Boss GX-700

After using many different processors in my rack, I was looking for a solution that would provide both the pre pre-amp (compressor, etc.) and post pre-amp (chorus, delay, reverb, etc.) effects that I normally use. I needed something that was easy to use, and programmable. After reviewing several units, the GX-700 seemed most suited to my application.

I've played around with many different setups for this unit, and finally decided that the following, while a little complicated, worked best for my situation. I plug my guitar (or wireless) into the GX-700. This allows the noise gate to get the uneffected guitar signal and the compressor, etc. to work on the guitar before the pre-amp. Then I run the GX-700 loop output into the input of my pre-amp (Mesa-Boogie). Then the pre-amp's effects send returns to the GX-700 loop return. This allows the delay-based effects to process the signal after the pre-amp. Finally, the output of the GX-700 is returned to the pre-amp's effects return, and the pre-amp out runs through a BBE 462 into my power-amp (Mesa-Boogie) and into my cabinets (Marshall 1960). The entire setup is perfect (for me) and the flexibility that the GX-700 provides greatly enhances my sound.

This setup enables me to get the best use of all the effects in the GX-700, while retaining the character of my pre/power amps. I'm quite pleased with all the effects, although the reverb is a little generic. I do wish that the unit had adjustable input levels for each effect (it does have individual output levels) and a few more continuous controller assignments would be nice. And I don't understand why the last 100 presets aren't programmable. Since I could restore them if I wanted (I've never found a preset I liked, anywhere, not just in this unit), I don't need access to them at all times. Maybe marketing thought that 200 presets sounded better than 100, even though 100 is really all you get.

Editing couldn't be easier. I found 90% of the functionality before I even cracked the user's manual. The manual is quite good, concise and to the point.

I've heard better sounding units, but never with the flexibility of this one. And it's not that it sounds so-so, either. The sounds I get out of this unit are quite good and comparable to the best of the mid-grade effects processors ($500 - $1000).

Some of the effects are a little noisy, but no more than to be expected (analog distortion effects are always noisy). The noise gate works wonderfully, taking it's trigger signal from the guitar input and applying it after all the analog effects (or wherever I choose to place it in the effect order). This lets my guitar retain complete sensitivity, while removing all the noisy generated by my pre-amp, etc. The sound is extremely sensitive to any noises I make with my guitar, doesn't inhibit the sustain of the instrument, and keeps everything nice and tight sounding without any noise.

I've been using the GX-700 both live and in the studio for over 4 years now and have never had a problem with it.

Without paying several thousand dollars for several different processors, I'd be hard pressed to find another single processor that would sound as good, give me the flexibility that I need, and be so easy to use. Too bad they don't make them any more...

This unit is very easy to use and program. The presets kinda suck. Start with a blank patch and work from there. I have seen other users recommend this approach as well. It's what I did and I have been pleased with the results. Its features like amp and speaker simulations are cool for direct recording and headphone practice, but I wouldn't use this as a stand alone preamp unless I was in a cover band. The tuner is cool. The thing I like best about this unit over say Digitech products is that it doesn't glitch between presets. The very pricey Lexicon guitar unit sounds better, but there's a one second glitch between presets. If you do a lot of abrupt changes like I do that simply won't do. There's no way I would spend over $1300 on a unit that glitches like that.

If you like the sound of Boss pedals you will like this unit. This is the first Boss rack that actually sounds like their pedals just less noisey. The distortions, compressions, wah, EQ are all analog just like the pedals. The digital effects like chorus and delay sound like the pedals (I don't use the digital preamp models live as I prefer analog distortion/overdrive for live sound)That being said, I'm not going to bother mentioning what styles I play or what kind of gear I have because if YOU wouldn't use Boss pedals for what you do musically or with the equipment you have, you wouldn't be using this unit anyway. Since just about every pedal Boss ever made is in this unit, it will suit most any style to various degrees. I have 2 of these units. One for my studio rack and one for live use. As of this posting I mostly use Fulltone pedals in a switching system, but I still find the GX700 to be useful. As far as sound quality goes It's really what you would expect from a bunch of Boss pedals no more, no less. It's the best glitch-free PRE preamp multi effects unit for the money. If Lexicon ever comes out with a guitar unit that doesn't glitch between presets, I'd probably buy that one. If Fulltone came out with a box that was programable, my GX700's would go in the trash.

I haven't had the nightmareish problems that some users have had, but I used to work in a music store and I saw a couple of defective units get shipped to us so I'm not suprised to see that others have had problems. I've used them live and in the studio without any problems, but I'm glad that I have two of them just in case.

About what you would expect from a faceless multi-million dollar corporation.

Overall you can't go wrong with this unit if you use or plan to use a tuner and 3 or more Boss effects pedals or units of similar quality in your line up. With a used street price of $200 to $300 (this unit is no longer in production)It doesn't make that much sense to buy the individual pedals especially when you can set the unit up to respond like a pedal board via continuous control messages. Feel free to e-mail me if you would like some suggestions on how to use this unit in your rig.

To operate this unit is easy.
To get REALLY good sounds out of it is not.
I have a few damn descent sounds, and they took hours of tweaking to get right.
Controls are easy, and the menu system is very good.

