Members ck3 Posted September 28, 2005 Members Share Posted September 28, 2005 I recently came by a Boss PW-2 in a trade deal (thanks again, Liys) and have to say that it has some interesting potential ... as a fuzz, no less. As many of you may know, this pedal was marketed toward post-grunge rockers in the late 90's and became one of the biggest flops in Boss history saleswise. This is probably because it sounds nothing like a cranked (Mesa Boogie Recto) amplifier for the most part (with my rig, at least). I can definitely tell why a number of HC reviewers likened this pedal to a Big Muff and/or Fuzz Face. Having tried both of the aforementioned fuzzes, I can hear the similarities, too. However, there is still a bit of characterstic Boss nasalness/raspiness in the pedal's sound. Given the inherently fuzzy overtones of the pedal, however, this is actually a good thing (in my opinion). It sort of adds a bit of a Ge Tonebender flavor to its sound. I've only played with the PW-2 for a couple of hours, so there are probably many fuzzy tones left to be discovered. For now, I have found four or five usable sounds and two or three farty, fizzy, and otherwise undesirable ones. Still, I forsee there being a good number of sweet spots in the various dials. The midboost knob is an incredibly utile feature and behaves much like the tone switches on the Roland AF-100 BeeBaa and Fender Blender ... only it isn't an "all or none" deal. For optimum results, I would definitely recommend DC power over batteries with this pedal. Though the noise floor may be rasied a tad with DC power, there is a much greater degree of fullness to the pedal's tone. I am still in my honeymoon phase with this dirtbox, so my opinion may change ... but, for now, it definitely meets my approval. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ck3 Posted September 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 28, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ck3 Posted September 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 28, 2005 BLUESMEN ... FEAR NOT THE GENERIC LOGO AND MASS PRODUCED PAINTJOB ... ST. ANDREW OF THE BLUZE IS COMPELLING ME TO DEMAND THAT YOU DUST OFF THOSE SKAKESKIN LICKIN' BOOTS, PLUG A PW-2 INTO YOUR VINTAGE, BOO-TEEK TOOB WORKHORSE, AND EXPERIENCE THE TONE THAT IS DESTINED TO SHAKE THE VERY FABRIC OF THE CROSSROADS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paulandpaul Posted September 28, 2005 Members Share Posted September 28, 2005 i'd like to try one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members preservation Posted September 28, 2005 Members Share Posted September 28, 2005 BLUESMEN- ARE YOU LOOKING FOR POWER !?GET TONE POWER !THE BOSS PW-2 POWER DRIVER IS HERE, AND ITSREADY TO SPIKE YOUR PUNCH. BIG HOSS GOT YOU WEINERED AT THE DRINKING HOLE ?LET HOSS HAVE IT WITH THE NEW AND POWERFUL TONE FROMBOSS.CRAM YOUR MEAT HOOKS AROUND THAT STRAT NECK AND LET LOOSE THAT BLUESMAN HOWL !STOMP THE GOLD BOX TO GET THE GLORY, SAVE THE PRINCESS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MrSage Posted September 28, 2005 Members Share Posted September 28, 2005 Originally posted by paulandpaul i'd like to try one. Send me a PM or something... I've got a spare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Boron Posted September 28, 2005 Members Share Posted September 28, 2005 Very interesting! God I'm glad menufacturers dropped that 1990's trick of adding really dumb ass names to the pots...seems to have afflicted Boss to a degree here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SorrowAblaze Posted September 28, 2005 Members Share Posted September 28, 2005 Why did boss go the DOD route with "fat" and "muscle" controls? LAME. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rockstrongo Posted September 28, 2005 Members Share Posted September 28, 2005 We had a bunch of those things at Strings and Things for a while. They sounded so horrible, it was sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ck3 Posted September 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 28, 2005 Originally posted by Boron Very interesting! God I'm glad menufacturers dropped that 1990's trick of adding really dumb ass names to the pots...seems to have afflicted Boss to a degree here! Hey ... I liked that era of mass produced pedals ... ... especially the illustrious DOD FX69 Grunge with its oh-so-chic "Butt" and "Face" knobs ... talk about instilling consumer confidence. Speaking of Boss' jaunt into all that was kitsch, didn't the XT-2 Xtortion have "Steal" and "Tone" knobs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ck3 Posted September 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 28, 2005 Originally posted by rockstrongo We had a bunch of those things at Strings and Things for a while. They sounded so horrible, it was sad. With which amps/guitars did you try them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rockstrongo Posted September 28, 2005 Members Share Posted September 28, 2005 Originally posted by ck3 With which amps/guitars did you try them? I don't remember really, it was years ago. I'm pretty sure we tried the 50 watt vertical input JCM800 that I owned and an old Twin (of course that one didn't sound that great with this pedal). