MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher Review

Excellent compact solution for EFX, loops, and midi amp control

I use the MS-3 utilizing the 4-cable method with loop 3 being my amplifier's preamp section. This means that for me loop 3 is always engaged so I only have two loops available for efx pedals. This hasn't been a problem for me because the onboard efx are pretty good to excellent and you can really cover a lot of ground with just the multi efx in the pedal. I typically swap several… read more pedals into and out of the loops depending on the situation or sound I'm going for. For me, one of the big advantages to this unit was it's midi capabilities which allowed me to ditch the huge six button foot switch that came with the amp. For my amplifier midi controls channel (three channels), reverb per channel, efx loop, and lead boost all at the touch of a single button. This alone makes this device worth it to me. The edit software seems to work pretty well and I didn't have any issues figuring out how to use any of the controls or the layout. Overall really happy with this purchase. I've been using it for a few months now and it seems well built with a metal frame and sturdy footswitch buttons. I power it with a truetone CS12 without any issues. It lets me cover a lot of sonic ground at the push of a single button.

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Useful and powerful effects engine and switcher with loops to include outboard effects.

Have three of these units on separate pedalboards, and I love all of them and they share most of the same presets. I use the BOSS MS-3 in somewhat of an unconventional way because of the way that the reverb and delay trails are interrupted when you change patches. Rather than rely entirely on the internal reverb and delay, I have augmented the MS-3 with external reverb and delay… read more pedals in the effects loop of my guitar amplifiers. I use the MS-3 primarily as a switcher for 3 external drive pedals with the addition of EQ, compression, and all manner of modulation effects to complete the sound. The MS-3 controls everything that goes in FRONT of the guitar amplifier without having to sacrifice one of the loops to support a 4-cable method connection to the guitar amplifier. If I have to use just a simple 2-cable connection, then I just jumper the output of the MS-3 into my delay pedal and take the output of the reverb into the front of an amp. I love the freedom to hear the more natural sound of the reverb and delay trails when I change patches. If you use pedals that accept MIDI controls the MS-3 can send MIDI CC or PC signals to those pedals to change patches in response to control inputs on the MS-3. The only wish that I would have for the designers, is that you would be able to change the positions of the LOOPS in the effects chains. I know that they do this with the ES-5 and ES-8, so it should be possible... but the relays that operate the loops in the MS-3 are physically connected one to another in a fixed order, it is not something that can be changed just in software alone. I won't end this review on a down note, however... the BOSS MS-3 is a fantastic product that has made my life easier and I wouldn't have three of them if it didn't. Why three? Because I'm lazy... I have one at home, one at the practice studio, and one on the truck with all of the equipment for the gigs. Oh yes, I have to say that I love the Roland librarian and patch editor software for this product. It is a testament to how to make software with a good human interface. Knobs look like knobs and you can edit by pointing with a mouse or put numbers into the little boxes that correspond to the variable levels. What a concept.

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Surprisingly awesome!

I can"t believe how much you can customize your rig with this piece! All the routing options and switching features you could want in a small package plus plenty of effects to cover anything you wanna play. Still impressed

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B'Bang for Buck' control is set to eleven!

If you had only one pedal to build your sound around, this is it! The sound, the quality, the functionality, versatility, and 'value' of this thing is off the charts! This was a great investment for me.. I'm gonna be able to seriously downsize my pedal board while simultaneously expanding what it can do tenfold... it does it all.. It has great, highly customizeable sounds of… read more it's own right out of the box, and then it not only manages those sounds in any way you want, but manages your entire effects rig the same way! I'm now removing every distortion pedal, delay, reverb, chorsu, flanger, etc., Wah, and volume control from my pedal board! I'll be adding a GP-10 after this (just wish those had a regular MIDI), and expression pedal or two, and then I have tons of space for the 'specialty' pedals, while still keeping the size and weight of the pedal board completely manageable! I'm in love! I'm thankful this thing exists (especially at the price point) This thing is a 'game changer'

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Awesome piece of gear!

Let's cut to the chase here, the unit is very easy to use, good price $$, portable!!!, good quality effects, bright led display, no noticeable tone suck from what I can tell, you are able to use your favorite od/dist pedals or change amp channel, has a very decent acoustic sim, multiple connectivity options and of course the the noise gait!!!!. The list keeps going. You can adjust… read more the master eq, add eq or adjust the volume for each patch.

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