I use an Ibanez JEM 7, an Ibanez RG 470 and a Epiphone G-400 through this orange box and into a Marshall 9100 dual monoblock 2x50 watt to a Marshall 1936 2x12 cab. Used to have a JCM900 instead of the 9100, but a poweramp does this unit MUCH more justice than an intergrated amp.
Some effects (Pre-amp, OD/DIST, Comp.) tends to be noisy, but the NS will fix this. The HARD thing is finding the balance between good sustain and quiet sound.
As for sounds, they are what you make them.
Compression is useful for adding sustain to noise-reducted sounds, while it can also "Spank" up clean sounds (like a compressor should...)
However, compared to Marshall's little chrome box compressor, it's pretty daft.
The distortions are useless at high gain ALONE, as are the preamps. BUT, the COMBINATION of a preamp and a distorion is where it's at, although you'll have to use some heavy EQ'ing and the Speaker sim to get it right.
For instance my favourite lead sound is something like this:

Metal distortion with drive at 40
Ms 1969 preamp with Gain on Medium or High, and Volume on 60
The MS STACK 2 with the closest mic placement and NO direct signal
EQ: Low +7 Mid 100hz +13 High: +5
This is the basis of my lead sound, and sounds a bit Vai/Petrrucci like. Still, the classic Vai sound is a boss DS1 through Marshalls and Bogners (The Legacy is to new for the "classic" sound), yet the Distortion sound (DS1 circuit I persume) didn't cut it, and the EQ was nescessairy to get the sound. Petrucci uses MESA/BOOGIE stuff, but the BG-LEAD didn't do anything but mud...

So the point is, use your ears instead of your eyes. If you look to cop an artists sound, don't think "What amp does he/she use?", and go for that simulator. This is part of why it's hard to find good sounds. They are all in there, but they take hours to find.
The chorus, Delay, Phaser and Flanger are all excellent. It's a bit easier to find good sounds in this departement than in the OD/DIST/PREAMP.
Reverb is not good. You can find very useable sounds, but it's not the same sound quality as in the other digital effects here.
The Pitch shifter and Harmoniser are presice, but the harmony-tones sound very synth like. You WONT get this to sound like 4 guitars, but you may get it to sound like 1 guitar and 3 synth pads.
The Ring modulator IS GOOD, people! Seriously; BUT: HOW OFTEN DO YOU NEED ONE?!? They should have dropped this, and used the space for better reverb circuits.
Humanizer is just Wah Wah with different vowels, so that can be a useful way to be creative with old concepts... (NO, I am NOT advising you to play Voodo Child (Slight Retusn) with a "YeeYee" instead of a "WahWah", although this is one rather blasfemous example of how it can be used!)

Finally, I can say one thing: The more gain, the more Time.
The High Gain Vai/pettrucci-sound took several hours to tweak!
The spanky half overdriven rythm sound Steve Howe used on Roundabout by Yes took 10 minutes, and sounded pretty good.
Yet, this will never sound as good as a Tube amp!
The SANSAMP PSA-1 does this, however this unit has no other effects than being a preamp!
I'd rather suggest going for the BOSS and later addind a tube preamp, such as a MESA/BOOGIE Triaxis or a Soldano. I intend to buy such a preamp in the near future myself, in addition to my Boss.

I've had mine for about 4 years, dropped it a thousand times, and had it repaired once. This repair was a blown input after I misplaced a Jack that SHOULD have gone from an output....

Can't say. It was way out of warranty the ONE time it needed repair, so I took it to a local music shop.

I play mostly Progressive Rock, and since this requires a great array of sounds, it's just the unit I need.
Ive been playing for 8 years, and have owned several amps/distortion units/FX processors and this is the best of them. My gear is allready listed, and it works well together. The fun part is using the same sound with my three guitars... They all sound different, yet all sound good with my sounds.
If someone knicked my GX, I'd HAVE to get another one!
My favourite feature about this unit is the MIDI compatability. It's possible to use with a MIDI preamp, and connect the two in such a matter that one press of a footswitch will change the patch in both.
I compared this in store with top models from Zoom and Digitech, and the choise was easy. This unit is great, and the few minuses are nothing you can't get around in some ways...

A very easy unit to use. Plug it in, and play. Editing patches is not a problem. The manual is good, no problems really. My unit was purchased in 1995, about the first week it was released to the public. I have firmware 1.08. A big volume knob wouldn't hurt, in fact, there should be one. Therefore 8.

Excellent, sounds are very usable. Its very versatile. I use it with my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Its a good choice. I run the amp with a extension cabinet and the sounds are amazing. No noise, no trouble, no complaints. I can duplicate the sounds of any artist. There is a wesite (many of them) where you can download MIDI patches of your favorite artists. I nail the Boston sound, ZZ Top, Van Halen, Van Hagar, Rush, SRV, Hendrix. Of course, a good guitar doesn't hurt. The unit can be hooked up in 3 different ways.

1.) GX700 into the amp's input
2.) GX700 into the amp's Effect's loop (Return) this bypasses the Pre-amp and uses the amps Power amp.
3.) Guitar into the amp's input, Then the Send from the amp into the input of the GX700, then the output of the GX700 into the amp's Return. Use this for chorus, delay. Works well.

No problems.

They can't mail a product video to Canada? Why not. They told me to call Roland UK. Roland's Head Office is down my street but they wouldn't get one for me, and I was willing to pay for it!! I hope this thing doesn't break down.

