Boss GX-1

A multi-effects unit with pro-level features on a bedroom budget

- MATT MCCRACKEN

MULTI-EFFECTS PEDALS HAVE come a long way in the last 10 years, and we're just now starting to see the more advanced tech trickling down into the beginner market. Budget multi-effects have typically been a shadow of the full-fledged amp-modeling beasts at the other end of the spectrum, but the new Boss GX-1 proves you can get a hell of a lot for your money these days.

The GX-1 couldn't be further from the plasticky units of yesteryear, and even compared to more modern competition, it trumps the rest with its outstanding build quality. It builds hugely on the previous iteration in the GT-1, adding a full-color LCD screen, metal footswitches with color strips, an onboard looper and the ability to load 3rd-party impulse responses. Versus other offerings like the Zoom G2X and Nu-X MG-400, it confidently faces competition.