Boss GX-10 Bass/Guitar Multi FX

[Chienmortbb]

£349 but what is missing?

 

[visog]

A Bluetooth adapter judging by Andertons' site (£44.99). £350 is not a bad price if the parallel signal path goodness can be frequency split...

[visog]

So the Boss video includes some bass playing so I assume there wont be a GX-10b anytime soon.

 

Parallel signal paths on the cards but remains to be seen what you can do within 'Div' and 'Mix'...

 

Looks promising though.

 

[MichaelDean]

I've got the big brother GX-100. Lovely bit of kit. The latest update added more bass amps too. There's a whole section of dedicated bass stuff in the effects, but it's worth trying it all out. We really are well catered for on it. 

 

What do you want to know about the divider/mixer? You can only add one to the signal chain, but it can be configured as A/B or parallel paths, which can also be split by frequency. You can also output the paths to left/right if you want two distinct signal chains. 

 

Unlike Valeton type things, you can add in multiples of the same type of blocks too within the limitations of (I think) 14 blocks. Want parallel compression? Go for it. 4 drives? Yep. 8 plate reverbs? If you must!

[visog]

  On 24/10/2024 at 21:06, MichaelDean said:

What do you want to know about the divider/mixer? You can only add one to the signal chain, but it can be configured as A/B or parallel paths, which can also be split by frequency. You can also output the paths to left/right if you want two distinct signal chains. 

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That's what I wanted to know about Div/Mix thank you. Next question is, 'Does the GX-10 have the same Div/Mix options as its big brother GX-100?'

[MichaelDean]

The manual says it's the same.

I've just realised what another setting on it means too - you can set them to activate with input sensitivity. So, play normally and it'll do one path, go a bit harder and you can activate the other as well.

https://static.roland.com/manuals/gx-10_parameter/en-US/index.html#95900811161280907

[BigRedX]

  On 24/10/2024 at 15:36, Chienmortbb said:

£349 but what is missing?

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No MIDI.

 

External PSU which IME is insufficiently robust for extended gigging use.

[visog]

  On 25/10/2024 at 08:48, MichaelDean said:

The manual says it's the same.

I've just realised what another setting on it means too - you can set them to activate with input sensitivity. So, play normally and it'll do one path, go a bit harder and you can activate the other as well.

https://static.roland.com/manuals/gx-10_parameter/en-US/index.html#95900811161280907

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GAS brewing... will check out the examples for bass.

[stewblack]

  On 24/10/2024 at 15:36, Chienmortbb said:

£349 but what is missing?

 

 

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XLR out?

[uk_lefty]

  On 24/10/2024 at 15:59, visog said:

A Bluetooth adapter judging by Andertons' site (£44.99). £350 is not a bad price if the parallel signal path goodness can be frequency split...

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I bought one of the Bluetooth adapters for my ME90-B and it's unreliable at best. I have sort of given up on it really. After using it to change the LED settings I've not had much further use for it IF I could get it working.

[MichaelDean]

  On 26/10/2024 at 07:09, uk_lefty said:

I bought one of the Bluetooth adapters for my ME90-B and it's unreliable at best. I have sort of given up on it really. After using it to change the LED settings I've not had much further use for it IF I could get it working.

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I've got mine working on my GX-100. It was a big pain at first with the two Bluetooth connections. I had to do it not in the order in the manual to get it to work. I think it was audio and then the midi connection. It's been solid ever since. 

 

It isn't very useful most of the time and I can navigate the menu on the device quicker than the app. Sometimes it's useful to play a band recording through my amp though. 

[tauzero]

  On 26/10/2024 at 07:21, MichaelDean said:

I've got mine working on my GX-100. It was a big pain at first with the two Bluetooth connections. I had to do it not in the order in the manual to get it to work. I think it was audio and then the midi connection. It's been solid ever since. 

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Sounds like the annoyances I had with the Katana Go. Once sorted, it's been fine.