You can use it for any style. I use it for Rock, Blues, Jazz, Hard Rock. I've been playing for 20 years, this thing is for real. I control it with the Roland FC 200. Good combination. There wasn't too much on the market that could compete with this when I bought this unit. Today, I'd buy the GE-3. Same thing, less price.

this is a very easy rack mount. if you can get a good sound out of boss pedals you should be able to get some great sounds with this. the only real downside is scrolling through all the screens

great sounds, the amp models may not sound just like what they say, but they sound great. i play it through a semi hollow tele w/ humbuckers into a fender dual showman head and marshall 4x12. i especially like the matchless cosm model and the step phaser

every gig its used with out any more backup than a distortion pedal and it's never let me down but i've only had it for three months

probably the best bang for the buck that i've found so far. i love it

As far as simplicity goes, take it home, plug it in, begin to jam...some of the presets I found to be over the top as far as processing. But that aside it's a simple one to start using. As far as editing goes you must read the manual or you're not going to get very far. The writers of the manual could have taken a little time to translate to all the non-engineers that may purchase this product how to simply get different tones from this processor.. more realistic headroom from the reverbs, room depth from the speaker emulator, just stuff like that.

My set up consist of my Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop Classic, GX-700 thru my computer for recording onto Calkwalk software. As for live , any clean loud amp will do just fine. I do have concerns with the sheilding of the electronics do to the AC noise that you get when not playing, but that's not as big an issue to not give it a try. As for simulations, only the real thing will get you off when standing in front of the speakers as you play. Again for recording, it gets the job done better than most rack units I've played. My greatest advice to tweaking effects or settings is to start with nothing turned on and build your sound from listening in your head what you want to produce. Play with distortion, add some reverb,listening to the changes in characters as you adjust settings and don't over do it with the effects.

I've had mine for over two years and though I may sometimes get tired of it's processed tone, I still rely on it for alot of my recording tone. It's nice to be able to record without blowing your ears out.

Never had a days problem with it.

Overall I'd have to say if it broke, got stolen, or lost I would replace it with one of those new modeling amps from Johnson. This area has advance leaps and bounds since my purchase two years ago and though I rely on my GX-700 daily I would still have to consider the MT-50 amp by Johnson. My playing style ranges from Metal to Jazz/fusion. So I guess it's just what mood I'm in as to what style I want to play.

Relatively simple and straight forward, unfortunately I did not get a manual with mine. This is the second one I have owned.

Sound quality is realitive too each own's past exposure. Some of the preamp modeling is superb, that is if this unit is matched to the right support tools. I have been playing now for twenty six years, so I have fortunately been exposed to some of the real amps they are trying to model. I use mine with a early sixty's S.G. standard, to the GX700, to a BBE sonix maximizer, too a 1973 Hiwatt DR103, too a Marshall 1960AV with vintage thirties. The blending of this whole outfit brings out some very rewarding tones. I also sometoimes use a second process by another make through an early Marshall MK II and this is even better. I never really try and sound like someone else so
that has never been my pursuit.

Dependability is questionable, The first one crapped out within three months of the original purchase. By the time I had purchased it,it was already out of production so I got the stores demo. So I can not rightfully say it was Boss's doing.

Tech support was awlful, again through the store in Portland I could not put blame on Roland, the store chose to try and repair it themself. Not cool.

My styles vary drastically because of my interest. My main tones are toward Shred, Metal, Fusion, clear to open tunings and mandolin which I also use the reverb / chorusing / amp modeling. Besides the all above I tote along a lot of gear including Lexicon, Marshall, Hiwatt, Orange, T.C. Eletronics. I still find myself using this as a part of blending or defining some of my tones. So much I have two, one as a back up. So I guess one every crapped out again I would be out looking for another.

It's definitely easy to use and every sound u want is achieveable.
Editing patches is easy too blablabla!

Distortions are great, especially the METAL Distortion, which is exactly the METALZONE stompbox! Cool to imitate Death, Slayer,Kreator Sepultura, Dissection or Dimmu Borgir. Effects are cool to, clean sounds are terrific! I use a JMP-1 too, but this damned thing beats it all!

I mostly use it in studio, with hellish sounds!

Don't know it dudes!

I play Metal for about 7 years now and it's the only thing u need for it.

UPDATE !!!
As I wrote earlier for some months ago I planned to go and buy an second gx-700... and now there's two orange possible-to-give-weird-sounds-rackprocessors in my rackcase !

these fxs are really easy to use... 'cause you "see" all the time what happening on the frontpanel when switching sounds...

As soon as I got my second one to the rackcase I started to copy all files from the first one to the new one... ( which is "easy" done... )
now here is a another strange thing about gx-700...
when you "download" the information it'll show you that it's working/receiving...
but for some reason it doesn't show you when it have finish the copy-process... in the manual it reads that this is correct...
but the "thing" is that YOU have to end it by pushing the PLAY-button
so far everything seems OK... BUT ( as the manual says ) you have to remember that when you're pushing the button it's POSSIBLE that the gx-700 still receiving information... which you may "cut-off"
( which in other words could mean that the gx-700 will not work properly all the time... )

In my experience... it doesn't work properly all the time... 'cause when I tested them... the second one could suddenly switch to bypass or to the tuner...
SO... I had to redo this process a couple of times ( download ) and try to wait a little longer...

