Boss MS-3

115
october 2017 Guitarist
Tech Spec
ORIGIN: Taiwan
TYPE: Multi-effects
switcher
FEATURES: Tuner,
control of external
devices, software
editor/librarian
PATCHES: 200
EFFECTS: 112
CONTROLS: Soft knobs
x 3, buttons x 5,
footswitches x 4,
Memory/Manual switch
CONNECTIONS:
Standard guitar input,
standard main outputs
(L/Mono, R), standard
Send and standard Return
x 3 (L1, L2, L3), TRS CTL
OUT, TRS CTL OUT/EXP x
2, MIDI OUT, USB
POWER: Supplied AC
adaptor (280mA
current draw)
DIMENSIONS: 275 (w)
x 97 (d) x 68mm (h)
9
PROS Compact footprint, comprehensive range
of onboard effects, seamless combining of
internal and external effects, software editing
CONS Fixed loop order in the signal chain
or toggling between parameter values.
Momentary operation is also assignable.
Not exactly a plug-in-and-play unit
then. The key to getting the MS-3 to
work for you is in the preparation and
setting up of the the patches – you will
be amply rewarded with seamless
onstage operation. Setting up includes
choosing which onboard effects and
physical pedals are active in the patch,
what order they are in and which of
them is assigned to which footswitch.
It’s not difficult to set up from the front
panel via its informative display and
three ‘soft’ knobs, but it’s easier if you
connect the MS-3 up to a computer
and use the free editing and librarian
software. There are many ways to use the
MS-3 but it’s likely users will discover
their preferred method and stick to it.
One logical way would be to set the same
footswitch assignments for each patch,
so you could have three of your own
dirt pedals assigned to the first three
footswitches, while the fourth is used for
switching internal effects. Alternatively,
using the unit purely as a standalone
processor, you could have the footswitches
assigned as a standard pedalboard rig to,
say, overdrive/distortion, modulation,
delay and reverb.
The MS-3 is pretty powerful as a
standalone FX processor with a wide
range of effects to cover many possibilities,
the FX1 and 2 categories featuring
compressors, distortions, pitch shifters
and more, Mod 1 and 2 covering chorus,
flanging, phasing, tremolo and others. As
Ms-3
ctl in/Out
You can control
external gear from
the MS-3, and plug in
expression pedals and
footswitches to control
specific parameters
such, it’s a solid starting point for building
a system to be expanded – your own
analogue drive, distortion or fuzz pedals
in tandem with the more esoteric Boss
effects, modulations, delays and reverbs
could be a winning combination.
Verdict
The MS-3 is a brilliant concept that could
form the basis of a compact yet extremely
versatile pedalboard, or simply be used by
itself if you require an extensive but easily
portable effects rig.
01 displaY
Shows patch information
in Memory mode and a
visual representation
of the footswitches in
Manual mode
02 lOOps leds
These small red LEDs
show you which of the
nine effects (six internal,
three loops) are active in
a patch
03 MeMOrY/
Manual
Press this to change
modes – the LED colours
change accordingly –
Memory: blue, Manual: red
1 2 3
GIT425.peds_boss.indd 115 07/09/2017 11:23