Boss PX-1 Plugout FX

[Orvillain]

To this day, Boss have never done a multi-effect that actually gives you what you would get if you bought a ton of individual Boss pedals all at once.

The GT-1000 series doesn't even cover the same ground as owning DD500, RV500, and MD500... let alone when you start thinking about their other effect types.

It is kinda nuts how they've failed to read the market.

 

[Dez]

To this day, Boss have never done a multi-effect that actually gives you what you would get if you bought a ton of individual Boss pedals all at once.

The GT-1000 series doesn't even cover the same ground as owning DD500, RV500, and MD500... let alone when you start thinking about their other effect types.

It is kinda nuts how they've failed to read the market.

Yeah, a VP4 type pedal with every single Boss effect would be cool.

 

[Sascha Franck]

It is kinda nuts how they've failed to read the market.

Maybe they want to have it that way.
"See, you can get a taste of what things are like with our MFX pedals - but if you really want to enjoy the full glory, you need to spend more money and get our separate pedals!"
Kinda doubt it, though. It's likely just different development teams, just that the MFX guys are allowed to "borrow" from the other departments.

 

[Orvillain]

 

[Richard_G]

Yeah, a VP4 type pedal with every single Boss effect would be cool.

Yeah - that would be cool. But I'd prefer the VP4.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Cordy isn't amazed. But he's missing out on quite some things IMO (OC-2, external footswitch operation, etc.), so there's that.

 

[Orvillain]

The UX looks kind of bad to me.

 

[Lysander]

The UX looks kind of bad to me.

Yeah, that immediately caught my eye as well. A device with three controls should not fumble that bad - "no, i do not want to disable Bluetooth!".

Also, it might just be Cordy's video, but... it sounded kinda like crap? Anderton's demo made the PX-1 fare way better.

 

[Sascha Franck]

The UX looks kind of bad to me.

Agreed. But then, very likely the display offers pretty good visibility. As fugly as the GT's display is, you can read it fine under any circumstances.

Anyhow, if you have 3 controls and go digital anyway, why not offer 3 controls for all units? I mean, as authentic as it might be that some pedals only come with 2 controls, I want a tone control on a dirt pedal. Heck, offer two modes, "authentic" and "modern" or whatever.

 

[synthpenguin]

Cordy isn't amazed. But he's missing out on quite some things IMO (OC-2, external footswitch operation, etc.), so there's that.

Wow the UX is… not great.

I’ve seen people interested in this specifically because they don’t want to use menu-heavy multifx and modelers, but this seems infinitely more annoying to use than any of those.

I know some people have noise issues with the HX One, but something like that is an absolute breeze to use compared to this.

 

[synthpenguin]

Also, it might just be Cordy's video, but... it sounded kinda like crap? Anderton's demo made the PX-1 fare way better.

Yeah, agreed. Tbf I also was not a huge fan of his guitar tone in this vid (a rare thing!), so maybe that was coloring it for me.

Anyhow, if you have 3 controls and go digital anyway, why not offer 3 controls for all units? I mean, as authentic as it might be that some pedals only come with 2 controls, I want a tone control on a dirt pedal. Heck, offer two modes, "authentic" and "modern" or whatever.

Unfortunately (imo), this is not the Roland approach with this stuff, at least not historically with the synth versions of this concept. It was very glaring on the System 1 where a bunch of physical controls wouldn’t do anything with different plugouts.

Not to be too cynical, but this also makes it easier for them to introduce further pedal add-ons down the line (“want a compressor with an attack parameter? Buy the new CS-2 add-on!”)

 

[Baba]

This thing is lol

 

[KingsXJJ]

Very cool. Needs to be $149 IMO. They ought to offer a three pedal option like the Plethora.

 

[nicolasrivera]

One of the biggest fails by BOSS in the past 40 Years, IMO.

