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Pros:
- Extremely simple to adjust
- Reliable
- Durable (obviously, because it is the BOSS)
Cons:
- Can get a bit noisy
- Not very versatile
We all love it when our pedals are steeped with diverse features. I mean, who does not love it when a single unit can do it all? The ability to modify many different parameters is always a perk for us and when searching the market, the versatility is usually our number one priority. However, there are cases when the pedal has to be focused on one single thing in order to deliver maximum results. And that is the case with the majority of EQ stompboxes. They do not offer much rather than allowing you to change the frequency response in your sound. They modify the color of your tone with simple modifications and that’s it. Their job and duty ends there. Though it can easily be considered a con, in real life scenarios one trick ponies are usually amazing ponies that can jump over all the fences. Today we are going to step out of the versatile zone and focus on simpler units. Boss GE-7 is definitely one of those. It has one single job to do and it excels at that quite a bit. If you are looking for something resembling the pedal I just described, then read this article carefully – maybe it helps you find your one true love!
Features
As I have mentioned above, Boss GE-7 is not the most versatile pedal in the world. It does not have any sophisticated features or fancy tools hidden up its sleeve. It is the case where what you see is what you get and for me, there is nothing bad in that. Just like all the stompboxes from Boss, this one is extremely well-built. Its enclosure can easily stand a bullet (we would have to check that claim) and perform the same day. And that is one of the reasons why I love their units. Sometimes, affordable pedals eventually cost you more since they break apart as soon as you mistreat them. You will not have such problems with Boss, for sure. GE-7 is a graphic equalizer which operates using sliders for each frequency. It offers 7 different bands (hence the name) ranging from 100 to 6.4 kHz. This means that it can work with instruments, such as electric guitars, basses, keyboards or mics. That is where versatility comes into play. What is more, this bad boy is designed in classic Boss style. It is configured in light color palette and topped with white sliders and a huge footswitch. Following the patterns of the brand, it can be supplied with a 9V battery or an adapter. It has typical check indicator, which indicates on the lifespan of the battery, as well as shows you if the unit is operating or not. The compartment for the battery is situated just under the footswitch and can be exposed with the thumbscrew. As you can see, sometimes typical approaches can make things way easier for us.
Controls
As mentioned above, Boss GE-7 is a graphic equalizer with sliders. This means that all the controls we have here are in the form of sliders. This will help you see each setting better and understand what is going in our sound without playing guessing games. Though you might already know what I am about to say, I will still tell you what all the controls are capable of.
The layout here starts with 7 different frequency bands. The specific ranges that you can modify are 100, 200, 400, 800, 1.6k, 3.2k, 6.4 kHz. The first three take care of the foundation, while the latter four modify the harmonic content of your sound and allow you to shape the higher frequencies. Each of them enables you to attenuate or boost specific frequencies with ±15dB. The final slider is labelled as Level. It lets you modify the output of the effect and even boost your clean signal. In order to avoid sonic problems, you should take it easy and mess around with sliders with “less is more” approach. This way you will be able to eliminate feedback and other impurities without destroying your sound completely. Lastly, GE-7 has a footswitch that engages or deactivates the pedal with a simple click.
Boss GE7 Sound
When it comes to the sound of Boss GE-7, there are several amazing things that I would like to mention. The overall sonic quality of the pedal is amazing, especially for the price. It treats the frequencies individually and takes care of them with a gentle heart. It can work equally well with subtle and heavier genres, which is wonderful, since even the classic players enjoy some distortion from time to time. GE-7 might develop some noise, but as I mentioned above, it is due to improper application. You should know how to tweak your equalizer for it to sound good. And that is the most important point we all should understand. This stompbox can apply clean boost and push your amp to overdrive, creating amazing sonic outcome. When paired with other effects, it does not get muddy and weird. Rather, it takes dirty signal and eliminates its impurities with ease. On the whole, GE-7 can truly become your bestie in the tone shaping region.
Conclusion
To summarize this article, I would say that Boss GE-7 is a wonderful pedal for those who are on a budget or simply are not willing to spend boutique money on a single unit. No, it is not the most versatile equalizer out there, but it performs decently and does not have any major flaws. This bad boy is compact and powerful, plus it offers all the essentials. Some of you might dislike it, but that is up to your taste and music. After all, every product has its customer and I enjoyed playing with this one. Go on, do your research and come up with your own verdict. Good luck!
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