The Boss Pedal Demo Project! Official Thread *Updated 4/7*

[severinsteel]

Hey guys, so I'm on a quest. I want to own every compact Boss pedal ever. The idea is to make a YouTube video review for each one. I call my quest:

"The Boss pedal project"

We all started with Boss pedals. like many on this site, I strayed in search of the best of the best, and went the boutique route. After all these years, those colorful little boxes have a charm about them that still intrigues me. My theory is every Boss pedal has useable tones. One just has to dig a little deeper sometimes.

Some of these little guys are hard to find, and pricey! Wish me luck!


*Episodes below*

Welcome to the Boss Pedal Project! This is my attempt to collect and review every Boss compact pedal ever made. Every week, I'll be demoing a different Boss pedal.
Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a review!

Episode 1: Boss CE-2 Chorus

Episode 2: Boss OS-2 Overdrive/ Distortion

Episode 3: Boss DF-2 Super Distortion & Feedbacker

 

[benduncan]

Non-nerds may find this boring, but great idea! Subscribed, I'll be watching.

On a side note, I found a Boss CE-2 in the garbge when I was 17, lol. it worked until a couple years ago

 

[severinsteel]

Thanks! I'm debating on the format. I'm to sure if I should talk at all, or just let the pedal do the talking. I think a 'to the point' approach might be the way to go here.

 

[nickname009]

subscribed

and yes quick to the point would be what i prefer.
pedal off, pedal on, clean, dirt, fx loop, in front

and try to use the same amp/guitar for every pedal, maybe even have all amp settings at noon just to keep things simple?

can't wait to see it progress!

PS just watched the chorus vid, I'd also recommend having the recorded signal loud enough, or have the recorded signal isolated so you can't hear that sort of 'in the room mic' that picks up the sound of the pick when you're playing.

 

[charveldan]

Had a CE-2 in early to mid 80's.

With a dirt pedal it sounded like Hurricane Katrina or a UFO spaceship landing so much noise.

Great pedal tho

 

[MKibanez]

subscribe too!

 

[Anonymous]

Every compact Boss pedals? That's quite ambitious; there's a shitload of them

I collect the MIJ ones myself

 

[grooveHT]

Subscribed! BTW, how is the Switchback working out?

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Should start to get interesting when you get to pedals like the Boss metal zone!! Have you found one? I remember loving mine. So much that when someone stole it from me, I borrowed my brother's.

 

[severinsteel]

subscribed

and yes quick to the point would be what i prefer.
pedal off, pedal on, clean, dirt, fx loop, in front

and try to use the same amp/guitar for every pedal, maybe even have all amp settings at noon just to keep things simple?

can't wait to see it progress!

PS just watched the chorus vid, I'd also recommend having the recorded signal loud enough, or have the recorded signal isolated so you can't hear that sort of 'in the room mic' that picks up the sound of the pick when you're playing.

I actually mixed in a tiny bit of the camera microphone with the cab microphones. I think the close miked cab can sound a bit weird on its own, but I'm still playing with ideas.

 

[nickname009]

I actually mixed in a tiny bit of the camera microphone with the cab microphones. I think the close miked cab can sound a bit weird on its own, but I'm still playing with ideas.

it's just not what I'm used to hearing when I'm at a gig watching a band or in or studio, so I don't see why it'd be necessary to hear it in a YT vid, IMO.

Keep'em comin!

 

[severinsteel]

Subscribed! BTW, how is the Switchback working out?

I love the Switchback! It's amazing!

 

[tubortski]

Any idea on exactly how many models there are to date?

 

[severinsteel]

Any idea on exactly how many models there are to date?

I think around 100?

Episode 2: Boss OS-2 Overdrive/ Distortion

 

[Anonymous]

Any idea on exactly how many models there are to date?

As far as MIJ ones go, there are 40 models if you don't count different color labels
17 of those models were also later made in Taiwan

 

[C1-ocaster]

Should start to get interesting when you get to pedals like the Boss metal zone!! Have you found one? I remember loving mine. So much that when someone stole it from me, I borrowed my brother's.

When I was shopping a few months ago it was between the Metal Zone and the Metal Core.
I choose the Metal Core as I found the distortion a bit warmer.
The Metal Zone is quite the brutal fellow. As you know it really specializes at the mid scoop sound.

With my Metal Core going into the Randall RD45's clean channel, I have the distortion at only around the 9am position, and it still has a LOT of distortion and gain.
Volume is also only around 9-10 o'clock as that best matches with pedal on/off levels.
I have to roll the "high" control to around 10am cause the RD45 is really bright with this pedal.
Even on the amp I have to dial back the amp's treble to 10 o'clock to keep it from getting too fizzy on top.
It's a pretty mean little sucker.
I prefer the Bogner Red pedal's distortion though. It's more a tube distortion vs. the MC's transistor type distortion.

Paired with my Fulltone Fulldrive II for a boost, the tone and feel are nice and tight too.

This project should be pretty cool!
Great idea.
Looking forward to seeing and hearing it.

 

[C1-ocaster]

subscribed

and yes quick to the point would be what i prefer.
pedal off, pedal on, clean, dirt, fx loop, in front

and try to use the same amp/guitar for every pedal, maybe even have all amp settings at noon just to keep things simple?

can't wait to see it progress!

PS just watched the chorus vid, I'd also recommend having the recorded signal loud enough, or have the recorded signal isolated so you can't hear that sort of 'in the room mic' that picks up the sound of the pick when you're playing.

I actually mixed in a tiny bit of the camera microphone with the cab microphones. I think the close miked cab can sound a bit weird on its own, but I'm still playing with ideas.

I'm with you on that. A room mic mixed in with close mic'ing will give it more of a real world flavor.
However, some people may want to just hear the pedal's tone without the coloration of your room.
Close mic'ing only for every pedal should reveal more what the pedal is actually doing to the tone.

Either way though, as long as you keep it consistent I'm sure we'll get the idea of what the pedal's doing.
After all, you're doing a real world test, so it needs to sound to us the way it sounds to you, which means what's going on in the room as well.
Maybe try a sample test of each method and get some responses on which way people prefer

 

[severinsteel]

subscribed

and yes quick to the point would be what i prefer.
pedal off, pedal on, clean, dirt, fx loop, in front

and try to use the same amp/guitar for every pedal, maybe even have all amp settings at noon just to keep things simple?

can't wait to see it progress!

PS just watched the chorus vid, I'd also recommend having the recorded signal loud enough, or have the recorded signal isolated so you can't hear that sort of 'in the room mic' that picks up the sound of the pick when you're playing.

I actually mixed in a tiny bit of the camera microphone with the cab microphones. I think the close miked cab can sound a bit weird on its own, but I'm still playing with ideas.

I'm with you on that. A room mic mixed in with close mic'ing will give it more of a real world flavor.
However, some people may want to just hear the pedal's tone without the coloration of your room.
Close mic'ing only for every pedal should reveal more what the pedal is actually doing to the tone.

Either way though, as long as you keep it consistent I'm sure we'll get the idea of what the pedal's doing.
After all, you're doing a real world test, so it needs to sound to us the way it sounds to you, which means what's going on in the room as well.
Maybe try a sample test of each method and get some responses on which way people prefer

From here on out, I'm going with the close mic'ed cab only. I did this on the second episode I posted. Thanks for the feedback guys! I have some rare ones in the mail by the way, so we are in for a treat!