Boss GT-100 Guitar Multi-Effects Pedal Reviews

4.3/5.0 based on 13 customer reviews

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Customer Reviews

James White
from Delmar, MD
March 31, 2013Music Background:
Hobbyist

Brilliant!!!

I've owned several Modelers over the years,Johnson J-station,Digitech Gnx2,Line 6 Podxtlive and others too.I first got the new line6 podhd500 wow what a huge letdown that was!!! Went to line 6 customtone cause ive been there before with my xtlive.After 4 hours I was unable to get anything to sound even acceptable and I've got alot of experience with processors!!! So I sent it back in exchange for The Boss Gt100 and Boy it was like night and day.First of all their are presets in this thing that can get u playing right away!!!Second this is by far the easiest processor I've ever used.It has a Easytone feature that with several sounds for 15 different Musical Styles!!!! And this Thing sounds awesome!!! Oh and also u can use the 4 cable method and hook it up to your favorite tube amp and use it for effects!!! Go on youtube and look up this method!!! And as far as I'm concerned Line 6 has got to go back to the drawing board!! I'm mean Roland also has the gr55 which I have also!!! How line 6 is so popular is beyond me......

Tony H.
from North Carolina, USA
March 20, 2013Music Background:
guitarist since 1987

waaaay better than the GT-10 - no 'cocked wah' sound!

I have been using amp modeling gear for years, from the lowly Behringer V-Amp 2 to the Line 6 POD X3(I took a pass on the HD series - Line 6 rushed it out there door with HUGE issues, both hardware and software, plus they threw us metal guitarists under the bus to feature lots of 'boo-teek' amps that only rich lawyer/'wannabe bluesmen' even care about) to the Digitech GSP1101 rack unit, plus all the computer-based systems like POD Farm, Amplitube, Guitar Rig, etc. I have also used several amp modeling amplifiers over the years. And, yes, I have owned good old-fashioned tube amps as well... The KEY to amp modeling is KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I know that's a blow to alot of guitarist's egos(what? musician's have egos?! LOL), but despite all the media hoopla, for a SERIOUS pro-quality tone, amp modeling gear - no matter from what manufacturer - is NOT 'plug-n-play'. You DO have to learn it's nuances and spend some time with it... and frankly, in this day and age of 'I want it all and I want it now', people won't spend the time and make snap judgments that amp modeling 'sucks' or that it's too complicated, saying 'I don't like to fight for my tone'. Well Gomer, the world needs ditch diggers too, so... ;0)

The build quality is there, of course - hey it's a BOSS! I think the phrase 'built like a tank' was invented to describe BOSS gear... there's a reason you find BOSS gear on LOTS of touring pro guitarists rigs, much more so than trendy 'boo-teek' gear - they always WORK and you can buy em anywhere should something need to be replaced(which is rare indeed). It can sound like a million bucks, but if it breaks down every third gig, then it just doesn't matter. You can RELY on BOSS gear.

The first thing one will notice different about the GT-100 from the GT-10 is the dual LCD screens. The brown/orange display is easily readable and can be adjusted to taste regarding brightness and contrast. It also doesn't temporarily blind your eyes like the overly-bright blue GT-10 screen often did when looking into it on a dark stage... The reason for the dual screens is that you can pull up your entire signal chain on the left side, then see the specific parameters of whatever is highlighted there, on the right side. It might not seem that helpful when just reading a description of it, but when you see and use it in real life, you'll instantly appreciate it's usefulness. If there are more parameters available than can fit on one screen, you'll notice the familiar folder tabs, just like on the GT-10, so you can just hit the 'page' button to scroll over.

The effects are top-notch - again, it's a BOSS. If it's not there, you probably don't need it... and YES, it has 'spillover' on time-based effects like delays and reverbs, so if you're switching quickly from one patch to another mid-song, your repeats aren't going to cut off unnaturally. I like the feedbacker effect, enabling me to play with feedback as if I'm live next to a huge wall of amps, even though I'm recording silently in my home studio(I've recorded a handful of original music CDs using modeling gear since 2006). The bullet-proof pedal is there for volume control, wah effects, or any other effect as well, as EVERYTHING is tweakable and assignable. You can assign anything to anything, so if you wanna have your delay repeats ramp up, boost your overdrive, add some chorus or flanger by hitting a single button, you can! The ACCEL button is something I usually assign to something else... at times, BOSS seems to be stuck in 80s shred territory for some reason(I'm guessing that's still 'big in Japan', no pun intended), so by default ACCEL has these weird laser-beam effects in it that quite frankly, I'd NEVER use - so I don't. I usually program the ACCEL button to a feedbacker. It's your choice - which is what modeling gear is about - CHOICES. YES, there is the ubiquitous looper on there as well - isn't there a looper on EVERYTHING nowadays?! I only use it to record a guitar riff, then I can tweak the tones at will while IT plays the riff over and over... but that's just me.

