Roland GP-8

It's easy to get a good sound out of it, but what sounds good at home does not always work at the gig, and you can't just reach over and correct it. If you program distorted and straight sounds and set the individual master volumes so they seem to match; the distorted/overdriven sounds always sound quieter at the gig when everything is loud. The different address system is no problem; who cares if your magic patch is numbered 12 or 24 or whatever, as long as you can find it. With 128 addresses you can store all your tryouts and compare them in different environments. I would give it higher points if it were easier to tweak at the gig.

It's noisy, especially in the effects you would expect to cause noise. The phaser on mine drops the overall volume so much I can't use it. The auto wah needs too high an attack to please me.
I do like the overall warm sound of the unit, and I still use it after reselling my GT5.

I bought mine when they first came out. Now it fades in and out once or twice per 4 hour session; but I'll bet my techie will find a crapped out capacitor or some such easily repairable problem. I give it a high rating for lasting this long, but would like to hear from anyone who has a similar problem. The FC100 has the cable socket internally attached to the circuit board by rigid metal strips, so every time the connection is wiggled stress is put on the solder joints on the board. Replacing these connections with normal flexible wiring is the way to go, and is not very difficult. This connection socket is definitely the weakest link in this unit.Anyone complaining about the high cost of a replacement cable ought to try making one If you can do it an hour after taking a couple of hours to get the parts, you are pretty efficient.

Roland are ok, but they ought to list more info on their old products that made them great.

I play an incredibly wide range of music, from classical to metal with a lot of ethnic styles most players don't even bother to check out. Of course reverb would be the effect most of us would like to see added. I use a Lexicon MPX100 which was pretty cheap second hand and adds very little weight to my rack. There are differing opinions online about whether some sections of the GP8 are analog, and I haven't checked, but they sound analog.

It's pretty easy to get a good sound out of the GP-8. It has two sets of 8 banks of 8 sounds capacity. All patches can be over-written. So, as these are older units, the sounds you get when you acquire one may be total garbage. Or not... As far as I know there isn't a way to reset the factory patches other than to dial them in manually. They are in the back of the Roland manual, though.

Editing patches is very easy. To edit a patch you press the "edit" key, then you turn the dial to the setting you want to change - always clearly labeled in the display - and then you press the "value" button. At this point you turn the dial to the setting you want and then press edit again. All edits are done this way. YOu do have to remember to "write" the patch after you edit it or it will be gone next time you turn it on. To copy a patch to another place you simply press the copy button and use the arrows to select which of the three numbers you want to change. A or B, Bank, patch. Once you have the destination patch in the screen you hit the "write" button. Easy.

The manual is now available from the Roland site. It's OK.

I'm using a Switch Innovo IV MIDI, and a Gibson V with a Kahler tremolo. Both are excellent guitars in my experience. I run the guitars to a Digitech GFX Twin Tube, then to the GP-8, then through a Digitech GSP-5 into a Yamaha G50-112II combo amp. This was Yamaha's top of the line pro practice amp when I was a lot younger and it's still going strong. Never was trendy...

Depending on the chain of the patches between the three fx, you can get a lot of noise, but usually it is very quiet. The GP-8 is very quiet on everything but the distortion and overdrive. But, I am running into it hot from the GFX, so... don't need the distortion on the Roland. All the other effects are dead silent. Beautiful.

The tone that comes out of this machine CAN be absolutely amazing. It can be terrible as well, but that's just bad programming. If you line up 8 stomp boxes and mess with them you can create an awful lot of garbage. But once in a while - wow. Magic. When you coax a patch on this thing it sings. I was really blown away when I got it. Still am. It's just rich sounding. The sound is just very professional, but old school. The range of sounds it can do is very wide as well. It has a definite personality, though.

I'm not crazy about the compression. The distortion and overdrive are problematic in my rig, but might not be in another configuration. I just don't use them much. The phaser is very nice. The chorus is very nice if used with restraint. It can mangle your signal if you set it too deeply, but maybe that's your thing. The delay is nice. The EQ is three band, but it works. The dynamic filter will do wahs on every note for you. Works best with a hard pick. All the effects are simple, but together they can do great things.