 

[itchyfingers]

Look, it's cool you got a PX-1, which by all accounts sounds great, but justifying the decision based on Reverb prices is... ill advised

SP-1 and SG-1? Those are expensive because they're rare, they're rare because they were discontinued fast, and they were discontinued fast because no one bought the damn things. Boss pedals which are actually good, like the DS-1, sell for dirt cheap and have been in continuous production for 45+ years.

How else do you price vintage pedals if not Reverb? If I am shopping there myself, I'm looking at actual sold prices rather than asking prices so I can put out some informed offers, but for my last post I was just going off the state of the market and what was available when the PX-1 hit the same market last week. That bold part tho... I tend to agree with you for the most part, but then I consider that those were pulled from retail way before the internet existed, and it was tough to know what was what back then, unless a guitar mag featured it or someone famous was using it. I wouldn't know what a "Spectrum" or "Slow Gear" are even supposed to do if I saw them on the shelf in 1985, and would probably opt for a Tube Screamer or Crybaby myself, lol. So maybe that's part of why they didn't sell, I don't know! Back to where I think you were going with your point, maybe they didn't sell because no one bought them, because they sound like shit. One of the reasons I've hesitated from buying the real deal is because if they were broken, I might not know any better - seriously. Regardless, I'll have emulated knowledge soon enough! One major point of contention though - the DS1 is not actually good, unless you are trying for bees-in-a-can tones. I kid, I kid; I'd be lying if I said I didn't one or three...

Ok, let's consider that calculation is valid.
Then, when the pedal arrives, post some sound file running a TW-1 into an OC-2 on the PX-1. Maybe add a little PH-1 on top.
We'll see how your math works out then.

I'll definitely take you up on that!

False dichotomy. Most people are not buying vintage Boss pedals unless they are cheap.

Yes even with new pedals and Waza Craft models, you will end up with way more money spent. But you also get something in return:

• Actual analog effects.
• Ability to run all those pedals in whatever combination you want instead of one at a time.
• Dedicated knobs for each pedal.
• Neat colorful little boxes.

Maybe this would make sense if nothing but Boss existed, but you can buy a HX One or TC Plethora X1 for less money and they come with way more fx.

I'm not trying to create a dichotomy, this is just my situation and my reason for purchasing the PX-1. I've bought plenty of gear with far less solid logic, bro. It CLEARLY does not work for everyone else & that's ok! I buy vintage Boss pedals, and money is no object when I know I want (aka NEED) something. I dig the Waza's, have a few in the stable, but most of the models in the PX-1 do not have a Waza counterpoint, and I'm guessing Boss won't be releasing them as such. I'm really looking forward to A/B'ing the PX-1 models against the Waza's I have (SD-1, DS-1, VB-2). I might not have expressed how big of a Boss nerd / fanboy I am. I was super close to pulling the trigger on the HX-1, but the noise complaints (pun) steered me away. I've got the iStomp, the H9, an M5; I like the Swiss Army concept, and I'm always trying new modeling tech every 5-ish years, so here I am, waiting for my PX-1.

Yeah me too. It's a shame that this isn't what this pedal is.

It is a Swiss Army pedal though; it does lots of different things, but ultimately is just one thing. Can you use the scissors and the saw on your Swiss Army knife at the same time? If so I am super impressed! If you look at the PX-1 as a multi-FX, then I can see why it would fall short from your perspective. I've got an HXFX, it serves a purpose - takes up half a shelf on my home pedal board to tap into almost every modulation/dirt/time/filter effect made except a GD auto-wah (why, why Line6?). I'll soon have a PX-1, which will serve a different purpose - as one Boss sized slot on my grab-n-go board that I can use as a utility to pull up different tones than my other boxes on that pedal board.

While I ultimately think this pedal is kinda dumb, I don’t approve of the attacks on @itchyfingers …


I can -vaguely- respect this unit as far as “rare” boss pedals go. I guess the real litmus test is how accurate the algos are

Thanks SotS, you're good people!

