What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
- Thread starter sac
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Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
I have a boss ME6! As with any pedal - it's all about how you set the knobs. If you can't make a "modern" multi-effects unit sound good, the problem is either your skill, or perhaps your taste. I've seen people pretty much dead on [insert sound of choice here] with Boss boards, Digitech, Korg, you name it. And I've seen people make a bowl of sonic crap with those things as well.
I would say it would add a monster amount of flexibility and tone to the amp. Particularly tastey use of the distortion, EQ, and compression.
I have a boss ME6! As with any pedal - it's all about how you set the knobs. If you can't make a "modern" multi-effects unit sound good, the problem is either your skill, or perhaps your taste. I've seen people pretty much dead on [insert sound of choice here] with Boss boards, Digitech, Korg, you name it. And I've seen people make a bowl of sonic crap with those things as well.
I would say it would add a monster amount of flexibility and tone to the amp. Particularly tastey use of the distortion, EQ, and compression.
Gamera
New member
Re: What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
I can't speak for the amp but I can vouch for the ME-50. I use it on the clean channel of a Fender Stage 160. It has a lot of nice distortion tones and depending on what I'm playing my favorites are the natural overdrive, DS-1, Guv'nor & Rat settings.
The tone modify setting is pretty useless to me. It's a limited EQ that claims to make single coils sound like 'buckers, 'buckers sound like singles, the guitar sound acoustic, etc. I tend to bypass this altogether.
The compressor/sustainer works very nicely and can really help accentuate some of the distortion tones.
The noise gate works great.
The reverb is capable but a little weak IMO. I prefer the amp reverb.
The modulation effects work great. Dial in some DS-1 with harmonist and you have instant Steve Vai. Strat + Guv'nor + Uni-vibe = Robin Trower. The flanger & phaser effects are decent too.
The delay works well also. The analog setting is a favorite. It produces a subtle, natural sounding delay that can help beef up the overall tone.
The expression pedal is great as a volume pedal but the wah effects are too bright and fake sounding for my tastes. The voice effect is a neat party trick, especially if you're a Peter Frampton impersonator. The remaining expression effects are useless IMO.
The built-in tuner is invaluable.
And while you can program your favorite settings and call them up at a later time from memory, I never use this feature. All the dials and knobs make it so easy to edit settings in realtime I find no reason to save any particular settings.
The ME-50 has a nasty habit of cutting off the sound when you click through the settings on a dial. If you're trying to switch modulation setting within a single song for example (flanger - univibe) or similar you'll encounter this. But in practice I don't use more than one effect group per song so this isn't a problem. I just switch things inbetween songs and all is ok.
Bottom line for me is while I find useful only about 40% - 50% of what the ME-50 offers, it's still been cheaper than buying all the effects seperately. It's been fun, easy and educational dialing in different sounds with it and it sounds great at basement volume. Even really, really loud basement volumes and mic'ed up through the PA. Two thumbs up. :fing2: :fing2:
sac said:
I can't speak for the amp but I can vouch for the ME-50. I use it on the clean channel of a Fender Stage 160. It has a lot of nice distortion tones and depending on what I'm playing my favorites are the natural overdrive, DS-1, Guv'nor & Rat settings.
The tone modify setting is pretty useless to me. It's a limited EQ that claims to make single coils sound like 'buckers, 'buckers sound like singles, the guitar sound acoustic, etc. I tend to bypass this altogether.
The compressor/sustainer works very nicely and can really help accentuate some of the distortion tones.
The noise gate works great.
The reverb is capable but a little weak IMO. I prefer the amp reverb.
The modulation effects work great. Dial in some DS-1 with harmonist and you have instant Steve Vai. Strat + Guv'nor + Uni-vibe = Robin Trower. The flanger & phaser effects are decent too.
The delay works well also. The analog setting is a favorite. It produces a subtle, natural sounding delay that can help beef up the overall tone.
The expression pedal is great as a volume pedal but the wah effects are too bright and fake sounding for my tastes. The voice effect is a neat party trick, especially if you're a Peter Frampton impersonator. The remaining expression effects are useless IMO.
The built-in tuner is invaluable.
And while you can program your favorite settings and call them up at a later time from memory, I never use this feature. All the dials and knobs make it so easy to edit settings in realtime I find no reason to save any particular settings.
The ME-50 has a nasty habit of cutting off the sound when you click through the settings on a dial. If you're trying to switch modulation setting within a single song for example (flanger - univibe) or similar you'll encounter this. But in practice I don't use more than one effect group per song so this isn't a problem. I just switch things inbetween songs and all is ok.