I think it worked... 'cause I haven't had any problem since then...
but I have become a little bit more chicken... that this problem will occur at stage... suddenly one gx-700 go bypass... ( NIGHTMARE !!! )

Sounds... mmh... how sweet they can become...
Here's ( a part of ) my rig:

Gibson les paul/Squire supersonic goes into an old dist-box which is not in use for more than the fact it got stereo outputs...
( I use it as an split in other words )

from there each of both signals goes to each of the gx-700s...
NOW HERE we're talking independent stereo processing as you've got the ability to make an stereo field ( exactly the same program on both )
or make to an double mono field ( totally different program on both )

from these two units I send one of the stereo outputs from both processors to two Laney VC50 ( each amp gets it own gx-700... )

You should believe me when I'm talking 'bout that you can almost dial in ANY sound you want... from super-clean to mega-super-monster distorsion and everything in between...
OR why not both at the same time... you hear a huge dist but you're still able to hear all the notes in the chords ( 'cause the other amp goes on a clean sound ) this method is very much in use on pop records
I think it will be very much in use by me too !!!
WELL... now there is only three limits of the sounds you can develop !
1. the FX:s ( there's always something you want which isn't in your processor... )
2. the store slots ( you've only got a hundred of them in each gx-700... which means that you can't make more sounds than these... )
3. YOUR imagination of what sound you want to create...

Reliability... ?

I'm not sure anymore... 'cause of the problem I've told you before with one of the processors going bypass suddenly...
but you could say that one of them would be possible to backup the other one... ( if they don't fail at the same time of course... )

I put an 7 in this category 'cause the first one have worked just fine for a couple of years now... ( hopefully the other will too )

I have never been in touch with Roland or Boss...

but they still haven't put out the manuals ( of any product they have )on internet... or even an email-adress... so you at least could mail any questions...

I think this is really stupid... but it isn't my problem if they loose customers...

actually I haven't got the need for any support... so I don't know !

I'm playing modern pop/rock music which is also include some
"dance beats"... I've been playing guitar for 8 years now and these units fit me well in playing/making music...

As I said before... it's always something you haven't got in you rackprocessor... which you have to add with other models...
but the GX-700 gives you 21 stompbox effects at the same price as three/four new real stompboxes... ( I know which way I go... )

And you can actually use it to more than just only guitars...

I have even used one of the gx-700 to process drums in recording
it gave some interesting Smashing Pumpkins sound-alike drums
e g the drums on some of the songs on the album Adore...
So these strange fxs in gx-700 can get usable after all...

-perfect... strangers when we meet...

Quite easy to use...For each effect there is a LED and it contains tons of parameters for each effect. The turning knob has become a standard on rack units, and the display is very clear. However changing the internal effects chain can seem complicated. I didn't try the MIDI facilities yet.

Good overall perfomance here. On the high settings the noise gate is too eager to cut off sustained notes, and the lower settings let too much hissing and purring pass. Distortions are OK, chorus are better, and the harmonist may need some work. The unit works best in a full-blown band, and not alone in your room. It really sounds better when a drummer is kicking out his bass drum. In these cases the little negative points are blown away.

The best...I used some Boss stomp boxes too...
You could throw it from a 10' building and it would still work...

Didn't find anything yet of patches ...

For a wide array of genres (Jazz to Trash), this thingie can handle it all...

There are many knobs, so it 's easy but it's boring the scrolling screens. Good manual.

It follows my previous submit in french. First we are in 2000, so GX 700 was the best at his start (1996) but I think POD is a little bit better.The preamp is quite good . It modelling an real amp but not simulate ! Twin & Matchless is the best. 5150 is good and marshall too. I use only reverb effect: not bad at all. In a word don't listen to preset, just tweak it and you will be amazed. In fact in 2000 I don't know if GX 700 is still the best but try it. I discover every day a new subtil sound. There is very much parameters so you can refine every sound you dream. Very good cabinet simulator . It reminds me the Rocktron Chameleon one. The 7 distorsions (not Preamp !) are weak except metal and the OD s. IMPORTANT: For those who want to buy a BOSS GT 3 , you could'nt match a PREAMP with an another Cabinet Speaker in the GT 3 and for reverbs there are less parameters.
To sum up: Very Good sounds, I guess not very very closed to original amps but beatifull at listen.

Firmware 1.09 No problemo Man !!!

Bad Internet communication compare to LINE 6
No patch on the site.

Go on WEB and search patch editors and program , it'll be easy to tweak sounds ! I enjoy having Gx 700 but I will try the POD line 6.

Very easy to use with every thing laid out in a simple and logical way

I use the unit in my live rack going to a Rocktron power amp,Then into a 2+12 Marshall cab. My main guitars are an Epiphone Les Paul and fender strat both fitted with Kent Armstrong custon wound humbuckers.
I play in a covers band and the GX700 gives me all the sounds i want the chorus and reverb are very good but i had to work on the distorted sounds. I don't like the wha wha at all and find it very weak

The unit has never let me down

N/A

Apart from the wha wha the unit is great...If any one can get a good wha wha sound please let me know

The manual is ok..could be better....my firmware is 1.09...The only problem I have is that the input jack on the back of the unit died one day, and since then is is useless....the frount input works well...but the back is the one i regularly use, and it is a pain to route the cables to the frount of the unit...IF ANYBODY KNOWS WHY THE BACK INPUT DIES, OR HOW TO FIX IT WITHOUT A LOT OF MONEY...PLEASE MAIL ME AT "xander1369@yahoo.com"

reverb sucks...most of the effects are great...I'm betting the distortions would sound better if i had a tube amp...but right now they aren't that good...

BROKEN BACK INPUT.....

ROLAD SUCKS for support....There is no e-mail address...and they refuse to repair the REAR INPUT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER WARANTY....

