Boss GT-1000

I have owned a number of digital effect boards in the past (Vox's, the G-System, Firehawk HD, Helix). We could talk about connectivity and related matters: Boss' app can only be used on portrait mode on a tablet or phone for some reason, and it's not as easy or intuitive as the one for the Firehawk / Helix. The Desktop software for the GT1000 is fairly decent and a very nice extra. Not perfect either. We could argue back and forth about which one sounds more "organic", which one is more "plasticky". Certainly the Helix might have an edge in that department, although personally that advantage is not as big as to make it the key aspect to prefer the Helix.

So my contribution to the conversation comes in form of the flexibility of sound manipulation. This is something very important to me, and hopefully it's something a few other users might want to know about. This is in fact, the decisive factor on my decision of purchasing this unit, as someone who enjoys sound design, rather than the purity of classic tones. The GT1000 inherits the innovations of the Boss MS3 in terms of signal routing / signal chain. This is a huge deal, because the different in sound is tremendous just by switching the routing. The same simple arrangement of a delay + pitch shifter + reverb can produce a dramatically different sound when you send the signal to the shifter first, whilst you process in parallel towards the delay and reverb, or ANY combination thereby.

This is what makes the GT1000 unique.

I would love it if the footswitches were as big as the G_System.
I would love it if they didn't feel so close together (maybe it's just a legacy of used the G-System for too long).

However, If sound design/innovation is your focus, there's no parallel to the GT1000.

If you are planning to use this pedal without an amp, this review is not for you.

i use a Victory amp so i wanted to keep the original sound. If you are using an amp with this pedal, i found the best way to do so was the 4 cable method. It makes a HUGE difference. It has everything you need.

Everyone is different, after connecting the pedal using the 4CM, i totally cleared the patch....and started from scratch. I found it easier to get the sound i wanted from clearing the patch.

I did find it difficult to connect with laptop using the USB cable, i ended up using an iPad. In fact, i didn't succeed with the laptop at all. The app on the iPad is very easy to use, once you have looked at some good you tube videos.

Sound wise, its easily the best pedal i have ever used in 30 years playing. every effect you will ever need is in this pedal.

If you are in Ireland or UK, i would suggest buying a 3 pin plug, as it only comes with the bulky adapter. (i took one from an old sky box....kids not happy, but thats ok).