Boss GT-100Core

103
APRIL 2021 GUITARIST
review
BOSS GT-1000CORE BOSS GT-1000CORE
BOSS GT-1000CORE
PRICE: £599
ORIGIN: Malaysia
TYPE: Amp and effects modelling
floor/desktop unit
FEATURES: 250 user and 250 preset
patches, 38 second phrase looper
(19 in stereo), 6 in/6 out USB audio
interface, software editor with USB
or Bluetooth connection, mono or
polyphonic tuner, metronome,
IR loading capability
CONTROLS: Output Level, Select,
3x footswitches, 5x soft knobs (1, 2, 3,
4, 5), Select knob, 6x buttons
CONNECTIONS: Standard inputs
(R/Mono, L), Standard outputs
(R/Mono, L/Phones), Standard Sends
1 and 2, Standard Returns 1 and 2,
CTL 2, 3/EXP1, CTL 4, 5/EXP2,
MIDI In, MIDI Out, USB
POWER: Supplied PSB-1U power
adaptor (9V 2A)
DIMENSIONS: 173 (w) x 135 (d) x
65mm (h)
PROS GT-1000 power in a compact
footprint; huge range of effects;
send/returns for external pedal
integration; USB audio interface;
computer-based editing
CONS USB cable not supplied
9
patches with delay/reverb carry over. For
onstage switching, many may prefer to pick
a patch with all the necessary sounds for a
song and operate the unit in Manual mode
where the footswitches can select functions
that are assigned to them in the currently
loaded patch. This allows them all to be
used to switch individual effects in and out:
in conventional pedalboard action, you
may wish for instant access to three effects
– a preferred modulation effect, drive and
delay, perhaps.
Beyond this, though, the unit has a real
flexibility in assigning a host of different
functions to the footswitches with both
toggle and momentary action, letting you
really customise how you use it. Should you
need more switching and control, there are
two inputs that can host more footswitches
and assignable expression pedals. What’s
more, there’s ‘control out’ provision for
switching amp channels and control of (or
control by) other MIDI devices in your rig.
Verdict
With such a great variety of Boss effects, the
GT-1000Core is a shoo-in if you’re looking
to expand the capability of an existing
pedalboard, but also a great starting point to
build a ’board around, making use of those
practical send/return loops. It can function
wonderfully in a standalone capacity, too,
and has that amp/effects/speaker sim in
one box ‘fly rig’ capability, fitting easily into
your guitar case if you’re travelling light. We
did find that time spent dialling in tones and
setting input sensitivity to suit your guitar
really raised the authenticity and feel of the
sounds over the decent factory presets.
Away from gigs it’s there to record either
raw or fully polished guitar sounds, or
always available for plugging in a set of
headphones and getting down to some
practice at home or in the studio. Boss has
taken the guts of the GT-1000 and created
a compact powerhouse that will take care
of many, many needs.
These soft knobs offer instant
adjustment of whatever is displayed
directly above them on the screen
and can select menu options with a
push action. In Memory mode, the
two footswitches move down and up
the patch list, loading them instantly
GIT470.rev_bossGT1000.indd 103 17/02/2021 22:41