yamaha 77 (noisy) zoom 505 (even more noisy) boss is quiet(est). ive written my best tunes on this unit.