The Gear4Music GP120 is a guitar multi-effects pedal that gathers amp, cabinet and stompbox models into a single floor unit with twin footswitches and a built-in expression pedal. MusicRadar's reviewer, Michael Astley-Brown, described its spec as "twin-footswitch'd, expression pedal-equipped", giving players volume and wah control underfoot without extra hardware1.
Effect modules, amps and cabinets
The GP120 carries 11 effect modules containing 11 flavors of dirt, plus eight amp models and eight cabinet types. Beyond the dirt, the unit offers 15 modulations, four delays, four reverbs and even three different types of wah. That count is "not including noise gate, compressor, EQ and volume modules", which sit alongside as utility blocks1.
| Section | Count |
|---|---|
| Effect modules | 11 |
| Dirt models | 11 |
| Amp models | 8 |
| Cabinet types | 8 |
| Modulations | 15 |
| Delays | 4 |
| Reverbs | 4 |
| Wah types | 3 |
The dirt models cover the ground players usually split across separate overdrive, distortion and fuzz pedals, while the modulation count spans territory players normally fill with chorus, phaser or flanger units. The delays and reverbs map to the usual delay and reverb pedal roles, and the wah types to a dedicated wah pedal1.
Among the more unusual options are an octaver whose polyphonic tracking covers upper and lower octaves simultaneously, the kind of effect found on dedicated octave and pitch pedals, and two rhythm-based effects1:
- Chop Slice: a rhythmic tremolo that slices your tone up into preset patterns, in the spirit of a tremolo pedal1
- Auto Riff: an arpeggiator that automatically plays scale notes based on the note you are playing1
Presets and editing
Patches can combine multiple sounds into one patch, which can then be stored as one of the GP120's 48 user presets. MusicRadar's reviewer noted that the factory presets seem to be designed to showcase the unit's most extreme sounds, so players after subtler tones will likely want to program their own1.
Editing is done through a single parameter control knob, and the reviewer found that setting up presets can be fiddly as a result. On the plus side, the LCD screen is highly visible in the reviewer's words: "the LCD screen is dazzling - there's no danger of missing this stomper onstage"1.
Michael Astley-Brown, MusicRadar
That noise is where the built-in noise gate earns its place: pairing it with the dirt models is the obvious fix, and the compressor and EQ modules round out the tone-shaping tools1.
Videos
MADMALKO
Questions
How many presets does the Gear4music GP120 have?
The GP120 has 48 user presets. Each patch can combine multiple sounds or modules into a single setup, which is then stored as one of those 48 slots. MusicRadar's reviewer noted that the factory presets seem designed to showcase the unit's most extreme sounds, so building your own patches is likely where most players will spend their time.
Does the GP120 have a built-in expression pedal?
Yes. The GP120 includes a built-in expression pedal, which MusicRadar's reviewer described as giving expression pedal control of volume and wah. That means you can rock the pedal for volume swells or wah effects without adding a separate external expression pedal to your setup.
Does the GP120 have amp and cabinet models?
It does. The GP120 offers eight amp models and eight cabinet types, alongside its 11 dirt models. MusicRadar's reviewer found the stompbox models reassuringly accurate, if a little noisy on the dirt side, so the amp and cabinet section can stand in for a separate amp in a pinch.
What is Auto Riff on the GP120?
Auto Riff is an arpeggiator on the GP120 that automatically plays scale notes based on the note you are playing. It sits alongside Chop Slice, a rhythmic tremolo that slices your tone into preset patterns, as one of the unit's more unusual effect options.
Does the GP120 have a noise gate?
Yes. Alongside its effect modules, the GP120 includes noise gate, compressor, EQ and volume modules. MusicRadar's reviewer counted these separately from the 11 effect modules, and the noise gate is a useful pairing with the dirt models, which the reviewer described as a little noisy.
Sources (1)
- Gear4music GP120 Guitar Multi FX Pedal review, MusicRadar, 2012-11-24