The thing that I found most addictive in this regard is building my holy grail "Franken- guitar." Since each string is fed into the GR-55 with its own isolated micro pickup (see my GK-KIT review), you can use the modeling tone to tune individual strings to whatever heck note (or sound for that matter) you want. I can't stress how impressive this is - to this day, not one CPU glitch or any sort of lag - and switching between banks and patches is seamless, with fast and reliable string tracking. The processing power of this beast is so vast and stable, that it can run all of this stuff simultaneously, without a glitch, for a sound that has incredible detail and nuance. Finally, this can all be fed into a 20 second phrase looper. The multi- effects can also be used for the modeling and pickup tones if you remap the internal signal flow. By default, the modeling and pickup tones can be fed into a great set of COSM amp models and effects, while the PCM synths have their own multi-effects. And of course, there's the normal pickup tone. A separate COSM modeling tone gives you an arsenal of real and virtual axes at your disposal, including the venerable GR-300 made famous by Pat Metheny. Two completely separate PCM synths can generate anything from convincing pianos to spacey galactic swoops. The sonic flowchart goes something like this: At the top of the chain are three choices for tone. The difference is the GR-55 transcends this with its many parameters and overlapping sound modules that can be micro-adjusted. Like with many multi-effects pedals that give you a bajillion options, most of the presets are caricatures to demonstrate ability rather than nuance. Since I mentioned the look of the outboard pickup, I'll quickly comment that the GR-55 floorboard itself is beautifully minimal in design and exceptionally constructed.Īt first play, scrolling through the sounds, I admit I was underwhelmed and concerned. Of course, there are also a myriad of manufacturers that are making "GK ready" axes which I won't go into here. I much prefer the latter because I'm an aesthetic snob, and I think the outboard version looks obtrusive on a classic axe. To start with the basics, you need a special GK pickup to tap into this magic box - either through the easily and temporarily installed GK-3 outboard version, which you can buy bundled with the GR-55, or a separately sold internal one called the GK-KIT. Yes, the GR-55 is like an addiction, and pretty soon, there may be AA meetings offered for GR-55 users. As soon as you innocently dive into its vast functionality, you'll find yourself late for work, lunch, or that important meeting - or worse yet, for dinner with your loved one who just left you seven voicemails because you couldn't hear through the heavenly noise. This unassuming piece of gear (it only sports a few buttons and five main foot controls), started taking over my life - 15 minutes just to "test out" a new sound design became 2 hours and 15 minutes later. I literally had to hide my Roland GR-55 Guitar Synthesizer under the couch, safe from view.
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