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Posted by: mhskeide Aug 12 2009, 02:57 PM

Hi guys

I`ve found a used Boss GT-8 which was told to be as good as new. The price inclusive shipping is 250€ / 350$. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me since the price for a new one is almost the double

The idea behind the purchase is to use it in my studio, since it doesn`t look to hard to learn and it`s easier to use live (if I should find/make myself a lovely tone or two) than "computeramps" like Guitar rig and Amplitude.

I already have an amp and effectbox/DI for my bass which I use in Reaper, so if I buy the gt-8, the only thing I need will be EZ drummer or something similar (and of course learn Reaper properly )

Any views on this?

Edit: Can I run the gt-8 directly in a cabinet without an amp head? I think I read in Mitch robert`s welcoming post that he just ran his gt-8 through a mesa cab. for his tone.

Posted by: ZakkWylde Aug 12 2009, 04:01 PM

I am pretty sure that the Boss Gt-8 can NOT run a cab alone but I guess you can use the Gt-8 as a preamp and run it through a poweramp and then into a cab...

I suggest you go to a store and play it for a while to see if you like the sounds and functions and if you like it you can still buy it with an additional power amp!

Posted by: Sensible Jones Aug 12 2009, 04:06 PM

QUOTE (ZakkWylde @ Aug 12 2009, 04:01 PM)

Posted by: mhskeide Aug 12 2009, 06:15 PM

QUOTE (ZakkWylde @ Aug 12 2009, 05:01 PM)

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Aug 12 2009, 10:53 PM

Every amp (guitar, audio, etc..) consist of two main stages: preamp and poweramp.

On the guitar amps, usually (not always tho, names can vary), knobs "gain" or "drive" is volume for preamp, and knobs marked "volume" or "master" is volume for poweramp. With preamp volume you control the saturation levels within preamp, and with poweramp you are practically controlling the amount of amplification that is fed to the speakers.
So simply put poweramp is what would amplify the sound from GT8 to reasonable levels so it can drive the speakers.

What you CAN do is plug the GT8 straight into the mixer on the gig and play like that. Mixer is sort of a bunch of preamp channels stacked together, but in the PA system there is always poweramp that will drive the speakers (wetter it's separated from mixer in racks or intergrated into mixer).

Posted by: David Wallimann Aug 12 2009, 10:55 PM

I've been using the GT8 for a while and love it!
I record most of my GMC lessons with it direct into the soundcard...

Posted by: tonymiro Aug 12 2009, 11:00 PM

The GT8 is a very good multi. I often use mine the same way as David in a studio with stereo outs to active speakers and as Ivan says you can run to the PA for live work.

Posted by: axes Aug 13 2009, 02:07 AM

I use a GT-8 to a solid-state Fender amp when playing at bedroom levels. The GT-8 itself is a good sounding thing, but is very picky about what you plug it into (and it doesn't really like my Fender ). Also, it is very hard to programme, you have to tweak it a lot to start getting nice tones from it. I personally prefer the Line6 way of modeling, though I've never found the GT-8 as fuzzy as a Pod. So it's really personal taste. The GT-8 is a great unit for recording (even if it doesn't have an USB out, what I really miss), I'd never use it live, though

Posted by: Mitch Roberts Aug 13 2009, 07:03 AM

QUOTE (mhskeide @ Aug 12 2009, 08:57 AM)

Hi guys

I`ve found a used Boss GT-8 which was told to be as good as new. The price inclusive shipping is 250€ / 350$. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me since the price for a new one is almost the double

The idea behind the purchase is to use it in my studio, since it doesn`t look to hard to learn and it`s easier to use live (if I should find/make myself a lovely tone or two) than "computeramps" like Guitar rig and Amplitude.

I already have an amp and effectbox/DI for my bass which I use in Reaper, so if I buy the gt-8, the only thing I need will be EZ drummer or something similar (and of course learn Reaper properly )

Any views on this?

Edit: Can I run the gt-8 directly in a cabinet without an amp head? I think I read in Mitch robert`s welcoming post that he just ran his gt-8 through a mesa cab. for his tone.