Boss GX-10 Bass/Guitar Multi FX

[Chienmortbb]

On 25/10/2024 at 18:41, stewblack said:

XLR out?

You know me so well!

[SumOne]

'what is missing?'

 

The main thing I missed on the GX-100 was the Helix type footswitches that have the dull and bright lights. Once I'd changed presets it wasn't obvious enough to me what each footswitch will engage before pressing it, due to that limitation I only needed it to be a Stomp sized unit as I generally scrolled through presets rather than using it like a 'russian roulette' pedalboard.....but hey presto, the GX 10 appears! So although the lighting footswitches are still missing, I don't see that as such an issue as it is a size where you are resigned to mostly using the footswitches to scroll presets.

 

The GX-100 sounded good, I assume the GX-10 sounds exactly the same. It is a shame it is missing the Boss SY synth effects, and I might be wrong but I don't remember being impressed with the envelope filter.

 

XLR isn't an issue for me as I have £10 passive DI boxes (subzero) that also have pad and ground lift and prevent potential damage from phantom power. And I don't even really use them - I always go into an Amp/Cab live which has a XLR out that runs to the mixing desk for the in-ears. So even if it had XLR I don't think I'd really use it.

 

It would be nice if it had the Bluetooth without needing to pay another £40, I suppose it keeps costs down though.

 

And yeah, more sturdy power supply would be better, but the 9v barrel is pretty much standard for all but the biggest and most expensive units so I suppose is to be expected and does mean it is potentially easier to integrate into a bigger pedalboard.  A cable retainer should be on these things though. I have gaffer taped 90 degree barrel connectors to multi fx before to add some security.

 

It looks good though, it's on my shopping list.

 

 

 

 

Edited Friday at 10:29 by SumOne

[SumOne]

 I was never much one for any restraint so I have ordered a GX-10, but now I really need to set myself a pedal abstinence target for the rest of the year!

 

 I'm happy with the 'what is missing' things I listed previously, can't have it all and I can live with those limitations for the price.

 

The issue will be that I'll probably nit-pick and think 'X effect isn't as good as X analogue pedal' so need to get into the mindset that it isn't all about being the absolute best at doing everything or exactly replicating an analogue pedal.

 

At a minimum, I'm fairly confident it'll do a decent job as a tuner, EQ, compressor,  boost,  (if it doesn't do those things well enough then it'll be swiftly returned for a refund), it is a similar size/price to having a TU-3, BB-1X, BC-1X for those utility type things so with that expectation it is hopefully a winner. 

 

Also, one very specific thing I want to do is a dub reggae effect where you use an expression pedal to gradually increase reverb as the EQ also changes (low bass is reduced and mid-highs are boosted), this is tricky/expensive with individual pedals but I think the GX-10 can do it and it is pretty much this or the Pod Go for that functionality with a built-in expression pedal in this sort of budget.

 

 

Edited Friday at 16:20 by SumOne

[SumOne]

I'm liking the GX-10.

 

Sounds good, solid build, nice size, the big colour touchscreen is great for editing.

 

The expression pedal does some great stuff, it is much more useful than having two extra footswitches in that space (heel down = tuner/mute, toe press = engage a different effect e.g. switch from volume to wah, and can assign multiple effects and parameters and settings for where they get engaged in the sweep)

 

 

For approx. the size and cost of three or four Boss utility compact pedals it does do the same things (TU-3, BC-1X, BB-1X, GEB-7) and more. So even before considering the other features it's a winner in my book.

 

My only slight beef is that it feels like more thought could've gone into how to squeeze more from fewer controls than the GX-100. E.g. the 'up' and 'down' footswitches pressed together seems to only be assignable as 'tuner' (or, confusingly 'up' or 'down'). That seems a waste of a valuable options with limited footswitches - the expression pedal heel down already does tuner (and I have a separate tuner, pictured for scale) so it could be better used as something else. Likewise, 'long press' footswitches do nothing - which feels like a missed opportunity.

[Al Krow]

1 minute ago, SumOne said:

I'm liking the GX-10.

 

Sounds good, solid build, nice size, the big colour touchscreen is great for editing.

 

The expression pedal does some great stuff, it is much more useful than having two extra footswitches in that space (heel down = tuner/mute, toe press = engage a different effect e.g. switch from volume to wah, and can assign multiple effects and parameters and settings for where they get engaged in the sweep)

 

 

For approx. the size and cost of three or four Boss utility compact pedals it does do the same things (TU-3, BC-1X, BB-1X, GEB-7) and more. So even before considering the other features it's a winner in my book.

 

My only slight beef is that it feels like more thought could've gone into how to squeeze more from fewer controls than the GX-100. E.g. the 'up' and 'down' footswitches pressed together seems to only be assignable as 'tuner' (or, confusingly 'up' or 'down'). That seems a waste of a valuable options with limited footswitches - the expression pedal heel down already does tuner (and I have a separate tuner, pictured for scale) so it could be better used as something else. Likewise, 'long press' footswitches do nothing - which feels like a missed opportunity.

