New gear announcements for 2022

[echorec]

88 memory locations with pre-loaded patterns (eight types with 11 variations for each)

---Not presets, but "memory locations." What idiotic nonsense. Patterns shouldn't be confused as presets. They aren't memories. The device has no MIDI out, so you won't be exporting anything. All you can do is import rhythms via a non-standard MIDI port.

If you can overwrite the "variations" by importing MIDI patterns into it, you can consider that to be a memory bank, right? Is that even how this pedal works? I haven't had time to watch a demo yet.

I feel like the phrasing of memory locations was meant to humanize the pedal in an anthropomorphic way. Memory locations, to me, is as emetic as AI-assisted synergy for manifesting your tonal desires. I just read it as hollow, corporate, new age gobbledygook.

[echorec]

Boss never go full-on digital tweaky madness in their compact pedals, and any serious tweaker already knows this. I certainly wasn’t ever expecting or hoping for that to change. I really think that their compact pedal market doesn’t really want that except for a very tiny minority.

But most of the pedal market will find even this one pretty damned tweaky. Basically for someone who was looking for a new Slicer but was never going to even acknowledge an MD-200/500 as the answer because, egad, menus.

I could probably do 10,000 words on why B/R's leadership is so disgustingly frustrating and how that reflects on the disappointing nature of their products, but I'll try to be more succinct.

There's now (at least) 4 options for getting the Slicer sounds (OG, 500, 200, compact---maybe more if the GT-1 & 1000 have Slicer sounds), and all of them miss the mark. It's not like they're offering S/M/L/XL t-shirts or lime/lemon/orange soda---something for everybody, no one gets left out. Instead, it's more like everybody gets short-changed. I'd liken them to an apparel company that only sells S/XL/XXL---there's nothing there for people who wear a medium or large. This product crystallizes a lot of the things I hate about B/R---their products are just so unbalanced. They either strip things down and leave out essential elements, or they make bloated stuff with a bunch of junk that's unenjoyable.

"A new Slicer?" Who was searching for that? There are already thousands in circulation. It's not a vintage rarity. If you want that sound, you can already get it in 3 other iterations (2 without menus). This seems like such a redundant product.

original Slicer (pro: complex sounds, unique character & 50 patterns cons: shitty implementation of MIDI with no internal or external storage. it has 50 combinations! by the time you get the ideal sound, you're cursing BOSS for not giving you presets.

MD-500 (pro: lots of sounds cons: lots of menu-diving, far pricier than most modulation pedals, likely holds a lot of algos/features you'll never use.

MD-200 (pro: no menu-diving, the display shows parameter depth. you can dial in sounds with greater immediacy than other versions. 4 internal user presets. more via external MIDI. cons: again, it's a bit of a mixed bag. you're not getting the best or the weirdest from BOSS---no ring modulator, a fairly tame phaser. you won't get an exotic phaser or a BF-1. it's like the blues lawyer of modulation pedals. there's only 4 internal presets, so you'll have to splurge for expensive accessories. I tried to look up how many rhythmic patterns are offered, but the PDF manual doesn't even say. it's not on the manufacturer's product page---typical BOSS half-assing their way through things.

Slicer compact (pro: it's more compact. hooray? it adds more rhythms. was that really what people wanted? I never heard anyone say, "50 rhythms is great, but I wish it had 88 patterns instead." No, I heard a lot of people complain that it's a complex pedal and it's hard to revisit your sounds. cons: it has less surface control than the original. no wet/dry levels. no MIDI out, it doesn't appear you can save your entire preset---just the rhythmic pattern, not your waveshape. it's fairly expensive for a digital trem. I think this is a total dud. It doesn't pick up where the original left off and go forward. it's a step backwards.

They consistently deliver products on every tier with obvious shortcomings. The problem with B/R is that they can throw 3 darts at the wall and miss all 3 times. I find their products to be so unbalanced. Lower tiers---obvious limitations, missing vital features, too stripped-down---go up, however, and you've got products that are expensive, bloated, and inexcusably unfriendly to the user. At the upper tier, you get more sounds, but you're also weighed down with a bunch of superfluous crap that gets in the way of making music.

Over the last 30+ years, I see a company with subpar leadership and questionable creative talent. People just tolerate their mediocrity, because they're a big name and their stuff is always circulating. BOSS is like EHX, but more boring with better build quality. They seldom innovate, and they shamelessly coast on their former glory. It's not 1978, make something new. I find that pathetic. They just regress and devolve over & over again. They can take their 30 digital Juno tributes & shove them.

