Boss ME-50. to buy or not to buy?

[ByTor]

Has anyone here used the Boss ME-50 with a tube amp?
I read mixed reviews on this multi pedal on Harmony Central.
I'm going from a solid state rack set up to a Marshall DSL or TSL head.
What's the bottom line? Will this effect pedal screw up the tone?
Is it best to go guitar > pedal > amp chain? Or put this thing thru the effect send > return?
I do not plan on using the distortion form the pedal except for solo boost (if this is possible, o/d clean boost?)
Other then that, everything else sounds like what I'm looking for… I hope. It's hard to find a substitute for a multiple stomp box set up.

[mistercoffee1]

If you plan on using only your amp's distortion/overdrive, and want a solo boost, you need to run it through the loop.
I've done this with a multieffects unit, using the Overdrive setting with the volume turned up/gain turned all the way down.

[Moe45673]

+1 to above.

It can't compare to single units. Having said that, I believe this thing does more than just "the job". If properly tweaked, it can sound quite good. I'd bat aside a number of the negative HC reviews, as they're most likely written by people expecting a plug and play pedal.

Having said that, it's cheap and sounds quite nice. It'll do what you need

[brianf]

I have a ME 50 but just use it if I'm going to run over to a friends house to noodle around or a small jam. (Or a gig at some club where tone does not matter!!!).

The effects are OK. Phase Flange Chorus etc. There are about 20 Distortions which sound somewhat what they are moddled after.

The pedal effects, again OK. Patches are easy to create, store and recall. I have used it through a TSL 100 head I use on occassion. (What to buy a pristine TSL)?


Look for my post here within the last week about the ME50 vrs GT8. For only a couple hundred more you get a vastly superior piece of gear from what folks who know say.

brianf

[ByTor]

So does this thing effect the "tone" of the amp?

[jezzzz2003]

For use in your FX loop, it will sound good, but single units will sound "better" multi fx units are complex creatures that usually screw with you whole signal path and theres nothing you can do about it.

[jezzzz2003]

So does this thing effect the "tone" of the amp?

Yes it will, but definitely try it through your loop first before deciding.

[jtees4]

Has anyone here used the Boss ME-50 with a tube amp?
I read mixed reviews on this multi pedal on Harmony Central.
I'm going from a solid state rack set up to a Marshall DSL or TSL head.
What's the bottom line? Will this effect pedal screw up the tone?
Is it best to go guitar > pedal > amp chain? Or put this thing thru the effect send > return?
I do not plan on using the distortion form the pedal except for solo boost (if this is possible, o/d clean boost?)
Other then that, everything else sounds like what I'm looking for… I hope. It's hard to find a substitute for a multiple stomp box set up.


First let me say this for full disclosure. My me-50 is on Ebay as we speak. Now, having said that. The me-50 was a great pedal through my Peavey prowler (tube). It was the best multi pedal for live playing hands down IMHO. Basically I do not play out anymore (old guy), so I use my Korg AX1500G which I prefer for recording over the Boss.

[matthead]

I've been testing, tweaking my ME-50 for about 2 weeks. I bought the unit to serve both as an emergency backup and to use as my all-in-one effects at gigs (casinos) where I'm forced to use their amp - usually a fender twin or similar. I have been running the unit into the clean channel of my Crate Palomino V32 (which is an incredible amp BTW). I cannot get a good OD/distortion sound out of the unit. The "Screamer" OD setting is usable at low gain settings but all others are horrible. And, yes, I have been tweaking all parameters looking for that sweet spot that some effects have. I didn't expect it to sound like a good pedal or amp distortion, but I did expect it to sound way better than it did. So, if you are looking for great overdrive and distortion, look somewhere else.

The other effects are decent, especially when used in the effects loop of the amp. Compared to TC Electronic or similar, they are a bit muddy, but overall very usable with lots of tweakability. Bang for the buck, great deal if you don't need the distortion. And very easy to program - setup just like real guitar pedals - no menus. I picked mine up brand new from Nova Musik on ebay for $188 including shipping!