Bottom line for me is while I find useful only about 40% - 50% of what the ME-50 offers, it's still been cheaper than buying all the effects seperately. It's been fun, easy and educational dialing in different sounds with it and it sounds great at basement volume. Even really, really loud basement volumes and mic'ed up through the PA. Two thumbs up. :fing2: :fing2:
kevlar3000
Bullet Proof Toneologist
Re: What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
I dig it, has a couple issues that I don't like so I use it a little different than some. The signal cut between switching patches is a bother to me. But I use it as mainly a delay and touch of chorus and compression ( very little of the latter 2). What I really like about it is the pedal, the ring mod is far and away the bast I have used, the Whammy sounds better than a Whammy, nice talk box and nice wah too. If you hit my link every song I recorded is fronted with it for delay and such. The tune Butter Face is with the Phase and with the wah. ( I forgot my crybaby that day and this more than did the trick) If there was not a signal cut between switching patches it would be perfect for me, I think the FX sound really good, you just gotta know how to tweak it.
I dig it, has a couple issues that I don't like so I use it a little different than some. The signal cut between switching patches is a bother to me. But I use it as mainly a delay and touch of chorus and compression ( very little of the latter 2). What I really like about it is the pedal, the ring mod is far and away the bast I have used, the Whammy sounds better than a Whammy, nice talk box and nice wah too. If you hit my link every song I recorded is fronted with it for delay and such. The tune Butter Face is with the Phase and with the wah. ( I forgot my crybaby that day and this more than did the trick) If there was not a signal cut between switching patches it would be perfect for me, I think the FX sound really good, you just gotta know how to tweak it.
SoCalSteve
New member
Re: What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
Does it have a delay or silence if you're just switching an effect on and off? Like if you turn on the phaser for a solo part and then turn it off will there be a silent spot?
kevlar3000 said:
Does it have a delay or silence if you're just switching an effect on and off? Like if you turn on the phaser for a solo part and then turn it off will there be a silent spot?
Gamera
New member
Re: What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
No. The stomp pedals work just as you'd expect them to. See the single dials in the image below...the ones right underneath the overdrive/distortion, modulation & delay headings? These dials have a fixed number of notched positions where each position corresponds to a certain effect. Changing these notched positions (going from univibe to phaser under modulation for example) results in the momentary silence. The pedals are all instant on/off and the remaining dials also control things in realtime.
Also if you've programmed preset patches you use the pedals to switch presets. If two presets use the same circuit (2 diff distortions for example) you'll encounter the signal cutout.
SoCalSteve said:
No. The stomp pedals work just as you'd expect them to. See the single dials in the image below...the ones right underneath the overdrive/distortion, modulation & delay headings? These dials have a fixed number of notched positions where each position corresponds to a certain effect. Changing these notched positions (going from univibe to phaser under modulation for example) results in the momentary silence. The pedals are all instant on/off and the remaining dials also control things in realtime.
Also if you've programmed preset patches you use the pedals to switch presets. If two presets use the same circuit (2 diff distortions for example) you'll encounter the signal cutout.
SoCalSteve
New member
Re: What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
Thanks Gamera, that's good to hear. Are you running this through a tube amp? How do the distortion stompboxes sound? This sounds like a good way to go if you don't need amp modeling and just want effects and od/dist. stompboxes.
Thanks Gamera, that's good to hear. Are you running this through a tube amp? How do the distortion stompboxes sound? This sounds like a good way to go if you don't need amp modeling and just want effects and od/dist. stompboxes.
SoCalSteve
New member
Re: What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
You say the effects are good. What are your thoughts on the distortions in front of a tube amp? I'm fully satisfied with my amps distortion but it would be nice to get some added versatility.
P.S. I was just at your site listening to Butter Face. Very cool!
kevlar3000 said:
You say the effects are good. What are your thoughts on the distortions in front of a tube amp? I'm fully satisfied with my amps distortion but it would be nice to get some added versatility.
P.S. I was just at your site listening to Butter Face. Very cool!
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Biu
New member
Re: What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
I would highly recommend it, especially if you are running it in front of a good tube amp like that Laney. I use mine with a Carvin X-60A and it always seems to impress me, whether I'm using humbuckers or single-coils, clean or distorted, it's always an ear-pleaser. The signal-cut thing is a bit of a pain at times, but I don't often switch between two patches, so it hasn't been a big problem yet. Great floorboard~! Definitely consider it~!!!
