The seller took 4 days to ship after payment cleared, so I was initially worried something was up. Finally it was marked as shipped, but the seller didn’t provide any tracking info. That was also annoying. Then I got an email from UPS directly that I had a package coming. And then UPS ended up showing a shipping exception due to a late truck. Two days later than expected, it arrived and the outer box was beat to death and looked like an accordion. Fortunately, the inner box and the effect unit itself was in perfect condition.
I spent some time on YouTube watching various videos on how to use the it and found one particular channel that has some fantastic videos on how to use it, setup patches, assign buttons etc... so much better than the instructions in the manual. This thing has a million options and feature and it all a bit overwhelming.
My goal was to primarily use it dial in my sound and then be able to assign a few effects. There’s really only one free button the toggle effects by default, but the other buttons can be assigned and changed from the normal up/down patch cycling. Also, it supports adding an external pedal to add additional buttons.
After tinkering with the unit for a few days, I decided I was happy with the sounds I was able to get out of it and ordered the FS-7 two button external foot switch for added flexibility. I paid almost as much for the FS-7 as I did for the GT-1 but I’m happy with it.
I spent some time dialing a few patches that will work well the songs I normally play and some more time learning about using it and setting up the Tone Studio software. I know this thing has been out for a few years now and there are newer units out, but for just under $200 I have in the unit and the FS-7, I don’t see how this thing isn’t more popular. I can do everything my individual pedal board can do and then some for less than one or two of my other pedals.
I’m hoping now that I’ve got a few patches dialed in that I can spend more time playing and less time tinkering. When I play through my regular pedalboard, I play some songs on certain setting and then reconfigure a few things to dial in the sounds. For a while, I have felt like I spend more time fiddling with settings and knobs than playing. Now I can select my patch and then toggle the effects on/off and then select the next customized patch for the next set.
TD;DR: Impressive, affordable, and great sounding effects unit for a bedroom hack like myself.
