STAR LETTER

PEDAL POWER

I must admit to being amazed at the number of effects pedals reviewed in the magazine these days, and also at the price of some of the pedals for a single effect. The vast majority are digital, and the preamp type pedals, which are very expensive, tend to use digital modelling as a basis. Original classic analogue pedals that cost a fortune have also been reviewed and compared, including the recent Boss anniversary supplement.

So where am I going with this? Back in 1988 I purchased, and still have, what was probably the first multi-effects pedal, the Boss ME-5. At the time this was considered a massive breakthrough as now you could have your popular effects all in one box and you could programme them for individual songs, etc. And the effects were the same analogue circuits as the individual pedals. Expensive at the time (£550) but not when compared to the flexibility and portability it offered.

These multi-effects units have improved greatly, and most now also include a preamp section with modelling features as well. I am therefore at a loss to understand why these are not considered, reviewed and discussed more often. I was also very surprised that in the Boss anniversary supplement there was not even a mention of the multi-effects pedals that they have produced. Lots of these units are available secondhand for very little, including analogue ones, which are a real bargain.

Eric Brown

The pedal market has positively exploded in recent years. It truly is a major growth industry within the gear field. And, yes, multi-effects units were looked upon as modern-day miracles when they first appeared long before the days of custom ’boards the size of a car park. Maybe that’s the thing; perhaps now it’s all about building your own effects array instead of buying off the peg. We do try to keep up with all of the major releases in that quarter, but become quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of units that come to market each month. The ME-5 was a great multi-effect in the day (and indeed Boss’s first) and, by the sounds of things, is still working hard for you today.