I had one of these about 35years ago. It was still working when I last took it out of the cupboard. I gave it to my brother-in-law. I think he still uses it
My band mate for two years used a 60's sunburst Strat into the Roland GP8 multi-effects unit. It had most of Roland ( Boss) analogue effects on large board, with an ability to tune what were then called " user presets" so as to distinguish from the "factory" presets. This was when ( 1988) many unborn guitarists would expect more than just a programable Lexicon in the rack, and would use a chain of Boss pedals on a " pedalbiard". You either did that or had expensive rack gear that needed a Cornish or Bradshaw floor switch to operate. Roland GP8 was the first time you could have several analogue effects ( and their settings) stored in a rack mounted memory, and switch between these " patches with the supplied footswitch. My bandmate was also a racing driver and producer/publisher of a local magazine ( fashion.. issues... politics etc) and would be the first to admit he wasn't the best guitarist, but through his Real Estate dealings he had connections with Roland's NZ office headquaters, and got all sorts of mic's leads speakers and equipment for nect to nothing and I would like to have spent time with his Roland unit to see what I could get out of it. He fed the sound of the output of his effects unit into a VOX STR head ( basically an AC 30) which I later owned, and fed this into a closed speaker box with teo Roland speakers. They were doing the Roland Chorus amps then , and the speakers were very clean after the VOX. These units a quite rare, and if you could find one you would see what an early analogue user programmable mylti effects unit was like. They were some of the very earliest programmable multi-effects units that weren't custom made and were marketed to the average players who wanted that degree of preset-ability, for a reasonble price.
I've got one of these. All of the effects are versions of the Boss pedals of the day. The chorus is a CE-3 with a compander circuit added to lower the noise level. The Overdrive/Distortion isn't identical to the OS-2 but is a similar circuit. The compressor is a CS-3. The Delay isn't identical to the DD-3 but uses the same chips and similar circuit. The noise gate is a NS-2 with "decay" set internally.
Some of these old devices are tough to maintain; that's what stops me from getting a Yamaha MagicStomp or UD Stomp. I had my old Zoom 9002; the battery had died so I found and installed a new replacement battery; it worked; sounded ok; and I put it away in the box next thing I know the battery self-destructed and destroyed my 9002. I still have my old ADA MP-2 and Mesa TriAxis.
I bought one of these recently for 100 bucks. Was in great shape and satisfied some nostalgia. For some reason when I put chorus on the volume jumped up and made it difficult to use. I ended up selling it but was fun to look at it and use it for a bit to satisfy that nostalgia.
To Add,I still have an immaculate boxed one £100 in ebay uk,i have a GP100 from 1996 which is my main fx still,THAT too has an amazing Compressor,in fact it has an array of amazing fx,AND 16 footswitchable realtime parameters,
It was my first multieffect when it was released back then I used it straight into the mixer in a club and as obvious sounded bad! But in the amp was right I didn't know of E. Johnson in your hands today sounds glorious I sold it like so many other precious pedals and gear like for instance the ME- 5
I used the Boss GX-700 extensively for years. Still have nostalgia kick playing it from time to time. Great Rack-unit. Even had a PC-software á la HX Edit in the 90s
Had one but like you say, the build was all plastic and did have some reliability issues for me too. I leant mine to someone and never got it back. But I did upgrade to the BOSS ME-5 which was much more gigable with a metal chasis. I still have this and although one of the jack inputs had some connectivity problems, I fixed it by resoldering it. When you open them up there aren't any real user changeable parts (at least if you're a novice with circuit boards), so I had to fix what was there rather than replace it.
I bet Peter at Hampstead could fix it up to gig standard for you. Be a great excuse to see those guys and nip into PRS at the same time. Worthy of an overnight trip!
This is my BE5 unit that John purchased and used on this vid. Unfortunately, it seems to have issues I wasn't aware of and is now on it's way back to me. If anyone wants to make me an offer on the unit, please get in touch.
I had a Zoom 505, Digitech RP-12, and a red Korg multi-effects model I can't remember the name of... All bought when they were new. They were fun at the time.