Very happy with this until....see below

Good quality of sound until....see below

Can someebody help...have had this unit for 18 months, no problems, has been racked permanently in my studio for over 8 months when suddenly...no output! Sent for repair(no warrenty left, of course) came back, said it was a bad solder joint(?) funny that didn't show up for over a year in transportation, lots of shows, anyway, worked for about one week (back in the studio rack) last night, no output again!
Any tips I can pass along to the local (Montreal, Canada) Roland repair tech so I don't get another "bad solder joint" repaired?
Tried Roland, forget about it!

Can't seem to email anyone

Funny thing is, when this was working I liked the sound, don't really want to replace this, but have to seriously consider the pod pro or some other unit if this continues to break down for no apparent reason...I don't have time for down time!

This unit is very simple to understand since it is "built" like an stompbox fx chain and ( almost ) everything is visible.The chain is flexible 'cause you can put the fx:s in any order. It's little bit funny about the fx-parameters because they seem to have the same "setup" of parameters but that isn't correct. I don't know why but it doesn't have any volume parameter in the mod-section ( I think mainly on the flangers,phasers... )and therefore you need to compensate that volume in other ways ( which isn't easy all the time! ).
The fx-loop in it is a good idea but it's only mono and most processors are in stereo so you have to think once again when figuring out which external processors you may want to use in the loop...
I mean you don't want to use only 50% of that processor do you?
( Of course it's great if you'll only use a stompbox in it ! )

I think the digital fx ( chorus, flanger, delay...) sounds very good but the distorsions are a little bit "muddy"... if you put the gain too high you risk to loose the chance to hear all the tones when takin' your chords. Since I use my box with a gibson les paul/squire supersonic into a double amp section with valves, I have got the possibility to get the warm character to my sounds so I don't really know how the gx-700 sounds straigth into the board but it's ok when using headphones ( yep... even those small earplugs !)
My main influence when it comes to the space-fx sounds is the edge
( U2 )and it's possible to get some similar sounds of those he have put out but I always try not to imitate his sounds but getting my own spacious sounds ( and some can get really weird ! )

I have mostly used this rackprocessor at home so I don't really know if it can handle the hard knocks from being on the road.I don't have any backup either but that 'cause I'm not rich... but I'm planning to buy an another gx-700 too... so that must mean I depend on it in some kind of way...

I've never dealed with them... but I think it's poor to not put out the manuals on internet... ( not because I lost mine... )
I think that if you really want to know what you get before you buy...
you need to carefully read the manual of that product.

I'll put an eight in overall rating because it's simple to use and it have good sound ( the dist is a very heavy quest of what taste you've got.. )for not TOO much cost... think about it... if you think about buying any of those boss-stompboxes you'll get four maybe five
( new ones ) for the same price as the gx-700 ( in which you've got 21 fx and you can use 13 at once... in any order...)and in that case I would buy the gx-700 ( since you got 100 store slots in it... no need to tweak the knobs for every song ! )

This unit is very simple to understand since it is "built" like an stompbox fx chain and ( almost ) everything is visible.The chain is flexible 'cause you can put the fx:s in any order. It's little bit funny about the fx-parameters because they seem to have the same "setup" of parameters but that isn't correct. I don't know why but it doesn't have any volume parameter in the mod-section ( I think mainly on the flangers,phasers... )and therefore you need to compensate that volume in other ways ( which isn't easy all the time! ).
The fx-loop in it is a good idea but it's only mono and most processors are in stereo so you have to think once again when figuring out which external processors you may want to use in the loop...
I mean you don't want to use only 50% of that processor do you?
( Of course it's great if you'll only use a stompbox in it ! )

I think the digital fx ( chorus, flanger, delay...) sounds very good but the distorsions are a little bit "muddy"... if you put the gain too high you risk to loose the chance to hear all the tones when takin' your chords. Since I use my box with a gibson les paul/squire supersonic into a double amp section with valves, I have got the possibility to get the warm character to my sounds so I don't really know how the gx-700 sounds straigth into the board but it's ok when using headphones ( yep... even those small earplugs !)
My main influence when it comes to the space-fx sounds is the edge
( U2 )and it's possible to get some similar sounds of those he have put out but I always try not to imitate his sounds but getting my own spacious sounds ( and some can get really weird ! )

I have mostly used this rackprocessor at home so I don't really know if it can handle the hard knocks from being on the road.I don't have any backup either but that 'cause I'm not rich... but I'm planning to buy an another gx-700 too... so that must mean I depend on it in some kind of way...

I've never dealed with them... but I think it's poor to not put out the manuals on internet... ( not because I lost mine... )
I think that if you really want to know what you get before you buy...
you need to carefully read the manual of that product.

I'll put an eight in overall rating because it's simple to use and it have good sound ( the dist is a very heavy quest of what taste you've got.. )for not TOO much cost... think about it... if you think about buying any of those boss-stompboxes you'll get four maybe five
( new ones ) for the same price as the gx-700 ( in which you've got 21 fx and you can use 13 at once... in any order...)and in that case I would buy the gx-700 ( since you got 100 store slots in it... no need to tweak the knobs for every song ! )

This thing is pretty easy to use, if you're used to FX processors. You basically punch a button for each effect module in the chain, and then use the cursor keys and the Value knob to set the effect up. When you're done, press "Write" twice. There are some nice touches that make things even easier, like the Value knob being a pushable pot that makes scrolling through values faster. Also, when editing the name of a patch, pressing the Value knob toggles you between the upper-case and lower-case version of the letter you're on. Also, you can copy one effect's settings to another patch, which is COOL. Other manufacturers should do this.

