Any Love for the Boss PS-5?

warwick.hoy · #1 02-14-2011, 08:09 PM

Yeah I did a search and it was mostly negative.

Someone offered one in trade for my PTMini and I came close to declining after reading some comments. Complaints about tracking but I'm loathed to just decline without trying it, or at least soliciting any possible positive opinions. If he offered a PS-3 or a PH-3 I'd be all over it.

My band Mecha Shiva is primarily noiseprov and about the only thing I care about is loss of lowend. Tracking/Glitch/Feedback is par for the course in Mecha Shiva and I don't want to overlook any tool that may come my way.

I really want to get a ring mod,...will this do ring modulation?

EDIT: The only thing I don't like is anything that sucks the bottom end out. Even if it's glitched out I still want lows pulling through.

jumbo_steelie · #2 02-14-2011, 09:53 PM

I had one for a time and I don't recall any low end loss. I only noodled briefly on bass with it....used it more with guitar. If it helps I too wish i still had it for the same improv reasons you might want it for. It was a little glitchy on the bass end, but like I said I don't recall any low end loss....

warwick.hoy · #3 02-15-2011, 11:06 AM

Thanks jumbo,

I guess my only reservation now is moving forward with the deal...finding out the pedal isn't working for me,...then having something that no one else wants.

fivestringgecko · #4 02-15-2011, 11:19 AM

I've got a PS-5 that I dig quite a bit. I mainly use the Detune mode as my Chorus (don't like the warble of traditional speed/depth type choruses). It also does some pretty good Whammy type stuff, but I do have an actual Whammy IV for that. I haven't had any problems with low end loss with the PS-5 either.

No delay section on the PS-5, but I don't use delay so that's not a big deal. Because of that, the PS-5 can't pull off any ring mod effects either.

5sg.

Jared Lash · #5 02-15-2011, 11:21 AM

The actual harmony/pitchshifting of the PS-5 sounds the same as the PS-3 to me with more options. It makes a nice glitchy whammy with an expression pedal and using it in detune makes for a great chorus.

It doesn't do ring mod sounds, but you can set the harmony to be dissonant which gets into that same sort of territory.

For me, the PS-3 is superior primarily because I liked the versatility of having delay modes, including the reverse delayed and well loved "Mode 7".

warwick.hoy · #6 02-15-2011, 11:36 AM

Delay isn't too much of a concern for me since I've got behndy's Drasp DL4 incoming.

I checked the BOSS Sound Check vid and the Trem Arm feature seemed nifty; Whammy like. The vid showed that it was controllable via the treadle on the unit itself but is it that controllable via EXP pedal?

Vid in question at the 1:00 minute mark (Trem Arm).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J-AZ9C4l5A

fivestringgecko · #7 02-15-2011, 12:07 PM

Jared's right, Mode 7 is the one that sells the PS-3, but it's not a sound I particularly wanted/needed, so I just went with the PS-5 I could get at GC.

You're correct, you can expand it with an expression pedal if you like, but then it's not THAT much different than having an actual Whammy, IMO.

5sg.

warwick.hoy · #8 02-15-2011, 12:21 PM

Thanks 5SG and TBO. I'm going to sleep on it for a day or two and if nothing better comes along I'm going to move forward with the deal.

kevteop · #9 02-15-2011, 01:22 PM

If you're already shelling out for a DL-4 and considering adding a PS-5, why not just pool your funds and buy an M9? Same delays as the DL-4, plus stellar pitch shifting and harmony modes, plus tonnes of flexibility with expression pedal configs, scene switching etc.

warwick.hoy · #10 02-15-2011, 01:25 PM

No shelling,...all trades,...I'm jettisoning gear that I'm not using in the hopes of picking up stuff that I will use. The DL-4 is already incoming from behnders. So looking forward to putting the Drasp through it's paces. I feel like I wouldn't use a third of what the M9 is capable of.

Jared Lash · #11 02-15-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

If you're already shelling out for a DL-4 and considering adding a PS-5, why not just pool your funds and buy an M9? Same delays as the DL-4, plus stellar pitch shifting and harmony modes, plus tonnes of flexibility with expression pedal configs, scene switching etc.

Good call, though I think warwick.hoy already bought/traded for the modded DL4.

