Boss GT-1000 (and possibly other things Boss...)

[Sascha Franck]

Ok, I might be too daft, but, in case anyone knows: Is there *any* way to switch banks when you don't have any of the switches or the encoders assigned to bank switching?

 

[afonsom98]

Ok, I might be too daft, but, in case anyone knows: Is there *any* way to switch banks when you don't have any of the switches or the encoders assigned to bank switching?

I use a midi controller

 

[ian_dissonance]

Ok, I might be too daft, but, in case anyone knows: Is there *any* way to switch banks when you don't have any of the switches or the encoders assigned to bank switching?

Doesn’t seem like it. I just clicked through everything real quick and didn’t see any way to do it.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Doesn’t seem like it. I just clicked through everything real quick and didn’t see any way to do it.

Me neither (and I actually looked more than once). But thanks for confirming.
Thing is, on my new small board, which will feature a GT-1000 Core, I will need each and every switching option for some banks (of 3 patches each). On the big guy, I can allow myself to have one patch with a bank up/down switch in manual mode, but as switch options are severely limited on the Core, that might become a kind of an issue - especially as it also has no BT, so using the mobile app isn't possible, either.

So, what to do in case I went to a gig and forgot to load the proper bank before? Yuck.

No, not really - it's actually not that bad, assigning one of the encoders to scroll through patches and then assign it back to the function I want is a pretty quick affair. But there should be a permanently available option allowing me to quickly scroll through patches and banks.

 

[ian_dissonance]

Me neither (and I actually looked more than once). But thanks for confirming.
Thing is, on my new small board, which will feature a GT-1000 Core, I will need each and every switching option for some banks (of 3 patches each). On the big guy, I can allow myself to have one patch with a bank up/down switch in manual mode, but as switch options are severely limited on the Core, that might become a kind of an issue - especially as it also has no BT, so using the mobile app isn't possible, either.

So, what to do in case I went to a gig and forgot to load the proper bank before? Yuck.

No, not really - it's actually not that bad, assigning one of the encoders to scroll through patches and then assign it back to the function I want is a pretty quick affair. But there should be a permanently available option allowing me to quickly scroll through patches and banks.

That was going to be my suggestion, just sacrifice a knob assignment.

 

[Sascha Franck]

That was going to be my suggestion, just sacrifice a knob assignment.

Well, I'll only do it temporarily anyway. Not going to permanently sacrifice a knob for that on the Core, which has one knob less than the big one.

 

[Sascha Franck]

And fwiw, it's quite weird: From almost selling the big one (or at least seriously considering it), I went to buying a Core as well.
But both of my boards will now live in the same ecosystem: GT-1000 as the brain, Tonex One in a loop for the amp sounds. Not a bad thing as the workflow will be very similar.

 

[ian_dissonance]

I just wanted to say that I’ve been pulling some very satisfying tones out of the GT-1000 (and the GX-100) and I don’t miss Helix at all these days.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I just wanted to say that I’ve been pulling some very satisfying tones out of the GT-1000 (and the GX-100) and I don’t miss Helix at all these days.

I was afraid you'd be saying something that silly.

Nah, seriously, if I was into anything heavier, I might be content with the GT amps. But unfortunately I need some kinda classic sounds (I'm not exactly much into "vintage", though), in the first place a Fender-alike clean (Super Reverb, Princeton, Bassman would all be fine) and a Marshall-Plexi-ish dirt sound. Both of which the GT is pretty bad at delivering. In fact, I still think the GT-10 did the Marshall tones better (should really make a meaningful comparison one day). Let alone the dreaded IR situation. Or the dreaded cab situation in general.
Anyhow, as said, for heavier stuff there's some interesting tones to be had - I just can't use them (at least not as my main players).
But my upcoming setups are going to be killer anyway, so I'm a happy camper for the time being (the Core will hopefully arrive this week).

 

[ian_dissonance]

I was afraid you'd be saying something that silly.

Nah, seriously, if I was into anything heavier, I might be content with the GT amps. But unfortunately I need some kinda classic sounds (I'm not exactly much into "vintage", though), in the first place a Fender-alike clean (Super Reverb, Princeton, Bassman would all be fine) and a Marshall-Plexi-ish dirt sound. Both of which the GT is pretty bad at delivering. In fact, I still think the GT-10 did the Marshall tones better (should really make a meaningful comparison one day). Let alone the dreaded IR situation. Or the dreaded cab situation in general.
Anyhow, as said, for heavier stuff there's some interesting tones to be had - I just can't use them (at least not as my main players).
But my upcoming setups are going to be killer anyway, so I'm a happy camper for the time being (the Core will hopefully arrive this week).

Yeah, for the full gain metal stuff it’s pretty great honestly. I’m also the exact opposite of a “classic” tone chaser so the peculiarities of the X-amps especially is a welcome respite from “warts and all” modeling. I don’t really touch anything passed the x-amps unless I’m just dicking around. The boutique does the dirty clean/edge crunch thing for me just fine.

 

[Jarick]

I just wanted to say that I’ve been pulling some very satisfying tones out of the GT-1000 (and the GX-100) and I don’t miss Helix at all these days.

Which amp models are you liking? Stock cabs or IR's?

 

[ian_dissonance]

Which amp models are you liking? Stock cabs or IR's?

