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Boss Pedals

NovawindNovawind Posts: 836
edited June 2006 in Musicians and Gearheads
My girlfriend just got me a DS-1 for my birthday and I'm loving the hell out of it so far. I was thinking for my next one in a few months I would try either the Compression Sustainer or the BD-2 Blues Driver. Anyone have experience with either and/or a preference?

Before I get another pedal I'm investing in a hard case for my strat.
If idle hands are the devil's workshop, he must not be very productive.

7/9/06 LA 1
7/10/06 LA 2
10/21/06 Bridge 1
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    BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,292
    Neither, get a DD-5 or a DD-6 and a good wah pedal and you'll be set for a long time.
    Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
    Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
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    Thumbing My WayThumbing My Way Posts: 1,073
    BinFrog wrote:
    Neither, get a DD-5 or a DD-6 and a good wah pedal and you'll be set for a long time.

    I was looking into a DD-3 or 5 or 6 :) But the Line 6 DL4 I think will take it when I end up buying a delay......

    I also have the DS-1 and the next pedal I bought was the Crybaby 535Q....after that the Boss SD-1 (Overdrive) Which I use more than the DS-1, I just like the tones from it better.

    If I could get another Overdrive pedal by Boss I would go with the BD-2 for sure, even over my SD-1 I think, it was just to expensive at the time.....

    The BD-2's are like $130 CAN and I bought my SD-1 used for $40.......
    "I Miss You Already!!!!!"

    "Sorry is the fool who trades his love for high-rise rent, Seems the more you make equals the loneliness you get"

    .NJD.
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    dont_go_on_medont_go_on_me Posts: 877
    look into getting all your boss pedals modded...improves them more than you'd believe. I have a Keeley BD-2 and it's fantastic. I also have an unmodded DD-5 that's a great delay (by digital delay standards).
    "I'll do whatever the song dictates - if it doesn't need a real lead, then I won't do one. But if it does, then I'll fuckin' go off." - Mike

    "Japan is awesome; the fans there knew all the words to all the songs...at least phonetically." - Stone

    "I know this song so well, I can smoke a cigarette, have a drink, brush my teeth, take a shit, and mow the lawn while singing it. But I'll only be doing a couple of those things during this version." - EV
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    Dirty_FrankDirty_Frank Posts: 957
    THe BD-2 is a great pedal, even unmodded. The modded one is a very good pedal, but can be a bit of an investment. The stock pedal is just fine though. I have a DD-3, and it's a great pedal. It can do all sorts of cool stuff, and costs a bit less than the DD-5 or DD-6.

    I had the Compression/Sustainer, and I hated it. In my opinion, it wasn't a very good sounding pedal. It may have been my setup and style, but I could not for the life of me get it to sound good.

    I'll add another +1 on the SD-1. I've been using the SD-1 for about 6 years now, and it's probably the only pedal that has remained a mainstay on my board.

    Boss pedals are good for the money, and will cover the basics of electric guitar tones and effects. It's when you get a bit more disconcerting that you start to wander into the booteek stuff. :)
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    HailHailVitalogyHailHailVitalogy Posts: 4,543
    I have had

    BD-2
    DD-3
    DS-1
    DS-2

    I hated the DS-1...the DS-2 wasn't bad but when I got my BD-2 I was a lot happier.

    The BD-2 is an amazing pedal with a strat or any single could guitar. I usually run the tone down low with the gain at half way or a little more, with my strat on the middle or neck pickup, that is an AMAZING tone.

    The DD-3 is great too. Very simple delay pedal that does the job, I love it.
    2003: Uniondale, MSG x2 | 2004: Reading | 2005: Gorge, Vancouver, Philly | 2006: East Rutherford x2, Gorge x2, Camden 1, Hartford | 2008: MSG x2, VA Beach | 2009: Philly x3 | 2010: MSG x2, Bristow | 2011: Alpine Valley x2 | 2012: MIA Philly | 2013: Wrigley, Charlottesville, Brooklyn 2 | 2014: Milan, Amsterdam 1 | 2016: MSG x2, Fenway x2, Wrigley 2 | 2018: Rome, Krakow, Berlin | 2021: Sea Hear Now | 2022: San Diego, LA x2, MSG, Camden, Nashville, St. Louis, Denver | 2023: St. Paul 1, Chicago x2, Fort Worth x2, Austin 2
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    harrisonmerwinharrisonmerwin Posts: 766
    i would take the DL4 over a DD-3,5,6. I have both, since the addition of the DL4, my DD-3 is just a "chink in the chain" or whatever the saying is. as for distortion/overdrive, i run to the hills from boss
    2005.09.04
    2005.09.05

    "how many people did die from that?...did P.Diddy kill them?" - Eddie Vedder 2006.02.19
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    BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,292
    I have an assload of pedals and can answer questions if you have any. Here's my list:

    Boss PW10 V-Wah
    Boss Auto Wah
    Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter
    Boss DD-5 Delay
    Boss MT-2 Metal Zone
    Boss DS-1 Distortion
    Boss CH-1 Chorus
    Boss CS-3 Compression/Sustainer
    Boss GE-7 Equalizer
    Boss RV-2 Digital Reverb

    Dunlop Cry-Baby Wah

    Ibanez Flanger Soundtank

    Akai D1 Shred-O-Matic Distortion
    Akai E1 Headrush Delay
    Akai P1 IntelliPhase

    Zoom RFX-300
    Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
    Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
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    jbdjbd Posts: 65
    Boss sucks.


