Conference napalm::guitar

    -1
    
    WHY do you have 3 different overdrive pedals?

    
    DON'T buy the Octaver!
    
    I did, and after about half an hour got bored with it! It's pretty
    limited where you can use it to good effect and you can only use it for
    single notes. Also, if you let the notes sound too long (and this AIN'T
    long!) the octave signal dies...
    
    Andy
    
    P.S. Anyone wanna buy mine 8)?
    
    

    -1
    
    Yeah, I wanna buy yours.  I think its a damn cool effect!

    Keaggy uses one with the E-Bow and gets some fantastic sounding string
    instrument type effects with it.
    
    I'll buy it if you don't want it.
    
    Mike

    It's GREAT for bass players!
    
    		Fred

	The price pressure on digital rack gear is so great that
	I sold off all of my pedals and got a rack unit with the
	same money. No for another $100 I can get a MIDI pedal
	board to control the unit. I have lots more flexibility
	and less gunk to cable together. Oh yes - ONE power cord.

	ccb

    2 octaves lower than the low E on a bass?!? :(
    

    re: 2199.7
    
    < 2 octaves lower than a low E on a bass?!? :( >
    
    I've heard other bassists use them and they sounded real kool during
    their solo. Remember this is just "my opinion", but then my opinion
    of what's kool may be trash to you. No biggy, but I thought it was
    very interesting when I heard it. Hit a few harmonics with this effect
    and it sounds twice as kool, although it's sound could get old it you
    use it too much (like anything you'd use to excess).
    
    		Rock on,
    			Fred (with one more opinion)
    
   

       I had tried the OC-2 before. I thought it was very limited because
    it seems to have a tracking problem - as mentioned before, for longer
    notes. It seems to switch between octaves when it gets to a certain 
    level.
        It might be wise to try other pedals in case you can find a better 
    tracking unit. As with any smaller pedal, you get close; but not as 
    close as the real thing. Then again... I guess I'd have to take out 
    a mortgage to get an Evantide...
      
       /John

    Don't they make a different unit for bass?  Most companies, including
    Boss, have a version for bass and one for guitar.
    
    The OC-2 also has a limited application.  Some of the players that I've
    heard use them, only use them for one specific purpose.  But they do
    well for that purpose.
    
    Mike

     buy the pitch shifter/delay instead.....+ or - an octave or anything
    in between, tuner output and lots of delay variation from a chorus
    to long silly delays favored by guys like Fripp!
    -Bill

    Re: -1
    
    Bill, what's that model number and how long is the delay on it?
    
    Curious_Mike

    
    
    		I have an OC-2 and it only sees occasional use. I
    	currently use a CS-1 Compression/sustainer, a PH-1 Phase
    	shifter and the BF-2 Flanger. The Boss stomp boxes are very
    	good quality.....for stomp boxes. They take a lickin' and 
    	keep on tickin'. The only other stomp boxes I would consider
    	to be as good quality as the Boss pedals are some of the MXR
    	units, especially the older EQ's.
    
    	DonH
    
     

     I think it's called the PS/D and the delay is like 
    around a second......if you're looking for it it's
    the same color electric blue as a VW superbeetle
    -Bill

    Is a Compressor really needed? That one of the pedals I do not have
    that everybody else has. I have never tried to before so I don't know
    what its like. How would it rank in the 'most needed' catagory?
    

    I would bet it depends on your amp and the amount of compression/sustain
    it currently gives you.

    It also depends on how big a room, and what volume levels you typically
    play at. Most amps won't compress unless they're cranked. In my small
    studio, at moderate listening levels, I find a CS3 compressor/sustainer
    is an absolute necessity. I've been looking for something better than
    a CS3 for a long time (I'd like something a bit quieter, especially in
    a rack-mount package), but haven't found anything better (or even as
    good) yet. I'm still planning on trying one of the new Boss CL50 1/2
    rack unit. The ad hype claims it can be used as a guitar effect, but
    I'll have to see for myself. 
    
