NEW! Boss GM-800 Synth Pedal ad GK-5 pickup!

[Brak(E)man]

One of biggest drawbacks I can see with the GK5 for pre existing GK3 users is the fact you can only run the GM800 with the GKCDA converter...Why didn't they just have another GK3 13pin out to run another unit 13pin units like the SY1000, VG99 etc? This means more splitter boxes and patch cables - not great.

It's bad enough with the converter/cable, adapter setup in a studio or in rehearsals..
On stage and on tour I'd have to double up on everything.
On stage it's always a hassle to find out where the problem is at.
Which is why I still use GP-10 into a DD-20 or into a Focusrite Itrack dock IPad with flux - DD20.
That's one GK cable 2 or 3 stereo cables , 2-3 adapters.
That's about the limit for me stage wise.

I know I'm complaining but I realize that at some point I have to deal with this imho calamity swap over. Or run my 13 pin units and PUs until they're not possible to repair anymore.
Luckily enough, at this point I'm not really into the GM800 sounds.
And my luthier is almost finished building a new guitar with gk3 internal.

I'll stop my ranting now but I'm still pissed off that they left the normal PU out.
Doesn't seem like a bright future for combined units which has been around since VG88. And I really like to have it all in one box.

[gumtown]

The GK-5 and GM-800 are the first of presumably more to come, so the current choices are to work in with hybrid conversion boxes, or wait for future units to arrive and a better developed GK Serial and jump in boots and all.

The requirement for a converter box for me is Meh... would be nice if there were an option to replace the units (GR/VG) 13 pin input socket for a kitset jack with mini converter to retrofit inside VG/GR the unit.
It is going to be an initial bumpy transition to GK Serial.

[Nobulusprime]

It's early days I know & I really like the TRS approach, probably a lot more stable and better than the 13pin.

I have 4 guitars with GK3 internal pick ups and 3 basses. I can't see an affordable way of converting them over unless they produce an affordable new circuit board that I can just swap out with the old GK3 internal one . I'm also not sure whether we'd loose the S1 and S2, volume control and regular guitar out that the GK3 provides. I like the retrofit idea for the TRS for units.
I'll hang tight for the time being. If the tracking and speed is great I might get one as a studio only device.
It seems for live use if you wanted a regular guitar out you need to run 2 cables from your guitar unless they develop a Fishman TP wireless interface (yet more devices)

It seems like Roland Boss may have shot off a little too early with this device without adequate R&D

[nervoteso]

why should a guitarist buy tgis gm800? i'll keep gr55 and sy1000

[Jim Williams]

I have been fowling this topic for some time now and it seems that Boss has taken a huge leap forward. It seems they want to move toward a more modular setup for guitar rigs. I feel the Roland cloud and the Zen core engine makes this synth more future proof. the lack of a guitar out only improves guitar tone because the out in my GR-55 is just bad. The 2 conversion boxes will assist in working with other gear. They were not built into the pedal to make it modular for the individual's needs. The GK-5 pickup is a better design the only problem is that it is sold separately, probably because not everyone will use it. You may want to use you're GK-3 or maybe even a Fishman TP wireless setup. I am excited to see how the FTP works with it as right now I use a FTP with a Roland XV 5080 loaded with expansion cards. Now with the Zen core engine I can get all the sounds I love in a much smaller footprint. I use a Axe Fx III with a FC 6 for my guitar tones and I will be able to fit my Fisman FC-1 and the GM 800 in the pedalboard case with expression pedals. I don't know how it will all go together but I'm sure it will work just fine. Maybe there will be lots of cables to set up at gigs but I'm sure I will find a solution.

[Elantric]

It's early days I know & I really like the TRS approach, probably a lot more stable and better than the 13pin.

I have 4 guitars with GK3 internal pick ups and 3 basses. I can't see an affordable way of converting them over

Leave all your 13 pin guitars stock.
Use one GKC-AD box to connect to GM-800

Your 13 pin guitars GK VOL, S1, S2 will work on GM-800

[BROCKSTAR]

why should a guitarist buy tgis gm800? i'll keep gr55 and sy1000

Because the PCM stuff is supposedly updated sound wise because of the zen-core engine and having 4 parts and rhythm is more powerful than the GR-55 format.

[Nobulusprime]

Leave all your 13 pin guitars stock.
Use one GKC-AD box to connect to GM-800

Your 13 pin guitars GK VOL, S1, S2 will work on GM-800

That's great re Vol, S1 & S2. I'm glad I've got the GX-2 otherwise that would be another outlay should I get one

[scratch17]

New Alex Hutchins deep dive video covers GM-800 editor, etc.

[chalicerok]

Having had the gm800 since last week, I can tell you the converter box works great! All my guitars have internal gk setups.
The converter enables you to use S1 and S2, synth/guitar switch, volume control and send guitar out. Much better for live perfo than the gk5 with no onboard control.
Plus the converter box is quite small

[BROCKSTAR]

Plus the converter box is quite small

I'm glad to hear that so it doesn't take up much room! My gm-800, gk-5, cables and converter box should be here this week sometime!

[chalicerok]

Correct

Boss is suggesting use a separate Wireless guitar system for your normal guitar pickups and feed a separate guitar processor or guitar pedal board into guitar amp for your normal pickup signal path.

Then you only have to contend with one robust SERIAL GK TRS Cable from GK-5 equipped guitar into the GM-800 for Synth Tones at live shows.

I always use a wireless for guitar signal live anyhow ....less noise than direct synth gtr out connection. Having said that, the synth/guitar selector still works fine. And I have a backup cord plugged into gtr out in case wireless fails. Just plug other end into amp or floorboard according to your gear

[alancarl]

Leave all your 13 pin guitars stock.
Use one GKC-AD box to connect to GM-800

Your 13 pin guitars GK VOL, S1, S2 will work on GM-800

Yeah Steve...right on!!
I'm pretty sure I've been waiting for Roland to make a guitar synth like the GM-800:-) I grabbed the GM-800 and the GKC-AD from two different vendors so hopefully I can try this stuff by the weekend! If it actually does track like say a 2023 GR-33 I don't see why I won't love it:-)
We will see.
Thanks
Al

[KuRi]

I need an upgraded gr-55! New sounds, new guitar processor, and take my money Boss!!! I don't want to use completely separate solutions that I need to sync somehow...

[Bluesbird]

I need an upgraded gr-55! New sounds, new guitar processor, and take my money Boss!!! I don't want to use completely separate solutions that I need to sync somehow...

I like the modular approach. You encounter DSP limitations when you try to put too much in one box. For a device to have everything in one box and the dsp power to run it all smoothly and without glitches, you would encounter a price tag of $4000 dollars. The new serial digital cables will make chaining these modules together a breeze.

[Witelite]

GM-800 Wave Expansions run $19.99 USD each (11 available now)

GM-800 SOUND PACKS run $4.99 USD each (129 available now)

https://www.roland.com/us/promos/zen-core/sounds/

Even if you are a Roland Cloud member you still need to pay for the expansions? And if so, do we know how many (if any) of the EZX expansion sounds are in the GM800?

MM

[Matteo Barducci]

Even if you are a Roland Cloud member you still need to pay for the expansions? And if so, do we know how many (if any) of the EZX expansion sounds are in the GM800?

Yes, only purchased expansions can be imported directly into GM-800, but you can load the ones included into the membership into Zenology and export them into an USB stick into GM-800