Boss GT-1B ... Arrogant? Stupid? Definitely unusable live.

[The Deep End]

If you like the sounds I would return it within the grace period and get the boss MS-3 if you want a boss multi. It's seems to be much easier to use and probably has identical algorithms as I'm pretty sure it uses the same effects engine. plus you get the bonus of being able to use dedicated pedals for some sounds because it has three loops that can be used to control dedicated pedals.

Sounds cool. Will check it out

 

[ashtray]

I find the smaller multi effects units are either good for home use, or good for live use if only using 1 or 2 patches or just a couple features. If you need anything slightly more advanced for live performance, you need to upgrade to a larger more expensive model.

The GT-6B was pretty great at the time. A bit of a learning curve, but if you took the time (endless hours... I could spend 2 hours dialing in a single patch that worked well at live volumes - and I'd create a second similar patch for home use), you could set it up to integrate it with your rig and have everything where and how you want it for a gig.

I moved away from multi effects units when their tones just didn't match what was in my head. A small pedalboard works for my needs - and sometimes, depending on the amp, not even that is required.

 

[Chicory Blue]

Wonder if the distance between footswitch's is wider on GT-1B? Regardless, it seems to have a very narrow definition of "simultaneous pressing" . This is the failing that really ticks me off, but the inability to quickly call up specific patches is a deal killer on it's own. Until I find a multi-pedal that allows you to setup a "playlist" (i.e. sequence of patches) and allows a single button (on phone or pedal) selection of next/previous patch, I'll stick with multiple pedals.

Most Zooms'll do it, and a few other sorts too. I use B1on for it- single button next/previous operation is how it rolls.

--^@

 

[andruca]

I abandoned Boss 13 years ago after owning the GT6B which, altho' having great connectivity options, didn't sound as good, hissed a lot and got me definitely fed up with the modules approach. I briefly went back to the ME8B (kept it, best synths/env. filters I own) and have been a Zoom user eversince. Also embraced the "just give me pedal emulations to chain" approach lately. I prefer Zooms over Line6s too, after unsuccessfuly and repeatedly trying to record with a rackmount bass POD and having a friend's floor bass unit borrowed for some time. If Zoom came out with a B3n + some missing addons (IMO exp. pedal, DI out and the memory card fed looper/sampler/recorder the 708II had -I still keep one of these-) I'd be set to it for life.

 

[BigBasserino]

Pre-ordered this pedal from Sweetwater, and waited impatiently for delivery. In a nutshell, love the delivered sounds and potential for creating new ones, but am shocked at how unusable it is in a live setting. As far as I can tell, you have to scroll thru 100-200 patches one-at-a-time via dial or up/down pedals. Even worse, there is no stomp button for using / bypassing the pedal. You must ALWAYS have a patch selected. This wreaks of arrogance and/or stupidity on Boss's part. It's going back to Sweetwater.

It seems to me that guitar/bass pedal technology is 10 years behind that for keyboards. Using any modern DAW (I use Logic / MainStage), a keyboardist can queue up presets for 100's of instrument/effect settings and switch from one patch to the next via touch pad, foot pedal, etc. Why do guitarists/bassists have to perform a combination Riverdance-juggling routine to make the same thing happen?

Whoever comes up with a midi-controlled standard that controls our dozens of effects and amp settings will be in for a huge pay day. Is it already out there and I've just missed it?

Have to agree. ....the guitar/bass world has stopped growing. Mostly because to guitarists the gain channel trumps the need for the occasional effect and as far as bass.....well we love our clean tones. I think bands kind of just take what they're given compared to DJs/digital composers. I know I felt like a one trick pony when I started doing digital composition (ironically near that ten year span you're talking about). I think eventually midi pickups will need to be integrated into instruments to grow. Just me.

 

[TheLowDown33]

If you have the patience and time, try to snag an Eventide H9. You can get the base model for about 300, and buy only the algorithms you need at $20 a piece. Other than that, I would purchase dedicated boxes for things I use often. Set up a mini board and reap the benefits of both worlds.

 

[The Deep End]

Have to agree. ....the guitar/bass world has stopped growing. Mostly because to guitarists the gain channel trumps the need for the occasional effect and as far as bass.....well we love our clean tones. I think bands kind of just take what they're given compared to DJs/digital composers. I know I felt like a one trick pony when I started doing digital composition (ironically near that ten year span you're talking about). I think eventually midi pickups will need to be integrated into instruments to grow. Just me.

YES!

 

[jimfist]

Have to agree. ....the guitar/bass world has stopped growing. Mostly because to guitarists the gain channel trumps the need for the occasional effect and as far as bass.....well we love our clean tones. I think bands kind of just take what they're given compared to DJs/digital composers. I know I felt like a one trick pony when I started doing digital composition (ironically near that ten year span you're talking about). I think eventually midi pickups will need to be integrated into instruments to grow. Just me.

speaking of which, this bass is on my wish list, paired with some sort of Boss/Roland synth:

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[Xandrell]

Boss has stopped in time... The times that their Gt6-b was THE GEAR...
Their pedals also the same "digital sound"....

I think the SY-300 is pretty much a step forward and I don't think it exhibits the limitations being mentioned here other than the cost.

 

[tfer]

Have to agree. ....the guitar/bass world has stopped growing. Mostly because to guitarists the gain channel trumps the need for the occasional effect and as far as bass.....well we love our clean tones. I think bands kind of just take what they're given compared to DJs/digital composers. I know I felt like a one trick pony when I started doing digital composition (ironically near that ten year span you're talking about). I think eventually midi pickups will need to be integrated into instruments to grow. Just me.

