G-System changed my life!

After many years searching fo rthe "perfect" guitar effects set-up, I decided to take the plunge and invest in the TC G-System, mostly after reading some positive reviews and frustration with all the so-called "boutique" pedals and devices I had been using over the years. I have been playing professionally for over 30 years, 20 of those years in full time touring bands.

I have to say that after an initial glitch with a sticky button (taken care of in extremely professional fashion by TC and Sweetwater in a very short time) I am extremely impressed by the unit. I am constantly finding new ways to integrate the system into my live show. Being the only guitarist in a four piece band (guitar, bass, drums, singer), I need many different sounds and effects during the evening, including harmony lead solos which the G-Systems pitch unit does surprisingly well. I also use the unit to change channels on my Marshalls (DSL 100's) - great for switching between clean (with chorus, EQ and reverb) to crunchy chords with delay and then to soaring tap delay leads with a single tap on each button. The parameters allow you to set up effects and channel switching for each preset and even include the use of some of those "boutique" effects I hung on to via footswitchable loops! Suffice to say, I am pleased with the G-System... There is also a nice built in tuner that mutes the signal for quite and accurate tuning.

Another great plus is that the controller sits on the floor on stage, and the "brain" can be seperated and sits off stage in a case with any looped effects boxes (and my wireless unit). The controller is conected with a single ethernet cable - nice and tidy - just carry a spare!

The only negative I could find was that the pitch algorythm won't recognize chords - so I can't, for example turn my six string into a 12 string... fortunately, the unit is upgradeable through firmware updates and I expect the thing only to get better as TC listens to user feedback (and they do...). Hey, it's good enough for Steve Vai!

I added two Boss expression pedals to control volume (great for leads) and as a wah controller (excellent wah sounds). I am also experimenting with the formant effects in the hope of creating various talkbox effects using the pedal. I am just scratching the surface after a few shows, and only look forward to discovering many more ways to work with this piece of gear.

All in all, highly recommended!!

All-in-one Unit

The quality of the reverbs, pitch shifting, filters and modulation in this unit are worth the list price alone. But it does so much more acting as a control center for your existing setup. You can change channels on your amp, send midi cc messages, control multiple effects parameters in real time via expression pedal, take your favorite stomp boxes in and out of your signal chain, simplify a multi-amp setup and of course have it all happen at once per preset by stomping on one pre-programmed switch. You have the option of controlling your entire rig from the floor or you can rack the effects section and have nothing but the foot controller and one Cat 5 cable on stage keeping things neat and tidy. Basically this single unit allows you to achieve anything you've dreamed your rig could do and probably more!

Not the best processor in this price range

I'm sure you have heard all the great things about the G System (great effects and convenience), so I will skip the positives and go directly to the problems that I had with this unit.
The G System alters tone. The individual notes in a chord aren't as clearly audible when using this unit. This isn't absolutely horrible, but considering how much this unit costs, I would hope for a crystal clear A/D and D/A conversions.
The G System has too much latency. When playing fast solos, you will feel the sound being slightly delayed by the G System. The processor is not quick enough to be unnoticeable to the human brain.
The G System has some GREAT sounding effects. It is a shame that the latency and tone suck made the unit not work for me.

There are other effects processors that do not have these issues. Eventide's Factor Pedals (TimeFactor, PitchFactor, ModFactor, Space) have unnoticeable latency and ZERO tone suck.