 

Ooh that looks good! The screen, in particular, looks a nice step up from the one on my GT1000 Core! 

[SumOne]

14 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

 

Ooh that looks good! The screen, in particular, looks a nice step up from the one on my GT1000 Core! 

The touchscreen and features on expression pedal are great. 

 

I can notice a slight delay in the pitch shifter that I don't remember the Core having, so possibly doing a direct comparison the Core would sound better for a few things. But at least just from memory, I can't notice much difference in sounds (fewer blocks and routing options though).

Edited yesterday at 11:11 by SumOne

[Al Krow]

1 hour ago, SumOne said:

The touchscreen and features on expression pedal are great. 

 

I can notice a slight delay in the pitch shifter that I don't remember the Core having, so possibly doing a direct comparison the Core would sound better for a few things. But at least just from memory, I can't notice much difference in sounds (fewer blocks and routing options though).

 

Ah interesting. I've always thought of pitch shift as being a really good test of capability for any multifx - most really struggle with it! I'm guessing the DSP / chipset are going to be a step up on the 1000 vs the 100/10, which may account for the difference?

[SumOne]

2 hours ago, Al Krow said:

 

Ah interesting. I've always thought of pitch shift as being a really good test of capability for any multifx - most really struggle with it! I'm guessing the DSP / chipset are going to be a step up on the 1000 vs the 100/10, which may account for the difference?

Yeah, I'm not sure if the superior brain of the 1000 is just used for the increased amount of blocks and split paths available and sample rate, or if it also makes a difference to things like pitch shift latency - I don't think Boss advertise as that, but I'd kind of hope that more processing power is also used for stuff like that.

[deerhunter113]

Has anybody tried the GX-10/GX-100 against a zoom b6? The HX stomp is outside my price range, so I’m trying to decide between those two. 
 

Currently leaning towards the GX-10 just because it is smaller and can do parallel signal processing. (Also the chassis not being made out of plastic is a big plus)

[SumOne]

17 hours ago, deerhunter113 said:

Has anybody tried the GX-10/GX-100 against a zoom b6? The HX stomp is outside my price range, so I’m trying to decide between those two. 
 

Currently leaning towards the GX-10 just because it is smaller and can do parallel signal processing. (Also the chassis not being made out of plastic is a big plus)

 

I've not used the B6, but had been considering it vs the GX-10 and I've owned a few Boss and Zoom Multi-FX pedals.  Personally, I chose the GX-10 because of:

• Boss build quality/reliability. I haven't had issues with Zoom things but Boss stuff feels more sturdy/reliable to me.
• Boss sound/effects: I might be wrong, but I think the GX-10  has the BB-1X and BC-1X software within it - both were on my shopping list, the BC-1X has almost universally good reviews, whereas I've not been much of a fan of Zoom compressors and I find compressors to be a key thing for Bass.
• GX-10 seems more powerful for effects chains/routing: 15x effect blocks vs B6 6x effect blocks. GX-10 can have a parallel effect signal path, B6 can not.
• Size: GX-10 is small enough to fit in my gigbag, or could potentially be added to a bigger pedalboard.
• Expression pedal: GX-10 isn't just a normal expression pedal: Heel down = tuner, toe press = switch to engage effects, can program quite complex things like adjusting parameters past a certain sweep of the pedal. 

 

The B6 wins out of some things though, the main ones seem to be more in/Outs & more footswitches. And although they are approx. the same price new, there are now second hand B6's available (one for £200 on here).

[MichaelDean]

2 minutes ago, SumOne said:

 

I've not used the B6, but had been considering it vs the GX-10 and I've owned a few Boss and Zoom Multi-FX pedals.  Personally, I chose the GX-10 because of:

• Boss build quality/reliability. I haven't had issues with Zoom things but Boss stuff feels more sturdy/reliable to me.
• Boss sound/effects: I might be wrong, but I think the GX-10  has the BB-1X and BC-1X software within it - both were on my shopping list, the BC-1X has almost universally good reviews, whereas I've not been much of a fan of Zoom compressors and I find compressors to be a key thing for Bass.
• GX-10 seems more powerful for effects chains/routing: 15x effect blocks vs B6 6x effect blocks. GX-10 can have a parallel effect signal path, B6 can not.
• Size: GX-10 is small enough to fit in my gigbag, or could potentially be added to a bigger pedalboard.
• Expression pedal: GX-10 isn't just a normal expression pedal: Heel down = tuner, toe press = switch to engage effects, can program quite complex things like adjusting parameters past a certain sweep of the pedal. 

 

The B6 wins out of some things though, the main ones seem to be more in/Outs & more footswitches. And although they are approx. the same price new, there are now second hand B6's available (one for £200 on here).

You can do all of the same expression pedal bits on the GX-100 too. I've been using the heel down tuner for ages.

My top tip for the tuner in that setting is to have the tuner on thru mode. You're putting the volume down with the heel down anyway so it's allready muting. Then it doesn't just do a hard cut of your volume at a certain point and any reverbs or delays will still finish their various noises.