Boss Bass Overdrive power crisis!

MattParasite · #1 08-02-2009, 01:03 PM

Hi everyone,

I have just bought a Boss Bass Overdrive pedal (OBD-3) and as I'm going on tour soon i don't want to have to be messing about with batteries all the time. It says on the pedal to only use the a Boss PSA adapter, is this a load of rubbish or can I use any adapter as long as it's 9V?

Hope people can help! The Boss power supply is so expensive!

Matt

bassforce · #2 08-02-2009, 01:06 PM

Any GOOD adapter. Stabilised and good brand. Cheaper adapters will add more noise and may cause powering problems. Unstabilised will add a lot of cracks, hisses and other noises.

MattParasite · #3 08-02-2009, 01:09 PM

Ok cool thanks for that. Any recommendations without spending a fortune? as I may aswell just buy a Boss one if they cost the same.

Thanks for replying

ric stave · #4 08-02-2009, 01:13 PM

There are other power supplies that will work - but that disclaimer is really to cover their own arse in case you use something that is incorrect or really substandard, and damages your unit. If you use theirs and there is a problem, you'll still be covered under warranty - if you use a different supply and it kills your pedal, then they are not going to cover it. When I worked in a music store, it was amazing to see the amount of people who would buy the absolute cheapest switchable multi-adapter just to save $10. I had people bring back fried 4 and 8 track recorders 'cuz they wanted to save $10-15 on the power supply, for a $300-600 unit!

If you KNOW what you're doing, and get an adapter with the same specs, you shouldn't have a problem.

phatbass · #5 08-02-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattParasite

Hi everyone,

I have just bought a Boss Bass Overdrive pedal (OBD-3) and as I'm going on tour soon i don't want to have to be messing about with batteries all the time. It says on the pedal to only use the a Boss PSA adapter, is this a load of rubbish or can I use any adapter as long as it's 9V?

Hope people can help! The Boss power supply is so expensive!

Matt

As long as it supplies the minimum power (expressed in mA - milliamps) at 9v DC and is regulated. I believe the PSA is actually about 9.5v, but it's "near enough". And make sure tha polarity is correct.

bongomania · #6 08-02-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattParasite

...I'm going on tour soon...The Boss power supply is so expensive!

The Boss PSA is $23, which is cheap unless you are homeless, or live in an impoverished sub-Saharan refugee camp. Or, let's be frank, you are 12 years old, and not actually going on tour anytime in the next seven years. There may be decent quality regulated supplies which cost less than $23, but the amount of trouble you'd have to go to in finding them would (for me) outweigh the couple of dollars I might save.

wdinc01 · #7 08-02-2009, 04:08 PM

I also just bought one and would like to know if I can use my 1Spot with it. I'm assuming I can, but I just want to be double sure.

EskimoBassist · #8 08-02-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdinc01

I also just bought one and would like to know if I can use my 1Spot with it. I'm assuming I can, but I just want to be double sure.

A power supply like the OneSpot, is perfect for powering said pedal. All the adapters are 9v Negative Tip, the standard Boss power, and the OneSpot has plenty of mA to go around, so you can daisey chain a number of pedals off the same power supply without worries that you'll run out of juice.

Isn't it like 1500 mA?

wdinc01 · #9 08-02-2009, 04:26 PM

Yeah something like that. So I should be straight.

Animal Mother · #10 08-03-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

The Boss PSA is $23, which is cheap unless you are homeless, or live in an impoverished sub-Saharan refugee camp. Or, let's be frank, you are 12 years old, and not actually going on tour anytime in the next seven years.

That was really funny.