I don't do the other artist thing, but I'm sure there are a few classics in this box. It was top of the line at one point, so the pros DID use it. And they paid a lot for it, too.

My main gripe is that there is no reverb whatsoever. This is a serious oversight. That's what I use the GSP-5 for mostly. It has a decent reverb. I'm sure there are better, but I have it so I use it. So, you will have to do something like that with the gp-8. But, reverbs can be had these days...

My other gripe is that there is no dedicated master level for input or output. There is no way to set the input gain at all other than having a preamp before the gp-8. The output has to be set on a patch by patch basis in the menu system of the editor. This is completely inconvenient. A simple knob would have made a huge difference here. So, plan on doing a lot of editing to get the levels right. YOu can use a standard midi pedal board to change patches, but it's set up in 8's, so ten is "22" on the GP-8, Bank "B, 1,1" is 66. Can be a bit confusing unless your math is quick ;) You have to switch the little switch on the back to "midi in" to use a regular board otherwise you need the FC-100. Also, the GP-8 has 128 onboard patches, so unless your board goes over 100, you can't get the last 28 unless you are willing to press a few buttons on the panel.

So, it has a lot of nuisance factor, but if you are into tone - this thing has it in spades.

Very solid. Very old.

No idea.

I play classical and rock mostly. I'm no great guitarist, but I have fun with it. So, I guess that makes me a long time amateur. FWIW I also play keyboards. Home studio stuff...

I wouldn't hesitate to buy this again. For the street price these days it's hard to go wrong. If you are a gigging musician, this is probably more hassle than you will want to deal with, but for simply playing - very nice indeed. Of course, if you are a real tone junky, you will definitely want one of these... There's no substitute for great tone.

I found it very easy to get a good sound from it.

The standard patches are way to loud so all have to adjusted to suit. It takes a couple of evenings to sort out a good range of sounds.

I found editing a little difficult at first, as I had no manual. But I soon got the hang of it. It take a little time as there is only one wheel for adjustment.

I couldn't find a down loadable manual any where on the net, so I Emailed Roland UK , (on a Sunday) and got a reply the same day, and a manual arrived on the Tuesday completely free of charge. Superb people!!
The manual is very good, very well written, and very very simple to understand.

I think my GP8 is the very first version from the eighties, I don't even know if there's an upgrade.

Generally you can get some good sounds from it without a manual. But I would say it makes life a lot easier if you have one.

I got Gibson LP, Standard Fender Tele, and a Standard Fender Strat. Amp wise, I got a Mesa/Boogie DC3. I put the GP8 in between the guitars and the amp as you would pedals.

I don't really like most processors as they alter the tone of my beloved DC3. But the GP8 is just a bunch of boss pedals in a line.

It just colours the sound and doesn't try to change it.

It's a little old but sounds just great.

I've had no problems with the GP8 itself, but I bought it with the FC100 foot controller and I've had little problem with that. Which was sorted very rapidly by a local electronics guy.

10 out of 10 out of 10. As I said earlier wonderful wonderful people.

I would have no problems buying another Roland product it this is the standard of the Support.

I nearly bought a GP16 the GP8's big brother about 13 years ago, but decided against it, and have been kicking myself ever since.
So when I got the chance to buy this GP8 with controller and lead for only #100 I jumped at the chance.

I play most styles of music but love classic rock/blues.
I've been playing just over 15 years.

There are lots and lots of things I like/love about the GP8. Great sounds at a very cheap price for one. If there was a "Dislike" it's the single wheel for programming, it just takes a little longer than the new stuff.
If there was a "Hate" it's the price of a replacement lead for the FC100 foot controller. #50 that's way to high!!

Yes it does help me make music. Very simple to use and it sounds just how I want it to - which to me is just perfect.

If you come across one just buy it. I think you like it, and if you don't, you can always sell, it as they're so cheap, your guaranteed to get your money back.

I think this could be a classic of our time.

The GP8 is an outstanding device.A device wich was build in
the 80ths,but wich is still very userfriendly.A kind of Masterpiece.
That's why it is labeled as Roland and not as Boss.
Ahead of its time and nowadays still very usefull.
The programming routine is very easy.Enough Memory for
Sound creations.
If without manual,you get very quick familiar with it.
A big PLUS...