I'm recording direct with this unit, direct into a Roland VS-880. It's not the quietest beast in the world, but the noise gate serves to keep the noise at sane levels. I'd say it's no worse than an amp with a bunch of effects on it. As far as the sounds themselves are concerned, there's gold in this box, baby. There is apparently a law in effect that says that all stock patches must be dumb-sounding, so ignore the stock patches. Of the amp sims, the Twin sim is the best, followed by the Matchless and JC-120 sims. The Marshall sim is okay, but sounds a little buzzy. The Soldano sim is nice and fat, but a little buzzy as well. I haven't played much with the Boogie sim, but have had ample time to, which is probably enough of a rating. The 5150 sim, same story. If I were a teen, I'd probably like it more than I do now. If 5150's really sound like this, I'm not interested. Something about a BOSS device that contains a digital model of a Peavey device is just wrong! The clean sounds are definitely the better sounds. They're really clean. The chorus, delay, and other effects are really nice. The distortion sounds aren't thick enough to suit me, and I think they're a little "Buzzy".

I used to try and emulate my favorite artists, but that has proven to be pointless. I can get a decent simulation of my favorite artists, but when I do that, I end up just sitting there playing songs by my favorite artists whenever I switch to the patch, and that's not what I want to do. I did that with my Chameleon, and didn't get much writing done. With this box, I'm basically throwing patches together that sound good, and moving on. Then when I stumble across them later, I just play like me.

To sum up:
Clean sounds=really good.
Distortion sounds=pretty good. Kind of buzzy.

I give it an 8, because to be a 10, it would have to be a real amp making my pantlegs flap, and it can't do that unless I wrap my headphones around my leg.

I'd say I can depend on it. It's a BOSS. It seems a little less sturdy than my Chameleon, with plastic jacks and stuff, but is reasonably well-built. I'd use it on a gig without a backup, but mainly because I'm adventurous in that way.

I've never dealt with BOSS. I've never had to have anything by them or Roland repaired, and never upgraded anything. It always just works!

I like this box. I used a friend's on a CD once, and I really liked it. (You know Bruce Springsteen? That's not who I'm talking about. Not even close.) If it were lost or stolen, it would probably mean that a bunch of other stuff got lost or stolen at the same time, so I'd be really upset. I probably wouldn't care too much about a missing FX unit. When I calmed down, I'd probably seek out another one. Or not. I don't know. It's just an FX unit, and I might want to try something else.

Some words in french:
Tres facile a utiliser car la notice est bien faite. Le debutant aura interet a s'y connaitre en acoustique( pour le reglage fin des reverbes) et en ampli pour le vaste choix.

Ma guitare Fender Strat Standard USA avec un SANS AMP Tech 21 GT2
Les disto sont bruyantes si vous les faites marcher pres de l'electronique (TV, moniteur,ordinateur) autrement ca va.
Bon reducteur de bruit. Pour le preampli, les son clairs TWIN et Roland JC 120 sont tres tres tres beaux. Il y a 3 types de Marshall. Le premier est pas mal du tout et riche en harmoniques. Splendides Matchless crunchy (comme les Stones ou Brian Adams). MEsa Boogie parfait pour des solos tout comme le 5150. Soldano permet de se croire Dire Straits dans Brother in Arms. Globalement la modelisation du comportement des lampes est tres bien faites et le son est modulable grace au coup de mediator. Les reglages sont important (3 niveau de gain et un bright) permettant de tirer par exemple de beaux sons clairs d'un Marshall. Bravo Boss
Tres bon: Chorus ,pitch
Bon :les 7 distos sont de qualite inegale et certaines sont interessantes a utiliser. Dans ces colonnes , beaucoup ont critique la reverbe (trop discrete) mais pas sa qualite. Elle peut etre superbe en reglant le subtil dosage DRY/EFFECT
J'allais oublier le simulateur de haut parleur .IL est vraiment super efficace. Les 12 types de HP me permettent de jouer au casque avec un son incroyable . Il me rappelle l'excellent simulateur du Rocktron Chameleon.

Firmware 1.09 No problem man !
De plus je l'ai achete d'occase.

Pour le prix c'est incroyable. Toutes ces simulations d'ampli et de haut parleur. Bien sur les vrias amplis sonnent encore mieux mais au total c'est 30 fois plus cher !!
CONSEIL: J'ai failli acheter le GT 3 Boss. La grande qualite sonore est identique mais attention , les possibilites de reglages sont inferieures sur le GT 3 (pas de choix de type d'enceinte pour le simul. , reglages reverb plus rustiques)
Autre conseil: Achetez un PC et relier le cable MIDI au GX 700. Puis telecharger des editeurs de patch sur le net , cela facilitera grandement la programmation des sons et leur sauvegarde. Il y a pas mal de patch GX 700 sur le net.

Just a short note, the GX-700 is a wonderful box, but please folks, do a hardcore comparo in a local store trying out the Digitech 2120, 2112, 2101, and ValveFX before you go ahead and buy the GX-700.

I've spent countless hours with ALL of these units; I now have owned the 2112 for 2 years and nothing is as good. But I do also now own a GX-700 and Roland GP-100, because I got them used and cheap, and they are fun and good, but do not sound as close to a tube amp as the 2112 does.

Please read the 2112 reviews; I'm serious, I simply want buyers to be informed as possible before buying.

I love Roland.

Acceptably easy to use. Controls are laid out right up front with easy access to turning on/off the various components that make up the patch.

