Boss LS-2: best budget option for effects blending?

[jacoby75]

Hey guys,

I am slowly making peace with the fact that I'm just not going to find a drive pedal that I truly love the sound of in my direct-to-board pedalboard. I think part of the issue is the lack of a blend in some (with the exception of the Darkglass VMT, which I like but still don't love at higher gain settings). For that and other reasons (low end loss when engaging chorus and wah effects, for example), I'm considering trying a blender. Plus, I like the idea of being able to take a lot of my pedalboard out of the signal chain when I'm not using it, so my signal is less impeded.

Is the Boss LS-2 pretty much the agreed upon budget way to do this ($100-ish)? Or are there other options in the same ballpark?

I am aware of some other options:
Mosquite
Xotic Blender
Others?

Thanks

 

[jacoby75]

Here's my proposed pedal lineup, if it helps to know:

Bass > Pigtronix Compressor > TC Sub 'n Up > Darkglass VMT > Zvex Basstortion > Dunlop bass wah > Digitech Luxe chorus (or "un-chorus") > Boss TU-2 > Tech 21 VT Bass DI > Digitech Cab DryVR > Radial direct box.

I suppose my proposed set up with a looper would be:
Bass > Compressor > LOOPER > Tuner > VT bass DI > Cab Dryvr > Direct box.
In the loop: TC Sub 'n Up > Darkglass VMT > Zvex Basstortion > Dunlop bass wah > TC Luxe chorus (or "un-chorus")

My only concern might be the octave and the chorus causing phase issues, if that's a thing. I'm not sure. I'm still trying to read up on the whole looping phase issue problem.

Thanks

 

[bassbrad]

Boss LS2 is a solid choice and IMHO don't worry about phase issues until there is a problem, in that case you would need a separate loop for the offending pedal but given the usual suspects you have gathered you should be fine. .

 

[jacoby75]

Thank you.

 

[JimboP]

The LS2 is great in that you have independent control of dry and wet signal volumes, so you can really fine tune the blend and the output volume. What I didn't like was the effect it had on my tone when bypassed. Not everyone has issues with the sound of the Boss buffers but I didn't like it. I bought as Mosquite blender as a replacement but it just has the one blend knob (and a phase switch) and lacks the flexibility of the independent wet and dry controls or any output volume control. The Wounded Paw Blender V1 has one blend and one volume knob (and a phase switch), looks really well made, but is not cheap. I've been in contact with Bryan from Saturnworks about building a single channel bypass looper/blender with separate dry and wet volume knobs, essentially like the LS2 in A+B mode, but with true bypass. He has been amazingly helpful via email and said he's just waiting on a new (smaller) mixer circuit from his circuit designer that will hopefully allow everything to fit into a regular B-sized enclosure.

 

[ThrewSilver]

I've used a LS-2 at various times for several years. I never found that it "sucked" any tone whatsoever. Interesting point regarding phase issues: I had several dirt pedals pedals on a board within one of the LS-2's loops to blend with a clean signal. For about a year and a half I gigged with this setup and had great results...everything sounded really good. I start reading about phase and wonder, "are any of my effects inverting phase?" I run a few test and discover that, yes, 2 of my distortion pedals were. Guess what? For 1.5 years I never noticed and my rig sounded great. Guess what else? I kept the LS-2 and the chain that I'd always had. As bassbrad said, don't worry about a problem until you're positive that there actually is a problem.

 

[socialleper]

Considering you can pick up an LS-2 for $60 used all day long, it is your best bet. They are big and clunky, but the two separate volume controls were worth it. I had Broughton build me a custom blend with two volumes and a tone stack.

 

[Brio]

In a word, yes. They are the swiss army knife of the blend/loop world and as @socialleper said, easily found used in the $60-$80 range.

 

[jacoby75]

"The LS2 is great in that you have independent control of dry and wet signal volumes, so you can really fine tune the blend and the output volume. What I didn't like was the effect it had on my tone when bypassed. Not everyone has issues with the sound of the Boss buffers but I didn't like it." (sorry. The 'insert quote' function wasn't working)

That's kind of my concern as well - too much coloration of my tone. I swore off effects years ago because I always felt my bass sounds better direct to the amp with absolutely nothing in between them. Not even a tuner (I'd use the tuner out of my amp head when I could). And it truly does, if all I want is a pristine clean tone. I even had a Markbass Compressore for a bit, which is a fantastic compressor, and it added a nice tube warmth to my tone, but I ultimately decided I liked the pure tone of my bass better.

But these days I'm getting into effects again because of . . . well . . . the effect . . . they have on my tone when I need or want different sounds. Realizing that I'm going to suffer some signal/tone loss in the process, but it's a trade off. When I started getting back into effects a couple of years ago, I swore I would only buy true bypass pedals for that reason. No buffer coloration. But then I also read that having too many true bypass effects in a chain can degrade your signal too, and you might need to compensate with a buffer in the chain somewhere, or a buffered pedal, or an always-on pedal. But it was a trade off for me. I ultimately went with the Boss tuner years ago because it was the only one (at the time) that I had tried which could consistently and quickly pick up the low B string and tune it accurately. Several tuners I tried could barely - if at all - register the B string. I stuck with it and it's worked for me, and I think having it near the end of my chain helps to make up for all of the un-buffered pedals that are in the middle and any impact that might have on my tone.