I've found myself seriously considering getting an inexpensive Ibanez 6er (500 series) and getting a midi pickup installed.

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And plugging it into this:

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If only the pickup assembly wasn't so bulky.

 

[The Deep End]

If you have the patience and time, try to snag an Eventide H9. You can get the base model for about 300, and buy only the algorithms you need at $20 a piece. Other than that, I would purchase dedicated boxes for things I use often. Set up a mini board and reap the benefits of both worlds.

Of all the tech I hear about on TB, Eventide is one that defies categorization. Just when I think I know what they're about (delay, reverb), I hear something that blows it up.

 

[The Deep End]

speaking of which, this bass is on my wish list, paired with some sort of Boss/Roland synth:

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Would love to take one of these for a spin.

 

[jimfist]

Would love to take one of these for a spin.

I really think Roland/Boss ought to try to take guitar-bass integration with synth sounds to the next level, featuring ultra-low latency and spot on triggering (especially for bass). All this stuff they're doing now is just nibbling around the edges of a well-saturated effects market. If they came out with a MUST HAVE bass/synth system that was seamless, easily portable, and came loaded stock with flexible, incredible sounds, I'd be first in line. I'm remembering when Roland introduced the D-50 synth, Yamaha with the DX7 and SPX-90, and Korg with the M1 workstation. These were iconic, ground-breaking pieces of gear that set the music industry on FIRE. We haven't seen anything like that for a long time, let alone a bass-specific breakthrough.

 

[The Deep End]

I really think Roland/Boss ought to try to take guitar-bass integration with synth sounds to the next level, featuring ultra-low latency and spot on triggering (especially for bass). All this stuff they're doing now is just nibbling around the edges of a well-saturated effects market. If they came out with a MUST HAVE bass/synth system that was seamless, easily portable, and came loaded stock with flexible, incredible sounds, I'd be first in line. I'm remembering when Roland introduced the D-50 synth, Yamaha with the DX7 and SPX-90, and Korg with the M1 workstation. These were iconic, ground-breaking pieces of gear that set the music industry on FIRE. We haven't seen anything like that for a long time, let alone a bass-specific breakthrough.

Maybe it will be the successful digitization of guitar/bass. As processors get yet more robust and algorithms better, is matter of time. Classic analog bass will always hold its special place in our hearts but you gotta be excited for the possibilities. You don't hear many keyboardists lamenting the sacrilege of synths.

 

[TheLowDown33]

Of all the tech I hear about on TB, Eventide is one that defies categorization. Just when I think I know what they're about (delay, reverb), I hear something that blows it up.

Oh the delays and reverbs are amazing, but there's so much else. The pitch shifting stuff is great, the modulation is great and the functionality is even better. Super intuitive and the learning curve is minimal. You could have two of them on a pt nano with your dirt of choice and be set forever.

 

[gumtown]

I really think Roland/Boss ought to try to take guitar-bass integration with synth sounds to the next level, featuring ultra-low latency and spot on triggering (especially for bass). All this stuff they're doing now is just nibbling around the edges of a well-saturated effects market. If they came out with a MUST HAVE bass/synth system that was seamless, easily portable, and came loaded stock with flexible, incredible sounds, I'd be first in line. I'm remembering when Roland introduced the D-50 synth, Yamaha with the DX7 and SPX-90, and Korg with the M1 workstation. These were iconic, ground-breaking pieces of gear that set the music industry on FIRE. We haven't seen anything like that for a long time, let alone a bass-specific breakthrough.

Have you tried the SY-300?, glitch free and latency free synth, and does not require a GK hex pickup, just a regular bass input for polyphonic synth.

 

[gumtown]

I've found myself seriously considering getting an inexpensive Ibanez 6er (500 series) and getting a midi pickup installed.

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And plugging it into this:

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If only the pickup assembly wasn't so bulky.

I use a Fender V with the GK-3B pickup installed and the Roland GR-55 (also have SY-300 too),
also have 4 other basses and 2 guitars with GK pickups, some with the internal kits fitted.

 

[ChubbyJerk]

This thread seems to be picking on Boss specifically for things that are industry standard for cheap multis.

Looking at modeling multis, they aren't intended to be used like normal effect pedals. It's not like a distortion pedal - you want it off until you need the effect. It's like an entire chain, including your amp and cabinet - always on, with the individual pieces inside sometimes on sometimes off. Every modeling multi from the B3 to the Helix is designed to be used like that.

There are limitations on how many of what type you can put in the chain, but you can change the order of the effects.

I like the gt-1b. To each their own.

 

[moles]

The 1B manual is simple and short. No mention of midi integration. The software controller is due out in Sept. Maybe a lot more will be included. To date I've read of it being for creation of patches, not live control. We'll see.

Yeah, I looked into it after posting....Nothing in the manual re: midi.

I'm using Mobile Sheets Pro on Android on stage. I sure their is either a version of another app on iStuff that does the same. It's got a LOT of functionality in it that I'm just barely getting in to.

 

[Jazz Ad]

If you want control over effect chains, good modeling and MIDI functions you need to step up and get a V-Bass module.
The GT1B is a simple entry level multi. Zoom is indeed way ahead in this range.
How can in 2017 a company dare offer a bypass that doesn't sound totally transparent?