Should I buy this (Boss ROD-10, old multi-dirt half-rack) ?

[oscillateur]

I can get one of these for quite cheap locally (Boss ROD-10) :



It's from 1986, there are 5 types of dirt in it (3 types of overdrive, each with more gain, one distortion and one fuzz) and they all go through a 3 band EQ (with parametric mids). And there's a line output with some sort of amp simulation to plug directly in a mixer.

The thing is, I don't really need something like that but that thing looks super nice and cute and in one of the few reviews I could find someone said it was awesome for electric pianos and organs, so I could use that with my Yamahe Reface YC (which is all about the organs).

Has anybody here used one of these ?

[Gone Fission]

I have, it's cool. OD3 is the really unique feature--I've heard "EVH in a box" about it and it isn't far off. OD1 is like whatever Boss overdrive that's less corpulent than a TS with asymmetric clipping, OD2 is the TS mode. Distortion mode is like a very nice version of a DS-1, so that gnarl but more useable. Fuzz is a bare-bones octave up of the Kay/Shin Ei/Ace Tone family, in that circuit family but simpler and not as fuzzy as the best examples, though it can pierce with those octaves if you give it the right technique (notes around the 12th fret and so on). Eq is post-dirt if that matters, not thrilling but very useful when tweaked to the given mode. If the unit has a downside, it's that it isn't set up well for switching between modes in performance.

I gather that they are thick on the ground over there. If you don't like it, flip it to the U.S. for a profit like everyone there seems to do.

[oscillateur]

Damn, just what I feared. I might have to get that thing . Thanks for the info...

[Disarm D'arcy]

Those Boss mini racks are cool. I had one that was a modulation at some point a few years ago and it was pretty cool however not my thing.

[Jwar]

I'd hit it!! Love this old stuff!! I need to start collecting them.

[lordgalvar]

I had the RRV...not really a reverb guy but just noting it did add noise to the line. Also, they have higher than usual mA requirements (at least the RRV did, was above 400mA so I couldn't use my voodoo labs). Ran it on a dedicated one-spot.

I like them in a way though. The Pitch Shifter Delay one is supposed to be really good.

[oscillateur]

Yeah, the delay-based ones are cool, I've been tempted several times by some of them. This one was new to me though, and I do like the versatility it seems to have. If I can manage to put other effects on top of it it could be viable for my smallish organ/synth + pedals/looper setup...

[oscillateur]

I found a pic of the insides of this thing, tons of components in there...



And even the circuit diagram, which I obviously can't understand much beyond the fact that it's indeed 5 different types of OD/Dist/Fuzz with a nice post-dirt EQ section in a box :



Yeah, I think I'll get that one.

[WayToHip]

Wow, go for it. But now I'm interested in the head room of it.

[rfurtkamp]

The golden one to get if you're going to go Boss rack format is the GL-100.

Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

It has headroom to spare, and will make the ROD-10 cry.

Don't get me wrong, for $30-50 I'd grab another one but...the king of Boss rack pres is not that one!

[oscillateur]

Yeah, but that's far too big... Half-racks can be manageable, but I haven't had any full rack thing in a long time, I just end up not using them.

[rfurtkamp]

I used to just stick one on top of the Bassman or Space Echo and call it good on tour, worked just fine.

Now for a more fragile unit, not recommended, but for stuff of this era, you can abuse it pretty hardcore.

[space6oy]

I'd hit it!! Love this old stuff!! I need to start collecting them.

I have all of 'em. they're sweet.

their half rack stand is what's a bitch to find.