All that being said, I'm not entirely sure I'd want ANOTHER Boss buffered pedal in my chain. But it might be the easiest, most cost-effective, readily available solution.

 

[jacoby75]

I've been in contact with Bryan from Saturnworks about building a single channel bypass looper/blender with separate dry and wet volume knobs, essentially like the LS2 in A+B mode, but with true bypass. He has been amazingly helpful via email and said he's just waiting on a new (smaller) mixer circuit from his circuit designed that will hopefully allow everything to fit into a regular B-sized enclosure.

I'd be very interested in this option, how much it may cost, and how it sounds.

 

[jacoby75]

I've used a LS-2 at various times for several years. I never found that it "sucked" any tone whatsoever. Interesting point regarding phase issues: I had several dirt pedals pedals on a board within one of the LS-2's loops to blend with a clean signal. For about a year and a half I gigged with this setup and had great results...everything sounded really good. I start reading about phase and wonder, "are any of my effects inverting phase?" I run a few test and discover that, yes, 2 of my distortion pedals were. Guess what? For 1.5 years I never noticed and my rig sounded great. Guess what else? I kept the LS-2 and the chain that I'd always had. As bassbrad said, don't worry about a problem until you're positive that there actually is a problem.

Heck, if it ain't broken, don't fix it.

 

[jacoby75]

Considering you can pick up an LS-2 for $60 used all day long, it is your best bet. They are big and clunky, but the two separate volume controls were worth it. I had Broughton build me a custom blend with two volumes and a tone stack.

What did the Broughton unit set you back? Word on the street is he makes great stuff.

 

[Road Hat]

I’ve used the LS-2 for years, love it. So many different and creative ways to use it, especially in combination with a stereo looper. Also, it works great as a master power supply, and not only for boss pedals.

 

[socialleper]

What did the Broughton unit set you back? Word on the street is he makes great stuff.

It wasn't cheap. A saner man would have done something like the LS-2 or One Control. I have a thing for hand made pedals and getting custom graphics. If memory serves it was around $200.
The blend on the LS-2 and the controls on the Team Awesome Fuzz Machine convinced me that a two volume blend is the "right" way to do it. The builder explained how the tone control would give me control over fizzy drive pedals, but put the signal together to avoid the problem blends have of two sounds sitting in top of each other. I had him name it the Sonic Defiler and painted it with Thousand Sons colors from Warhammer 40k.
It was a great experience and love the blend. Not for the budget conscious or impatient.

 

[SirMoak]

Might as well bring this up here... I recently tried a Line 6 Helix LT to see if I should preorder the new HX Effects and found a way for splitting signal paths which I never see in the "real" world: crossover.

Right now I use ABY pedals, a Two-Notes Le Bass and LS-2 as well in my signal chain, so plenty of options to blend clean signal with distortion/fx, but clean blend always introduces problems as well as you might not want the higher freqencies to blend with an effect.

So how come I never see any crossover splitter pedals?

 

[Bassbeater]

Only downside is that they don't remember the active state when they lose power.

 

[kringle77]

I loved and used the LS2 for many years. It really does so much for so little money. The only reason I moved on was because it does have a little tone suck. Just a little.

 

[ga_edwards]

Might as well bring this up here... I recently tried a Line 6 Helix LT to see if I should preorder the new HX Effects and found a way for splitting signal paths which I never see in the "real" world: crossover.

Right now I use ABY pedals, a Two-Notes Le Bass and LS-2 as well in my signal chain, so plenty of options to blend clean signal with distortion/fx, but clean blend always introduces problems as well as you might not want the higher freqencies to blend with an effect.

So how come I never see any crossover splitter pedals?

These are quite popular amongst the Yamaha Attitude clan. Haven't tried one myself, as I too am considering going down the helix route.

Rolls Corporation - Real Sound - Products SX21 Tiny Two-Way Crossover

 

[ColonelZulu]

I have an LS2 in order to select and/or blend my two effects paths (one octave up and distorted with the other low and clean) and run them into a single head.

It’s only when running into a two head rig that I worry about phase issues or ground hum.

For that, I have a Radial BigShot ABY. It has ISO, Ground Lift and 180 phase selection. Costs about the same as the LS2. However, it’s only for splitting one input to two, not blending two into one or selecting.

It would be great to have the LS2 functionality with the ground lift and phase reversal capability of the BigShot.

 

[40Hz]

What did the Broughton unit set you back? Word on the street is he makes great stuff.

It’s not just word. His stuff is great. I’m a happy customer. I’ve got two of his standard pedals plus one that was custom designed.

His regular production pedals can be found on his new website. Everything else is built to order. A pm to Josh Broughton (Azure Skies) here at TB will get you a quote. I think you’ll find his prices are very reasonable for a top notch hand-built pedal. He’s also a nice guy and very easy to work with.