    The CS3 was the first Boss pedal I bought. I've since bought a FT2
    dynamic filter (genuine-artificial Jerry Garcia tone), a DD3 digital
    delay, a PSM5 power supply/master switch, and a NS2 noise suppressor.
    I also have a carry box and a TU12 tuner. 
    
    Boss now makes a 3 position carry box. My only complaint about Boss/
    Roland is that the're efx rarely do more than one or two things. I 
    guess it's their way of getting you to buy several pedals. For example
    Ibanez/DOD/etc. offer Digital delay pedals that include chorus, and
    flange. You'd have to buy three Boss pedals to get all three of these
    effects.
    
    I've heard very good things about T.C. electronics pedals, but I tried
    one of their sustain+parametric eq pedals, and it didn't hold a candle 
    to a Boss CS3. I've heard that T.C. makes one of the best chorus pedals
    around, but haven't tried them.
    
    Lately, I've been thinking about selling off most, if not all of my 
    Boss pedals. I've considered replacing them with a ME5, or a Korg A.
    I'm slow to move on decisions like this.
    
    Mark
    
    

    I tried the infamous Boss CE-3 chorus pedal last Saturday.  It's chorus
    is as great as advertised.  I AB'ed it with their new CH-1 Super Chorus
    and thought the CE-3 was much better.  It also offers 2 different
    stereo modes of operation.  Mode 1 send a Delay+Effect to output A and
    Delay-Effect to output B.  Mode 2 is your typical Roland JCnnn amp
    chorus.
    
    I'm going to try to AB it with a DOD chorus pedal this week.
    
    Mike

    Re: .18
    
    I wouldn't bother, I've had the DOD for years and it doesn't have the
    Boss "sound", also not as quiet.  When I got mine it was lots cheaper,
    though, about $50 when the old CE-2 was going for $100.
    
    							Brian

re 17,18...

	 My complaint is when you get 2 or more effects in a pedal they seem to
suffer sound wise,and sometimes they also do not do individual effects very 
well. But TC's Chorus/flanger is the exception to the rule.
         TC Electronics SEF pedal is one of the best,if not the best sounding
Chorus pedal on the market today,I realize that this may seem very opinionated,
however I did do side by side comparisions with Boss,Digitech and Ibanez. The 
difference between the top of the line Boss Chorus pedal and a TC Electronics 
was drastic. The Boss sounds muddy to me,even with there new tone control 
added,but I did not compare it to a CE2 or 3. I thought it was better than 
the CE3,but didn't have one immediately available.The depth and richness of the 
TC is really what makes it sound better to my ear. Even several rack units
do not sound as good as I remember.....
	Now what makes the difference in sound is somewhat a mystery,it's 
not something immediately aparent,such as specification differences even 
though the TC has a 20 to 20k frequency range.

	The bad news is that the cost is extremely high,$280 new the last time 
I checked. The TC Sus/para gave me the same impression but is no indication of 
the quality of their chorus pedal. They sometimes can be bought used as I've 
seen them for $80 to $200.	

							Rick

    The previously mentioned "pitch shift/delay" is a "PS-2," not "PS/D" as
    previously mentioned.

    I have a Digital Dealay,Phaser,Chorus,Distortion,Turbo Overdrive and a
    Super tube pedal. I just BOSS carrying case and was wondering what
    order I should put them in. Kieep in mind that the Digital delay makes
    a bit of static turned on. Here is my current setup
    
    Amp
    
       Digital Deorus-distortion-Phaser-Overdrive-super tube
     
                                                         Guitar
    
    Should I change it?
    

    Whoops THats Digital Delay- Chorus etc..
    

    If you're going right to left on the diagram, it looks ok to me, the
    only thing I'd question is the placement of the phaser, but I suspect
    that you put it before that third distortion effect to get a particular
    sound and if it does what you want, then it's in the right place.
    
