The latest and greatest from Boss is finally here! The eagerly awaited GT10 has finally rolled into the store and it was definitely worth the wait. Boss/Roland have done a great job vamping up the already popular GT8 into a masterpiece of high quality effects. Featuring the new EZ Tone for quick sound creation, a parallel chain feature with 2 separate effects paths, 38 second phrase loop and a new large LCD screen for easy to use operation.

After using the unit for no more than 5 minutes I realized that it was dramatically different in its design, sounds were more advanced and a lot more naturally driven. Aside from the new layout which I might add is a lot more user friendly than the GT8, Boss has added a large blue LCD screen which really comes in handy with visual readouts.

The main feature I noticed about the unit was the new “EZ Tone”. Which basically means as appose to before you have a lot better control over your EQ, Drive and effects. The EZ tone has 4 Steps:

Step One:Gear setup. It has a selection of what type of pickup and what amp your currently using. This helps players with choosing an ideal setup sound for their rig.

Step Two: Tone setup. Unlike the GT8 this has a whole host of different music sounds to choose from. From Jazz/Blues to Rock and metal the GT10 gives you every different type of music and options within that so the user can make sure that if they want 80’s metal to pop punk they’ve got it!

Step Three: Drive parameter change. This is where this unit really comes out on its own. It has a setting for your drive with Soft, Solo, Backing and Hard options. You move your curser along the tone grid which slowly changes your overall sound until you find the exact spot you prefer. So if your wanting a full on solo/hard sound you move your curser towards those parameters or on the flipside back the other way to the soft/backing section.

Step Four FX parameter change. This setting is basically the same principal as the drive setting but acts to your effect sound. So if your on a delay you have Short,Wet,Dry,Long and you move your curser to the desired location/sound.

However if you’re the type of person that still wants some quick analogue changes for live etc, on top of all this you still have an analogue edit on the front panel that does quick gain and EQ changes at the twist of a knob.

The GT10 also has a new 38 second phrase looper. The phrase loop can now be placed before or after the effects chain. In the Post position the FX path can be manipulated and recorded as part of the loop. Used in the Pre position you can capture the raw incoming performance allowing you to experiment with a variety of FX during playback.

Some of the other smaller more useful things in the GT10 are the Preamp presets and System access button. On the front panel there is a preamp switch that you can cue in on top of a patch. It then comes up on your screen with quite a few different simulation options including: Vox, Tweed, Tri-amp, Rectifier and Marshall plexi sounds. The System access button is something that I thought I would mention purely because I was loving the fact that a multi effects unit finally had a single button and a toggle option to choose what type of setting you want to use at that very second. So if you want to use the looper but are struggling with holding down 2 pedals together and doing a hand stand while drinking a glass of water, the system button gives you quick and easy access point to it.

All in all I think the GT10 has been a great little release for Boss and definitely is a good sign of technology to come. I could spend a lot more time talking about the various other features, sample sounds and volume of different patch sounds to choose from but I’ll save all that fun for everyone else! Look forward to seeing you in the store.

Review by Ross Hatton of Mega Music
Images by Roland