customer reviews
65 People rated this product :
7 out of 10
14 People wrote reviews
10 out of 10
"Perfection!"
Feature:
What can I say? It has everything you could ever need and has expandable controls.
Quality:
I have played about 50 gigs with GR3 and a Macbook and I have had absolutely zero issues with reliability. The hardware is durable and the software has yet to crash. I'm sure that running it on a Mac helps. I would not recommend using a Windows PC for a live application.
Value:
Compared to actually owning the gear that GR3 emulates, the value is ridiculously great. Compared to any other modeling system, the value still holds up due to its vastly superior quality.
Desirability:
I needed it, and I bought it. I wanted it so bad that I bought a brand new Macbook for the sole purpose of operating it. I don't even have any other apps installed!
Sound:
Honestly, I don't know why people complain about the distortion on this program. With a little tweaking, I have been able to achieve some amazingly convincing distortion sounds, especially from the JCM 800 and Citrus models. I use GR3 live and in the studio and it destroys anything else I have ever used!
Ease of Use:
Because I have computer and sound engineering experience, I find GR3 extremely straight forward and simple to learn/operate. I can, however, understand if some less experienced people find its wealth of features a little overwhelming.
Support:
As most people familiar with Native Instruments tech support know, they(NI) are not the most helpful people. They seem to assume that the user should already know whatever they are asking about. If we did, why would we be asking? Thankfully, the product works well and so far has not required any support from NI.
Overall:
Before using GR3, I toured with various live bands as a keyboard player. I used a Macbook with Reason 3.0 as a live sampler so gigging with a laptop was not a new thing for me. Now, as a guitar player, I have found the answer to all my prayers. I play in a house band and I need an extremely wide array of tones. GR3 provides me with every tone I could ever need. Plugged straight into the house PA, it sounds much better than my Dual Rectifier miked through the same system. I can match the tones straight from the albums of the songs we play and live it sounds just like the recording. Amazing!!!
Submitted: 5/2/2008
Style of Music: All
6 out of 10
"Great for compu-literate guitar-geeks who like to tweak more than play. Pros will undoubtedly choose more robust, reliable, simp"
Feature:
Features get high marks because of the numerous creative ways to use the multiple effects, and the fairly intuitive interface. "Assignable pedal functions" is a very cool idea. Just the list of effects is impressive. However, be sure you have a FAST dedicated computer (a MAC) with LOADS of memory,(at least 1 Gig, NOT the meager minimum 512Mb suggested,) otherwise, this CPU-hog will crash and burn. All the features in the world are worthless if it makes your computer choke and puke to death.
Quality:
Foot controller seems solid, as do metal inputs and outputs. (not plastic like on Roland's junk) I haven't taken one apart to look inside. From general experience though, it appears well-built. Can't speak for the software. I do know it eats memory and CPU power like Oprah eats ice cream.
Value:
If you judged only by the number of models and effects, it would be a great value at $500. However, you absolutely MUST have a BadDazz computer, with plenty of RAM and high speed CPU to run this thing. So that adds another (minimum)thousand dollars, thereby greatly reducing the "value" rating for such a product. And if you end up hating it? It is software. You cannot return it like normal gear. You're screwed.
Desirability:
The NI website does a great job of "selling" this product. If you believe everything they say, it is a SEXY MF. If you are experienced, wise and a bit skeptical, then the sex-appeal factor diminishes rapidly. I based my rating on the cost of a comparable system from other manufacturers and the number of gigs it would take to pay for it. So long as it works, it is a great tool. How well it works depends on your technical knowledge, the quality of your computer and memory management.
Sound:
Actually, the tonal quality, complexity and even the "feel" is quite natural. The problem with reviewing modeled sounds has to do with the playback system they are heard through. Through good loud monitors, like Mackie SRM 450's, (in stereo of course,) the sounds are VERY convincing. Through cheap monitors, it sounds like an imitation of a recording of famous amps and effects. Still, it is MUCH better than a POD or any of that crap.
Ease of Use:
For stock presets, user interface is easy. Learning to "tweak" takes some time, a bit of reading and a ton of experimentation. That is to be expected with any software-based product. It still sounds twice as good as any POD junk and is ten times easier to use than POD, Roland GT, Digitech, you name it. That still doesn't make it reliable or truly easy like a good ol' analog amp and some pedals.
Support:
Called for help. No response in several attempts. Then when I finally got a response, it was less than courteous and NOT helpful. The attitude was, "Our company is GOD and if you don't "believe", then you are an infidel! You must be having a problem with your cheap hardware you ignorant techno-turd." (I should point out that I have been recording professionally over thirty years for Major labels in some of the world's most well-equipped and technically-advanced studios.)
Overall:
For home studio use, where time isn't so pressing and technical mishaps don't cause embarrassing expensive delays, it's OK. For live use, you must have an expensive dedicated computer and technical savvy. For those who want a one-size-fits all solution, and want it in a software-based format, this is the best product of its type... FAR better than PODs, but not nearly as good as a PSA1.1 and some good pedals. (like TC & Carl Martin) Those things always work and do not require a "tricked" computer.
Submitted: 4/11/2008
Style of Music: you name it
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Native Instruments products cannot be returned once the manufacturer's seal has been broken. Any defective merchandise must be dealt with directly through Native Instruments. If a product is found to be defective, you must contact Native Instruments customer support at 866-556-6487 for service. 
