Don't Shoot Me: GT8 v. XTL

[emperor_black]

The GT-8 is dead quite. It has a fantastic noise gate. The one you used wasn't set up correctly.

I owned an XTL and a GT-8 at the same time. The GT-8 is much better in every respect with one exception... computer editing. The XTL has a great editing software package.

+1

In 3 weeks, I went from a POD 2.0, to a POD XT to a GT-8 and the GT-8 beats the others hands-down. It just sounds so much more natural. I cant believe that this is a solid-state device. now my 5150 sits in a box awaiting its turn to be sold. The line6 devices do sound like ss. But I must agree that there is ONE good tone setting for each model. :ROTF:

I've had 1 week's experience with all three so, you cannot say I was biased. in the line 6 devices, you start with a crappy sound, you tweak, tweak and finally you have a good sound. IN the gt-8, you start with a GOOD sound, tweak, tweak to get a GREAT sound. I swore never to sell my 5150 but the 5150 modulation on the gt-8 is so accurate, I dont mind selling the 5150 now. ...and you dont need to buy an addional $50 Model pack to get the 5150's sound.

Whenever I read a post about vetta, they say, 'oh you can have two amps at once'. unless I'm missing something, the gt-8 can do that too! And on the line6 products, the tone sounds good at low volumes. When I increase the vol, its crap. But on the gt-8 its not the case.

And about editing on the computer, GT-8 has a editor too. You dont even need to install it. Its an exe, you just run when you feel like editing. yeah, you got to buy a USB/MIDI cable. Too bad you sold yours to me. ...and I thank you for that. For line6, I had to install a bunch of crap which ultimately slowed down my machine. If you want to record using the gt-8, you might need to buy a USB interface which costs like $30 which is what I am trying to do. Dimitri, get the GT-8 you won't be sorry!

Fine print: I've never tried the XTL, just the above mentioned line6 devices. :ROTF:

[TheSteveMan]

emperor_black -- what USB interface are you referring to to record for 30 bucks?
I've been browsing around, seeing what I could find that would allow recording with the SPDIF (digital) output as that should be the cleanest way to do it...
There are a small selection of soundcards that have SPDIF in but I don't know that any of them will work on Linux... so I'm kinda thinking my only option at the moment would be an M-Audio USB box for a couple hundred.

[emperor_black]

From the GT8 forums, I have been suggested to get this device by behringer. it seems it serves the needs of recording from a GT-8 pretty well. but they seem to be using line out (headphones) from the GT-8 for recording with this device and they say it turns out pretty good.

http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-BEH-UCA202.html#

They have this thread going which says recording with the line out is actually better than SPDIF. Dont know how much its true, i have not read much of it.

http://bossgtcentral.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13601&highlight=SPDIF+recording

[TheSteveMan]

Ah, OK. I actually don't even have a soundcard at all anyway, so I'm looking at getting one with a coax SPDIF input on it, but I could just get an ok one and use the line-in on that.. would be cheaper.

[jgcable]

The GT-8 sounds fantastic live through any type of tube power amp or the effects return of a tube guitar amp.

Its so close to the real thing that its very difficult to tell the difference live.
Certainly sounds more organic and "real" when compared to my Vetta.
I just prefer the overall Vetta and longboard package.

I would have no problem doing any gig.. anywhere with my GT-8.

[S-man]

The gt8 is definately a quality piece. I forgot to say that between the xtl and the boss gt8, the gt8 seems more professional and gig worthy overall.

[sevser]

The XTL is plenty rugged...I kick the crap out of it all the time. Gig, practice and home use...Through my power amp, PA and my PC...Easy tweaking and when you switch it to match what you are using it with, it adjust very well.

[jgcable]

The XTL is plenty rugged...I kick the crap out of it all the time. Gig, practice and home use...Through my power amp, PA and my PC...Easy tweaking and when you switch it to match what you are using it with, it adjust very well.

I thought the XTL was rugged too. If if only had 2 amps at once, the ability to switch a guitar amp and an acoustic simulator.. I would have probably kept it.

The other thing I didn't like about it was that I found it difficult to program on the fly when not hooked up to Line 6 Edit.

[S-man]

So how do you like the squeeky pedal on the XTL?...a common problem.

I have one so I'm just cuttin on my own stuff.

[jgcable]

So how do you like the squeeky pedal on the XTL?...a common problem.

I have one so I'm just cuttin on my own stuff.

I really didn't care for the entire layout of the XTL. Especially the pedal.

The GT-8 has a much better layout.

[TheSteveMan]

I went ahead and took the dive on the GT-8 today.. played with it a while in the store, and on second visit it sounded a bit better, even a lot of the factory presets are quite usable. I'll be playing with this a bit for the next few weeks to try to get a handle on the finer points of editing patches, there is a lot to learn for sure.

This is a hell of a machine though. It could be daunting, or hard to understand for some, but there's a whole lot that this thing can do. It just seemed more attractive than the XTL even for 50 bucks more.

[S-man]

I really didn't care for the entire layout of the XTL. Especially the pedal.

The GT-8 has a much better layout.

I agree.

[Robert Burns]

Thanks for the input, Robert!
As I said, I was highly impressed with the effects and some of the features and depth of the GT-8, and I really love that wave synth! So damn cool
What I've gathered from reading around is that this unit has the gusto, but requires a lot more tweaking than the Line 6 gear.
Some of the preset sounds made me cringe, but for some reason I'm still leaning toward this one anyhow, knowing that with a little work, I can hopefully make it a nice general-use machine...

**************
My problem with the Line 6 was more old tired eyesight!
That tiny LED screen is just too small. I also like how easy
the BOSS is to scroll around on. Since i have the G20 Roland
Synth..(BTW you think you like that wave preset? Try having
about 30 of them for $550!) The G20 with the new G3 Pickup
is great! I dont have 20 years to learn the piano...now i play
great acoustic piano...banjo... Sax!... Orchestra sounds are
heavenly too!

[redmanjj]

I tested both the XTL and the GT-8 before I bought the GT-8. I had no pre-conceived ideas as I was a big fan of both Boss pedals and the Line 6 Pod 2.0 which I owned before I went this route.

I run the GT-8 into a Marshall EL84 20/20 amp into a 2x12 cabinet. I only play at home, but at varying volume levels.

The GT-8 just worked for me. I kind of wanted the XTL to be the one because I was so familiar with the Line6 gear and what descriptions were which sounds, but the GT-8 just sounded better to me. I would say that it was less "synthetic" sounding than the XTL.

The GT-8 is probably a little too flexible for me, but I have found some sounds I really like. I always a wanted a fat punchy sound with my Line 6 stuff, but it was way easier to achieve with my current setup.

I have gone from a complete rack setup to the GT and I am very happy with its utility.

[Genebaby]

I've been using my XTL with my band for over a year now and it's been going great. With all this GT8 talk I am thinking of selling my 2120 which I just don't use and getting a GT8 as well. With both, I'll play around and see which one I want to use at gigs and which can stay home in the studio.

My preference would be to get a GT Pro, but once again, to go rack it costs a heck of a lot more and then you still need a foot controller. Not fair, I'd love to replace the 2120 with a rack modeler, but if I sell the Digitech it will have to be the GT8.