Boss/Fender Stomp Box

Andy Schick · From: Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Has anyone tried the Legend Series Boss FDR-1, FBM-1,
or FRV-1 with there Steel guitar?

Andy

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

I've been using the FRV-1 with my NV112. I used to have a Fender Reverb box and this is much easier to handle and I don't have to deal with feedback. Soon I'll try it at a bigger gig with my Webb 614. Has a much more realistic decay than does the RV-5, which in and of itself is a nice reverb.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

Herb,
Please post back and tell us if you like it. I almost picked one up at HOT the other day, now they are out of them.
Hope all is well.
Justin

Tor Arve Baroy · From: Norway

I use the Boss fbm-1 all the time.
I use it for going straight to the board.
I like the sound of it, I set it so that it kinda burns a little when I turn the volume alle the way up, but if I play easy, its clean....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE81-j8srfA

For the lapsteel parts here, I also use a overdrive pedal...

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

That's great Tor. Just to be sure I am clear, you are running from steel to volume pedal to FBM-1 to board?

If it has that good of a sound I may try one as a preamp into a power amp.

Thanks,
Justin

Herb, I still would like your thoughts on the reverb pedal using a big amp on a real job. I have tried many, many reverb pedals and found that I prefer the old Fender reverb unit like you have or the built in spring reverb on a Fender amp.

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

Tor, I see a reverb pedal on your board and I am sure you use that in front of the FBM pedal as it does not have reverb (just like the real amp did not)

Tor Arve Baroy · From: Norway

I took the picture before the cables were hooked up, but I go like this:
steel-
Volumepedal-
EHX double muff-
Boss FBM1-
Boss rv5-
Behringer Ultra G-

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

That's great. I had wondered if it would work as a stand alone preamp. I will borrow one and give it a try. If I like it I can use the gift card I got for Christmas to buy one.
Like everyone, I want the best sound I can get with the least amount of weight.

Thank you for taking the time to explain.
Best,
Justin

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

Like Herb I had one of the old Fender Reverb boxes and like an idiot I sold it many moons ago and haven't had a good reverb since; or until I got the Boss Fender reverb pedal. Great reverb and great tone. cc

David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

I second Herb's opinion on the "FRV-1", replaced my "RV-5" with this unit and really like it so far.

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

Great to hear you like them. I have a gift card for the music store, now I just have to decide which one to get. I guess I will start with the Reverb.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I did a check on the FRV-1 and most all of the sources are out of stock and awaiting delivery.
It must be a very popular unit.

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

Erv,
That must be why I am not able to find one! The music store I normally use had 8 of them and sold out in a few days.

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

The street price at the online stores is $129.00, but like Erv said, they're waiting for delivery. I wanted one and didn't want to wait a month for them to be restocked.

So I called and found one at Strait Music. They wanted $169.00. I told them "Musician's Friend sells them for $129, but they're out of stock."

The guy replied "Hey, when we're out of stock, we sell them for $119. You want the one we've got?"

As I handed over the plastic, I had to laugh! Laughing

_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I'm inclined to think that the BOSS FBM–1 ’59 Bassman will not replace a Pre~Amp., however; when I bought the one I have, I was told that a good way to hook up is from the Pre~EQ Patch ‘Send’ to the Unit's IN-PUT and from the Unit's OUT-PUT to the ‘Return’ of the Post~EQ Loop, just before the Reverb-Knob on my N-112 or any similar Peavey Amp. This hook-up by-passes the Amp's EQ-Section and replaces it with the Fender Bassman EQ. This seems to work well.
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

John,
I was sure hoping it could be used as a standalone preamp. I guess when they get some in, I will try it and if I don't like it I can take it back.

Herb: That is a priceless story! Wish I could have seen the look on your face.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

BOSS makes/made two or three different models that are suppose to emulate Fender EQ's, but; only the FBM–1 ’59 Bassman seems to work best for Steel-Guitar. It has a choice of either Normal or Bright “IN”, just like the Fender Bassman Amp.! I think the other model is called the Deluxe~Reverb, but; it's not as well suited for Steel~Guitar sounds! I haven't tried it, but; I don't think it will replace your pre-amp! However, you can place it in line either before or after the pre-amp. Or before or after your volume-pedal.
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster

Eddie Cunningham · From: Massachusetts, USA

I bought and use the FBM-1 for tone controls in front of a power amp. Works real well and gives a real solid sound . The instructions state to set the controls so there isn't any difference in volume when you turn her on . I do set it to get a little gain but too much gain turns into distortion or (overdrive ) which is intended and so stated in the instructions !!! It is a very good unit !! They also state that it is a "battery burner")!! So get it with the A.C. power adapter . ALSO if you need a preamp get a "Goodrich Super Sustain 7-A" . That has a built in preamp that gives quite a boost and adds a lot to your overall tone & sound !!! Old Geezer , Eddie "C"

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

Eddie,
I have a Matchbox that I love and use all the time.