    Sorry !



    But the dm-3 rules though !
    "Fuck the kids ! Except the ones who are buying our records! They're fucking themselves!" - Mark Arm
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    BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,292
    I disagree thoroughly. Boss pedals are built like tanks and there are so many different kinds to choose from. Sure they are mostly pretty standard, and I have a few I never use anymore, but a couple of their pedals are core parts of my setup.
    Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
    Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
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    Puck78Puck78 Posts: 737
    I have a DS1 as well, but I'm unhappy with the sound... since I'm a beginner, can I ask to the ones of you that are happy with it to tell which combination do you use of distorsion/tone, together with the gain/middle/bass/tremble of the amp to get a sound that you like?
    www.amnesty.org
    www.amnesty.org.uk
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    jbdjbd Posts: 65
    I'm getting a ds1 pretty soon (no I'm not buying it someone's giving it to me !), I'll tell you then. But really, the sound you'll get will vary depending on what guitar/amp you use... So I don't think I'll really be of any help.
    "Fuck the kids ! Except the ones who are buying our records! They're fucking themselves!" - Mark Arm
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    BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,292
    Puck78 wrote:
    I have a DS1 as well, but I'm unhappy with the sound... since I'm a beginner, can I ask to the ones of you that are happy with it to tell which combination do you use of distorsion/tone, together with the gain/middle/bass/tremble of the amp to get a sound that you like?


    I don't use my DS-1 anymore, but I found it to be a great pedal to use in combination with other distortion pedals, usually after them in your chain. It mixed nicel with my Akai distortion pedal to create some real tight sustain.
    Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
    Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
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    Puck78Puck78 Posts: 737
    jbd wrote:
    I'm getting a ds1 pretty soon (no I'm not buying it someone's giving it to me !), I'll tell you then. But really, the sound you'll get will vary depending on what guitar/amp you use... So I don't think I'll really be of any help.
    my guitar is a fender strato-squier. The amp is a fender 15G frontman. it doesn't have a switch pedal, so I'm always devided between using the ds1 with a clean tone or with some gain.
    www.amnesty.org
    www.amnesty.org.uk
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    Dirty_FrankDirty_Frank Posts: 957
    BinFrog wrote:
    I disagree thoroughly. Boss pedals are built like tanks and there are so many different kinds to choose from. Sure they are mostly pretty standard, and I have a few I never use anymore, but a couple of their pedals are core parts of my setup.


    +1.

    Boss pedals are fantastic for any musician. You can find any tone you're looking for with a wide assortment of reasonably priced pedals. Sure, there's better pedals out there, but finding, and affording them is a major issue for some people.

    To the average musician, usable, and GOOD tones can be found in a large assortment of Boss pedals.

    There's a lot of gear paradigms that are thrown around, but in the end it all comes down to what SOUNDS the best to you. A quick example would be the Digitech Bad Monkey Overdrive. I would just pass that one by without looking at it twice or even trying it out. It's got a great reputation as being a great OD pedal for a super cheap price.
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    Puck78Puck78 Posts: 737
    so, no suggestions on which are the best amp and ds1 knobs position? :(
    www.amnesty.org
    www.amnesty.org.uk
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    BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,292
    Puck78 wrote:
    so, no suggestions on which are the best amp and ds1 knobs position? :(



    The best position is the one you figure out that has the sound you are going for. There is no right or wrong.
    Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
    Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
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    jbdjbd Posts: 65
    BinFrog wrote:
    The best position is the one you figure out that has the sound you are going for. There is no right or wrong.

    exactly. I just traded my Classic 30 for a Delta Blues (That's the Stone sound I'm telling 'ya), and my Ts9 just doesn't seem to sound the way I want it to anymore... I'm worried. So you see, it all depends on your amp and guitar, but I'll tell you my Ds1 favorite settings once I get it... Don't think it'll be usefull though.
    "Fuck the kids ! Except the ones who are buying our records! They're fucking themselves!" - Mark Arm
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    keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    Ok, I would reccomend a CE-5 Chorus Ensemble and a DD-6. I have those two plus the DS-1. I prefer the MXR Dynacomp to the Boss Compressor, as I AB'd them and chose the dynacomp. As for DS-1 settings.

    Tone: 12 o'clock
    Level: 2 o'clock
    Gain: Depends on what I'm playing
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
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    exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    i don't recommend the CS-3 compressor. it's range of usable settings is very small. i also found it quite noisy (common to most cheap pedals). lots of white noise hiss.

    i second the dynacomp recommendation for a basic compressor.
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    Dirty_FrankDirty_Frank Posts: 957
    exhausted wrote:
    i don't recommend the CS-3 compressor. it's range of usable settings is very small. i also found it quite noisy (common to most cheap pedals). lots of white noise hiss.

    i second the dynacomp recommendation for a basic compressor.