[Bartimaeus]

i guess it's a slicer for when your bandmates only let you use it on ONE song, so you pick a setting and never adjust it again...

[Blackened Soul]

Boss never go full-on digital tweaky madness in their compact pedals, and any serious tweaker already knows this. I certainly wasn’t ever expecting or hoping for that to change. I really think that their compact pedal market doesn’t really want that except for a very tiny minority.

But most of the pedal market will find even this one pretty damned tweaky. Basically for someone who was looking for a new Slicer but was never going to even acknowledge an MD-200/500 as the answer because, egad, menus.

I could probably do 10,000 words on why B/R's leadership is so disgustingly frustrating and how that reflects on the disappointing nature of their products, but I'll try to be more succinct.

There's now (at least) 4 options for getting the Slicer sounds (OG, 500, 200, compact---maybe more if the GT-1 & 1000 have Slicer sounds), and all of them miss the mark. It's not like they're offering S/M/L/XL t-shirts or lime/lemon/orange soda---something for everybody, no one gets left out. Instead, it's more like everybody gets short-changed. I'd liken them to an apparel company that only sells S/XL/XXL---there's nothing there for people who wear a medium or large. This product crystallizes a lot of the things I hate about B/R---their products are just so unbalanced. They either strip things down and leave out essential elements, or they make bloated stuff with a bunch of junk that's unenjoyable.

"A new Slicer?" Who was searching for that? There are already thousands in circulation. It's not a vintage rarity. If you want that sound, you can already get it in 3 other iterations (2 without menus). This seems like such a redundant product.

original Slicer (pro: complex sounds, unique character & 50 patterns cons: shitty implementation of MIDI with no internal or external storage. it has 50 combinations! by the time you get the ideal sound, you're cursing BOSS for not giving you presets.

MD-500 (pro: lots of sounds cons: lots of menu-diving, far pricier than most modulation pedals, likely holds a lot of algos/features you'll never use.

MD-200 (pro: no menu-diving, the display shows parameter depth. you can dial in sounds with greater immediacy than other versions. 4 internal user presets. more via external MIDI. cons: again, it's a bit of a mixed bag. you're not getting the best or the weirdest from BOSS---no ring modulator, a fairly tame phaser. you won't get an exotic phaser or a BF-1. it's like the blues lawyer of modulation pedals. there's only 4 internal presets, so you'll have to splurge for expensive accessories. I tried to look up how many rhythmic patterns are offered, but the PDF manual doesn't even say. it's not on the manufacturer's product page---typical BOSS half-assing their way through things.

Slicer compact (pro: it's more compact. hooray? it adds more rhythms. was that really what people wanted? I never heard anyone say, "50 rhythms is great, but I wish it had 88 patterns instead." No, I heard a lot of people complain that it's a complex pedal and it's hard to revisit your sounds. cons: it has less surface control than the original. no wet/dry levels. no MIDI out, it doesn't appear you can save your entire preset---just the rhythmic pattern, not your waveshape. it's fairly expensive for a digital trem. I think this is a total dud. It doesn't pick up where the original left off and go forward. it's a step backwards.

They consistently deliver products on every tier with obvious shortcomings. The problem with B/R is that they can throw 3 darts at the wall and miss all 3 times. I find their products to be so unbalanced. Lower tiers---obvious limitations, missing vital features, too stripped-down---go up, however, and you've got products that are expensive, bloated, and inexcusably unfriendly to the user. At the upper tier, you get more sounds, but you're also weighed down with a bunch of superfluous crap that gets in the way of making music.

Over the last 30+ years, I see a company with subpar leadership and questionable creative talent. People just tolerate their mediocrity, because they're a big name and their stuff is always circulating. BOSS is like EHX, but more boring with better build quality. They seldom innovate, and they shamelessly coast on their former glory. It's not 1978, make something new. I find that pathetic. They just regress and devolve over & over again. They can take their 30 digital Juno tributes & shove them.