[MrDinsdale]

Very cool. I was always really impressed with their fx and amp sims. I wish they'd get a more regular release cadence, but the most recent bass amps are supposed to be really good.

 

Always annoyed me, and they completely held back any synth blocks from the GT/GX line and kept it all for the SY stuff.
 

Seems like a solid entry for the lower end, although I wish they'd keep up with regular additions and improvements.

[eude]

I wonder how this compares to the ME-90B bar the interface and the guitar flavoured stuff that would be incompatible with bass, some of the time at least?

 

I do genuinely really love the ME-90B, I just wish it was a bit smaller, about the exact same size as this new effort actually...

 

It is great seeing that someone isn't forgetting about us bassists when it comes to this stuff. I know the HX stuff can work really well with bass but it's chock full of stuff we don't need. I wonder if they'll ever create a bass only software version, surely it wouldn't take much?

[eude]

I wonder how this compares to the ME-90B bar the interface and the guitar flavoured stuff that would be incompatible with bass, some of the time at least?

 

I do genuinely really love the ME-90B, I just wish it was a bit smaller, about the exact same size as this new effort actually...

 

It is great seeing that someone isn't forgetting about us bassists when it comes to this stuff. I know the HX stuff can work really well with bass but it's chock full of stuff we don't need. I wonder if they'll ever create a bass only software version, surely it wouldn't take much?

[MichaelDean]

  On 29/10/2024 at 17:43, eude said:

I wonder how this compares to the ME-90B bar the interface and the guitar flavoured stuff that would be incompatible with bass, some of the time at least?

 

I do genuinely really love the ME-90B, I just wish it was a bit smaller, about the exact same size as this new effort actually...

 

It is great seeing that someone isn't forgetting about us bassists when it comes to this stuff. I know the HX stuff can work really well with bass but it's chock full of stuff we don't need. I wonder if they'll ever create a bass only software version, surely it wouldn't take much?

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It's just a faff for them to release a bass specific model though. It would be easier to have a software option that hides the guitar stuff. But, for the drives, I found the guitar stuff sounded better to my ear with a bit of bass boost (which is a default knob) over the bass options.

 

What this seems to be really lacking to me is the synth stuff. It doesn't have any of that, which is a big shame. Otherwise, it's got everything per the ME-90B, plus loads of other options. 

[eude]

  On 29/10/2024 at 19:09, MichaelDean said:

It's just a faff for them to release a bass specific model though. It would be easier to have a software option that hides the guitar stuff. But, for the drives, I found the guitar stuff sounded better to my ear with a bit of bass boost (which is a default knob) over the bass options.

 

What this seems to be really lacking to me is the synth stuff. It doesn't have any of that, which is a big shame. Otherwise, it's got everything per the ME-90B, plus loads of other options. 

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It does look pretty complete, bar the synth as you say. The ME-90B has the edge of you want to make adjustments on the fly, and basically run your multi effects like a pedal board, with benefits, but this new effort still catches my eye, I love the size of it especially.

 

I hear you about it being a faff for manufacturers, and yes a simple "hide guitar stuff" option would be perfect.

Would be nice if they'd give the loyal bassists who use their stuff a bone now and again...

[MichaelDean]

So, all of the available blocks are stored along the top of the effects editor. All of the bass specific stuff is at the end of the menu and there's a break in the line of blocks, so it's obvious where they start. And as you're adding blocks, it doesn't then ping back to the start of the blocks, you can go for more blocks in the same area of the menu. They're nicely contained and are fairly accessible from that point of view. 

[Al Krow]

  On 29/10/2024 at 20:47, MichaelDean said:

So, all of the available blocks are stored along the top of the effects editor. All of the bass specific stuff is at the end of the menu and there's a break in the line of blocks, so it's obvious where they start. And as you're adding blocks, it doesn't then ping back to the start of the blocks, you can go for more blocks in the same area of the menu. They're nicely contained and are fairly accessible from that point of view. 