    I'm going to add a +1 to this. I hated the CS-3.
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    Pearl Jam and toastPearl Jam and toast Posts: 4,475
    i have a boss DD6 and i love it. i mean i realllllllly love it.

    only problem is i can't get reverb.. it always comes out as a strange sounding delay... but then again it's not a reverb pedal :p

    the difference in the dd6 and dd3 is special features.

    Warp - hold down the pedal and it drives it into some choatic thing, which is really cool but not all that useful.

    reverse - kick ass. i've used this more and more as i grew to understand it.

    hold - sample up to like 5.2 seconds of sound. a bit choppy on the replay.. i never have a use for it.

    it's worth the extra money just for the fun, but the delay itself; i.e. the pedal stripped down (the dd-3) is just terrific.


    i also have a boss comp./sustainer and i like it.

    it's very useful as a compressor, limiter, sustainer, even overdrive to some extent. and as always with boss pedals, it's easy to manipulate the pedal to do what you want it to.

    Now i don't have a lot of experience in compression so there might be a better buy,... if this is the same pedal those guys are talking about (CS-3... little blue pedal... i'm too lazy to go look ;) ) than they're right about the white noise. But i only get that when the attack and sustain are high. When used as a limiter (i can crank my little marshall practice amp up to get a nice sound and comp. the signal to even it out... very handy for late at night so i don't wake anyone up ;) ) it's nice and quiet.

    based on what i've got i'd say boss makes pretty good pedals; esp. considering price.
    Come on pilgrim you know he loves you..

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    Oh my, they dropped the leash.



    Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!

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    Dirty_FrankDirty_Frank Posts: 957
    And supposedly the best OD pedal for the money:

    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/DigiTech-Bad-Monkey-Tube-Overdrive-Pedal?sku=150831

    Costs about $40.00, and people say it sounds better than many that cost up to $200.00.

    :o

    I'm going to buy one and give it a shot one of these days.
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    keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    Ya I've been thinking about that pedal. I have a DS-1 but I want an overdrive.
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
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    moster78moster78 Posts: 1,591
    I've been debating selling off my Boss pedals, SD-1, BD-2 and DS-2, ever since I got the Greedtone. I find that pedal can do it all, and haven't even plugged in any of the Boss since I got it. Any takers?
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    Thumbing My WayThumbing My Way Posts: 1,073
    keeponrockin wrote:
    Ya I've been thinking about that pedal. I have a DS-1 but I want an overdrive.

    I have a DS-1 and think it's pretty solid....

    I also have an SD-1 the Super Overdrive one, which I use way more than the Distortion, it's a really solid OD pedal for the money and you can blend the 2 together to get some really rockin' tones.

    I liked the EH Big Muff too when I was checking out OD's
    moster78 wrote:
    I've been debating selling off my Boss pedals, SD-1, BD-2 and DS-2, ever since I got the Greedtone. I find that pedal can do it all, and haven't even plugged in any of the Boss since I got it. Any takers?

    I would love to get my hands on a BD-2 if the price were right :)

    Would that be weird though?? (Having a DS-1, SD-1 and a BD-2)
    "I Miss You Already!!!!!"

    "Sorry is the fool who trades his love for high-rise rent, Seems the more you make equals the loneliness you get"

    .NJD.
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    moster78moster78 Posts: 1,591
    Thumbing My Way wrote:
    I would love to get my hands on a BD-2 if the price were right :)

    Would that be weird though?? (Having a DS-1, SD-1 and a BD-2)

    No, I have the same, except the DS-2 instead of the DS-1. PM me an offer and we'll see if we can work something out.
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    BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,292
    Dirty_Frank wrote:
    And supposedly the best OD pedal for the money:

    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/DigiTech-Bad-Monkey-Tube-Overdrive-Pedal?sku=150831

    Costs about $40.00, and people say it sounds better than many that cost up to $200.00.

    :o

    I'm going to buy one and give it a shot one of these days.



    I have the Blackstone Mosfet Overdrive pedal and I beg to differ :)
    Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
    Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
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    NovawindNovawind Posts: 836
    moster78 wrote:
    I've been debating selling off my Boss pedals, SD-1, BD-2 and DS-2, ever since I got the Greedtone. I find that pedal can do it all, and haven't even plugged in any of the Boss since I got it. Any takers?

    Check your private messages.
    If idle hands are the devil's workshop, he must not be very productive.

    7/9/06 LA 1
    7/10/06 LA 2
    10/21/06 Bridge 1
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    keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    BinFrog wrote:
    I have the Blackstone Mosfet Overdrive pedal and I beg to differ :)

    Where do you get the Blackstone pedal? Thats my last name and would love to have one.
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
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    BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,292
    http://www.mindspring.com/~j.blackstone/

    Warning: it's the greatest overdrive pedal ever.
    Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
    Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
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