That said, those are the exact reasons I have looked seriously at the M9 from time to time. All the great delay and looping capabilities of the DL4, plus reverb and whammy is just about enough to sell me. I'm sure I'd find some use for a few of the other patches but delay, reverb, looping and whammy are the selling points for me. If it wouldn't require a second pedalboard I think I'd already have one.

cheapbasslovin · #12 02-15-2011, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I feel like I wouldn't use a third of what the M9 is capable of.

You wouldn't. That is no reason to avoid getting an M9. There are lots of valid reasons for not getting an M9 (none available for trade among them), but not being able to use it all isn't, IMO. I don't know anybody that would be able to use more than half of what's inside an M pedal without making a point of doing so.

An M9 is like having 3 DL-4s, plus a whole bunch of other stuff available at a stomp.

That said, I think the pitch shift on the Boss has a much chimier, glitchier sound than the M's; that could be a reason to pick the Boss right there.

warwick.hoy · #13 02-15-2011, 02:14 PM

Well being unemployed is my main reason for not getting an M9. I have nothing against the M9,...I actually recommended it to a guitarist buddy of mine that only had the Fender Deluxe Reverb box and a wah pedal. He bought one and loves it.

I'd love to put one through it's paces,...it's a great concept; but for now,....I'll take what I can get.

pejsaboy · #14 02-15-2011, 02:26 PM

The guitarist in my band suggested I plug in his PS5 the other night at practice. I played mostly with the harmony setting at 2 octaves up, but I'm totally planning on adding one to my pedal board at some point. Using the 2 octave up harmony created some really awesome (IMO) sounds. In the lower frets, added note reminds me of a synthy cross between a heavily muted trumpet and a pipe organ. Up above the 12th fret, it's just straight synthy. This is an un-modded pedal, and I too noticed zero loss of low end. It isn't an in-depth review, but hope that helps!

warwick.hoy · #15 02-15-2011, 02:33 PM

Thanks,...I'm getting more and more comfortable with the idea of moving forward on this deal.

To me I try to find the voice in every piece of gear and reserve judgment until I've actually used it. The only pedal that I've had and wanted to throw against a concrete wall was the EHX Nano Clone (I sold it on ebay instead),...what a piece of garbage.

Timi · #16 02-15-2011, 04:05 PM

Played in a band with a guitarist that had one, way too much latency.

kevteop · #17 02-15-2011, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

...those are the exact reasons I have looked seriously at the M9 from time to time. All the great delay and looping capabilities of the DL4, plus reverb and whammy is just about enough to sell me. I'm sure I'd find some use for a few of the other patches but delay, reverb, looping and whammy are the selling points for me. If it wouldn't require a second pedalboard I think I'd already have one.

I got one because I didn't have any modulation effects and I thought it would be a good catch-all modulation-adding thing. Turns out I still hardly ever use any modulation effects, I do use the synths quite a lot though, and the whammy effects, and the filters in conjunction with other stuff on the treadle, and the tube comp and overdrives see regular band use too, etc.

It's been a handy little box. The best thing about it (IMO) is being able to try out different ideas quickly without having to rewire my board or go buy more pedals. And the treadle control across three effects and however many params - especially given how easy it is to set up and adjust - is a killer feature for me.

warwick.hoy · #18 02-17-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timi

Played in a band with a guitarist that had one, way too much latency.

So I moved forward on the deal (traded an unused PT Mini) basically under the pretext that I didn't really have much to loose nor much to gain.

I am disappoint. The latency issue definitely crept up and it seemed like a problem even when bypassed.

I'm not ready to give up on the PS-5 yet but suffice it to say I'm less than impressed.

**DosiYanarchy** · #19 02-17-2011, 05:09 PM

Yeah I quite liked the PS5 but the feature I liked the most were 'on-bypassed' ones like the trem arm think - however the latency was so aweful that I just couldnt use it. I like the rising/dropping pitch-shift with a single stomp-and-hold but until they sort out the latency/bypass issue (maybe they did for the PS6) im out.

warwick.hoy · #20 02-17-2011, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DosiYanarchy

Yeah I quite liked the PS5 but the feature I liked the most were 'on-bypassed' ones like the trem arm think - however the latency was so aweful that I just couldnt use it. I like the rising/dropping pitch-shift with a single stomp-and-hold but until they sort out the latency/bypass issue (maybe they did for the PS6) im out.

I my get a stand alone single TBP loop pedal,...or put it in my second (unused) LS-2 A->Bypass loop to get around the latency issues. The trem arm feature is cool,...the latency is not.

As of now I have a second pedalboard with lots of space on it sooooo,...that's not too much of an issue.