The GP8 was originally developed by BOSS.Put eight
stompboxes in one rackunit and feature it with several useful
connections.This is GP8......

Only Delay and Chorus is digital.But these two parts
demonstrate,that the digital in the 80ths were not as bad,as
it is suppossed to now.
The sound quality is brilliant.Eight stompboxes together are not
the same as the GP8.
The GP8 is still useful.It is analog,it is digital,it is comfortable.

The GP8 sounds marvelous.This is one of the old devices,wich
I would never change to a "modeling " device.
I use it in many way and with different amps.And always I am
surprised,how good it can sound.
Amazing.......

Well,this device is still working fine.And remember,it is
nearly 16 years old.
Never had a trouble with it.It works and works and.......

hmmmmmm.....never needed......

This machine is nearly for every guitarstyle.
It allows you to adjust the tone you want,to your guitar.
This is not a toy.It is excellent in its Parametersteps.On
analog stomboxes it is not possible to adjust the sounds so
exactly like on this device.For each guitar you own.
A good tool for every serious guitarist.
And don't forget,also actual sounds are possible with it.

A great and legendary machine.Nothing is better as the original.

If you are uinto stompboxes this is what you should use! It's as easy to use than any stobox but sound better than a lot of noisy stompboxes. I bought mine back in the 80's and still using it.

I use this unit as a stompbox. Guitas -> GP8 -> amp (Peavey 5150II) and a Alesis quadraverb in the loop. I use compression for clean sound and sometimes overdrive on clean channel to crank it up. For this purpuse it's outstanding. Better sound than stompboxes in serial. This is a 8 stompboxes in one unit and whitout noise.

Well...it has worked since 88 so...

Not much these days im afraid..but I was able to order a new cable for the floorbord directly from Roland.

I play in a coverband and im touring all the time. I played for 25 years and this is the best product I own. If it was stolen I would replace it. No doubt about it.

Like any multi-effects unit, the GP-8's factory presets are designed to maximize the "wow!" factor on the showroom floor, meaning that many of them need to be dialed-back to be much use. Editing can be slow, with all functions depending on a single scroll wheel--be prepared to spend a couple evenings getting your sounds. But once you understand the layout, editing is really quite easy. Plenty of room (128) for your patches, copying to a different location is easy, and you can "escape" out of any changes if you get lost. Clearly the manual was written by someone for whom English was a second language.

Despite what some other posters have said, only the delay and chorus are digitial--the other six are ANALOG, in all their thick, warm, noisy, nasty glory. I've always used this unit with tube amps (mostly Carvin) which rounds off some of the rough edges. The Turbo Overdrive is my favorite--used with some compression, it gives you a thick scream, my #1 lead tone. The Distortion is monstrous and beautiful. The delay is terrific, I use it for everything from a single short slap to a long echo (sorry, folks, this unit predates digital reverb). The chorus is lush and beautiful (but I swear to God I have read EVERY WORD Roland has ever published about this unit--the manual, advertisements, promos--nowhere is it revealed that the chorus is STEREO--a studio engineer discovered it when he panned the outputs). I have twin single-12 tube amps I use onstage, and the stereo chorus effect is gorgeous.

One major drawback--stepping on a new patch always means a half-second hiccup between patches. If you need the new sound to appear right on beat one, you'd better be ready to step on the pedal on beat four of the previous measure.

Going on 17 years on the same battery (knock wood).

Only problems:
1) the contacts on the FC-100--too much beer spilled on them, I guess, had to open it up and clean them off a few times
2) the EXPENSIVE "Roland Remote Control" cable (NOT a MIDI cable) that connects the FC-100 to the GP-8--I've had a couple die on a gig, so I always carry a spare

Never had contact with them.

I used to use a lot of stompboxes, and this unit finally saved me from the "pedal dance" I had to perform to change sounds. Occasionally I got sick of hauling it--I went back to stompboxes for over a year--but I always came back to the GP-8. I've demo-ed a lot of effects units over the years, but there's nothing I've tried that I like better. This glitchy, noisy bastard's a keeper!

