December 6, 2009
The Boss ME-70 Multi-Effects Pedalboard: A Review
For the last few years I have relied upon a Boss ME-50 Boss multi-effects system to supplement my main gig pedalboard. The reason is simple. My main board is absolutely huge, with almost 12 dedicated effects pedals. It’s great, but it’s also a back-breaker and sometimes causes more hassle than it’s worth. I’ve learned the hard way that carrying around a gigantic pedalboard isn’t always the best solution, especially for short gigs or practices. As a result, the ME-50 has proven worth its weight in gold on more than one occasion. I never thought I would want to replace my Boss ME-50…then Boss introduced the ME-70.
To start, I think the new ME-70 looks a lot cooler than the ME-50. While you shouldn’t judge a pedalboard by its color, it’s hard not to notice that the all-black ME-70 looks a lot sharper than the all-blue ME-50. It just plain looks bad-ass, but there’s more to this pedalboard than its new color.
Of course, looks don’t affect the sound, so what’s different under the hood? Well, that’s where the ME-70 really sets itself apart from its predecessor. In a relatively small package you’ve got what amounts to 40 different Boss effects pedals. Yep, these are the same classic Boss sounds that we’ve come to rely upon for so many years. All of your favorites are here – the distortions, overdrives, delays, choruses – from both the ME-50 and your old Boss pedals. It’s amazing what the ME-70 packs under the hood. It’s a virtual history of Boss effects pedals!
In addition to these classic Boss sounds, the ME-70 has some other cool new features as well. I honestly have never been a huge fan of multi-effects pedalboards that have onboard preamp sections because I never used the preamp, preferring amplifier-based preamp sounds. That was until I had a gig where my tube amp completely died on me, and I was forced to plug my pedalboard straight into the P.A. system. It sounded just plain awful. I then realized the value of having a backup plan in place in case of equipment failure, and the ME-70. It has a COSM preamp that can be turned off completely but is easily accessible if needed. For some gigs, the ME-70 could even be the only thing you bring in addition to your guitar.
Another welcome addition to the Boss ME-7o is the onboard looper. Boss makes great looping pedals, and if you’ve ever used a Boss Loop Station, you’ll recognize the same Boss quality here as well. The looper gives you up to 38 seconds of loop time, which is exceptional for a non-dedicated looper.
One of my favorite effects is compression, and that was always a shortcoming of the ME-50. The compressor didn’t have its own pedal, and the controls were pretty meager. Fortunately, the engineers at Boss saw fit to add a dedicated compressor section to the ME-70. Smart thinking.
Fortunately, all the wonderful features of the ME-50 are still present in the ME-70. You still have the noise suppression and adjustable reverb in addition to the rocker pedal that controls volume, wah, and pitch-shifting effects.
If you’re looking for a professional quality effects pedal system that offers dozens of effects at a price that won’t break your wallet, you should consider the Boss ME-70, worthy of the Boss name.
If you’re looking for the best price on the Boss ME-70 Multi-Effects Pedalboard, be sure to visit JustEffectsPedals.com, which offers the best price on the Boss ME-70 Multi-Effects Pedalboard available today!
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