BOSS IR-2

[GuitarBilly]

Amp modeler and IR loader in the standard Boss pedal format.



I may buy one depending on the price. Very convenient backup solution. Just leave it on the board just in case.

[andvari7]

Me likey, but it doesn’t have XLR outs or bass amp models. If it did, and it were all analog (except for the IR part, obviously), then my Oranges would be gone.

The ideal way to do that would be to bring back the Twin pedal form factor from fifteen years ago.

Other than that, I think this has a lot of potential, and it’s convenient as all get-out. I might actually get one.

[rock flag and eagle]

Yeah I watched that video this morning, all the models sound pretty good.
I saw the price was going to be $199.99, not a bad price at all.

[BroSlinger]

They are going to sell a whole lot of these. Kind of interested myself.

[Chris Z]

For $199 I'm definitely getting this. I usually watch 4 or 5 YT videos before I buy, all of the videos the pedal sounded great. So many features on this, its a steal.

[JiveTurkey]

2 things:

1. Jam packed and feature rich to the brim. Great value in that regard.

2. People who have never given modeling a shot for all sorts of valid reasons are going to buy this, hear the 87% dogsh!t sounds of Boss modeling (legacy amps for sure) and confirm their own biases. And I wouldn't blame them a bit.

[GuitarBilly]

2 things:

1. Jam packed and feature rich to the brim. Great value in that regard.

2. People who have never given modeling a shot for all sorts of valid reasons are going to buy this, hear the 87% dogsh!t sounds of Boss modeling (legacy amps for sure) and confirm their own biases. And I wouldn't blame them a bit.

I don't know. I think people will buy this expecting it to sound like a Boss pedal that can be used in a pinch when your amp goes down. Which is what it is.

People wanting to give modeling a real shot know they should buy a flagship modeler to get a real perspective. Despite what TGP et al thinks, people that don't use modeling are not uninformed Neanderthals and know the difference between entry level and top tier equipment.
I've done it myself. I gave the Kemper, GT1000, Helix a shot and it still confirmed my "bias" just the same. Only it cost me $1000s of dollars in the process. So there's that.

I am sure TGP has a different perspective but alas.

[JiveTurkey]

2 things:

1. Jam packed and feature rich to the brim. Great value in that regard.

2. People who have never given modeling a shot for all sorts of valid reasons are going to buy this, hear the 87% dogsh!t sounds of Boss modeling (legacy amps for sure) and confirm their own biases. And I wouldn't blame them a bit.

I don't know. I think people will buy this expecting it to sound like a Boss pedal that can be used in a pinch when your amp goes down. Which is what it is.

People wanting to give modeling a real shot know they should buy a flagship modeler to get a real perspective. Despite what TGP et al thinks, people that don't use modeling are not uninformed Neanderthals and know the difference between entry level and top tier equipment.
I've done it myself. I gave the Kemper, GT1000, Helix a shot and it still confirmed my "bias" just the same. Only it cost me $1000s of dollars in the process. So there's that.

I am sure TGP has a different perspective but alas.

True on the backup thought. Though its the kind of thing where you roll right down the slippery slope with "well I'll need a delay to go with it and a tuner and a...". I don't go to TGP to know the current perspective

[GuitarBilly]

True on the backup thought. Though its the kind of thing where you roll right down the slippery slope with "well I'll need a delay to go with it and a tuner and a...".

how so? If it's a backup for your amp you use the same delay etc you were using with the amp?

I look at this the same way I look at my bluguitar. Something to keep in the case for emergencies. Although the bluguitar can drive a cab and this can't. But on the other hand, this is a lot smaller /cheaper.

[JiveTurkey]

True on the backup thought. Though its the kind of thing where you roll right down the slippery slope with "well I'll need a delay to go with it and a tuner and a...".

how so? If it's a backup for your amp you use the same delay etc you were using with the amp?

I look at this the same way I look at my bluguitar. Something to keep in the case for emergencies. Although the bluguitar can drive a cab and this can't. But on the other hand, this is a lot smaller /cheaper.

Yeah I was thinking of it as a backup modeler for a modeler that shoots craps for whatever reason. Dropping it in place of an amp in case of emergency would be dead simple. As long as you had a powered monitor something to amplify it.

[Heath]

I think it looks and sounds like a great option for a backup. It sounds similar to the Katana amp models and with some eq or my go-to EP booster in the loop, they sounded more than passable. Leon's demos are usually my youTube touchstone for whether or not a product will work for me. We use similar amounts of gain, guitars, and chord voicings. If it sounds good with him playing, I usually like it. Not that there are not other players that sound great in the demos, but some of them just sound amazing even if the product is lackluster. Pete Thorn could plug a guitar into a block of cheddar cheese, which would still sound stellar somehow.

I've been living in a mostly direct world since early 2017. Tech 21 Flyrigs and the Helix have been my go-to solutions but I have been bitten one too many times by failing equipment to put all my trust in one piece of gear without a backup. I keep these little mooer preamp pedals in my cases as a quick backup for both the Helix and the Flyrig and they have gotten me through more than once.


I think the Boss is probably a better choice for the backup based on customizable IR's, range of tones and just the models themselves.

My next solution for direct is in the making, just waiting for a chance to demo the Friedman before jumping on it. The rest of the pedals are already on a pedaltrain Nano ready to go.

[GuitarBilly]

I'm interested in the Friedman as well although the price is a bit high for me since I don't usually go direct.