I guess I'm kinda baffled that guys on TGF are opposed to $10 algorithms. For one, that's like the price of a carmel macchiato for you and your girl. Secondly, this is a heavy digital / modeling leaning forum - aren't yall buying up IR packs for your Fractals and AxeFXs and ToneXs and Kempers?

 

[JiveTurkey]

How else do you price vintage pedals if not Reverb? If I am shopping there myself, I'm looking at actual sold prices rather than asking prices so I can put out some informed offers, but for my last post I was just going off the state of the market and what was available when the PX-1 hit the same market last week. That bold part tho... I tend to agree with you for the most part, but then I consider that those were pulled from retail way before the internet existed, and it was tough to know what was what back then, unless a guitar mag featured it or someone famous was using it. I wouldn't know what a "Spectrum" or "Slow Gear" are even supposed to do if I saw them on the shelf in 1985, and would probably opt for a Tube Screamer or Crybaby myself, lol. So maybe that's part of why they didn't sell, I don't know! Back to where I think you were going with your point, maybe they didn't sell because no one bought them, because they sound like shit. One of the reasons I've hesitated from buying the real deal is because if they were broken, I might not know any better - seriously. Regardless, I'll have emulated knowledge soon enough! One major point of contention though - the DS1 is not actually good, unless you are trying for bees-in-a-can tones. I kid, I kid; I'd be lying if I said I didn't one or three...

I'll definitely take you up on that!

I'm not trying to create a dichotomy, this is just my situation and my reason for purchasing the PX-1. I've bought plenty of gear with far less solid logic, bro. It CLEARLY does not work for everyone else & that's ok! I buy vintage Boss pedals, and money is no object when I know I want (aka NEED) something. I dig the Waza's, have a few in the stable, but most of the models in the PX-1 do not have a Waza counterpoint, and I'm guessing Boss won't be releasing them as such. I'm really looking forward to A/B'ing the PX-1 models against the Waza's I have (SD-1, DS-1, VB-2). I might not have expressed how big of a Boss nerd / fanboy I am. I was super close to pulling the trigger on the HX-1, but the noise complaints (pun) steered me away. I've got the iStomp, the H9, an M5; I like the Swiss Army concept, and I'm always trying new modeling tech every 5-ish years, so here I am, waiting for my PX-1.

It is a Swiss Army pedal though; it does lots of different things, but ultimately is just one thing. Can you use the scissors and the saw on your Swiss Army knife at the same time? If so I am super impressed! If you look at the PX-1 as a multi-FX, then I can see why it would fall short from your perspective. I've got an HXFX, it serves a purpose - takes up half a shelf on my home pedal board to tap into almost every modulation/dirt/time/filter effect made except a GD auto-wah (why, why Line6?). I'll soon have a PX-1, which will serve a different purpose - as one Boss sized slot on my grab-n-go board that I can use as a utility to pull up different tones than my other boxes on that pedal board.

Thanks SotS, you're good people!

I guess I'm kinda baffled that guys on TGF are opposed to $10 algorithms. For one, that's like the price of a carmel macchiato for you and your girl. Secondly, this is a heavy digital / modeling leaning forum - aren't yall buying up IR packs for your Fractals and AxeFXs and ToneXs and Kempers?

It's because of Boss digitals' place on the TGF Receptiveness List

 

[Orvillain]

carmel macchiato for you and your girl.

 

[Lysander]

How else do you price vintage pedals if not Reverb? If I am shopping there myself, I'm looking at actual sold prices rather than asking prices so I can put out some informed offers, but for my last post I was just going off the state of the market and what was available when the PX-1 hit the same market last week.

The point is: price does not equal value. Despite what one might think about the SP-1 and SG-1, you're not getting $3162 worth of pedals for $250, simply because a) that +$3k comes from wildly inflated Reverb prices, and b) you're buying digital models, not hardware.

Again, the PX-1 looks cool, despite some (IMHO) obvious flaws, so congrats! But it's just a modeller.