    If you find the effects are getting noisy, you might consider adding a
    noise supressor at the end of the chain.
    
    Greg

    Is it true that you need the Power Switch pedal (PSM-5) with the carry
    case?  That really only leaves you with 5 effects to put in there.
    
    Mike

    I did some AB comparisons with DOD and Boss pedals yesterday, and I
    just don't see/hear why everyone is so big on Boss.  The DOD pedals I
    tried were just as good sound quality wise, some were easier to use,
    and all of them had a better price and warranty (3 years as opposed to
    1 for Boss).
    
    The pedals I compared were:
    
    DOD                            Boss
    ---                            ----
    FX65 chorus $59                CE-3 chorus $79     
       - sounded equal to me, Boss offers 2 modes but have to be switched
         by hand.  One of the modes sounded useless to me.  DOD has another
         chorus pedal with 2 modes anyway.
    DFX91 delay/sampler $95        DSD-3 delay/sampler $180
       - the DOD has a 1 second footswitchable sampler, Boss only goes to
         800ms and isn't footswitchable.  I thought the DOD was cleaner
         too.
    FX35 octave divider $59         OC-2 octave divider $78
       - only difference here is Boss generates a second note 2 octaves
         down as opposed to only 1 by DOD.
    FX75 flanger $59                BF-2 flanger $84
       - sounded equal to me.
    
    It is interesting to note that DOD's 6 pedal case has the AC adaptor
    built-in so you can actually use 6 pedals.  Boss is limited to 5.  
    Also, I think the Boss pedals are fugly. ;-)  
    
    Mike

    
    
    
    
    	Mike I just (well a few months ago) had the same experience while
    looking for my delay.. I had heard that DOD wasn't as good but I found
    that the dfx91 was easy to work and sounded great.. 

    I think DOD may have fallen into the same trap Peavey did.  Both seem
    to have questionable products in their earlier years, but both put out
    quality products NOW.  I suspect the Boss fans haven't tried a DOD
    pedal in a LONG time.
    
    I challenge anyone to perform the same AB testing I did and see for
    yourself.
    
    Mike

>   -< what more proof could you ask for? >-
    
    Reliability and longevity.  Even if they do sound alike side-by-side,
    there are other considerations.  Yeah, DOD has a long warranty, but how
    inconvenient is it to have to use it?  I'm not saying that you will or
    won't, I don't really know.  What I do know is that I've heard dozens
    of guitarists say nothing but good things about Boss effects for many
    years.  There's no way DOD can claim this kind of endorcement...
    
    Greg

    
    
    		It is true that I have not tried any of the DOD
    	products lately, this is because the Boss pedals have are
    	well built and I have never had to replace one. :-) If 
    	there comes a time to replace those old pedals, I will 
    	convert to rack mount effects. (And make my wallet scream
    	in the process!)
    
    	Still stompin',
    	DonH
    
    

    The reason I have the Digital Delay at the end of the line is because
    it creates a bit of hum when turned on.
    
    What can I do about the buzzing sound I get when I play the lower notes
    of the guitar loudly without distortion? It has something to do with
    having 6 pedals hooked up at I time.. Which would fix it?
    Compressor,Enhancer or Noise suppressor?
    

    If you are using a Boss DD3 digital delay, it shouldn't hum. Digital
    delay pedals or rack-mount units very seldom cause hum. Compressors,
    on the other hand, tend to cause hum (especially if you play a guitar
    with a single-coil pickups) because they raise the noise floor. Other
    efx that might cause hum would include distortion/overdrive  units, 
    and phazers. If I were you, I would try playing through each pedal 
    individually, and narrow down the source of the hum that way.
    