I use this direct into my console live or for the studio and with some tweaking to the patches I get great results. I use several acoustic guitars through this device and it's fantastic for that. I run a Martin J1 with the Baggs pick-up/mic combo, Gibson Hummingbird, and Cort with Fishman electronics and have designed some awesome patches that bring these instruments out in a mix or on stage. I also run my Fender Strat Plus with lace pickups through it and have come up with some very good patches for it. At first I tried hard to use the stock presets, but, as far as the distorted/preamp'd stuff, they were too buzzy and pretty much useless, however I did use one that fit into a mix fairly well. I don't use the reverb in the unit...it doesn't come close to my Rev 500. You really need to sit with the device for a couple days and design your own sounds. I start with a preset and go from there. Very easy to program a patch, name and store it. Also great feature when getting ready to store an edited patch; you can audition other locations first before writing to one so that you son't wipe out anything important. I just wish that MOTU would make a Unisyn profile for the unit so I can tweak and save stuff to my Mac. It can get noisy, but the built in NR works fine and with some tweaking you can get it quiet enough in the mix.

So far it's been rock solid

N/A

I like this device. I use it with the FC-200 foot controller and it works really well for all my guitars. Especially great for my acoustics which might be a weird thing, but I find it incredible for this. Someday I'll pop for a VG 8 or something big time, but this unit is a good buy. The one thing I think is tough, in terms of $$ output, is that the FC-200 is expensive and you really can't use the thing live without the foot controller...so your in for up over the $5oo mark and for that you might be able to get an all in one device like an ME-30 or GT-3. It all worked out for me in a unusual way...friend of mine said he had some sort of midi controller stuffed in a closet somewhere and it turned out to be the FC-200. I wouldn't want to trade this device for anything else at this point, mostly for the acoustic guitar application. I think there are probably better units out there that will get great lead sounds. I tried hard to come up with the sound that Vanhalen get during the credits music in the movie Twister, but I could only get so close.

The thing is pretty simple to to use, although getting the sound you want is another thing with so many parameters,the manual gives a good overview of the different FX, but since I consider this a "beginners-box" I must say they could have made some thing a bit more clear, I also miss the "suggested settings" overview you get with the Boss pedals, my software is 0.9, couldn't care much for that unless it gave me trouble

I use this box with a Ibanez RG620 with dimarzio PUs into a Marshall 8004 2x40 Watts poweramp with an FC200 pedalboard, when using the noise-gate this thing is quiet, but that does take away a bit of your natural signal. The FX: compressor: don't use it much since it feedbacks pretty fast, Wah: never touched it, Distortions: I like the sounds of the distortion and the metal distortion but i wish I could "Merge" those two together-->the gain of the metal-distortion and the clarity of the normal distortion, without having to use my EQ, the Pre-Amps: I guess the JC-120 is right on the money since this is a Roland box, the Fender twin is a little too glassy for my taste, the matchless is great(O.K. maybe not for a matchless but...)BG I don't use, the Soldano is O.K., the marshalls are too gainless (although at low settings they are pretty good) soldano is O.K., and last...Maybe it's me or did they give the 5150 too much gain??? next is the loop wich I don't use, the EQ: Well, everyone uses it differently, with me it's sometimes in use, sometimes not, The Speakersims: pretty good I guess, the Noisegate: As I said, it does it's job, but it degrades your signal a little, the Modulation: Nice flanger and phaser as well as pitch-shifter and harmonist, the ring modulator is something I wish I could rip out, vibrato is O.K., the Delay: very nice, use this box in stereo and you could give yourself the idea as if you were playing on top of the world, a real broad effect, the Chorus: another great effect, very versatile very "real", the Trem/Pan effect: I have a tremelo on my guitar wich I prefer, as for the pan-effect, this I might use in recording for a nice stereo solo or something, the Reverb: this is quite dissappointing, not full or wet or.... it realy is the bad side of this box, they make it sound like it was never meant to be there I prefer to call the sound a "Background effect" too thin really, they should have thrown that **** ring modulator outta there and put a little more effort in the reverb, I like the programmable FX-string...but tell me something: WHY is the output volume IN THE BACK???? The presets???: I guess the most useable are the direct Boss/Roland copies at least 90% wasn't worth the effort of programming.

.....uhm, it's a Boss, they don't die easily, and since I'm on a budget I do not have a backup, don't think I need one... But since this isn't a stompbox I guess there's a larger chance it might fail, so no 10 here

I have NO idea... Does Boss need customer support????? as far as I know the products might even survive WW III

I've been playing for ehh 2(?) years now and so far this is my best buy yet, I am playing Hardrock/Heavy metal (manowar, Iron maiden etc..) and this box -though basic- is pretty versatile for this and probably many other styles, it has many FX for your pleasure -some good, some bad- and if I compare this box with the pedals I had (almost learnt how to tap-dance) and the Zoom 9150 I had (What the hell is keeping the gain??? It should've been there when I dialed 100) this "Beginners box" rates Higer than those and probably at a similar pricetag, if it were stolen I'd be p****d, but my next buy would probably a more professional (and expensive) rig, My end-conclusion: Everyone should've used it in their guitar-life, you don't need to stick with it, or liked it much, but for some reason this box gives you another dimension that no other effect can give you...It might not be your dimension but you'll keep remembering it!!!
For an Budget/beginners box this thing gets a 10...perfect value,...compared to professional Signal processors I'll bet it'll still hold it's own and be better than average: a 6!