Incredibly easy to use ... I mean, throw the manual away and let your ears be your guide, it's just that simple. Here, let me put it another way. I've been working in I.T. (Information Technologies) for over 20 years ... That kind of means, I'm something of a "computer geek". So I know all about good and bad "logic". And the Roland GP-8 has awesome (simple and understandable) "logic" behind the programmable effect menus. Hell, even my wife (very out-of-touch) with everything more difficult than a T.V. remote can program this thing. I won't let her touch it (of course), but she could. The jog dial and effect banks are just GREAT ... You spend more time playing than programming and this I find way cool !!!

Well, it's digital. So it sounds digital ... But wait, don't go thinking that's something bad, because it's not necessarily. It just means that some of the analog presence is missing. Look, you need a GOOD amplifier to bring the effects out and give them the warmth they deserve. In the right sound combination (amp + effects), the sound is awesome. You can get the warmth and depth and about 1,000 things in-between with this thing. I use a Marshall 25/50 head and a Marshall Cabinet and therein, the Roland GP-8 compliments the combination nicely. I never (no kidding) play straight through the amplifier without my Roland GP-8 in the sound loop. That's how I get my crunch and distortion. The Roland GP-8 sound is very nice indeed and I have no complaints, but it is digital (as I mentioned) and needs the right combination of equipment to bring out the depth and warmth of your tone.

Let's see ... I bought the Roland GP-8 back in 1989 and it's now 2004. So that would make it 15 years old ... Wow, I feel dated now. But we're talking about the Roland GP-8 and not me. Basically stated, the Roland GP-8 has stood the test of time. It's moved (with me) all over the world (literally) and taken it all in good stride without ever missing a beat. Hell, I've never even needed to change the battery. I expect it to go everyday and have all my settings written down (just in case) ... But it never goes out. I can't figure that part out at all. I'm starting to think the thing has a nuclear powered battery cause it never goes out. Not yet anyway. The Roland GP-8 is robust and has NEVER broken down, not even once. It's rock-solid and built to last (how'd they do that?). Like I said, it's over 15 years old and I've never had a problem -or- changed the battery.

Never had to deal with Roland. I think they've been bought by Korg -or- have some type of partnership now. My Roland GP-8 has lasted so long that I figure I may never need support. The thing just runs, and runs - like the Everyready Battery Bunny (only better).

The Roland GP-8 is the mainstay of my playing. I never play without it and it is always in my sound loop. It enabled me to get rid of every single stupid pedal I ever had and therein, has saved me massive setup headaches with going from one pedal into another into another into another (how stupid). Pedal owners need to get smart and invest in something more "long-term", e.g. rack effects. I did and have NO regrets - it's been great for me. I've been playing guitar now for over 20 years and have several guitars (88' Fender Stratocaster with early Wilkinson Nut, Washburn A-20V, and now my latest edition - a beautiful Rick Gledura from Ed Roman Guitars). In the 20 years of my playing, the Roland GP-8 has been there for me. I have a VOX ToneLab and Behringer VAMP-Pro and together with my Roland GP-8 I have everything I need. I already mentioned my Marshall 25/50 head and cabinet ... If I lost it, I would search the world over to find another. I will never buy another pedal (other than a VOX wah) although even this I don't need because I have the Roland foot pedal board (FC-100) and effects pedal to adjust any effect I choose. I love the ease-of-use and jog dial to adjust the effect values. I can customize every aspect of my sound in just a few minutes. This thing ROCKS and I love it as much as my Marshall amps and <above mentioned> guitars.

Quite simple use - no need to 'study' manual . Never upgraded. Did not now this is possible... what do i get for this upgrade-cost?

some problems occur with presets created for Carlsbro amp when used on Marshall stack . especially distorted effects sounds messy in combination with the marshall amp (even on 'clean' channel). To play songs with 'no use of te gp-8 effects' it simply does not help to create a clean by-pass patch, since the gp-8 still effects your guitar-sound. I simply solve this problem by switching guitar-cable between the gp-8 and a direct inject to the amp-input for songs that need to sound marshall-clean...