    Mark

    I just picked up one of those plastic fx units that holds the 6 fx.
    Kinda neat.  Now to stock the thing.  Methinks I'm going to throw in
    (after the std PSM-5, obviously), a CE-3, an OC-2, a PS-2, and a DD-3
    
    Buck, adding a few fx to the M-word scene

    Let me know if you get a good deal on the CE-3 (Chorus).  I wish Boss
    made a delay with a 1-2 sec. range.  The DD-3 is only 800ms.
    
    Mike

    I'm going to Daddy's and getting my FX used.  The new prices for em
    are just TOO outrageous!
    
    Buck, looking at a PSM-5, CE-3, OC-2, PS-2, and DD-3
    
    PS - I think the above will be cool...like having the OC-2 doing
    two octaves below, and the PS-2 doing like a 5th or an octave
    above?  Coolamundo!

	Does anyone have a used Boss MT-2 distortion box (it's not the
	Metalizer) for sale?  Also, any comments on it?

	/ravi

    Anyone own/try the Digital Dimension pedal (it's pink)?  It's a really 
    thick sounding chorus pedal.  I'm not sure of the price (tried a 
    friend's), but it sounded better to me than the CE-3 chorus.
    
    Mike

    Re: PSM-5 power pedal
    
    Forgot to mention that it's a pretty shabby thing Boss did with their
    AC adaptors.  Not all of them will handle the PSA adaptor that will
    power up to 7 pedals.  However, if you buy the $110 PSM-5, you can
    power any of them.  Otherwise, you have to buy different adaptors (PSA
    and ACA) and have cables everywhere.
    
    Mike

    re .37
    
    My son bought one of those pink Boss Dimension pedals and loves it.  He
    already had a DOD chorus (an Fx-??) and bought the Boss because Daddy's
    was selling them brand new at their garrage sale in Norwood for $29 (he
    wished he picked up a few more for resale). According to the folks at
    Daddy's they had a lot and claim it's not a very popular seller at
    market price so the were trying to unload. 
    
    As far as an A/B comparison you could pretty adjust either the Boss or
    DOD to mimic the other in terms of the chorus effect.  The DOD actually
    gave a little more variation on chorus but the added range, in our
    opinion, was so exagerated it was not very useable.  The main
    difference is in the sound quality and it's very noticeable.  The
    dimension is digital, it adds no detectable noise to the signal and the
    highs are crystal clear compared to the DOD (or even the CE-3 which we
    tried in the store).  It may be an illusion due to the chorus effect
    but the Dimension also seems to boost the highs a little.   My son also
    uses a digital delay (Boss DD-3) which also seems to accentuate the
    highs a bit. Maybe that's characteristic of the digital pedals, I don't
    know.  We recommend it highly. 
    
    Frank
    

    Hi Boss stomp fans...
    
    I have a couple of questions.  I have one of the power supply/switch
    stomps and a couple of others that I want to run off it, but I got it
    from a pawn shop and it didn't come with the power cords to connect to
    the other pedals (you run one wall bug into the power supply thing, and
    it connects to the others).  How are the connectors wired on that cable
    that goes to the other stomps?  Parallel?
    
    Second question.  Do Boss pedals flake out if they have a dead battery
    in them, even though you've got the wallbug power supply plugged in?  I
    was using a CS3 compressor earlier this week and it started making this
    nasty grating distorting sound.  I figured the battery was getting low,
    since it was kinda old, so I plugged up the power supply, but nothing
    changed.  I didn't think about it until later (when Sam suggested it)
    that the low battery might have caused the power supply to not really
    work correctly.  Any ideas?  Is my pedal cooked?
    
    Thanks,
    Greg

Greg,

    I don't have the boss power supply, but I'm sure you should wire the
    supply to the effects in parallel.   The reason is that if you put them
    in series, the failure of one may prevent the others from getting any 
    power and they'd fail too.
    