That’s so true.. I have a og one.. it’s one of those pedals that I have almost sold many times but my drummer/ saxophonist always talks me out of it.. so I gave it to him.. I have always liked the idea of the concept but I find the way it is controlled infuriating. What I don’t like mostly is it’s the way it’s set up is you have to write a song or part around it instead of something to effect something else you are already doing.. if I was to ever get anougher thing like it I would want something that had all the control capabilities as knobs or have the control be via usb on an app or program…

Your point on boss though.. I remember an interview in bass player in… 2008? Where one of their main guys was talking about how they KNEW where everything was going and what people wanted.. and I remember thinking, man… this guy is sooo out of touch with the effects world… and as things have evolved since I have yet to really see that they have changed that position (excluding the space echo stuff)

[friendship]

I will say it's wild to me how erratic Roland is about MIDI implementation considering they helped invent the fuckin thing.

[echorec]

That’s so true.. I have a og one.. it’s one of those pedals that I have almost sold many times but my drummer/ saxophonist always talks me out of it.. so I gave it to him.. I have always liked the idea of the concept but I find the way it is controlled infuriating. What I don’t like mostly is it’s the way it’s set up is you have to write a song or part around it instead of something to effect something else you are already doing.. if I was to ever get anougher thing like it I would want something that had all the control capabilities as knobs or have the control be via usb on an app or program…

The Slicer seems to really bring people together....in the sense, that everyone comes together to criticize its obvious shortcomings. 100% on how you have to use it. No one's sitting in a garage working on riffs, when a bandmate says, "You know what that could use? --Add the Slicer." Nope. If you weren't noodling on a Slicer at the start, you aren't circling around to try to insert it.

Your point on boss though.. I remember an interview in bass player in… 2008? Where one of their main guys was talking about how they KNEW where everything was going and what people wanted.. and I remember thinking, man… this guy is sooo out of touch with the effects world… and as things have evolved since I have yet to really see that they have changed that position (excluding the space echo stuff)

That sounds like them. Despite being a Japanese company, they really have all the stubbornness and ineptitude that plagues dysfunctional Western conglomerates. Roland really reminds me of American auto companies---all their best stuff came out decades ago, yet they just keep slogging along. I see people driving reissue Mustangs around, and they're Sunday drivers. They aren't buying them for speed. They're buying them for sentiment. No one's buying the latest Mustang to imagine themselves as Steve McQueen in Bullitt. Nope, they just want to get where they're going---at 44.50 in a 45----casual utilitarian operation---no urgency or adventure in them. I get that some people grew up on BOSS, just like some people grew up on American sports cars---but I've got no loyalty or love for scared/dumb/greedy/stubborn management, no matter the industry. (And for FWIW, the new Space Echo seems cool enough---albeit a bit late.)

[echorec]

Three-hundred smackaroonis. After 3 years of will they / won't they, standard production orders are open at dealers. I wonder if EQD will do a BF sale, on account of the parts issues--that would pit new/used in quite a contrast at $255 (V3) vs $475 Reverb flippers (V1+V2).

Sunn O))) and EarthQuaker Devices are pleased to bring you the Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3. The Sunn O))) Life Pedal circuit has been meticulously tweaked from the original to squeeze every last drop of heavy crushing tone available. The octave section has been fine tuned to make it more pronounced without losing the bottom end and we added a third footswitch, utilizing Flexi-Switch Technology®, for the octave to allow an additional method of quick and radical tone shaping. We are excited to have this back in permanent production, it is a true labor of love.

https://www.earthquakerdevices.com/life-pedal



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bInuaTxQFQQ



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgLdkhYSr1A

[coupleonapkins]

https://www.earthquakerdevices.com/life-pedal

Didn't think I could sour to EQD anymore at this point (it's my fault for even paying attention b/w who cares?), but, fortunately, I have bigger rats to fry



Alas:

Sunn O))) and EarthQuaker Devices are pleased to bring you the Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3. The Sunn O))) Life Pedal circuit has been meticulously tweaked from the original to squeeze every last drop of heavy crushing tone available. The octave section has been fine tuned to make it more pronounced without losing the bottom end and we added a third footswitch, utilizing Flexi-Switch Technology®, for the octave to allow an additional method of quick and radical tone shaping. We are excited to have this back in permanent production, it is a true labor of love.

BLACKENED® WHISKEY

A BLEND OF STRAIGHT WHISKEYS FINISHED IN BLACK BRANDY CASKS

The super-premium whiskey collaboration from Master Distiller Dave Pickerell and Metallica. A blend of hand-selected, well-aged North American bourbon & rye whiskeys, uniquely finished in black brandy casks and the earth-shattering music of Metallica.

