Boss ME-50 - Anyone had any dealings with this ?

[Phil Bennett]

Hi everyone.

My pedal board is just too big and cumbersome, so I have decided to sell the lot and buy something neat and tidy. I only play in the bedroom so I should be able to get something good enough for purpose.

I have had a GT6, but it was just too complicated for me, and I don't want the amp modelling, but saying that it may be useful for the up coming recording for the BAM cd ( we'll see ).

I was thinking about a Boss ME50, Line6 POD or Vox Tonelab, I would also like to be able to swap patches via a footswitch.

Any information or opinions would be vey useful.

Or alternatively should I sell the Mesa DC5 and buy a Vox valvetronix ?

Regards

Phil

[Christopher Wade]

I looked into the ME-50, because in theory, it's exactly what I wanted form a multi-effects unit. Namely, knobs for real-time shaping.

But having read the review in Guitar Player about 6 months ago, I decided to pass. They were critical of the lack of control over some of the effects (single knob for multiple parameters on the compressor and reverb - not much fine tuning). Plus, if you want to be able to change banks and toggle effects in and out, you either have to use a push button with your finger on the front of the unit, or purchase and hook up 3 separate footpedals - which kind of defeates the "tidy and compact" reasoning.

Lastly, while they raved about the distortions and amp models, those weren't what I was looking for. I was looking for something without distortion, just give me chorus, flange, tremolo, delay and the like.

You might be able to find the review online (Dave Navarro issue).

Here's the short of it.

Pros: easy programmability, high-quality sounds.
Cons: No bank up/down, reverb or compressor footswitches. Uninspiring presets. No effects bypass in memory mode. Unweildy tap functions. No digital I/O.
"My gripe has to do with how those effects are organized and controlled, nd which corners were cut in order to meet pricing goals. ...the cost containment measures for this product may have cut more than just corners."

[Phil Bennett]

I didn't realise that the unit had amp modelling.

3 seperate footswitches....hum.

thanks for the feedback

Regards

[jkornel]

The ME-50 does NOT have amp modeling. Not from the ones I've seen anyway. I have a buddy that bought one and he seems to like it... then again I've never liked his tone.


I wouldn't mind trying one out myself. My only concern is that I would want the distortion effects up front and the delays/mod effects in the loop. I don't think that is a possibility with the ME-50

Oh and my advice...DO NOT buy a valvtronix. I went through 2 in 6 months and they sound great but they are just not reliable.

[vangit]

jkornel is correct, NO modeling. The GT-6 has modeling, not the ME-50.

[Christopher Wade]

No amp modeling. Sorry, my bad. I meant to type "pedal models". I had Valvetronix on the brain I think.

[Phil Bennett]

No amp modeling. Sorry, my bad. I meant to type "pedal models". I had Valvetronix on the brain I think.
No problems my friend.

Regards

Phil

[Old Fuzzface]

Phil,

How many pedals do you have at the moment? If you're only using a few, then the ME50 might not give any real advantage.

My friend Nick has one and it seems to work for him. He mainly uses it as a bunch of pedals (i.e. changing settings on the knobs for each song) and doesn't use the distortions much. It sounds to me just as good as his old BOSS pedals (but now he can do some new tricks as well).

It might be just what you're after. If you want to keep separate pedals, checkout the Chandler PedalTrain unit for tidying things up.

All the best,

[Old Fuzzface]

The ME-50 does NOT have amp modeling. Not from the ones I've seen anyway. I have a buddy that bought one and he seems to like it... then again I've never liked his tone.


I wouldn't mind trying one out myself. My only concern is that I would want the distortion effects up front and the delays/mod effects in the loop. I don't think that is a possibility with the ME-50

Oh and my advice...DO NOT buy a valvtronix. I went through 2 in 6 months and they sound great but they are just not reliable.
J,

The ME50 has to go in front of the amp. It has no loop to allow a 4-lead connection a la GT6.

[Phil Bennett]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Well I've sold all of my pedals on E.bay, and bought a PodXT with a shortboard controller.

I've just got home today, but will be trying it out tomorrow. I think it will cover everything I want. It also acts as a guitarport, which I didn't know, but was thinking about trying. (me as a learner ,has to get all the help I can).

I bought it from Andertons in Guildford, just as I was passing.

I'll let you know what its like if anyones interested.

Regards

Phil

[Jo]

Andertons... YAY! I lived in Guildford (next door to the train station) and did all the computer training for the office staff and Peter(?) Anderton himself. I also helped them in their early days of the Academy of Contemp. Music when it was just getting started with getting their database sorted out. Andertons was always my regular stomping ground for getting all my stuff. They've really grown in size now. (sniff.. now I feel homesick).

Now can you actually use the Guitar Port lessons and content from guitarport.com website, or does it just use the same software as the GP so you can modify patches etc.

[Phil Bennett]

Andertons... YAY! I lived in Guildford (next door to the train station) and did all the computer training for the office staff and Peter(?) Anderton himself. I also helped them in their early days of the Academy of Contemp. Music when it was just getting started with getting their database sorted out. Andertons was always my regular stomping ground for getting all my stuff. They've really grown in size now. (sniff.. now I feel homesick).

Now can you actually use the Guitar Port lessons and content from guitarport.com website, or does it just use the same software as the GP so you can modify patches etc.
Ah Jo. I was just passing Andertons on the way home to Newcastle from Leatherhead, and I was impressed with the choice of equipment.

Now then Pod XT / Guitarport, i'll have to get back to you on that one, when i've learnt how to connect it all up.

Regards