player opinions
Boss SE-50 Stereo Effects Processor
Name: A. Heikkinen
Band: D-A
Model Year: 1989?
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Price Paid: $150-300
Performance
This half-rack unit is really simple to use. But surprisingly versatile. It has all the normal effects, EQ, compressor, reverb, delay, speaker emulation etc. and all these can be used simultaneously in any combination. Yet it has a Vocoder, a rotating speaker thingy, plus stereo delays, reverbs, ambience and such, an amazing variety really. With a little exploration you can make sounds like from an alien being in no time. AND it’s totally midi-controlled! -10 +4 levels and input/output level adjust, so you can even use it as a singer’s preamp in dire need.
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Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
Hey, it’s no Lexicon. But does it have to be? For guitar, keyboards or for creating weird sounds this baby is your ticket. It has some hizz sounds are sorta “analog” or lo-fi but that’s exactly what makes it great. You’d be hard pressed to find an effects box that actually combines all these effects into single unit, lets you create a 100 sounds and has a clear backlit display where all parameters are easily edited and saved... all in all, I can’t really think of much else I’d ever need in an FX box. Except that 10.000-dollar reverb sound for recording. But try the stereo reverb, it ain’t bad! It’s pretty old already, but you can get an used one cheap, and it sure is worth it. We have two already, wouldn’t mind a third one.
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Sound Quality Rating: 8
Construction
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The battery dies every three years or so, but it’s not too hard to rip the unit apart and locate the battery yourself. The separate transformer is real bulky, but luckily the cord is not the flimsiest one. I’ve dropped this a few times, the front knobs are twisted badly, but it still works like a dream.
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Construction Rating: 10
links
Average Ratings
- Performance: 10
- Sound Quality: 9
- Construction: 10
Ratings Key
- 10: Excellent
- 0: Useless
Company
- Boss