How the hell do you use a Boss ME20b

[jimfist]

Take it back and get a Zoom B3. Simplicity in itself. Good manual and lots of youtube guides.

I was going to say the same thing, but the OP got the Boss unit used, and I'm guessing it was a nice price. FWIW, I got a factory re-stock B3 a few years ago for $149 free shipping from Sweetwater, and gigged it for a couple years solid. Lots of effects options and pretty simple to do basic programming. If it's possible for the OP to get his money back and redirect his resources, I'd 100% recommend the B3 instead.

 

[leehutch]

Saving patches from the "Turbo Start" manual. This doesn't sound complicated to me:

You can store your own custom settings as one of the ME-20B’s 30 user patches using the following procedure: 1 Press WRITE—the MEMORY indicator and bank number begin to flash. Note: To show you the currently selected bank and patch memory location, the bank number on the display and the indicators on Pedal 1, 2, and/or 3 flash. 2 Press BANK  or  to select the bank in which you’d like to store your new patch. 3 Press Pedal 1, 2, or 3 to select the desired patch location within the selected bank. 4 Press WRITE—the patch is now stored into the ME-20B’s memory.

Editing patches:

EZ Edit is a feature that lets you create your own custom patches quickly and easily, allowing you to adjust combinations of effect parameters with a single knob. Use the following steps to try out EZ Edit. 1 Enter Manual mode as described earlier. 2 Press EZ EDIT. 3 Press the SFX, COMP, and DELAY pedals so their indicators are lit. This turns on each of the effect groups. 4 Turn the Parameter knobs to change the different effects: • The SFX knob—selects different effect types. • The COMP/DRIVE knob—selects different dynamic, overdrive, or combination effects. • The DELAY/MOD knob—selects different delay, modulation, reverb, or combination effects.

Link to the "Turbo Start": http://cdn.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/me_20b_turbo_start.pdf

That took me about 30 seconds to find on google and I didn't even have to tell anybody to shove anything up their arse.

Well done you found the manual I have. I can find the manual online and copy and paste it to a forum. Thank you very much

 

[leehutch]

I was going to say the same thing, but the OP got the Boss unit used, and I'm guessing it was a nice price. FWIW, I got a factory re-stock B3 a few years ago for $149 free shipping from Sweetwater, and gigged it for a couple years solid. Lots of effects options and pretty simple to do basic programming. If it's possible for the OP to get his money back and redirect his resources, I'd 100% recommend the B3 instead.

Basically cost me £50

 

[jimfist]

Basically cost me £50

Yeah. Can't argue with that price. I'd slug through the learning curve for a bit and see if you can come to an uneasy truce with the Boss.

 

[leehutch]

Yeah. Can't argue with that price. I'd slug through the learning curve for a bit and see if you can come to an uneasy truce with the Boss.

Thanks jimfist for been so helpful when some others just prefer to be arses about it

 

[jimfist]

Thanks jimfist for been so helpful when some others just prefer to be arses about it

No prob. It's understandable why a lot of players shy away from multi-fx, and the learning curve is a pain in the ass a lot of the time. You have to sort of prepare yourself for a level of frustration, and I don't blame anyone for not wanting to go there.

 

[PaulReside]

There are several tutorials on youtube, just make sure you search for "boss me20 b tutorial" to skip all of the reviews and such

 

[billgoodwin]

bought mine used as well about 4 yrs ago- printed manual off line - took me a few tries but after gigging with it for a while and just basically taking a evening and woodshedding with it , turning knobs and such , things made more sense.

 

[PullThePlug]

Ok with that attitude, good luck getting any help...

And with that attitude, others will take your advice with a grain of salt

=D

 

[twocargar]

I don't know how useful this will be, but I used to own an ME20B and sold it. It was difficult to program I thought, and I consider myself to catch on fairly easily to learning unfamiliar technological things such as editing patches on my guitar synth, Mainstage on my Mac, etc. Frustrated, it was one of the first things I sold/traded here on TB. Good luck!

 

[RyanKW]

I was going to say the same thing, but the OP got the Boss unit used, and I'm guessing it was a nice price. FWIW, I got a factory re-stock B3 a few years ago for $149 free shipping from Sweetwater, and gigged it for a couple years solid. Lots of effects options and pretty simple to do basic programming. If it's possible for the OP to get his money back and redirect his resources, I'd 100% recommend the B3 instead.

Yeah, i didn't see the private party aspect until after i posted. The biggest problem with the B3 is that they're noisy, but honestly this is because the Total gain is too high on every pre set patch. Bring them down and the effects sound great.

 

[dgrizzly]

Invalid Link Removed

 

[dgrizzly]

OP, Maybe this will help?

You can store your own custom settings as one of the ME-20B’s 30 user patches using the following procedure: 1 Press WRITE—the MEMORY indicator and bank number begin to flash. Note: To show you the currently selected bank and patch memory location, the bank number on the display and the indicators on Pedal 1, 2, and/or 3 flash. 2 Press BANK  or  to select the bank in which you’d like to store your new patch. 3 Press Pedal 1, 2, or 3 to select the desired patch location within the selected bank. 4 Press WRITE—the patch is now stored into the ME-20B’s memory.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Used to own a GT-6B, the Swiss Army knife version of the ME20B...talk about a learning curve.

I'd fool around with the pre-set patches, tweaking the effects in there, and just poke around until the intimidation wears off. Go in and just press nearly every button to see what it does, then go back and give the manual a lookover. Wish I could be of more specific help, but I sold that bad boy many moons ago. FWIW, I'd regard it as a novelty that you got at a good price, I didn't care much for the GT-6B and was quite vocal about it in my review (which was lost when they revamped the Talkbass site).

Hope you get some solid use out of the Boss.

 

[leehutch]

OP, Maybe this will help?

That's just the manual that comes with it, I was just wanting a some more specific instructions into its workings. Thanks anyway

 

[leehutch]

Thanks to everyone who has commented with useful information but this has totally got out of hand thanks to a few individuals who have been dealt with appropriately. I was just seeking a bit of clarification on the workings of this multi effects pedal, and the people who gave that are the good people on this forum.

 

[ashtray]

I did a review/tutorial on the ME-80:



I also have an ME25 guitar version, and its a little different to program than the ME80. The ME25 has some knobs that do 2 functions. I can try to post a video later this week explaining how it works. The ME25B would likely be similar.

 

[leehutch]

I did a review/tutorial on the ME-80:



I also have an ME25 guitar version, and its a little different to program than the ME80. The ME25 has some knobs that do 2 functions. I can try to post a video later this week explaining how it works. The ME25B would likely be similar.

Thank you very much that is great, I give it a watch

 

[40Hz]

Creating patches can be a little involved. But saving them is easy. Press the write button below the display. Then use the up/down arrows to select which bank/patch number to save your current settings in. Push the write button again and it's saved.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

I had the same question...

Never figured it out so i sold it