Ici pas de problemes, tous les parametres sont presents et les variation efficaces. Seule ombre au tableau, la notice d'explication est un peu legere vu les possibilites de l'engin. Question branchement tout est OK

J'utilise le rack celon 2 types de branchements : soit en direct sur un ampli fender bluesdeluxe, soit en ligne dans mon home studio. les deux sont interessant mais les sons sont bien entendus pas tout a fait les memes. La qualite des effets est identiques a celle que l'on peut attendre des pedales BOSS separement. Donc de ce cote la pas de probleme. La technologie COSM permet d'avoir a sa disposition plusieurs preamplis classiques dont le realisme est a coupe le souffle (M.B, Roland, Marshall, Soldano, fender). L'emulateur de HP est efficace, surtout en studio ou il se revele necessaire. Bref tous ce qu'il faut pour faire monter la mayo....

Ici encore vraiment super !

Depuis bientot 2 ans d'utilisation intensive aucun problemes n'est apparus.

Ben si vous etes un fana du son de la mort qui tue alors n'hesitez pas. c'est le meilleur investissement que j'ai fait en 20 ans de pratique guitaristique !

Prepare to spend a couple of hours with the manual with this beast. The manual is pretty good, but sketchy in places. Once you get to know it, you can really can get a lot of sounds out of it. My firmware is 1.09

Currently, I'm using a BC Rich Virgin with seymour duncan invader pick-ups. Your guitar and your pick-ups matter a lot with your sound quality. It does not color your guitar and let's its natural character shine through. I personnally think this is great. All of the sounds are great, but prepared to tweak the hell out of the distortions. The wah is alright and it is the hardest to get a good sound out of. Oh, did I mention that this mother was quiet? I've been to get anything from 80's metal to a reverbed 50's tone to a nasally 60's distortion tone to death metal. I can even get some of that wahed out funk tone from the 70s. Ive also gotten some downright weird sounds out of it too. Just plan to experiment with it a lot. Don't expect to sit down with it for 2 hours and get perfect tone. You got to work at it! I mainly use this for direct reocrding and the amp simulations are incredible....

Well, my knob sticks because it rubs against the casing, but I really don't see any problem with realibility. I mean, I take it out occassionally to play with friends, but this puppy mainly stays in my home studio.

Never had to deal with support yet, but I'm suspecting it might be lacking since this model is out of production and I simply do not understand why...

I like to play different styles of music, but I really enjoy heavy metal. But, I've been known to play a little surf, funk, country, industrial, and just all and all out weird stuff. This box can handle everything that I can throw out it. You just have to spend some time with it to get the sounds that are in your head. I've been playing for 8 years and this is simply a dream come true. I've tried other units and this is the first where I would go and hear a guitarist and go man, his distortion sucks, mine is better! This box has inspired me to no end. If this was stolen, I would buy it again in a heart beat! I simply love the flexibility that it gives me with a flick of a switch I can go from a pychedilic 60's tone to a tight 80's tone to something that sounds like it should come from space. The only thing I wish I could do was change more parameters and make more parameters modifieable through MIDI control change events. If they ever cross bred this thing with a synth, I think I would shoot myself. It scares me that roland has decided to go to the all floor model route (YUCK!). But, maybe they'll come to their senses and realize what a great box this was for the price. I mean this is almost identical to the GP-100.

I like the lighted buttons to see which effects are on. It is also easy to edit patches, although I now use a MIDI-Cable with my PC to program it and all I want is a better tool for saving my patches, uploading patches...it works awfully good. Only thing that could be improved is the display, it is a little small and hard to read from a certaim angle

I like the sounds a lot. I use a Marshall Power Amp and a 4x12 Marshall Box in a selfmade rack with them. The presets are as bad as any presets of the other effect units out there, but I think Boss wants to demonstrate the real power of this unit this way, which is not at all archieved. But if you sit down and program your own patches, it generates the sounds I want it to. The DS is okay, if used correctly with Preamp and Speaker Sim. Others who worry about it might not have the sparetime to experiment enough. I would be very interested in discussing and exchanging personal experience in creating patches and using the unit. Just mail me.

I've had it for about 2 months now and it works like it is supposed to everytime I flip the power switch. The AC Adaptor gets a little hot (my Mashall Power Amp does not get half as warm) after a time, I hope I won't experience a little firework out of it like some others did. I have not gigged with it for now, but I will use it (I have backups, but I don't think I will ever need them) and it WILL work, I'm sure.

After I experienced other customer support I don't expect Boss to be a lot different. But I never had ANY problem.

I an playing guitar for about 8 years now, with a band for 2 years now. As I replaced my Zoom 505 with this tiny baby and getting my very own 4x12 Mashall Box with a power amp, I really loved it. It does every job I want it to, from transparent clean Delay/Chorus/Flanging to the Ultrabrutal Killermegadeathshredding Metal Distortion everything is in this small wonder box. I would definitely buy a new one if it is lost or dies in my arms one day. It seems the best money can buy, in the store a Line6 Amp lost my interest after 5 minutes playing the GX-700!! I would be interested in exchanging tools, patches, tips and tricks with other interested users. Just mail me.

Well.. I will put 7 this time!

Good

I never had a problem. But I descouvered a bug in the OS that impides me to control a PS-Pitch parameter with an assign. I have firmware 1.09. Try it before your submision and tell us if this happens to you too and wich firmware you have!

As there is no chat (for what I know) for the GX-700 I put this here. I writed the MIDI implementation into a TXT file and is downloadable "http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Hub/4693/IMP.txt"

Yes, this is my second thing, as I know some users were not able to get the MIDI impl. from Roland I submited this, ok? If you have the same problem with the PS-Picth parameter controlled from an assign I would know it.