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Given a choice, would there be much benefit in spending an extra £50 or so and getting a used GT 1000 Core as an alternative?

[MichaelDean]

I've not used a GT-1000 before, so can't really say. I have heard users say that they sound better, but I've got no point of reference. I think there is a limit on the number of the same blocks of certain types you can use on the GT range if that's a consideration. Like you can have X number of reverbs, X number of drives. I do like the touchscreen on the GX too. 

[Al Krow]

Yes the colour touchscreen on the GX is well...a very nice touch!

 

I suspect the "better sound",  if discernable, is going to be down to the higher processing power of the GT 1000, but not sure having 24 vs 14 blocks or 3 (vs 2) path parallel processing will be something we'd miss, although the GT1000 does have midi which could come in handy?

 

I guess "better sound" is probably going to be key as to whether the extra is worth the spend, and if that feeds through into particular fx eg pitch shift, which a lot of multis struggle with.

[BigRedX]

  On 29/10/2024 at 17:15, eude said:

It is great seeing that someone isn't forgetting about us bassists when it comes to this stuff. I know the HX stuff can work really well with bass but it's chock full of stuff we don't need. I wonder if they'll ever create a bass only software version, surely it wouldn't take much?

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Are the HX devices really chock full of stuff you don't need?

 

As I've said before I don't often use any amp or cab models, but when I do it is more likely to be a guitar amp and cab. Just because a device is supposedly aimed at guitarists doesn't automatically mean that it won't sound good with the bass. Remember that a lot of classic bass amps are guitar amps with a different badge on the front and maybe the EQ frequencies shifted down slightly. The main reason that you wouldn't use them in real life is that they can't cope with bass frequencies at gig volumes. That doesn't apply to digital models. Be open minded and try everything. The worst that can happen is that you won't like the sound and then you try something else until you do find something that sounds good for your needs.

 

As someone who also plays guitar and synthesiser I'm glad that the Helix is so versatile so I can have a single device to use with all my instruments and not have to have separate effects units for each one.

[eude]

  On 30/10/2024 at 08:06, BigRedX said:

 

Are the HX devices really chock full of stuff you don't need?

 

As I've said before I don't often use any amp or cab models, but when I do it is more likely to be a guitar amp and cab. Just because a device is supposedly aimed at guitarists doesn't automatically mean that it won't sound good with the bass. Remember that a lot of classic bass amps are guitar amps with a different badge on the front and maybe the EQ frequencies shifted down slightly. The main reason that you wouldn't use them in real life is that they can't cope with bass frequencies at gig volumes. That doesn't apply to digital models. Be open minded and try everything. The worst that can happen is that you won't like the sound and then you try something else until you do find something that sounds good for your needs.

 

As someone who also plays guitar and synthesiser I'm glad that the Helix is so versatile so I can have a single device to use with all my instruments and not have to have separate effects units for each one.

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I am speaking from fairly limited exposure to be fair, but I just hark back to the olden days when folks like Boss, Zoom and Digitech would release bass specific units alongside the Guitar focussed ones.

Your point about it being especially useful when you play other instruments is a good one though.

[BigRedX]

  On 30/10/2024 at 08:31, eude said:

I am speaking from fairly limited exposure to be fair, but I just hark back to the olden days when folks like Boss, Zoom and Digitech would release bass specific units alongside the Guitar focussed ones.

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In the 90s my multi-effects of choice was the Peavey BassFex. Turns out it was exactly the same as the guitar version apart from the name on the front panel and the factory pre-sets.

[eude]

  On 30/10/2024 at 09:23, BigRedX said:

 

In the 90s my multi-effects of choice was the Peavey BassFex. Turns out it was exactly the same as the guitar version apart from the name on the front panel and the factory pre-sets.

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Maybe it was all smoke and mirrors back then after all...