I would highly recommend it, especially if you are running it in front of a good tube amp like that Laney. I use mine with a Carvin X-60A and it always seems to impress me, whether I'm using humbuckers or single-coils, clean or distorted, it's always an ear-pleaser. The signal-cut thing is a bit of a pain at times, but I don't often switch between two patches, so it hasn't been a big problem yet. Great floorboard~! Definitely consider it~!!!
NecroPolo
New member
Re: What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
If I consider its building quality, the fact that you get a very flexible setup for a rather decent price and I look at its user-friendly surface and seeing what great a COSM system is, plus the idea that you don't have to learn tap-dancing, I'd absolutely recommend it. If you need many different tones just a stomp away, it's for you.
Anyway, I'd say to be careful if I consider the fact that I have had 3 USS ENTERPRISE-class multi-fx units and anytime I used them I felt something important missing compared to a pure guitar-cable-wah-delay-chorus-cable-cranked amp setup. I must add that I'm a no-brainer and I'd rather use one top-notch tone than many decent ones.
If I consider its building quality, the fact that you get a very flexible setup for a rather decent price and I look at its user-friendly surface and seeing what great a COSM system is, plus the idea that you don't have to learn tap-dancing, I'd absolutely recommend it. If you need many different tones just a stomp away, it's for you.
Anyway, I'd say to be careful if I consider the fact that I have had 3 USS ENTERPRISE-class multi-fx units and anytime I used them I felt something important missing compared to a pure guitar-cable-wah-delay-chorus-cable-cranked amp setup. I must add that I'm a no-brainer and I'd rather use one top-notch tone than many decent ones.
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kevlar3000
Bullet Proof Toneologist
Re: What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
So Cal, thanks for checking out Butter face. I appreciate it.
The delay ( signal cut) happens with pre programmed patches, so lets say you switch from pedal one patch to pedal two patch. There you will get a delay. There is another way it can be used which is just by useing it like a stomp box, far left for Distortion, Middle for modulation, right for delay and echo. There are no signal cuts with that but your settings will not be saved. Still useable, but a trip to a gig can mess up all your knob settings. The distorion FX are very nice and I am sure you could front an amp nicely. I myself use a clean boost separate from the ME50 just cause I like how it sounds with my amps better. The compression on this is very good, extremely transaparent if you run it the right way. Noise Gate is fantastic. The reverb does not have a good "sweet" spot it is often too much or too little. I wish that had been improved. The modulation FX are really nice, I love the Phase on Butter Face very much like a Phase 90.
SoCalSteve said:
So Cal, thanks for checking out Butter face. I appreciate it.
The delay ( signal cut) happens with pre programmed patches, so lets say you switch from pedal one patch to pedal two patch. There you will get a delay. There is another way it can be used which is just by useing it like a stomp box, far left for Distortion, Middle for modulation, right for delay and echo. There are no signal cuts with that but your settings will not be saved. Still useable, but a trip to a gig can mess up all your knob settings. The distorion FX are very nice and I am sure you could front an amp nicely. I myself use a clean boost separate from the ME50 just cause I like how it sounds with my amps better. The compression on this is very good, extremely transaparent if you run it the right way. Noise Gate is fantastic. The reverb does not have a good "sweet" spot it is often too much or too little. I wish that had been improved. The modulation FX are really nice, I love the Phase on Butter Face very much like a Phase 90.
SoCalSteve
New member
Re: What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
I just picked up an ME-50 and wondered if you guys run yours through the front (guitar input) or the effects loop?
Hey, I just noticed my post count dropped!
I just picked up an ME-50 and wondered if you guys run yours through the front (guitar input) or the effects loop?
Hey, I just noticed my post count dropped!
Re: What do you think of the Boss ME50 ?
Im not an ME50 user, but my guess is this . . . if your using chorus's, tremolo's and delay's you'll want the 50 in the loop, if your using the compressors and distortions, you'll want it in the front end . . . is this right guys? I guess it also depends on the signal's type *line or instrument* Im sure someone else will chime in and help out.
Ty
Im not an ME50 user, but my guess is this . . . if your using chorus's, tremolo's and delay's you'll want the 50 in the loop, if your using the compressors and distortions, you'll want it in the front end . . . is this right guys? I guess it also depends on the signal's type *line or instrument* Im sure someone else will chime in and help out.
Ty
