Ugly Truth Review: Boss RV-6 Reverb

I was able to sit down recently with the new reverb pedal from Boss. I was quite excited because the demo the made this pedal look like a pedal with more than just a subtle effect. Reverb is something that not all player enjoy. I never used reverb much for a long time, because I saw it as something that made everything sound mushy. I played a lot of punk/rock/metal tunes that didn't quite jive with jangly reverb, but now my style of playing has changed (or at least I play more types of music). So I've found my self using the reverb on my amp, and then I used the reverb on my Line6 M5. So My attention was peaked when I saw all the features of the RV-6.

It's A Reverb Pedal

Yes, it's true, this pedal is exactly what it says it is. The Shimmer and Dynamic settings are new and very enjoyable. I found myself spending the most time with these two new settings. This is probably due to the fact that I, and most other people, are familiar with the other types of reverb. But with is neat is that these effects are more of a "special" effect than an emulation of what amps already do. This pedal does reverb just as well as its older sibling, the RV-5, but has more to offer. The stereo operation is still intact, and the sound quality is just as good or better than before. There really is no setting that is "to far" that you can't make some musical noise out of it, unlike the EHX Holy Grail (not saying that 'to far' is always 'to far'). If you like a good reverb, this pedal is probably the best and most flexible I've played in a long time.

It's More Than A Reverb

I've talked about the new feature of this pedal, and there are several, but the most exciting to me was the fact that you can set the pedal for 100% wet signal. I've become a little more versed in the world of ambient noise and like the idea of a pedal that makes just that. These features, as well as the expression pedal input, suggest that this pedal can do more than just make reverb. In fact, much of my time with the pedal was making strange noises with it. I've mentioned the Holy Grail reverb earlier. That pedal is great when set at reasonable levels. Once you start to crank it, however, thing take a turn for the unmusical. This is not true for the RV-6. Run this pedal full bore and you still get usable, if not a bit "over the top" reverberations. The Expression capabilities are a fun thought. Being able to swell reverb is something that seems applicable in certain situations. No longer is a reverb relegated to subtle "after-note" effects, but can actually made a big difference in the tone and vibe of your playing.

Conclusion

I like this pedal. It may be the most excited I've ever been about reverb. Everything sound great and the controls are dead simple. It's really easy to dial in a tone you're looking for. If you are in the market for a reverb, then you should check this one out. If you like to make weird noises and you want a pedal to help with that, then you should check this pedal out. Other pedal that create just a fraction of this pedals range sell for what you'd pay for this unit or more. Do your self a favor and take a good look at the RV-6 from Boss. It's a reverb that gives you a lot more than "reverb".

The Ugly Truth About The Boss RV-6

Boss has a new Reverb pedal coming in 2015. Anounced just before NAMM, Boss let us get our first looks are their RV-6 Reveb pedal, and I have to admit that is it the most exciting reverb pedal I've seen recently.

The Ugly truth is that Boss is playing catch up. They aren't innovating any more. The closest they have come recently was with their Tera Echo, but that has only met with limit success. I am a fan of making weird sounds, but the Tera just didn't wow me. The New DD-500 delay will incorporate some of it's features so it might be going the way of the dodo. This reverb unit with add some features and flexibility that may have seem as overkill when the RV-5 was developed. But the focus on ambient sounds have pushed reverb users to ask more from the reverbs than their traditional uses. Not exactly competing with the likes of the Strymon Big Sky, the RV-6 is an replacement of the current unit. Boss may be struggling to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving market place. Boss have been known to produce quality products, but they aren't quick to update. This reverb unit makes so much sense. The fact that Boss will keep the price the same is actually really cool. Giving players new gear at the old price is a smart move. What else do you expect from a company that has been in the pedal business for decades.

The video of it in action on Boss site is my favorite. The 100% wet signal in really interesting, and temping.

Ugly Truth About The New Boss DD-500 Delay Pedal

Let me just say that when I saw the new delay play from Boss. I was excited. It has been years since I've seen something from Boss that I actually got excited about. In the last couple of years we've seen some special edition Blues Drives and Distortions. We even got a remake of the old analog delay. Somewhat recently Boss unveiled their Tera Echo. My local music store clerk was pretty excited about that one, but I didn't exactly go to pieces over it. I wan't to like these pedals, but they just came off as overpriced and over-hyped. But The DD-500 is something that I can honestly say that I'm excited to get my hands on.

