The TC Electronic G-System is a high-end multi-effects processor from TC Electronic that can be used as a floor-based multi-effects pedalboard or as a rack-mounted processor1. On That Pedal Show, the presenters described it as "a two thousand dollar multi-effects processor" and "a pretty expensive like high-end multi effect product"2. What sets it apart from a plain multi-effects unit is that it is also a rig controller: it has four true-bypass audio loops for your own pedals, amp channel switching jacks, MIDI, and DC outlets to power the pedals in those loops13.
What it is and what it does
The G-System is built around a steel chassis with an aluminum front panel, and the foot controller weighs over seventeen pounds and is twenty inches wide, with buttons approximately one inch in diameter1. The surface carries eighteen oversized buttons, and the top six double as rotary encoders for editing1.
Its effect blocks cover most of what a player would want on a board1:
| Block | Effects |
|---|---|
| Filter | Resonance filters, Wah (traditional, Touch, Auto), Formants1 |
| Compressor | Compressor1 |
| Modulation | Chorus, Flanger, Vibrato, Phaser, Tremolo, Panner, Univibe1 |
| Pitch | Pitch Shifter, Octaver, Whammy, Detune1 |
| Delay | Single, Tape, Reverse, Lo Fi, Ping Pong, Dynamic, Dual, Modulated, Doubler1 |
| Reverb | Spring, Hall, Room, Plate1 |
| Utility | Parametric EQ, Noise Gate, Boost1 |
The routing is flexible. TC Electronic provides preset routing options of Serial, Semi Parallel, Parallel, and Serial 2 for the chain of effects1. Output can be mono or stereo, and there is an S/PDIF digital output but no digital input1.
Pedal loops, presets and control
The G-System has four true-bypass audio loops. You can plug any pedals you like into the loops, and three of those loops can be switched immediately from the foot controller1. KHE Audio Electronics' support documentation describes the same workflow from the amp-switching side: "Use the G-System's Pedal Loops to switch pedals in front of the amps"3.
Preset selection works in banks. A pair of Up/Down buttons on the left side selects a sound bank, and the bottom row's buttons 1 through 5 select specific presets within the bank1. Above those five buttons are On/Off buttons for the commonly used effect blocks: Modulation, Pitch, Delay, Reverb, and Boost1. The G-System contains a Factory bank of 100 presets as well as two User banks that hold 100 sounds each of your own creation1.
Two expression pedals from virtually any manufacturer can be assigned, with auto-calibration, and there are four live pedal connection points: two on the rear of the GFX01 and two under the foot controller, which mirror each other1.
Power and connections
For a four-cable-method setup, the relevant jacks are the Guitar Input, INSERT SEND, INSERT RETURN, and OUTPUT L3. KHE's documentation explains the signal flow: "Connect the G-System's INSERT SEND to the KHE GUITAR INPUT jack. This sends the guitar signal after stompbox section" to the amp switcher3. MIDI can also remotely control external presets during patch changes via program change messages3.
There are two 1/4-inch stereo jack switch connectors that can be used for channel selection on many guitar amplifiers, and the switching jacks share a common ground1.
The four rear DC outlets each provide 9 V, but the maximum is 200 mA combined across all four1. That budget rules out powering multiple digital pedals from the G-System; plan a separate supply for anything hungry.
The G-System Limited
The G-System Limited is a variant that differs from the standard model in two ways: it features a redesigned analog circuit for the signal path, and it comes with one of the User banks loaded up with 100 additional presets1. MusicPlayers.com's reviewer found the redesigned circuit delivers a noticeable improvement in some rig setups, writing: "With the new circuit found in the G-System Limited, though, we have no reservations about using the four-cable method"1.
What reviewers said
MusicPlayers.com's Scott Kahn was emphatic about the sound, calling the G-System, in either version, "one of the best sounding pieces of guitar equipment that has ever been available to guitarists," saying it sounds fantastic and rivals, and in many ways bests, the classic G-Force sound1.
Not everything written about the maker has been positive. An independent review at ovnilab.com took a dimmer view of the company overall, stating that "their construction quality is hit-or miss and their customer suppport is TERRIBLE"5. That review also noted that T-Rex licensed some of their circuit designs to TC Electronic several years ago, so TC made some pedals that are almost the same as some T-Rex pedals5.
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Questions
How many presets does the TC Electronic G-System hold?
It contains a Factory bank of 100 presets plus two User banks that each hold 100 of your own sounds, for 300 preset slots in total. The G-System Limited ships with one of the User banks preloaded with 100 additional presets.
Can the G-System power other pedals?
Yes. There are four DC outlets on the rear of the unit, each providing 9 V power, with a maximum of 200 mA combined across all four. That is enough for a few standard analog pedals but not for high-current digital units.
Does the G-System work with the four-cable method?
Yes. The Guitar Input, INSERT SEND, INSERT RETURN and OUTPUT L jacks form the connections used in a four-cable-method setup, placing effects both in front of the amp and in its effects loop. Reviewers found the Limited's redesigned analog circuit made this setup feel and respond noticeably better.
Can the G-System switch amp channels?
Yes. It has two 1/4-inch stereo jack switch connectors that can be used for channel selection on many guitar amplifiers. The switching jacks share a common ground, which matters for amps that need isolated switching.
How much does the TC Electronic G-System weigh?
The foot controller weighs over seventeen pounds and is twenty inches wide, with buttons approximately one inch in diameter. It is a substantial, road-ready unit built on a steel chassis with an aluminum front panel.
What is the latest G-System firmware?
Software revision 4.02 was the current version as reported in January 2010.
Sources (5)
- TC Electronic G-System and G-System Limited, MusicPlayers.com, 2010-01-10
- That Pedal Show, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2017-07-28
- KHE + TC G-System 4CM, KHE Audio Electronics
- TC Electronic launches Flashback X4, MusicRadar, 2012-09-21
- TC Electronic Vintage Comp, ovnilab.com
