Boss PS-2 or PS-3? Shoe-gazers/Experimentalists welcome.

[nrvana8775]

I'm looking for a fun effect to mimic some parts of Slowdive and other shoe-gaze bands. Just a slight octave up/shimmer effect, or a drone.

I've read that the PS-2 is realllly noisy though, and that it's harmonizing effects are a bit primitive.

Has anyone played both and have a suggestion on which to get?

I would most likely be running this into the hardwire reverb, on reverse mode. I know to expect not so great sound quality, but I don't think there are any better pedals that make these tones.

[fellsilver]

Hey,

I used to own a PS-2 a while back, and I've played PS-3's. I didn't find the 2 to be especially noisy, and, if I recall correctly, it didn't quite have as many options as the 3. That being said, the 2 sounded a lot warmer, although it was definitely "glitchier" as far as the bent/octave tones went. For what you're looking for, a PS-5 might also do the trick, although your best bet may be an EHX POG2 or Micro POG-- more options, better tracking.

[sleepyone]

PS-3 ALL THE WAY! Best pedal you can get definitely; mode 7 is post rock heaven, chorus modes are amazing, tracking is superb (anyone said chords? hahaha), the pedal is dead silent and when you combine 2 it's a dream come true. I actually have 3 of them and planning to get more, I could become a collector of these precious babies for sure hahahahaha check my youtube channel!

[Tubbs]

Originally Posted by sleepyone

PS-3 ALL THE WAY! Best pedal you can get definitely; mode 7 is post rock heaven, chorus modes are amazing, tracking is superb (anyone said chords? hahaha), the pedal is dead silent and when you combine 2 it's a dream come true. I actually have 3 of them and planning to get more, I could become a collector of these precious babies for sure hahahahaha check my youtube channel!

what's the link to your youtube stuff?

[Youngpedals]

I've tried the PS-2 for shoegaze sounds and wasn't impressed.

Order:

Jazzmaster->Rat->PS-2->Looker(tremolo i make)->SPX-90->GE-7->JCM800 copy. The harmonizer was thin and strange sounding. The pitch was OK but noisy, really didn't get the shimmer or organ type stuff i was expecting.

[starfish]

The PS-2 is the pedal Slowdive used on the early ep's and on Just For a Day. It was mostly used as an octave up IIRC. In fact they pretty much relied on Boss for most of their sounds until later when some rack effects like Eventide, Korg and Yamaha were used.

Some of the very early PS-2's had a noise problem which was corrected. You can get more info on this on BossArea.com.

[sleepyone]

Originally Posted by Tubbs

what's the link to your youtube stuff?

http://www.youtube.com/user/thesafetyofobjects

better stuff is on the way, using two PS3, Hazarai crazyness, etc etc
I also started doing some demos for a few local pedal builders (I'm from Agentina)

[Tubbs]

the Yamaha FX500 will get you that roaring whale song sound right out of the box on the "soft focus" setting. it's mesmerizing.

[juujuuj]

i have 2 ps3 and thats my favorite pedal of all time.
chorus and delay in it are great
mode 7 is perfect.
the octaver modes in it must be use for ambient stuffs only
that pedal has a special sound in it that you can describe,
i know there a youtube video that shows everything in it

[Slow Revolution]

I have PS 3. It's quite amazing. I seem to use it almost on everything from drum machines to guitars and juno. Really exciting sounds in it.

[greenlander]

I had a PS-3 for awhile and it never really lived up to its billing for me. I spent a lot of time trying to make it do something magical and it just always wound up sounding too artificial. Plus it wouldn't blend well with my other pedals.

Mode 7 really only seemed to sound "okay" when set at 12:00. At the octave and 2 octave settings the highs were grating. Anything in between those is that funky "Here's my weird sound effect maker" setting with the pitches rising or falling. Not exactly usable IMO.

The harmonizing and octave down (for making a bass sound) have a bit of a delay between when you pick a note and when the harmonized note sounds. That was a major bummer.

Sold it and got a HOG.