Sounds like it should be a relatively simple servicing job, speaking as a retired soldering iron jockey that is. I still have the Bass version the BE-5B that I bought in the 90s. I also still have my Korg A4B (great for Jaco style reverb on fretless). 😉🧙♂
Still have. Still use. Still works perfectly. Never experienced a single connection issue. The hybrid overdrive is the worst effect imo. Would be better if it was either the original od or ds (it is neither). The chorus is a classic 80s sound and to die for. The delay is perfect. The compressor is as good as any ever made imo. You didn't seem to use it correctly.
you had a BE5? you lucky git! i had a guv'nor and a bunch of the cheapest pedals i could find. frontline delay, arion flanger and a CE2 those effects sound brilliant. if you use the overdrive as a boosty thing, put a gainier one in the loop and you have all your bases covered
I had one of these about 35years ago. It was still working when I last took it out of the cupboard. I gave it to my brother-in-law. I think he still uses it
BTW, the compressor will only do something when you turn the sustain knob up.
It couldn’t sound more like the sound track for a straight to video 80s film if you tried. Love it
Also my first ever pedalboard. Loved it to bits.
My band mate for two years used a 60's sunburst Strat into the Roland GP8 multi-effects unit. It had most of Roland ( Boss) analogue effects on large board, with an ability to tune what were then called " user presets" so as to distinguish from the "factory" presets. This was when ( 1988) many unborn guitarists would expect more than just a programable Lexicon in the rack, and would use a chain of Boss pedals on a " pedalbiard". You either did that or had expensive rack gear that needed a Cornish or Bradshaw floor switch to operate. Roland GP8 was the first time you could have several analogue effects ( and their settings) stored in a rack mounted memory, and switch between these " patches with the supplied footswitch. My bandmate was also a racing driver and producer/publisher of a local magazine ( fashion.. issues... politics etc) and would be the first to admit he wasn't the best guitarist, but through his Real Estate dealings he had connections with Roland's NZ office headquaters, and got all sorts of mic's leads speakers and equipment for nect to nothing and I would like to have spent time with his Roland unit to see what I could get out of it. He fed the sound of the output of his effects unit into a VOX STR head ( basically an AC 30) which I later owned, and fed this into a closed speaker box with teo Roland speakers. They were doing the Roland Chorus amps then , and the speakers were very clean after the VOX. These units a quite rare, and if you could find one you would see what an early analogue user programmable mylti effects unit was like. They were some of the very earliest programmable multi-effects units that weren't custom made and were marketed to the average players who wanted that degree of preset-ability, for a reasonble price.
I've got one I've had since the 90s. Love it! Still use it.
I've got one of these. All of the effects are versions of the Boss pedals of the day. The chorus is a CE-3 with a compander circuit added to lower the noise level. The Overdrive/Distortion isn't identical to the OS-2 but is a similar circuit. The compressor is a CS-3. The Delay isn't identical to the DD-3 but uses the same chips and similar circuit. The noise gate is a NS-2 with "decay" set internally.
ofc it sounds great, you're playin it
Wow. I’m impressed . Sounds better than most recent unit you demoed. At least to my taste. Sounds like a good tool for a flashback from the 80’s
Some of these old devices are tough to maintain; that's what stops me from getting a Yamaha MagicStomp or UD Stomp.
I had my old Zoom 9002; the battery had died so I found and installed a new replacement battery; it worked; sounded ok; and I put it away in the box next thing I know the battery self-destructed and destroyed my 9002.
I still have my old ADA MP-2 and Mesa TriAxis.
I bought one of these recently for 100 bucks. Was in great shape and satisfied some nostalgia. For some reason when I put chorus on the volume jumped up and made it difficult to use. I ended up selling it but was fun to look at it and use it for a bit to satisfy that nostalgia.
To Add,I still have an immaculate boxed one £100 in ebay uk,i have a GP100 from 1996 which is my main fx still,THAT too has an amazing Compressor,in fact it has an array of amazing fx,AND 16 footswitchable realtime parameters,
I gigged late 80s early 90s loved the pedal inspiring in those days. And a Hofner headless guitar it rocked
It was my first multieffect when it was released back then I used it straight into the mixer in a club and as obvious sounded bad! But in the amp was right I didn't know of E. Johnson in your hands today sounds glorious I sold it like so many other precious pedals and gear like for instance the ME- 5
I had one! My first gigging pedal. Loved it.
