GCX/Ground Control vs Boss ES vs Line 6 floor multi

[some dude]

I can pick up a used GCX/Ground Control locally for a pretty good price, but I’m weighing my options.

My amp has midi built in.

My needs are pretty straight forward. I want to be able to run basic effects in front of the amp (wah, vibe, phase, chorus, maybe some other stuff if I get bored), and I want delay in the loop. I’d like scenes to quickly switch between 4 basic sounds with some IA to pop effects in and out.

I like the idea of pedals. I like being able to grab knobs and turn them without shifting through presets. I like that if I don’t like an effect I can replace it with something I do like.

I also like the idea of carrying a single floorboard multi-effect that does everything and doesn’t need a rack or a tonne of outboard gear. But, if it’s going to force me to run all my modulation in the amp’s effects loop I’m not interested.

A Boss ES on a pedalboard seems like it might be the best of both worlds... but it might also be the worst of both worlds. I’ve never used one so I don’t know what I don’t know.

Thoughts?

 

[GOHOINC]

I had both (GCP and ES-8) and currently use a combination of boss (ms-3) and voodoo lab switchers (control switcher and commaner) to control my rig. It all depends what you are doing and need access to to determine if you go rack or on the floor. Neither are difficult to program although the Boss might be slightly more difficult than the GCP when it comes to the MIDI part. I dont think you'd go wrong with either.

Outside the ES, the other option is the boss MS-3, that way you can do the midi switching stuff but have loads of built in effects and your favorite 3 pedals in the loops and maybe a wah in front?

 

[mrhiwatt]

I tried a Boss ES-8 with my Mesa JP2C. The midi worked fine etc using patches was great. Patch would use the effects Iwanted and change amp channel. The problem was it created a major ground loop that I could never get rid off causing me to sell the unit and go back to being a tap dancer. If you research ES-8 and ES-5 and MS-3 you will find tons of information about complaints of ground loops and failing to be able to eliminate them. I have not tried the other devices you mentioned. You could purchase the Es-8 from somewhere with a return policy. The midi and effects switching worked very well. IT was just I couldn't solve the ground loop. Humx, EB hum eliminator were tried. Also tried grounding the case of the es-8 that did not help either.

Good Luck

 

[some dude]

I had both (GCP and ES-8) and currently use a combination of boss (ms-3) and voodoo lab switchers (control switcher and commaner) to control my rig. It all depends what you are doing and need access to to determine if you go rack or on the floor. Neither are difficult to program although the Boss might be slightly more difficult than the GCP when it comes to the MIDI part. I dont think you'd go wrong with either.

Outside the ES, the other option is the boss MS-3, that way you can do the midi switching stuff but have loads of built in effects and your favorite 3 pedals in the loops and maybe a wah in front?

Regardless of which route I choose I’ll likely want to use a dedicated/analogue wah and overdrive pedal.

Does the ES have tap tempo?

If I go this route I would only use the ES in front with a separate delay in the loop, and I’d need the ability to send tempo from the ES to the delay.

 

[some dude]

I tried a Boss ES-8 with my Mesa JP2C. The midi worked fine etc using patches was great. Patch would use the effects Iwanted and change amp channel. The problem was it created a major ground loop that I could never get rid off causing me to sell the unit and go back to being a tap dancer. If you research ES-8 and ES-5 and MS-3 you will find tons of information about complaints of ground loops and failing to be able to eliminate them. I have not tried the other devices you mentioned. You could purchase the Es-8 from somewhere with a return policy. The midi and effects switching worked very well. IT was just I couldn't solve the ground loop. Humx, EB hum eliminator were tried. Also tried grounding the case of the es-8 that did not help either.

Good Luck

Do the ES cause ground loops if only used into the front end of the amp?

I’m looking at using a separate delay in the loop and won’t be running any cables from the loop to the ES.

 

[mrhiwatt]

Mine Caused hum when i used it in front of amp only also. Every rig and environment is different so you might not get a ground loop. the ES is designed to use your amps loop. YOu make patches IE od phaser into front of amp delay in the loop using channel 1 of amp. the next patch could be od only into front no loop channel 2. its very versatile . I could of had a bad es or maybe Mesa doesn't play nice with ES etc. Try to buy somewhere with return policy. ALso can try reading the ES-8 forum on facebook etc


Mwal

 

[GOHOINC]

I never experienced any hum using the ES-8 or now using an MS-3. I only run them in front of my amps though. My H9 max runs on its own in the effects loop of my JJ and and in front of a Buxom Betty combo using the second input and output. In a multi amp rig, the key for keeping out hum for me has always been 2 fold, finding delay that are true stereo (meaning independent channels) many pedals with stereo ins and outs still have a mono signal path at some point in the mix, this will cause hum. The second piece is keeping a splitter with a ground lift handy just in case I go some place that hums...

 

[some dude]

I went for the GCX/Ground Control.

Price was the deciding factor... used unit with no signs it had ever been rackmounted and only two patches programmed into it, and at a price I’m unlikely to loose money on should I sell it.

The other options will still be there should this not work out, but deals like this don’t come up every day and I probably wouldn’t consider the GCX/GC at full retail.