But I just booked a number of dates in CA and NV for May 2024, which will require a fly rig since I'm not carrying my Marshalls on a plane.

At the moment the BluGuitar is my obvious choice, because I already have one and it does sound good. But between now and then I'll be looking at other options and this pedal looks like it could be a good one.

[rock flag and eagle]

they really packed a lot of features into this pedal, for the price, I think it will sell very well for them

[Heath]

I'm interested in the Friedman as well although the price is a bit high for me since I don't usually go direct.

Yeah, it was a hard pill to swallow for me as well, and I am direct ALL the time. I don't think I have used an amp live in over a year and I am playing out at least 2-3 times a month.

But I just booked a number of dates in CA and NV for May 2024, which will require a fly rig since I'm not carrying my Marshalls on a plane.

At the moment the BluGuitar is my obvious choice, because I already have one and it does sound good. But between now and then I'll be looking at other options and this pedal looks like it could be a good one.

The BluGuitar would be hard to beat from an amp solution. I could also see something like the boss working for you. Another good option would be the Tech 21 flyrig v2. The plexi setting is thicker sounding on that one than the first one. They moved the low EQ point from 120hz to 90hz and it made a big difference in the thump. With an SD1 style boost it sounds very similar to your go-to tones in one package. You can use it direct to the board from the xlr and to an amp without the speaker sim through the quarter inch as well.

[GuitarBilly]

I had the FlyRig 5 V2 and couldn't make it work to the point I'd be comfortable gigging with it but maybe with an EQ in the loop.

For Tech 21, I'd get the PSA 2.0 or one of their Character series pedals, I think.

[Heath]

My favorite flyrig is the kotzen. If it had the dotted 8th tap for the delays I would probably still be using it. It sounds like the plexi version with a ts9 boosting it.

[ajaxlepinski]

The Boss IR-2 and a EHX 44 Magnum may be just what I need for a gig backup?
The boss is $200 and the 44 Magnum is $178 = $378
Of course, if the speaker blows, I'd still be screwed so, maybe I'll have to look into a Tech 21 English Muffy $249 (it has an xlr out) and the 44 Magnum $178 = $427
Wonder why they didn't put an xlr out on the Bluguitar?

[overdrivenel34s]

On that boss pedal if its a 1/4 balanced/trs out can run a trs to xlr cable direct yo board and would be essentially same as if it was xlr out.

I have a flyrig v2 on my practice pedalboard used at rehearsal studios and at gigs with backline amps. I also bring it as a backup on gigs i'm using my own amp (often use katana amp). I don't use the sansamp section though but could as a backup. Having xlr out is handy.

I only the flyrig 2 once using the flyrig direct to recording interface and did use sandamp section which i think i posted a while ago in some other thread. I got a bit carried away with the cantrell wah pedal on the end of that audio. Now that board has a crybaby switchless mini wah.
https://soundcloud.com/guitarplayerjax/flyrig2-directtest-ep-sg-cantrell-wah

[GuitarBilly]

Wonder why they didn't put an xlr out on the Bluguitar?

It's balanced TRS so you just need an adapter to XlR.
They did it with the 1/4" so it doubles as a headphones out.

The main problem with the BluGuitar DI out is the lack of an independent volume control. If you're running a cab and DI at the same time, you need to turn the amp up quite a bit to send a strong enough signal to the mixer, which usually makes the stage volume too loud. So I usually have a Tech21 Q-STRIP connected to the DI out to give me separate volume and EQ control.

[GuitarBilly]

On that boss pedal if its a 1/4 balanced/trs out can run a trs to xlr cable direct yo board and would be essentially same as if it was xlr out.

I have a flyrig v2 on my practice pedalboard used at rehearsal studios and at gigs with backline amps. I also bring it as a backup on gigs i'm using my own amp (often use katana amp). I don't use the sansamp section though but could as a backup. Having xlr out is handy.

I only the flyrig 2 once using the flyrig direct to recording interface and did use sandamp section which i think i posted a while ago in some other thread. I got a bit carried away with the cantrell wah pedal on the end of that audio. Now that board has a crybaby switchless mini wah.
https://soundcloud.com/guitarplayerjax/flyrig2-directtest-ep-sg-cantrell-wah

Yeah it sounds good. Definitely a decent backup solution. I certainly prefer the FlyRig over any digital DI/modeling.

[RaceU4her]

well this is basically what ive been asking for in a single rack for years now, ill take a boss pedal though for sure.

[GuitarBilly]

well this is basically what ive been asking for in a single rack for years now

[ajaxlepinski]

Wonder why they didn't put an xlr out on the Bluguitar?

It's balanced TRS so you just need an adapter to XlR.
They did it with the 1/4" so it doubles as a headphones out.

The main problem with the BluGuitar DI out is the lack of an independent volume control. If you're running a cab and DI at the same time, you need to turn the amp up quite a bit to send a strong enough signal to the mixer, which usually makes the stage volume too loud. So I usually have a Tech21 Q-STRIP connected to the DI out to give me separate volume and EQ control.

Right on... balanced TRS out.
I would be using the BluGuitar as a back up in case my amp or speaker crapped out so, it would work for me... since, I wouldn't be using the DI out while the amp was working.
It's a bit pricy so, I have some more homework to do before making a decision.

[RaceU4her]

well this is basically what ive been asking for in a single rack for years now

haha thinking about it now, this will work out better than a rack, i can just keep it right here in front of me on my desk.

[VTM]

well this is basically what ive been asking for in a single rack for years now

Bast gear demo evar!