 

[spawnofthesith]

How else do you price vintage pedals if not Reverb? If I am shopping there myself, I'm looking at actual sold prices rather than asking prices so I can put out some informed offers, but for my last post I was just going off the state of the market and what was available when the PX-1 hit the same market last week. That bold part tho... I tend to agree with you for the most part, but then I consider that those were pulled from retail way before the internet existed, and it was tough to know what was what back then, unless a guitar mag featured it or someone famous was using it. I wouldn't know what a "Spectrum" or "Slow Gear" are even supposed to do if I saw them on the shelf in 1985, and would probably opt for a Tube Screamer or Crybaby myself, lol. So maybe that's part of why they didn't sell, I don't know! Back to where I think you were going with your point, maybe they didn't sell because no one bought them, because they sound like shit. One of the reasons I've hesitated from buying the real deal is because if they were broken, I might not know any better - seriously. Regardless, I'll have emulated knowledge soon enough! One major point of contention though - the DS1 is not actually good, unless you are trying for bees-in-a-can tones. I kid, I kid; I'd be lying if I said I didn't one or three...

I'll definitely take you up on that!

I'm not trying to create a dichotomy, this is just my situation and my reason for purchasing the PX-1. I've bought plenty of gear with far less solid logic, bro. It CLEARLY does not work for everyone else & that's ok! I buy vintage Boss pedals, and money is no object when I know I want (aka NEED) something. I dig the Waza's, have a few in the stable, but most of the models in the PX-1 do not have a Waza counterpoint, and I'm guessing Boss won't be releasing them as such. I'm really looking forward to A/B'ing the PX-1 models against the Waza's I have (SD-1, DS-1, VB-2). I might not have expressed how big of a Boss nerd / fanboy I am. I was super close to pulling the trigger on the HX-1, but the noise complaints (pun) steered me away. I've got the iStomp, the H9, an M5; I like the Swiss Army concept, and I'm always trying new modeling tech every 5-ish years, so here I am, waiting for my PX-1.

It is a Swiss Army pedal though; it does lots of different things, but ultimately is just one thing. Can you use the scissors and the saw on your Swiss Army knife at the same time? If so I am super impressed! If you look at the PX-1 as a multi-FX, then I can see why it would fall short from your perspective. I've got an HXFX, it serves a purpose - takes up half a shelf on my home pedal board to tap into almost every modulation/dirt/time/filter effect made except a GD auto-wah (why, why Line6?). I'll soon have a PX-1, which will serve a different purpose - as one Boss sized slot on my grab-n-go board that I can use as a utility to pull up different tones than my other boxes on that pedal board.

Thanks SotS, you're good people!

I guess I'm kinda baffled that guys on TGF are opposed to $10 algorithms. For one, that's like the price of a carmel macchiato for you and your girl. Secondly, this is a heavy digital / modeling leaning forum - aren't yall buying up IR packs for your Fractals and AxeFXs and ToneXs and Kempers?

I’m looking forward to your review, I know that you know tone for sure lol


I guess if they eventually dropped an RE-202 algo my interest would be piqued assuming it offered all the parameters and was truly the same algo…. Just for pedalboard space. Obviously would lose the preset switching… but truthfully I pretty much just use one sound lol. Also lost would be that obnoxious DMT blast off hold down sound… and I hate to admit I do use that a lot

 

[synthpenguin]

I guess if they eventually dropped an RE-202 algo my interest would be piqued assuming it offered all the parameters and was truly the same algo…. Just for pedalboard space. Obviously would lose the preset switching… but truthfully I pretty much just use one sound lol. Also lost would be that obnoxious DMT blast off hold down sound… and I hate to admit I do use that a lot

Well, they have a newer RE-201 emulation plugin (came out last year) in Roland Cloud, so it’s possible it becomes a plugout too. Not sure if it’s the same as in the RE-202 pedal or if it’s updated.

https://www.roland.com/us/products/rc_re-201_space_echo/