Friday 1 October 2010

Boss Effects Pedals - A Brief Review

Boss DS-2 TURBO Distortion pedal.
For many years, guitar players have been supplementing the sounds available from the traditional guitar and amplifier setups. Often, guitar players can be seen stomping on foot pedals to get that signature sound through their amps. Boss effects pedals have been giving guitar players and bass players a reason to tap their feet for over 35 years. Founded in 1973, Boss has primarily focused on items for guitar players and bassists, including the renowned Boss effects pedals.

The first Boss effects pedal came out in 1976, the CE-1 Chorus. It came with an AC adapter and was considered the greatest effect of its time. After that overdrive pedals came out, the phaser pedal was introduced. Every time a new guitar sound was heard on vinyl Boss was the pioneer. After the sound changed again in the 80s, a flanger pedal was crafted and then their famous delay pedal hit the scene. By now, Boss effect pedals have been stomped on by millions of bass and guitar players.

Their distortion and overdrive pedals seems to be their biggest sellers because of their versatility. Heavy metal music relies greatly on the sound that Boss produces and anybody who plays hard rock or metal probably has a Boss pedal within stepping distance. They are built tough and the circuitry is clean when switching channels, which is important when recording or playing live.

Depending on what sound you want, Boss effects pedals have got you covered. If you play blues or want an overdrive you can pick up a BD-2 Blues Driver or OD-3 OverDrive pedal. Subtle overdrive to full metal distortion are all available through Boss; they practically make the sounds you've heard in all brands of popular music. They change with the musical landscape and create the effects we all marvel at.

Boss also offers pedal with reverb and delay, pitch shift and twin pedals that offer multiple control over your effects. If you play bass guitar then they offer flanger, EQ, chorus, overdrive and synthesizer effects. Even drum machines are covered under the Boss umbrella.

The Boss DS-1 is their most basic but most popular model. It has three knobs: tone, level and distortion. This little monster has been used by Nirvana, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and John Petrucci of Dream Theater. Most recent users are bands such as The Killers. This Boss effects pedal has seen more action than any other model. It's simple yet very effective and is a popular candidate for hot-rodding and modifications, as seen in the popular Keeley and Analog.Man modifications.

Many guitar players keep coming back to Boss because they are built sturdy and deliver a distinct sound. Every guitar player is looking for their signature sound and Boss makes a pedal for just about any sound you want. One of their newest pedals is the Fender FRV-1; if you haven't heard the sound of a 63 Fender then this pedal will take you there. They also come with a Bassman pedal and Deluxe Reverb pedal for a trio of damage.

Boss effects pedals are easily recognizable by their sturdy design and the bright colors. You can even find one to match your guitar. They are built to withstand touring and the constant abuse they take under an aggressive stomp. Their design hasn't changed so when guitar players buy a new Boss effects pedal, they will feel like they're meeting an old friend.

Ray's Guitar Shop

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