I use the X-Optima, no boost for loud and live tones in one band. Juggernaut with the clean boost and little bass cut for another. All stock cabs. I can get what I need from the original cans with either one of the mixes or the 421 and adjust mic placement for brightness. Having a lot of fun with the X-Ultra and X-Modded for recording, too. I’ve been having better luck with IRs if I start with the IR. Just switching between stock cabs and IRs is a shock, though. iRs tend be much brighter because of how they “AIRD” them. Seems to be a generic SIC applied to the IR on import.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Still rocking the X-Mod Original cab on everything crew, checking in

I am awaiting them implementing NAM profiles in 2040 and having the same problem they do with IRs where it ruins them upon import

 

[Jarick]

Still rocking the X-Mod Original cab on everything crew, checking in

I am awaiting them implementing NAM profiles in 2040 and having the same problem they do with IRs where it ruins them upon import

And then taking years to admit the problem and fix it on one device but not others?

I really dig Boss stuff. I'm hoping they do something really cool on the next gen. It's like the weird kid way out on the spectrum who sometimes seems insane and sometimes seems genious.

 

[JiveTurkey]

And then taking years to admit the problem and fix it on one device but not others?

I really dig Boss stuff. I'm hoping they do something really cool on the next gen. It's like the weird kid way out on the spectrum who sometimes seems insane and sometimes seems genious.

I'll always give their new stuff a try and I'll always find something on them that I like and could easily use. I will also always find something that drives me nuts but that isn't really any sort of surprise

 

[ChordInversion]

I like Roland/BOSS gear in general. I don't think there's any point in explaining why, as someone will come along and argue with me about what I like - the essential and deeply bizarre nature of gear forums. Anyway, I have a ton of Roland/BOSS stuff, and it makes me happy. Other people can't stand it. That's their call.

On interesting thing about BOSS is that for some reason, I don't care whether they update it or not. Something about how my brain frames them is at work there, I'm sure. But I don't want an updated Blues Cube series or an updated DS-1X, so why (my internal voice asks) would I want an updated GT-1000CORE or IR-200? I get the logical problem with that, but that doesn't change how i feel about it.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I am awaiting them implementing NAM profiles in 2040 and having the same problem they do with IRs where it ruins them upon import

Being a bit optimistic here, aren't we?

 

[Sascha Franck]

Fwiw, have been saying this before already, but I notice this more and more: Say whatever you want, but Boss hardware is made to work and last. Obviously once you get it to work the way you want - but once that hurdle is taken, things are rock solid.
The way the switches and encoders feel and act, the way the jacks take plugs (firm and tight, even after plugging in/out hundreds of time), all that seems to be almost military grade. And I defenitely have a huge sweet spot for reliable hardware.

 

[Jarick]

I like Roland/BOSS gear in general. I don't think there's any point in explaining why, as someone will come along and argue with me about what I like - the essential and deeply bizarre nature of gear forums. Anyway, I have a ton of Roland/BOSS stuff, and it makes me happy. Other people can't stand it. That's their call.

On interesting thing about BOSS is that for some reason, I don't care whether they update it or not. Something about how my brain frames them is at work there, I'm sure. But I don't want an updated Blues Cube series or an updated DS-1X, so why (my internal voice asks) would I want an updated GT-1000CORE or IR-200? I get the logical problem with that, but that doesn't change how i feel about it.

I think if you have a device that has a firmware which can be updated, and the software could be improved for better performance or expanded function, it's nice to get updates. I don't really see the Blues Cube or DS-1X as being held back by software so likely no need for updates. The digital amp pedals though? You could always get more amp models or more effects or things like that.

I actually kind of liked the GT-1000 UI at times, they had a dated screen and no joystick to navigate, but they figured out how to simplify the UI to compensate. Navigation was done with a rotary knob but they made it extremely fast and simple to navigate around with that limited interaction. They stripped down the parameters to make it faster to set up. Other devices like the ME-90, it's tons of knobs that you can quickly adjust. Not the most flexible but it's really simple and easy.

That's where I'd be curious to see the next step. The GX series seemed clunky, one step forward one step back. For the next GT, do they double down on touchscreen and figure out a way to integrate that with their old school knobs? Or do they stay awkward? Either way I hope they completely overhaul the computer and mobile editors...

 

[ian_dissonance]

Fwiw, have been saying this before already, but I notice this more and more: Say whatever you want, but Boss hardware is made to work and last. Obviously once you get it to work the way you want - but once that hurdle is taken, things are rock solid.
The way the switches and encoders feel and act, the way the jacks take plugs (firm and tight, even after plugging in/out hundreds of time), all that seems to be almost military grade. And I defenitely have a huge sweet spot for reliable hardware.

I think part of my liking it so much is the size/feel of the hardware. It’s not a boat anchor but it feels like it would handle some light self-defense work if needed.

Either way I hope they completely overhaul the computer and mobile editors...

Definitely yes on this. Am I just stupid or can you not use the editor in landscape? It’s pretty handy for some things (setting up assigns on the fly) but why the fuck wouldn’t you let the editor on mobile mirror the editor on PC/hardware. And there are some weird hardware inconsistencies between GT and GX. On the GT the master full open is “unity” on the GX you can actually turn it up loud enough to distort the output, unity is halfway. Seems the GT is a hardware volume and the GX is in the software? Maybe. Odd choices. And it took 3 messages to get Boss to even understand what I wanted to know.