Roland GR-55S Black

My first effects pedal was a Boss PS-2 Digital Pitch Shifter Delay pedal which I bought in 1987. I also owned a Boss SE50 & SE70 effects units during the 1990's. I loved the range of effects that these units produced but now that I own a Roland-GR55 my playing and sound has been transported to a whole new level way beyond anything I could have possibly imagined!
I am blown away by the seemingly endless variety of effects, models, instruments and combinations that are now at my finger (and toe) tips. It's like a whole new dimension of sound has been revealed to me, I'm in Tech Heaven!
I also purchased a Godin XTSA guitar which is the perfect match for this amazing piece of technology. The sound is immaculate, the response is instant & my adventure into a new world of sound scaping and experimentation has just begun. For me this is the perfect unit for my style of playing and my appetite for experimentation. The unit is extremely well built, strong, a good size for accessibility, easy to navigate and understand, an excellent overall design and has everything I've ever wanted all in one unit. I can't recommend it highly enough!

The truth is I only use about 10 of the patches provided by the pedal - mostly guitar related ones. Very often use them in parallel with my JVM so that the traditional electric guitar sounds are combined with what comes from GR 55. I find it very useful as a simple way to more sound diversity in the arrangements. But the main thing is - naturally - the classic GR300 sound (and similar flavours). In jazz this fantastic sound (somewhere between trumpet / violin and distorted guitar) is practically "owned" by Pat Metheny and using it is a bit like playing "Stairway to Heaven" in a guitar shop or industry showcase. Serious offence. But it seems like dropping it here and there in alt rock arrangements can actually be appreciated by listeners in this postmodern world. And even if you do not have the guts (or are too decent ;-) to try it, this sound will absolutely suck you into long improvisations when you are rehearsing alone or jamming with your band ... Irresistible force :-)