    I'd do it like this:

    +------------+
    | power   +  |---+----------+         ....                  
    | supply GND |---|-+--------|--+                            
    +------------+   | |        |  |                                      
                     v v        v  v                                       
                  +-------+  +-------+    etc....                          
                  |Effect1|  |Effect2|                                     
                  +-------+  +-------+                                     
                                                                           

    As for the other question, I don't think a bad battery can cause the
    stomp to fail assuming the thing is plugged into a wall bug.  I believe
    most of those type of circuits disconnect the battery completely when
    an external power plug is in place.  I could be wrong about this one
    though.

    steve

    Actually, since I posted that question, I got an answer on it
    elsewhere.  You're right, Steve, they're wired in parallel.  That little
    cord is available as a separate item from Boss, so I just bought one
    ($12, but between hunting for the connectors and time and all, it was
    easier).

    The reason the stomp was acting weird was that I was using the PSA
    adapter into it, but it wanted the ASA adapter (don't know what the
    difference is).  I'm told that the red power distribution box takes
    care of getting the appropriate power to all the efx, regardless of
    which adapter they're expecting, but I haven't had a chance to try it
    yet.

    Greg

    
    I don't think this belongs here but:  how's the Boss NS-2
    Noise Reduction rackmount (?)?.  I was reading somewhere that
    John Petrucci from Dream Theater used one in his live set-up
    not too long ago after parting with the Hush IIc.
    
    Kev --
    

    Kev,
    
    You just bought a TriAx!  What the hell do you need noize reduction 
    for??  The TriAx might have some short comings, but it's NOT noizey!
    
    Now, if you had an Mp1....
    :-)

    Just asking...:^) :^)
    
    I picked up a GFTPM vol. 3 disc the other day.  It's got
    a really cool live instrumental from Dream Theater on it.
    In the liners, JP lists his gear used and this product
    was on it.  Just wondering.  BTW, has anyone heard this 
    disc?
    
    Kev --
    

    A friend of mine works at a scrap yard.He often finds things in cars
    that noone claims or leaves.Anyways,the other day he calls me up and
    says he has something for me.Long story short,he ends up giving me
    three pedals: an MXR distortion, a LOCOBOX chorus and TUBMANIX
    distortion.
    I have a couple of questions regarding these.One is about the MXR,which
    is (imo)very cool sounding.All of the effects came in the original
    boxes,but the MXR has 'CORAN' writen on it in bold letters.From my own
    experience with the MXR stomp boxes,they all had the logo on it,this
    doesn't so i was wondering if anybody was familiar with this one and
    what this "CORAN" is all about.
    The other question is about the LOCOBOX brand.Anyone familiar with
    these? THe chorus is pretty cool sounding,and although is cased in
    steel,still looks rather...inexpensive.
    
    -kev

    I'm just beginning with stomp boxes (playing guitar and pedal steel
    after a loooooooong time on bass).  I just picked up a used Boss BF-2
    Flanger from Daddy's; it works and sounds great.  But since it is a 
    used pedal, it comes with no instruction sheet.  Accordingly,  I've got a 
    couple of questions for you people who are more experienced with the
    BF-2:
    
    o - Do you have any favorite control settings you use?
    
    o - Can you explain *exactly* what the controls control?
    
    I really like the sounds I get, but I'd feel a LOT better if I knew
    just *what* I was doing to get those sounds.... %*}
    
    					Thanks in advance,
    						--Eric--
    

    
    
    
    	Are there any Analog delay pedal users out there?
    
    	If so I was thinking of selling my Boss DD3 digital delay pedal
    	and buying an analog Boss delay pedal instead for the simple reason
    	I hate having pedals connected to a power supply. I like to use 
    	things like Ibanez TS-9 tube screamers and Jim Dunlop wah wah's
    	cause they last ages before having to recharge the batteries.
    	
    
    	Can analog delay pedal users tell me if they drain the batteries
    	fast like my DD-3 or slow like mt TS-9.
    
    
    
    
    
    			Thanks 
    
    				EWAN