In Praise of The Boss GE-7 EQ Pedal

[Drew]

A few months ago I asked here about using a volume pedal for boosting volume for solos. I think it was Thump who suggested a Boss GE-7 instead. I used to use a GE-7 many years ago and it was noisier than a gain pedal so I sort of dismissed the idea.

I hooked a volume pedal in my fx loop and it worked perfectly--only problem was that it was a pain trying to dial it back to the right level after the solo (while also switching channels on the amp and switching pickups on the guitar).

So I looked around and came across the CAE/MXR Boost pedal and bought one on-line. In the week I was waiting for that to show up, I went in to a local music store and saw a used Boss GE-7 pedal for a good price. So I bought it--no great loss if it didn't work out.

I hooked the GE-7 up in my amp's effects loop and tried it and it seemed to do exactly what I wanted and was really quiet. Where was the hiss & noise I was used to from this pedal? I put it on my pedal board and tried it at the next gig and now it's been working perfectly for me as a volume boost for solos for the last 2 months.

The CAE/MXR Boost pedal showed up and that works well too but the GE-7 with the EQ sliders to tailor the lead tone a little is perfect for what I wanted. So--thanks to Sgt. Thump.

 

[bill]

I have mine on all the time. I modified it with new caps and resistors etc to make it quiet and more high fi. Ebay kiy for $20 and easy to do. Its a keeper but I don't use it for boost as my Menatone VOS has a clean boost in it.

 

[anomaly]

shoulda bought a Danelectro fish & chips eq. way cheaper and way quieter...

 

[anomaly]

shoulda bought a Danelectro fish & chips eq. way cheaper and way quieter...

I have one of those too and it sounds great. I don't hear it being quieter, though. Not the way I use them, anyway.

really?how do you use it?

i've used it as a boost and in the loop an found it way quieter than the boss eq

 

[Code001]

shoulda bought a Danelectro fish & chips eq. way cheaper and way quieter...

I have one of those too and it sounds great. I don't hear it being quieter, though. Not the way I use them, anyway.

really?how do you use it?

i've used it as a boost and in the loop an found it way quieter than the boss eq

These are the settings I use, and I've found the Dano is quieter than the Boss:

 

[TX6Strings]

I'll second the noise of the GE-7. I had one on my board for a few weeks and just couldn't handle the mess it made. Glad it's working out for the OP though.

 

[Drew]

I'll second the noise of the GE-7. I had one on my board for a few weeks and just couldn't handle the mess it made. Glad it's working out for the OP though.

The key for me having it quiet is having the GE-7 in the fx loop. It is noisy in front of the amp.

 

[TX6Strings]

I'll second the noise of the GE-7. I had one on my board for a few weeks and just couldn't handle the mess it made. Glad it's working out for the OP though.

The key for me having it quiet is having the GE-7 in the fx loop. It is noisy in front of the amp.

Yeah that's what I'm talking about. Even in the loop it's a noisy little bugger. I hear good things about the MXR EQ pedal but since both my amps have multiple channels I have no need for an eq at the moment.

 

[anomaly]

I'll second the noise of the GE-7. I had one on my board for a few weeks and just couldn't handle the mess it made. Glad it's working out for the OP though.

The key for me having it quiet is having the GE-7 in the fx loop. It is noisy in front of the amp.

the Danelectro is quieter in the loop or infront

 

[blackba]

An Eq in the loop is great for solo boosts. I actually have 2 danelectro fish and chips EQs in my rig. One I have in a shallow V for playing heavier tunes (marshall 2553 has plenty of mids). The other I have in a frown and the level slider about 75% of the way up for a solo boost.

I like the fish and chips EQs better than the Boss GE-7 too as long as you baby the fish and chips and don't stomp the heck out of it.

I was looking into a BYOC 10 band EQ that is true bypass, but the sliders have no middle detents and are supposed to feel cheap. It didn't seem to be worth the extra money over the fish and chips EQs.


I have a visual sounds volume pedal and I haven't found it works too well in the loop. The LEDs on it are nice to show where you are. I am thinking of working it back into my rig. the EQ is great for a solo boost, but not so much when you just need a little more volume. I am using my guitar's volume knob now, but I don't like to run it too low as the tone starts to get muddy...

 

[Drew]

Apparently, all GE7s aren't equal!

And maybe all fx loops are not equal. Now, with either of my amps (a Cameron modded Marshall w/ tube buffered fx loop or a VHT Super 30 1x12) the GE-7 adds no noticeable noise to the rigs when run in the fx loop.

The Fish and Chips would have been a cheaper way to initially try the experiment but I've had bad luck with two pedals from that line in the past and I question their ruggedness. But for $30 I guess I could buy a few Fish & Chips and consider them disposable if one goes bad.

 

[70strathead]

I used to use the GE-7 in the loop for volume boost years ago until my ears got more sensitive to "tone shaping", especially single note lines. I prefer the MXR Micro Amp ( the one knobber) for this application ..My EQ is already dialed from the amp, all i need is to boost it, and it does that fabulous with transparency. whatever works for u though!

 

[blackba]

I used to use the GE-7 in the loop for volume boost years ago until my ears got more sensitive to "tone shaping", especially single note lines. I prefer the MXR Micro Amp ( the one knobber) for this application ..My EQ is already dialed from the amp, all i need is to boost it, and it does that fabulous with transparency. whatever works for u though!

Are you using the micro amp in the loop or before the amp?

I tried a BYOC tribooster in the loop in clean boost mode and it was horrible, works great out front if you are not getting your distortion from the amp.

 

[70strathead]

I used to use the GE-7 in the loop for volume boost years ago until my ears got more sensitive to "tone shaping", especially single note lines. I prefer the MXR Micro Amp ( the one knobber) for this application ..My EQ is already dialed from the amp, all i need is to boost it, and it does that fabulous with transparency. whatever works for u though!

Are you using the micro amp in the loop or before the amp?

I tried a BYOC tribooster in the loop in clean boost mode and it was horrible, works great out front if you are not getting your distortion from the amp.

the loop only as a volume boost....it sucks ass as a line effect.

 

[Marshall Law]

I have a made in japan GE-7 EQ w original box, if anyone is interested

 

[Strat+Marshall]

I have a made in japan GE-7 EQ w original box, if anyone is interested

I am, sending you a PM in a second