I've used the DD-20 delay for years and loved it. The features are great and the operation is simple. The twin pedal design has had limit success. Boss has offered many effect in the twin format. Most are forgettable. The OD-20 is a completely lack luster overdrive pedal, Space Echo and Slicer are not far behind. The Loop Station and Giga-Delay are the most recognizable and prolific of the twin series. But even those have started to look a little dated. It's been a considerable time since Boss pedal were held as trendy pedals. The design and look of their pedals have remained the same since the conception with little exception. That is until now.

The DD-500 is a direct departure from Boss' standard line of effects. Completely redesigning their pedal from the enclosure up. The addition of metal switches seems strange on a boss pedal, but good kind of strange. It is the the kind of strange when you realize that you like the way a Ford Torus looks. The market has changed for delays recently. I went to buy a good delay about 5 years ago. My choices were pretty limited. There was the Line6 DL-4 and Boss DD-20. Now we have a head spinning decision when shopping for delay. TC Electronic, Visual Sound, Strymon, and Empress making top notch delays.  The new Boss Pedal is trying to compete with these pedals. They have packed this pedal with features and options. It looks great, it sounds great and it's not outrageously expensive. It fits in Boss' current line of delays. The DD-20 is sitting at $200 and the DD-500 is set to debut at $300. While they compete with the top of the line Delay pedals, they sit near the bottom price wise.

The feature stack up and leave the previous models in the dust. It borrows from nearly every outstanding delay in the boss catalog. Vintage and Tape modes are pretty standard, but the Tera Echo also makes a contribution. The addition of the Tap/Control switch is a welcome addition. This switch is actually programmable. For a full list of features check out Boss' page. I have to say that I really want test drive one of these pedals and see just how this pedal stacks up against everything else out there is the market. Boss has made a departure from their norm, which is shocking.

Will there be more?

What pedal would you like to see get this treatment from Boss?

Leave a comment!

New Pedals from Boss Look A Lot Like Some Old Ones.

So I jump on the computer today to do some time-killing and I found something very peculiar. My first stop (as far as music gear goes) is MusiciansFriend. I like to check their "Stupid Deal of The Day", but today I saw something else. At first glance it looked to be a Boss DS-1 (the infamous "Orange Box") but it was priced at three times the normal price. I looked a little closer and found out that in fact it is a new orange box. They slapped an "X" on the end of the name, gave it high and low tone knobs, and tripled the price. I haven't heard any samples of this pedal, but its hard for me to imagine people shelling out three times the price for a pedal that is famous for only being good for people to mod the ever-loving cush out of.

Here is what Boss has to same for themselves:

The DS-1X launches the famous BOSS distortion into a modern era of expression, delivering an unmatched level of performance for guitarists with an ear for tone. This next-generation stomp combines over 35 years of innovation in pedal design with the most advanced technologies, bringing you a completely new tonal experience that’s only possible with the legendary expertise of BOSS. Prepare to be amazed—the inspiring and ultra-responsive DS-1X will change your thinking about distortion pedals forever.

• Special edition BOSS distortion pedal with next-generation sound, feel, and tonal response
• All-new design provides a superior playing experience that’s unattainable with analog distortion pedals
• Powerful real-time processing adapts to your playing to provide ideal distortion tones in every register
• Enjoy perfect sounds over the entire fretboard, from tight, crisp tones on the low strings to fat, singing tones on the highest notes
• High-clarity distortion sound that’s never muddy or boomy, even when playing two or more notes at the same time
• Ultra-responsive to volume changes and picking dynamics
• Very low noise, even with high-gain settings
• Drive, High, and Low knobs offer a wide range of sound shaping not found in typical stompbox pedals
• Striking appearance with exclusive chrome knobs and control plate, plus vintage silver knob for battery compartment access
• Features BOSS’ innovative Multi-Dimensional Processing (MDP), realized with proprietary technology and custom DSP