Using our proprietary BLACK NOISE™ finishing process, each batch of whiskey is blasted with its very own Metallica playlist, curated by the band themselves. The low-frequency sound waves force the whiskey to penetrate deeper into the barrel, extracting more caramel, honey and vanilla flavors from the wood. The result is a magnificently balanced whiskey, robust in flavor and ideal for sipping neat, on the rocks, or in a classic whiskey cocktail.

TASTING NOTES

Burnt caramel, oak & honey on the nose, with honey, cinnamon, allspice, dark fruit, clove and mint filling the palate. The finish is long and smooth, slightly creamy with hints of butterscotch taffy, maple and honey.

45% Alc./Vol. | 90 PROOF

[friendship]

BLACKENED® WHISKEY

A BLEND OF STRAIGHT WHISKEYS FINISHED IN BLACK BRANDY CASKS

The super-premium whiskey collaboration from Master Distiller Dave Pickerell and Metallica. A blend of hand-selected, well-aged North American bourbon & rye whiskeys, uniquely finished in black brandy casks and the earth-shattering music of Metallica.

Using our proprietary BLACK NOISE™ finishing process, each batch of whiskey is blasted with its very own Metallica playlist, curated by the band themselves. The low-frequency sound waves force the whiskey to penetrate deeper into the barrel, extracting more caramel, honey and vanilla flavors from the wood. The result is a magnificently balanced whiskey, robust in flavor and ideal for sipping neat, on the rocks, or in a classic whiskey cocktail.

TASTING NOTES

Burnt caramel, oak & honey on the nose, with honey, cinnamon, allspice, dark fruit, clove and mint filling the palate. The finish is long and smooth, slightly creamy with hints of butterscotch taffy, maple and honey.

45% Alc./Vol. | 90 PROOF

lmfao would love to see the research supporting the idea that frequency-blasting aging casks has a measurable or appreciable effect on liquor. Willy Wonky ass shit.

Also, weird product to endorse while James Hetfield suffered a relapse only a couple years. "I've battled addiction against alcohol my entire life, which is why I encourage Metallica fans worldwide to 'Search and Destroy' themselves with it too."

[Chankgeez]

Alas:

whiskey to penetrate

At least we got a good band name out of it.

[MrNovember]

To be honest, there might actually be some science behind blasting whiskey casks with sound/noise. Don’t think it would have to be Metallic music, but I wouldn’t be surprised if vibrations would cause some kind of difference to the ageing process. I actually watched a video recently about using ultrasonics to rapid age whiskey. I’ll try to find it

[echorec]

To be honest, there might actually be some science behind blasting whiskey casks with sound/noise. Don’t think it would have to be Metallic music, but I wouldn’t be surprised if vibrations would cause some kind of difference to the ageing process. I actually watched a video recently about using ultrasonics to rapid age whiskey. I’ll try to find it

According to YouTube, healing tones at 432 hz can cure complex PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder, postpartum depression, and chlamydia---so why wouldn't it improve hooch?

[coldbrightsunlight]

Don't check this thread much so soz if it's been mentioned, and maybe it's a little boring, but I for one am hyped about the new smaller Empress ParaEQ and I'll almost certainly be picking one up in the new year so I can dial in that 432Hz boost to align my chakras

https://empresseffects.com/products/paraeq-mkii

The old one is great, was just a bit too big for me as something I'll mostly set and forget or tweak occasionally to a particular guitar/room/tone idea. Although the Deluxe version layout is horrible, if you want all those controls just get a big one, not those fiddly little knobs near where you're stepping on it Come to think of it, that tiny boost knob is too close to the footswitch on the normal version

[MrNovember]

To be honest, there might actually be some science behind blasting whiskey casks with sound/noise. Don’t think it would have to be Metallic music, but I wouldn’t be surprised if vibrations would cause some kind of difference to the ageing process. I actually watched a video recently about using ultrasonics to rapid age whiskey. I’ll try to find it

According to YouTube, healing tones at 432 hz can cure complex PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder, postpartum depression, and chlamydia---so why wouldn't it improve hooch?

Haha, the video I watched wasn’t quite as new age-y as that, but it also wasn’t really true peer reviewed science. Basically just amounted to: vibrating whiskey brings more whiskey molecules in contact with the wood. That being said, not really defending the Metallica whiskey, their write-up is definitely more in tune with the new age bullshit and is clearly just a marketing tactic.

[oldangelmidnight]

I make sure all the whiskey I drink listens to Lulu at least one full time through.