The amp modeling itself is top notch - although for me personally, I only tend to use about a half dozen or so, so there are ALOT more that I just don't need... but maybe YOU do, so they're there. BOSS doesn't use the actual names of the amps being modeled, but if you've been around at all, you know a Marshall or a Fender or a Mesa Boogie when you hear it. hehehe ;0) The dreaded 'cocked wah syndrome' that plagued the GT-10 is GONE! YAAAAY!! I know a BUNCH of guitarists that shied away from the GT-10 because of it, but now there's no reason to NOT give the GT-100 a try. There are quite a few 'advanced' amp models as well... why they' are 'advanced', i have no idea, but there are many, many choices as far as preamps go. There are also many, many choices as far as speaker cabinets to use, different microphones, all completely positionable, just like in 'real life'. There are also 'custom' settings, so you can design your own preamp or speaker cabinet tones - it's ALL up to you. Or, you can just leave it at the default configuration and just twist the bass-middle-treble-presence-gain-volume knobs, just like on a 'real' amp.

And now for the BAD: yes, there is ONE thing where BOSS completely DROPPED THE BALL. I am about TRUTH, and as they say, the truth shall set you free... THERE IS NO NATIVE GT-100 SOFTWARE FOR DESIGNING TONES ON THE COMPUTER. WTF?! This is 2013, BOSS/Roland! There IS an independently developed GT-100 editor software made by a guy with the screen name of 'gumtown' that can be downloaded for FREE to work with your GT-100 on the computer(just google 'BOSS GT Central forums' and you'll find him). I have it and it works great - but come on, this is just freakin' RIDICULOUS! Line 6 has a thriving online community based around the POD line of modeling gear... why BOSS has completely missed the boat on this is beyond me. I literally scratch my head in wonderment at how they could NOT wanna capitalize on *cue dramatic music* THE INTERNET. Okay, I'll step down off my soapbox now... but COME ON BOSS, GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!!!

I know this has been a long review, and quite frankly, I'm just scratching the surface on what this amazing piece of kit is capable of doing. There is NOTHING you cannot do with the BOSS GT-100. You can record your next hit single while the baby sleeps in the next room, play live worship at your church on Sunday, or tear down the club on Thursday Thrash Night. You can plug it directly into your computer's USB port, run it direct into the house PA system, or run it into that iconic Marshall stack via the 4-cable method and mic the cabinet, 'old school' style. Simple or complex, again, it's ALL UP TO YOU.

Brad Bowhall
from upstate,NY USA
January 29, 2013Music Background:
Musician,Playing Metal guitar for 31 years

Incredible

The best peace of equipment that I have had in a long time had an ART SGX2000, and Then the Boss gt-10, Like the fact that I can Split different amp sims to left and right for a true Stereo setup, have only had it a couple months and as of yet have found no limits to it.

Aaron
from Lake Chelan, WA
October 8, 2012Music Background:
Pro Musician

WOW!

All the effects are really, really superb. One of the many cool things about this is that you can assign any of the built-in effects to any of the pedals. I'm not really sure why one of the other reviewers mistakenly thought the pedals aren't assignable because they are --> (see user manual pg. 17) The distortion and reverb effects are better than stand alone pedals that cost more than this. Boss really raised the bar when they made invented this amazing machine! :)

Steve
from Long Island NY
April 7, 2012Music Background:
Pro guitar player

Very Good Product

Just got my new Boss GT-100 from Sweetwater.I think Boss has raised
the bar with this new release.You get all the great Boss effects with some
good Amp modeling. I myself will use the effects rather then the Amps within the unit. This is not to say they are bad, they are in fact rather good
I just rather use them within my amps. Very easy to navigate and create your own sounds as well. Also a nice plus of being able to use it within my Daw. You can really get everything from over the top metal leads to even a sitar.The unit is very solid and ell made. There is nothing
not to love about this unit, and I'm sure whatever you play you will find your tone.

Neal Lively
from northwestflorida
November 25, 2012Music Background:
praise and worship guitarist

Best GT Yet!

I have ownend several of the boss GT's over the years,
Effects were good but the over drives and distortions werent so great.
I was really suprized with the GT-100 !!!!!!!. Great crunch sound and overdrve. Today was my first day usig the GT 100 live and it sounded AWOSOME in front of my Mesa Mk 4. The effects are great and the drives are great. One last thing it is easy as pie to program right on stage. A keeper in my opnion

Rich
from
July 26, 2012

BOSS GT100 is a Winner

Amp models are a huge improvement over the GT10's. Much easier to navigate due to the two screens. The ACCEL function is a waste, you will rarely uses it, looper time is short. Instead of ACCEL a whammy function would have been nice with an additional CTRL pedal. Overall a fantastic pedal.

Lisle Crowley
from St. George, UT USA
June 7, 2012Music Background:
Pro musician and instuctor.

Met expactations and more.