I have 2 of these I use regularly. Mainly because it’s my favourite chorus I’ve ever used
was expecting you to break out into a Prince tune when the chorus was on lol, anything is fixable with some skills and patience
Mine first also. Sold it and rebought it. I like everything except the od/ds.
Yes. The other effects are absolutely classic. The od ds is way inferior to their standard overdrive or distortion circuit.
I used the Boss GX-700 extensively for years. Still have nostalgia kick playing it from time to time. Great Rack-unit. Even had a PC-software á la HX Edit in the 90s
Had one but like you say, the build was all plastic and did have some reliability issues for me too. I leant mine to someone and never got it back. But I did upgrade to the BOSS ME-5 which was much more gigable with a metal chasis. I still have this and although one of the jack inputs had some connectivity problems, I fixed it by resoldering it. When you open them up there aren't any real user changeable parts (at least if you're a novice with circuit boards), so I had to fix what was there rather than replace it.
What a flashback fx video. My first mulfx in the '90s.
BOSS...Built to last
Sounds great
1:41 “I was in the pool! I was in the pool!”
Great pedal!
Brutal package opener.
I played through one of these at a shop.
I always wanted one, but never managed to get one.
i had one ! gave it to my nephew in 95
I bet Peter at Hampstead could fix it up to gig standard for you. Be a great excuse to see those guys and nip into PRS at the same time. Worthy of an overnight trip!
Sounds excellent, I gotta track one down. TC Nova System might be worth a look if you cant find a mint one of these.
It looks like the Korg A4, also such a little tone wonder! Nice! 😉
This is my BE5 unit that John purchased and used on this vid. Unfortunately, it seems to have issues I wasn't aware of and is now on it's way back to me.
If anyone wants to make me an offer on the unit, please get in touch.
I had a Zoom 505, Digitech RP-12, and a red Korg multi-effects model I can't remember the name of... All bought when they were new. They were fun at the time.
For a multi-effects unit that is 35 years old, it sounds pretty darn good (especially the chorus).
The further back you go, the better the choruses sounded …
I had one….I luv’d it…
Usually the compressor on those is about the best I’ve ever heard, without spending the sort of money for an electro harmonix platform or an Xotic
Sounds like it should be a relatively simple servicing job, speaking as a retired soldering iron jockey that is.
I still have the Bass version the BE-5B that I bought in the 90s.
I also still have my Korg A4B (great for Jaco style reverb on fretless). 😉🧙♂
My first pedal was the ehx russian smallstone phaser. I still have the pine box. I use it to store tubes....
I just bought one used and it’s great.
Using it with a power bank and a fender mustang micro in output as an all in one.
Did you get yours fixed?
I was born 89 too 😎
Boss is dropping the be-5w 2026?
This was the first pedal i ever bought too :)
Still have. Still use. Still works perfectly. Never experienced a single connection issue. The hybrid overdrive is the worst effect imo. Would be better if it was either the original od or ds (it is neither). The chorus is a classic 80s sound and to die for. The delay is perfect. The compressor is as good as any ever made imo. You didn't seem to use it correctly.
I love mine... If only it had presets and a better distortion section...
you had a BE5? you lucky git!
i had a guv'nor and a bunch of the cheapest pedals i could find. frontline delay, arion flanger and a CE2
those effects sound brilliant. if you use the overdrive as a boosty thing, put a gainier one in the loop and you have all your bases covered
Yes….
i hope this doesn't push price up! Can't afford one at moment but really want one
Será que vai ter atualização esse ano da hélix para melhorar o som ainda mais ?
First one I bought was a zoom 2020, my god it was awful even back then 😂
Easy to fix
Man, that built-in DD-3 sounds great! Funny that they put it before the chorus?
These were great, most BOSS stuff is. I had a Korg AX100G… which I predict would be absolutely junk by today’s standards.
I had the G3..not the best