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Photo provided by: Andrea Benz
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Your whole pedalboard in one little pedal?
I just got back from a tour in Hawaii, and let’s just say my pedalboard case did not enjoy the flights as much as I did. The straps are torn, there’s a new 2-inch hole at the bottom of the outer pocket, and it basically looks like it went surfing without me. Travel is brutal on gear – and the less you carry, the fewer problems you have. So, what about the idea of packing my entire pedalboard into one tiny pedal? That’s the dream. The catch: I’m not willing to sacrifice tone. Let´s look at the new Valeton GP-50, which claims to fulfill that dream.
The GP-50 builds on the much-loved GP-5 but isn’t just an update – It’s Valeton swinging harder at the “small but mighty” category. They’ve bumped up the power, added more control, and expanded the ways you can use it. If the GP-5 was impressive, the GP-50 feels like it’s been leveled up for real-world musicians who need flexibility without extra weight.
More space, more possibilities
While the GP-5 proved you can cram a lot into a tiny box, the GP-50 accepts a slightly bigger footprint to unlock far more usability. You get a rechargeable battery, a crisp color display, a redesigned interface, extra knobs and footswitches, and more Inputs / Outputs than you’d expect on something this small. It’s clear Valeton listened to what players wanted.
Compact size, full performance
Even with the upgrades, the GP-50 stays incredibly portable at just 430 grams. A rugged metal chassis, internal battery, and both DC and USB power options make it a travel-ready little tank. Use it as a standalone all-in-one rig, drop it onto a pedalboard, or toss it in your gig bag for rehearsals or fly dates. It’s tiny, but not toy-tiny – more like “How is all this actually in here?” tiny.
Big tone with zero compromise
Tone is where these compact multi-effects either win you over or lose you instantly. The GP-50 brings over 100 well-modeled effects, up to nine modules per chain, flexible routing, 55 factory presets, and 45 user slots. You can dial in a solid sound fast, which is exactly what you need when you’re plugging in five minutes before soundcheck.
Your all-in-one creative tool
Beyond effects, the GP-50 does a ton: audio interface, drum machine, looper, tuner, IR loader, and Valeton’s new SnapTone engine. It stores 20 third-party cab IRs and up to 80 Neural Amp Models, with 50 already installed. Drop it into your board and suddenly your tonal universe expands without adding weight.
The larger 1.77” color screen is a huge usability upgrade, and the new interface feels very intuitive. The gradient footswitches with colored LED rings look great and make quick changes obvious on dark stages. Add MIDI support, Bluetooth 5.0 for editing and backing tracks, and expansion inputs for more switches or an expression pedal, and you’ve got serious hands-on control in a device not much bigger than a classic stomp box.
The bottom line
The GP-50 is a real upgrade from the GP-5 – more power, more control, more flexibility. Do the sounds outperform single pedals? Not in my opinion. But when you can’t bring an entire board – travel gigs, rehearsals, fly dates, cramped stages – this little pedal is an absolute lifesaver. It won’t replace my full board forever, but it absolutely will keep my gear (and my future flight-battered pedal cases) much happier.
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