I may have confused everybody. When I said "preamp" I meant would it be good to use instead of an amp.
My thought was to use the pedal then go straight to a power amp or mixing console.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

When you stomp the box, it turns the unit ‘OFF’, which means you would have no pre-amp. and therefore; how can you compare volumes between ‘ON’ and ‘OFF’? True, a Goodrich Match~Box might be enough, but; w/o such an additional component, you would have no pre-amp to compare volumes. It doesn't sound like the safest way to go, to me! I should actually try eliminating the pre-amp to be conclusive on the matter and I probably will. Certain models of the Goodrich Match-Box will increase volume by up to 10dB and older models will not increase it. On models 6a & 7a there is that Boost and older models there is no Boost. On the 6a & 7a, setting the volume on 7½ is close to normal-volume. But, the tone-control will alter the EQ of the FBM–1 and maybe should be by-passed! I no longer have a Match-Box to use for that test set-up. I still think the best way to use the BOSS/Fender unit is by by-passing (replacing) only the amp's EQ section or by using an alternative pre-amp, such as the Match-Box. Or perhaps an Izzy-Plus. The plain L’il Izzy wouldn't work, because; it has no built-in pre-amp. I'm just using my ideas of common sense! Like I said, I should probably try a little hands-on experimenting! I'm pretty sure that by plugging into the BOSS Unit and then directly into a power-amp could cause some serious harm to the amp or speaker(s)! One other think to watch for: As you alter the EQ on the BOSS Unit it also alters the output-volume to the power-amp. So, you really need a normal amp-sound to compare it with.
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

John,
I am just going to have to get one and try it. I really hope it will work like I want it to. If you figure any more out let us know.
Best,
Justin

Eddie Cunningham · From: Massachusetts, USA

"I.M.H.O." = I have found that if you use the Goodrich S.S.7-A thru the FBM-1 into a power amp you will have all the volume and tone adjustments you will ever need !!! I've been using this setup for several months and am very happy with the volume and tone available !! I haven't blown any speakers and the pwr.amp still works fine !!!My pwr. amp doesn't have any tone or E.Q. controls , just volume !! I guess you just have to work out what you want and make your own adjustments !!! You won't be really happy till you do it !!! Eddie "C"

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

Eddie,
Thanks for the reply.
You are doing just what I intend to do. When they become available I will try one and let you know.
I will also try the reverb pedal.

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Justin
I did an A-B comparison test the other night with the FRV-1 and the RV-5. My thoughts are that the RV-5 gives a wider variety of 'verbs and tonal variation, and has a decidedly more digital sound. It's a very versatile tool and I can see how it would meet the needs of most steel players.

For all intents and purposes, the FRV-1 only does one thing; it yields the Fender spring reverb sound, but does that one thing really well. It has a kind of transparency that "thins out" and sweetens the high end, like the old Fender reverb boxes used to do and which the cabinet floor-mounted 'verbs in the combo amps... incl. Fender, Peavey, Webb, Evans... don't seem to acccomplish to the extent the old boxes did.

There's also a smoother, and longer decay in the FRV than in the RV. I can see how a Surf Music guitarist would HAVE to own one of these pedals.

Back in the 60's, I had one of the original 'verb boxes, and a few years ago I acquired one of the reissue 'verbs Fender came out with. Too hard to handle, transport (they're fragile, relatively), and deal with at high volumes, at least for me. This pedal removes all those problems from the program, at least for me. YMMV.

I also have a Lexicon rack unit and a couple Alesis rack units here, but haven't compared them since I don't carry a rack anymore. As I recall, I really enjoyed the Lexicon when I did haul it around, far more than the Peavey Pro-2 it replaced.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I also have a small 30-watt Herold PA Amplifier which has no EQ. (Only an Instrument-Input and a Mic-Input) Each Input has only a Volume-Control for each. There is no EQ, but; it apparently has a pre-set Pre~Amp. section.The FBM–1 would work fine in that sort of setup!
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster

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