10 Reasons why I like my Boss pedals...

Jayhell

So I bought a DD-6 yesterday. Mostly because I missed my DD-3 since I sold it a couple of years ago due the fact that I don't really use Delay. Times change I tried a couple of other things, but buying this pedal was like reuniting with an old friend. I also bought it because it was a very good price and since I'm using a lot more delay I had to buy it. Oh tap delay how I missed you! Anyway, this got me thinking about Boss in general...

I took out all my Boss pedals and stuck them to my board as I have done so many times before and I realized why I have so many of them, although I don't use them all all the time.

1. I can afford them. They are a lot cheaper than many other brands out there. Also cheaper than boutique stuff. Especially second hand (if the seller is not screwed in his head) they are really cheap.

2. They are neat. Putting 7 Boss pedals next to each other on a board just looks so good (My OCD approves).

3. Form Factor. An extension of the previous point. They are small enough to use lots at a time and big enough to be really stable. I have found with some mini pedals that they tend to wobble and come loose. Some bigger pedals just take up to much space. And the battery compartments are easily accessible.

4. I can see whats going on. Not that my eyes are bad but the knobs are clearly marked and I like that. With some features like tap and hold the lights are usually a good indication what is going on.

5. Switches. They are silent, not like some of my other pedals that go Ka-ka when I step on them. Also the big space to step on is a bonus, I can step on three at the same time if I really need to. they are also kind on bare feet and flip flops.

6. Good range of effects. If you need a basic (and some not so basic) effects, Boss probably have one and someone on Gumtree is probably selling one.

7. Sounds good to me. Maybe sounds a bit generic to some players but in general they sound good.

8. Built like tanks. I don't think I have ever had a Boss pedal break on me.

9. Work well together. I find they work better together than some of my other effects with Boss.

10. I could probably sell them all in a wink of an eye if I ever felt like it (although you would have to pry my SD-1 from my cold dead hands).

They are not perfect though, but what pedals are? If only they made a BIG MUFF PI.

Anyway can you think of more reasons you like or dislike your Boss pedals?

V8

*&^%$ing battery eating noise mongers ?

But that's my opinion of pedals in general...I've only one left, a Crybaby Bass Wah, because nothing else sounds like it. And it's probably the worst battery chomping, tone colouring pedal that I've used. Made the MT-2 Metal Zone look like a saint in comparison :?

Doomsower

I believe you have hit the nail on the head.

11. They do what it says on the tin.

The Boss pedals seem like they were developed by someone who knew what they were doing.
A lot of the other pedals seem to be the product of hackery and lucky discovery. (Which is kinda cool in it's own right ?)

So the gear snobs can go get stuffed. Tone etc. is all subjective anyway.

At this point I all my pedals are from Boss, excluding my Fuzzes and tuner of course. ?

Chocklit_Thunda

4 of my 5 pedals are Boss..... After I sold that Zoom GFX-3 I'm left with:
RC-2 Looper - does exactly what it needs to
FZ-5 Fuzz - only one out of three settings is 'usable' but boy is it!
FB-2 Feedbacker/Booster - all the wailing, screaming and shrieking a man could need
FBM-1 Fender Bassman - Sounds damn close to the real thing if you're willing to tweak it

The only other is an Ernie Ball Wah which rocks!

studmissile

decent reliable pedals!

Big-G

As someone who doesn't own a single boss pedal currently, I am not going to knock those who choose to use them, and certainly don't 'look down my nose'. For me personally, I have never found a Boss pedal that worked for me with the exception of the OC-2 octaver, and that is why I don't use them. I don't consider myself a gear snob, but I have been fortunate enough to acquire a number of very nice boutique pedals over the past two years, some of which I really couldn't live without.

At the end of the day, I'm very much a supporter of 'use what ever works for you'. You list good solid reasons for liking yours. Enjoy them.

Regards
G!

Keira-WitherKay

my 10 reasons for using Boss pedals would be: (when i need a pedal...i usually don't use any pedals for gigs )

reliable..................... x10

in my career i been through a lot of pedals live and in the studio as i haven't always just played jazz ... "

and to date have yet to have a Boss pedal "die"/break while in my possession.... i even have an original OD1(Boss's very first pedal ) from late 70's or was it early 80's which still works perfectly ....

yet a few years back i bought a Karl Martin trem which sounded amazing compared to the Boss trem i tried...but i was gigging 6 shows a week and within 2 months it was returned for repair (bought brand new) when the tour ended i immediately sold it , for peace of mind....

so yeah i have a few boss pedals OD-1/ AW- 2/ GE-7/ FDR-1 / RV-5 and a RC-3 looper and never a days trouble.....

BUT i must say pedals are cool but to my ears and taste the best guitar tone comes from guitar straight into a tube amp ...and use the amps reverb and drive ... no pedals come close....yet they are a necessary evil ?

funkadelic

In general I used to be a big multi-effects hater so embarked on a journey to assemble my own pedalboard. After finalising the board I came the realization that most of the pedals were from Boss! So now I use individual pedals with a (Boss!) Multi-effects unit. Oh yes, three of the 5 pedals are Boss pedals. It make cents to me...lol. I don't have the cash for boutique pedals.

Chocklit_Thunda

That being said, I was this close |_| to buying Big G's zoom G5. :'(
That is a phenomenal pedal!

Banditman

I'd agree to virtually all of the above pro-Boss comments. For a guitarist after a good piece of gear while on a budget, especially if you find a clean used one, they cover most bases. Some of their pedals are pretty damn good - the BD-2 being a particular favourite of mine, even in standard unmodded form. Generally they're good, honest stomp boxes for a fair price.

Sure there are better pedals out there, built equally well (MXR anyone?) and with better sound. But when so much of your tone & feel comes from the musician themselves, I'd argue that a good player could do more with a Boss unit than a hobbyist could with top dollar gear. I'd even be inclined to debate that some boutique effects just took the Boss equivalent one step further.

Lord-Vetinari

V8 wrote: . Made the MT-2 Metal Zone look like a saint in comparison :?

Ooooooooooooh ouch.....

warrenpridgeon

Even though I've recently gotten a Line 6 multi effects unit I won't be parting with my Boss GT8... Yeah it's MFX and not a single stomp like the others mentioned here... Built like a tank it is!

serven

I somewhatsecond what warrenpridgeon said. I very rarely use effects aside from volume, some noise killing for the Marshall and the occasional chorus-delay type thing for some backing chords. Since I am far from an expert or accomplished player, I've decided to keep things fairly simple (individual product wise) and went the multi-fx route for now. The Boss GT-100 was an easy choice simply for reliability history, ease of use and flexibility. And of course the fact that I don't use the amp modelling, I've heard it is not as good as the alternatives. The RC-300 is something I use pretty much everytime I pick up a guitar to play or practice or create.

The reason why I like my Boss pedals is because I don't have to think or consider them, they are just "there doing their thing"