Valeton GP50 – an improvement or unprovement?

Last year, Valeton released the GP5 and, although there was  a little buzz around it when it first released, it turned into one of the most interesting budget pedals of the year. Not because it did loads of new and innovative things, but because it brought amp profiling technology to a genuinely affordable price point.

Fast forward a little and Valeton are back with the GP50. At first glance, it looks like a fairly minor update – almost too minor to justify a whole new product. After spending some proper time with it though, it becomes very clear why this version exists, and for some players, it’s going to matter more than they might expect.

A Quick Recap: Why the GP5 Mattered

At the heart of the GP50 is the same core concept that made the GP5 such a success: Neural Amp Modeling. NAM is often compared to Kemper-style profiling, and while that comparison holds up in principle, the real story is that NAM is open-source and community-driven.

That means a constantly expanding pool of amp captures – everything from clean combos to fully driven rigs – shared freely by users who are actively pushing the technology forward. For players who’ve been curious about profiling but put off by price, complexity, or commitment, this is an incredibly accessible entry point.

Like the GP5, the GP50 converts NAM files into Valeton’s own Snap Tone format. You’ll see people online argue about fidelity loss, but in practical terms, the experience is the same: load profiles, play guitar, enjoy convincing amp tones that respond properly to dynamics and picking.

The Not-So-Secret Limitation of the GP5

The GP5 proved the idea worked, but it also revealed its own limitations pretty quickly. The biggest one was obvious: a single footswitch.

In a bedroom or studio, that’s manageable. On a rehearsal floor or stage, it becomes awkward. Scrolling in one direction through patches, choosing between a tuner or effect switching, and having to bend down if you overshoot a sound all start to feel like unnecessary friction.

You could solve this with external MIDI controllers, but that slightly defeats the purpose of having a compact, affordable all-in-one unit.

The GP50 exists because of that problem.

Enter the GP50: Same Brain, Better Body

Rather than chasing higher processing power or more features, Valeton focused on usability. The addition of a second footswitch might sound minor, but it fundamentally changes how the unit feels to play.

Patch navigation instantly becomes more intuitive. Effect switching becomes genuinely practical. You can set up a base tone and then build variations around it without feeling boxed in. Suddenly, the GP platform feels far more at home in live situations without needing additional hardware.

There’s also a dedicated tuner access now, which removes the annoying trade-off GP5 users had to make. It’s one of those changes you barely notice once it’s there – and immediately miss when it isn’t.

Small Changes That Make a Big Difference

The GP50 also includes an internal battery, which won’t matter to everyone, but makes a lot of sense for travel, casual practice, or even avoiding noisy household power. It’s not a headline feature, but it’s thoughtful.

There’s a built-in looper too. Personally, loopers aren’t something I reach for often, but for quick jams or sketching ideas, it’s a useful inclusion rather than a gimmick. It’s short, simple, and exactly what you’d expect at this size and price.

Crucially, Valeton have also left plenty of room to grow. Dedicated expression and footswitch inputs mean the GP50 can expand with your setup rather than boxing you into a fixed workflow.

So… Is It Worth Upgrading?

If you already own a GP5 and you’ve built a setup around it – especially if you’re using MIDI control – the GP50 isn’t a mandatory upgrade. The core tones are the same, and the sound quality hasn’t changed.

If you don’t own either yet, the GP50 is the one to buy. It feels like the version Valeton would have released in the first place if they’d known how popular and capable the platform was going to be.

For the relatively small jump in price, you get a unit that’s simply easier to live with, easier to use, and far better suited to real-world playing.

What's really up

The GP5 was a proof of concept.

The GP50 is from concept to actual usable tool.

Valeton didn’t chase hype here – they listened, refined, and improved the experience where it mattered most. If affordable profiling is something you’re curious about, the GP50 makes a strong case for itself without pretending to be something it isn’t.

And honestly? That’s exactly why it works.