First battery still in use, after 12 years of regular use!
Happended just 3 or 4 times in all these years that the FC-100 controller did not affect the gp-8. Had to reset the whole system during set, but since this is very fast and simple, it did not really create great problems!

no upgrade, no repair needed till today (hold on wood!)

generally used for rock-covers.
Nice you can assign the control pedal EV-5 to control almost any available effect. Pitty you cannot add a second pedal to the FC-100 footcontroller (e.g. to control the over-all volume while using the other as a Wah-Wah)

I purchased this unit new back in '88. At the time I new nothing about effects programming. It didn't seem easy at first...but the learning curve was really fairly short. The manual is in Japlish. "This digital chorus takes an important part in sound synthesis. Specially, the setting of the predelay should be greatly vary depending on the sound you aim to create." Kinda funny actually... unless you are a novice trying to make some sense of it all. Editing patches at this point with lots of more difficult gear around seems like it must be about as easy as it gets.

All I ever really needed was my GP8!!! What a great piece! Sounds great with a JC 120. Even better with a Sansamp in the loop. I must echo someone down below. I don't know why I keep searching. I have a POD (upgraded), PODxtPRO, and an Eventide GTR4000. Now its hard to choose. Something about the GP8 still wins me over frequently. One can skip the onboard digital effects and use something better for that and really get your sound out there. Totally smacked. Not that the effects are all that bad. The 12 bit delay was ok...till someone said, "hey man, that's only a 12 bit delay." And then it all began. Now I can whip out my GTR4000 and use it on the people who say that. Used live...during all the glory...nobody will be counting the bits in the delay. So it doesn't have reverb or the best delay. This unit is still very likely to get you some. She gonna be Nice too in a sort of bawdy 80's way. The multiple stereo outputs are very handy. One pair has "characteristic of amplifier". Umm, not really. For direct recording it really helps to hit a Sansamp or Microcab at some point. It's not noisy unless you have the have the distortions cranked. My violin hates the compressor sustain. Very noisy. Its a violin anyway. I've got sustain. I'm not sure if there are any "artists" lurking in there. Stevie Stevens maybe... Coppin a pose. Long before I had any gear at all I was developing my own style. I just had my regular acoustic violin. I had to imagine a lot. Try playing an acoustic along with "Whole Lotta Love". It was the only way at the time. As a young violinist in the late 70's and early 80's I studied my favorite rock guitarists and tried to get their thing. Hopefully, all my influences have led to me. And if someone says I sound like Joe or Prince I'll wear it with pride. Coming from Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and the like it was a way to learn the language. Fair is fair. Part of "Eruption" is from a Kruetzer Violin Etude!! Opp! Secrets out Eddie! What does that tell ya? Anyway, if your able to find THE sound of a singular artist...that is still just a little tiny piece of what makes up their thing. I've heard Mike Keneally stand next to Steve Vai and he is another Steve. Simply amazing ears and a rare capability. Ability is where its at. The path is thru you, your hands, and your instrument...not thru an artists preset. If you can't rock with this box you are the problem.

Completely reliable. STILL has the original battery in it.

n/a

I'm so glad I never sold my GP8. I've never bought a piece of gear that just made me say, "This sounds like *%&$^#%@$! Just been lucky I guess. Actually, I take it back... my Quadraverb GT sucked. That's another story. It seems as though some reviewers can't seem to be pleased. Perhaps its just not in them, their heart, their ears, their fingers. Surely, if it sounds bad you won't want to play. I've never tried a Rogue pedal or a Zoom processor. I bet I could make something cool happen with them too. You get what you pay for maybe. But if you've had a lot of gear in and out of your rig and you keep coming up short you probably need to take it into the shed or you need a better axe. The GP8 won't let you down anyway. I'm taking a tip from below. Next buy is a Marshall. Then I can fend off all the modeler haters too!

This is my second one after my first one was ripped off. I've had it since at least the late eighties or when they came out . Very easy to use . Dont worry about the manual , it's easy to figure

Straight through a 68 Fender showman and 2 -12 cab , Sounds perfect ! I run the amp straight chystal clean and the compressor sounds perfect for the stuff I do. I only use the overdrive , and barely at that for a boost for leads

This thing has been through a thousand gigs with crap spilled on it in and out of racks, I've changed the battery once in 15 years because I was getting Paranoid about losing important patches.

Hav'nt had to deal with much

R&b & Blues, Funk & Jazz. The only thing that is a drawback is the dumb phantom powered cord between the unit & fC-100, They are like 50 bucks from Roland !! Everyone wants this thing because it sounds so good.