I love tube amps but do to inconsistencies I did a little research and purchased the GT-100. I was looking for a unit that I could go into my amp or directly into the PA or recording. The first thing I learned was how to set the GT for different types of amps or PA's. Great! It is simple to learn and I was using it right away. The day after I took it out of the box I took it to a gig and ran directly into the PA and was very happy. In the studio I tried it when I was not happy with the tone my amp gave and was blown away. After I re-recorded some of my solo's and rhythm tracks I compared my best amp tones to the GT and I would challenge anyone to tell which was the tube amp and which was the GT. I'm loving this unit. I also have in gig in an orchestra pit where this year they decided to go amp less with in ear monitors. The techs love my GT and I love the sounds I am getting out of it. My electric has a piezo pickup so with that and the GT I can get all sounds the score calls for with just one guitar and an easy set up. I'm loving this unit. The only complaint I have is the compression in the unit grabs the end of notes before the noise gate kicks in and causes a lot of hash, especially in the studio, which increase editing time. To be honest, I'm sure this could be adjusted, I just haven't had time yet to get in and figure out how to do this. I am a fan of the GT100. It has met all my needs for any professional gig I have...and I love the sounds I'm getting.

Sam
from Athens, AL
May 3, 2012Music Background:
Hobbyist

Lovin' it

Now, the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I didn't do my reasearch on it before buying it, and I assumed that the footswitches were assignable. Got my hopes up about it and now I feel retarded, so someone must pay.
With that aside, this beast is rather kick ass and might I say quite stellar. The preset tones you get are good quality that only get better with the user friendly double screen set-up. Have had for about a month, but not enough time to fully experience the potential this thing clearly has. I can say this though: I am pleased with my purchase.

MichaelDeMichele MD
from PA
December 26, 2012Music Background:
Hobbiest

Boss GT 100

I have had multiple guitar processors over the years. I currently own and use the Pod HD 500, the Digitek Rp 100 and now I got this a a much wanted christmas gift. I would say that playing with the Pod hd for the past 2 years and interfacing it with the computer is the mid priced effects processor all else will need to be judged. Especially since you can go to line 6 custom tone and down load new tones every day. They also come out with new amp models every few months. Lets hope they do the same with the Boss. My overall impressions are that the clear sounds and effects in stero are great with the GT 100 but I like the Pod HD for distortions better. The dual screens are cool, I also like the fact that I had played with the 200 presets right out of the box and some come pretty close to some classic rock guitar sounds.Still like the unit. It is different sonically than the POD HD.Well built. Looper is cool and easy to use. Expression pedal has some smooth wah's. Put on some good headphones and some of the stero effects really buzz aroun head.

from Arizona, USA
July 31, 2012Music Background:
Performing musician

Realistic Amp model sounds

I was impresed by how good the amp models sounded. I think that there is a big improvement over the GT 10 amp sounds.

Dave
from Utah
January 20, 2013Music Background:
Hobbyist

Not Perfect

The unit sounds horrible through headphones. I attempted every "output" type there was and I was not impressed at all. It sounds great through the left and right outs though. All other units I've had sound great through the same headphones.

The software editor wasn't developed by Boss, but a third party. Another instance of where Boss/Roland dropped the ball. Kudos to the developer that did as I'm sure they are responsible for many of Boss's sales of this unit.

There is no central patch exchange for the unit. I've owned 6 other MultiEffects units and ALL of them had a central patch exchange put forth by the company that makes them. Boss drops the ball yet again.

Lastly, Boss hard codes effects into your signal chain. While you can move them around, you cannot replace them with other effects. This limits your creativity, but gives most people the flexability they will need.

Despite the shortcomings, the unit sounds pretty darn good through the left and right outs and I do recommend getting it. However if you have to choose between this and the POD HD 500, then go with the POD. Line 6 is a much better company than Boss, and that unit in my opinion is better.

eagleeye
from Redding, CA USA USA USA USA ALL THE WAY!
November 28, 2012Music Background:
Recording engineer, hobbyist guitarist wannabe

Not an improvement over the GT10!!!

This is the "GT10" packaged in a black box with 2 screens. Oh sure Boss SCREWED WITH THE BRAIN and changed it a little. I have no idea why Boss would discontinue the GT10 and introduce this as something better? IT IS NOT! The GT10 has MIDI and FIRMWARE ABILITIES! I hear drop out from the compression on the amp models with the GT100 that is not heard with my GT10! The noise gate does not effect it as it compresses before the gate so sudden note drop is unavoidable! The GT10 has none of this and I like the amp models of the GT10 so not sure why people are jumping on this. The pedal is smoother on my GT10 and adjustable than the GT100. The accel switch is to me a JOKE! Boss should have placed another pedal to have control of effects. The looper is too short and almost useless. So if you have not owned the GT10 this will seem worth the cost. If you own the GT10 KEEP IT and don't waste your money trying to get a better setup.