The Boss ME-70 Multi-Effects Pedalboard: A Review

By R. S. Rasnick

For quite a while I have used a Boss ME-50 multi-effects system as a backup pedalboard in case I have an issue with my main board or if I need something light and non-complicated to take to a gig. My main pedalboard is great, but it's huge, heavy, and complicated. For practices or short gigs hauling around that huge pedalboard can be a real pain, so the ME-50 has often saved me trouble and time. I was pretty satisfied with my ME-50, and then I saw that Boss came out with the ME-70. Even though I still think the ME-50 is a great multi-effects pedalboard, the ME-70 has upped the ante by quite a bit. So what's so great about the ME-70 compared to the ME-50?

For starters, the ME-70 just plain looks better. Don't get me wrong. I don't judge a pedalboard based on its color, but the black ME-70 just looks a lot more professional than the baby-blue ME-50. In the looks department, the ME-70 is just sharper.

Though looks are cool, it's the sounds that really matter. Fortunately, the ME-70 is pretty hip in that department as well. What you get with the new ME-70 are the sounds from over 40 different Boss effects pedals. These are the identical sounds that you've heard and loved for years. The best modulation, delay, distortion, and overdrive sounds from Boss are under the hood, and they sound great!

In addition to these classic Boss sounds, the ME-70 has some other cool new features as well. I honestly have never been a huge fan of multi-effects pedalboards that have onboard preamp sections because I never used the preamp, preferring amplifier-based preamp sounds. That was until I had a gig where my tube amp completely died on me, and I was forced to plug my pedalboard straight into the P.A. system. It sounded just plain awful. I then realized the value of having a backup plan in place in case of equipment failure, and the ME-70. It has a COSM preamp that can be turned off completely but is easily accessible if needed. For some gigs, the ME-70 could even be the only thing you bring in addition to your guitar.

Another welcome addition to the Boss ME-7o is the onboard looper. Boss makes great looping pedals, and if you've ever used a Boss Loop Station, you'll recognize the same Boss quality here as well. The looper gives you up to 38 seconds of loop time, which is exceptional for a non-dedicated looper.

One of my favorite effects is compression, and that was always a shortcoming of the ME-50. The compressor didn't have its own pedal, and the controls were pretty meager. Fortunately, the engineers at Boss saw fit to add a dedicated compressor section to the ME-70. Smart thinking.

Fortunately, all the wonderful features of the ME-50 are still present in the ME-70. You still have the noise suppression and adjustable reverb in addition to the rocker pedal that controls volume, wah, and pitch-shifting effects.

So, if you're looking for a world-class multi-effects pedal that won't break the bank, you should definitely check out the Boss ME-70, a worthy successor to the ME-50. - 30404

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