REVIEWED
BOSS PS-6
The Boss PS-6 represents the latest evolution in the stomp box legend’s approach to the so-called intelligent harmonizer pedal. Compared to its predecessor the PS-5 the new PS-6 immediately looks far less complex, presenting a simplified control layout that is highlighted by its less confusing harmonizer matrix display. It seems that Boss has been listening to feedback from its users, then. Like the PS-5, the updated PS-6 still features two inputs; one for guitar and an external expression pedal for hands free control over the whammy-style S-Bend effect. A and B stereo outputs see output A also functioning as a mono output. In typical Boss style, power is provided via an optional 9 volt DC mains socket or a 9v battery located underneath the heavy-duty footswitch that typically forms the top half of the pedal’s robust design.
Holy Shift! The PS-6 features three modes: Pitch Shifter, Detune and S-Bend for
BOSS PS-6
SRP £149.00
All prices include VAT CONT
ACT
Roland UK T:
W: 01792 7701
www.roland.co.uk 26 3pickup
BOSS PS-6 Harmonist
Harmonist
The Boss compact pedal harmonizer gets a new three-voice harmony and a radical new whammy mode. Words: Tim Slater
whammy-style pitch bends. The Pitch Shifter mode can also be converted to a three-part harmonizer with a choice of 12 different keys and selectable major and minor modes. The three remaining rotary controls each have a dual function depending what mode the PS-6 is set to operate in and variously adjust the range of pitch shift and whether the harmony is set above or below the original pitch, selecting the harmony key and the rise/fall time of the whammy (S-Band) mode. The single balance knob that sets the mix between the dry and affected signals feels like a big improvement compared to the PS-5’s rather clumsy and temperamental split knob and as we already mentioned, the PS-6 overall layout feels far more user-friendly.
Sounds
The PS-6’ new three-part harmony facility is something that should get guitarists salivating. The thought of being able to conjure up huge sounding stacks of mattress-thick harmonies is pretty cool and in most respects it works pretty well. In fact it works extremely well, to be honest, but I only say ‘in most respects’ because I did struggle to emulate one particular Ab Major harmony part that I already get from my old PS-5. I found this sound by relying less on any particular knowledge of harmony and more by trial and error, using my ear. In the case of the PS-6 I’m pretty confident that with a bit of patience I will dig it out but it seems that a basic grasp of musical theory is probably helpful to quickly locating the particular harmony that you require.
As it goes, however, the PS-6 is capable of delivering some stunningly powerful harmonies; if you are into those towering stacked three part harmonies that Brian May played on all those classic Queen albums then this pedal will definitely put you in the zone. If you want to select different harmonies during the course of a gig then you’ll probably need to memorize your preferred settings. The Boss PS-6 only selects one harmony patch at a time but it’s not really a drawback so long as you know what you are doing. The standard pitch shifting mode offers harmonies with fixed intervals that don’t automatically adjust to the scales or key the player is working in but there is nevertheless plenty of scope of creating some thick sounding faux double tracking effects to fatten up a solo guitar. The pitch shifting does leave some faint traces of digital artefacts between the dry signal and the effected sound but not enough to cause any major headaches. Detune mode’s lush-sounding chorus is one of the PS-6’best features, this is a real thick 80s style studio-quality chorus that sounds so rich and gooey that it is virtually worth the price of the pedal alone. S-Bend mode unleashes the whammy style pitch-bend that can be selected to bend either down
or up over several octaves and comes in very useful when, for example, for creating dramatic dive-bombing effects whilst playing a guitar with a fixed bridge. PM
SHOULD I BUY ONE?
This reviewer bought a PS-5 last summer and so far it has proved to be a very useful pedal indeed. The PS-6 isn’t too dissimilar in its basic performance but the cleaner control layout and realistic three part harmonies do feel like a significant upgrade. Being a compact pedal design there are certain limits – not being to switch through two or three preselected harmonies probably being the only significant omission- but taken on face value this pedal still delivers some truly epic sounds. You also get Boss’ traditional bullet-proof build quality and most gigging musicians would probably testify that this is something that you can always depend on.
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