Boss Poly Shift XS-1 and XS-100 Official Thread™ With Video(s)

[Iron1]

I'm temped to keep this and chuck it in the rack and leave it permanently connected, still deciding.

I have a Drop out front of my Helix Rack “permanently” and have for about 5 years now. Recorded many a “Do Something Challenge” song with it. Just so easy to use vs re-tuning.

I have a large collection of Digitech Whammies so I'll always keep using those. However, I have been using the Boss as well here and there because it does the job really well too!

Thanks for the answer - and for the thorough vid.

 

[AlbertA]

 

[JiveTurkey]

Only Boss' dumb fucking asses would release a drop tuning pedal that doesn't allow for note bending. Jesus fucking christ

 

[Sascha Franck]

Only Boss' dumb fucking asses would release a drop tuning pedal that doesn't allow for note bending.

What does that mean?

 

[2dor]

What does that mean?

Think it relates to how the XS1 artifacts when bending notes.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Think it relates to how the XS1 artifacts when bending notes.

Ah well, ok. Not exactly uncommon, I'd say. Obviously can't tell whether it's really that bad on the Boss.

 

[JiveTurkey]

The Boss doesn't handle vibrato, note bending and pinch harmonics. It warbles out. Because no idiot at Boss thought that people would ever use those techniques when playing guitar.

 

[2dor]

The Boss doesn't handle vibrato, note bending and pinch harmonics. It warbles out. Because no idiot at Boss thought that people would ever use those techniques when playing guitar.

View attachment 57184

It's odd really for an otherwise stellar pitch pedal.

 

[JiveTurkey]

It's odd really for an otherwise stellar pitch pedal.

It's just totally in Boss dumb wheelhouse. I like the FAS VC the best but if I grab an AM4; I won't currently have that. I was looking at the other options again just for "fun". I was actually looking for my regular board purposes as well.

 

[2dor]

It's just totally in Boss dumb wheelhouse. I like the FAS VC the best but if I grab an AM4; I won't currently have that. I was looking at the other options again just for "fun". I was actually looking for my regular board purposes as well.

I was so close to getting the XS1 but saw the user reports ... maybe Digitech'll come out with a new Drop.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I was so close to getting the XS1 but saw the user reports ... maybe Digitech'll come out with a new Drop.

I was looking at the Whammy DT and for a minute there; thought it was an updated algo and was going to add a 2ft wide pedal to my board but came to my senses.

 

[Dave Lewis]

I did find it easier and faster to use the Whammy’s I’m used to.
So forced myself to use the Boss XS-100 since it arrived.
I’m now quite used to it and enjoy using it.
It’s not as bad as some folk make out.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I’ll test it again tonight. I don’t recall being bothered by it.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I think the XS-1 would be "fine". I know I thought tuning up was synthetic AF but it was ok overall? The XS-100 was for me absolute overkill though, size wise and just the clunkiness of it vs. an actual whammy pedal.

 

[Baba]

I think the XS-1 would be "fine". I know I thought tuning up was synthetic AF but it was ok overall? The XS-100 was for me absolute overkill though, size wise and just the clunkiness of it vs. an actual whammy pedal.

It's probably one of those things where, you'll be the only one who will notice anything, but, that matters. To what degree, is up for debate, etc.

The Poly Capo in HX may not be the end all/be all, but I have no problem, with pinch harmonics, fast shredding, bends and the like, and I'm not sure how you polyphonically raise or lower your tuning, electronically, without SOME kind of noticeable artifact/effect.

 

[[Nathan]]

Im not a heavy bender but the XS1 handles bends and vibrato for my uses. Nothing about these pedals will be "perfect", so if its good then im happy with it. You're claiming that it flat out doesnt do it... but it does.

Happy to reamp some DI's if the sum41 3 second tracking source material isnt showing enough here.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Im not a heavy bender but the XS1 handles bends and vibrato for my uses. Nothing about these pedals will be "perfect", so if its good then im happy with it. You're claiming that it flat out doesnt do it... but it does.

Happy to reamp some DI's if the sum41 3 second tracking source material isnt showing enough here.

So would you say it's a non-issue?

 

[[Nathan]]

So would you say it's a non-issue?

The whole pitch shift quest always has trade offs and is never perfect. I always know and expect something to have a touch of lag and some kind of quality hit and a few other things, it’s just “how acceptable is this to use”

Within that spectrum it’s a non issue for me, it holds up as well as I’d expect it to. I can still get vibrato, and bends are still coming through on short fast lead runs (not as crisp as the original but they’re there).

I haven’t heard artifacting or note hunting when it can’t figure out where to go, that stuff would massively annoy me.

For my uses I was very impressed with the xs1. I pretty much want rock solid down tuning for rhythm and it works impressively well for that. Totally understand expressive lead players might have different mileage but for meat and potato rhythm stuff it’s up there with the best imo