Electric guitar

So why another post on the Boss GT Pro when I’ve already written a review?

• Well firstly, after finishing Parisian walkways, it’s hard not to share what is fast becoming my favorite guitar sound yet on the GT pro.
• Seeing as I’ve already recommended it very highly as a guitar effects processor and amp modeler, It’s kind of my duty to make sure I publish a good sound patch when I find one, and anything else that may be helpful
• I need to make some correction on my Boss GT pro review, mostly about the stomp box models, seeing as I’ve at least found some good use for them.
• Someone may find it useful.

Let’s just say it feels like Christmas in July. Finding a new amplifier and stomp box that was already mine but I never knew I had.

All because the boss said “here’s a recording of Parisian walkways. Make it”

After years and years of turning down requests to learn and play Parisian walkways, it finally happened. I had no choice but to make a backing track of Gary Moore’s Parisian Walkways, both with and without the lead guitar.

Gary Moore uses a Gibson Les Paul into a Marshall Guvnor distortion peddle going into a Marshall amp. Unfortunately I don’t have a Gibson Les Paul, a Marshall amplifier or a Guvnor distortion peddle.

Here’s what I used: A Marathone guitar which now has Schaller Hotstuff pickups in, and a Boss GT Pro. The guitar recording was done straight into the PC via USB.

There are 2 things to note here:

1.) The Marshall guvnor simulation on the Boss GT pro sounds nothing like a real Marshall Guv’nor.

2.) Whereas Gary Moore plays Parisian walkways mostly on the neck pickup, I used the bridge pickup because my neck pickup is wired with a permanent coil tap and will never sound the same as a Gibson humbucker.

Here’s a short excerpt from my Parisian Walkways backing track to demonstrate the sound – Parisian walkways Boss GT Pro demo

Admittedly, it doesn’t sound exactly like the original, but the guv’nor simulation added a touch of grit to the sound which I found quite fun to play with, especially on the lower notes.

One of the signs of a good amplifier model, is whether it retains its tonal character when you back off on the guitars volume. This Marshall simulation does that quite well.

I didn’t copy Gary’s ending, I made my own. I cheated a bit by adding the feedbacker effect, which worked out quite well with the volume backed off.

Here’s my Parisian Walkways ending

Here are the settings I used in the order they are in the effects chain:

1. Overdrive: Guvnor (GUV DS). Drive 35, Bottom -22, Tone -50, effect level 100, Direct level 0.
2. Preamp: Channel mode = single, Type MS1959(1), Gain 16, Bass 76, Middle 40, Treble 52, Presence 45, Level 54, Gain switch is High, Solo switch is off, Speaker type is 8×12″, Mic type CND87, Mic distance = On Mic, Mic position = 7, Mic level is 100 and direct level is 0.
3. EQ: Low cut 55 Hz, Low EQ +5db, Lo mid frequency is 0db, High mid frequency 4 kHz, Hi mid Q 1, Hi mid EQ +3db, High EQ 0db, High cut is flat, and EQ level is 0db.
4. Noise suppressor: On, Threshold 50, Release 30, and Detect = input.
5. Digital delay: Type = Pan, Delay time 536ms, Tap time 50%, Feedback 24, High cut 11.0kHz, Effect level 14, Direct level 100.
6. Reverb: Type = Hall 1, Reverb time 2.5 seconds, Pre Delay 0ms, Low cut 165Hz, High cut 4kHz, Density 10, Effect level 39, Direct level 100.

What also works quite nicely is to replace the Guvnor with the Booster pedal. It’s a cleaner sound but also good for classic rock.

Boss GT-Pro Guitar Multi Effects Processor