Best Boss GT-8 Setup

I hope you dont mind me emailing you. I found your details from your review on Harmony Central and I noticed you had all good things to say about the GT-8. I’m after some advice and was hoping you would be able to help.

I’ve recently bought the GT-8 but I was just wondering what the best set up is? I’ve read several different options on the GT-8 sounds but all seem to be different and no one really seems to mention the initial set up.

I was just wondering what is the best way to set this baby up? I’m a little confused at which leads go where from the GT-8 to amp and what volumes you are suppose to have the patch output at and master out put at. There seems to be several different ways to do this but I’m not sure which one is best.

From what I can gather everyone seems to love this processor so I just want to make sure I’m setting everything up correctly to ensure I make the most of this.

Also, if you have any advice on tones or where I can copy tone settings from that would be great.

Any help would be much appreciated.

To be honest, there is no single solution for GT-8. My approach has been to set up the device incrementally. First, you should be happy with the clean sound coming out of your amp without GT-8. After ensuring that, create an empty patch on GT-8 where nothing is turned on. Then, try to make simple settings; you know, add some reverb, put a little gain, etc. After basic settings are OK, you can go into the details; such as wah, compressor, or fancy effects. Don’t try to get it all at once. Be patient, and only after making sure that more basic settings sound OK, go further discovering advanced options.

About output levels… Well, I usually prefer to keep patch outputs at the same level if I’m switching between 3-4 patches at the stage. But another option is the “Manual” mode where you have only one single patch; you use pedals to turn effects (like gain, chorus, etc) on or off. This option worked better for me on live situations because it felt like having 5-6 stompboxes at the same time. In the manual mode, patch output is even less important, you can just keep it around 75% I think. Master output level will vary on your amp or PA system. In my gigs, I usually kept it somewhere between 50% – 75%.

I hope that you won’t be disappointed about what I’m going to say, but I don’t have any patches to share because I sold the device a couple of months ago and bought an amp instead =) It’s not that GT-8 is a bad device or anything. The reason is; I usually play Blues / funk / R&B / Soul on the guitar. Therefore, I needed the tube-like sounds – and after testing some real tube amps, they felt better than GT-8 personally. Another reason is; I was playing in a crowded band (about 8 people) and I had a hard time hearing myself through the PA monitors. A real amp also works as a personal monitor. If you have a less crowded band or BOTH an amp & GT-8 thats a different story of course. I found it hard to carry the guitar & amp & GT-8 togeher every week 😉

I hope I could help. Best regards..

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