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jgyn Posted September 29, 2005 Members Share Posted September 29, 2005 I have a PW-2. It's like an OD on dust. Sounds better through a driven amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TheDarxide Posted September 29, 2005 Members Share Posted September 29, 2005 I've got a copy of Guitarist with this reviewed in, it came out at the same time as the Xtortion as well. I think they lasted about two years, I wish I'd picked up the pair for posterity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seifukusha Posted September 29, 2005 Members Share Posted September 29, 2005 u2's the edge uses it... any dirt box is useable.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TheDarxide Posted September 29, 2005 Members Share Posted September 29, 2005 Originally posted by ck3 Speaking of Boss' jaunt into all that was kitsch, didn't the XT-2 Xtortion have "Steal" and "Tone" knobs? Level, Contour, Punch, Dist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ck3 Posted September 29, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 29, 2005 Originally posted by jgyn I have a PW-2. It's like an OD on dust. Sounds better through a driven amp. Hmmm ... adding a little bit of unsaturated post gain probably wouldn't be a bad idea. What type of amp did you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ck3 Posted September 29, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 29, 2005 Originally posted by TheDarxide Level, Contour, Punch, Dist. I was kidding. (Note the .) There is actually an interview someplace where a person claims that the Xtortion will beat you up and steal your tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TheDarxide Posted September 29, 2005 Members Share Posted September 29, 2005 Originally posted by ck3 I was kidding. (Note the .) There is actually an interview someplace where a person claims that the Xtortion will beat you up and steal your tone. ah, missed that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jgyn Posted September 29, 2005 Members Share Posted September 29, 2005 Originally posted by ck3 Hmmm ... adding a little bit of unsaturated post gain probably wouldn't be a bad idea. What type of amp did you use? One of those Red Bear amps, which is like a JCM 800 2203 knock off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fishfartz Posted September 29, 2005 Members Share Posted September 29, 2005 i picked up a PW-2 at a thrift store for a whole $3! i kept it for a while but since i was needing an OD/distortion at the time, and like you mentioned its better at the "fuzzy drive tones" - i ended up trading it in at the local store for a different pedal. i should say it was $3 well spent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ck3 Posted September 29, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 29, 2005 Originally posted by fishfartz i picked up a PW-2 at a thrift store for a whole $3! i kept it for a while but since i was needing an OD/distortion at the time, and like you mentioned its better at the "fuzzy drive tones" - i ended up trading it in at the local store for a different pedal. i should say it was $3 well spent Nice ... that was even better than my $4.79 Digitech Turbo Flange acquisition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members preservation Posted October 17, 2005 Members Share Posted October 17, 2005 THE GOLDEN TONE BONE IS MINE !BIG HOSS GOT YOU WEINERED AT THE WATERING HOLE ! THAT CLOWN STOLE MY DIRTY BOOTS, YOU'LL DISCOVER THAT JACKRABBIT BURGER SUNSET, LICK THAT TONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Robbert Posted October 17, 2005 Members Share Posted October 17, 2005 I said it before, the PW-2 ain't that bad and is probably a good mod victim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paydirt Posted October 17, 2005 Members Share Posted October 17, 2005 Originally posted by TheDarxide I've got a copy of Guitarist with this reviewed in, it came out at the same time as the Xtortion as well. I think they lasted about two years, I wish I'd picked up the pair for posterity. Darxside, There is a store about 20 minutes from me that still has about 6 original NIB of both pedals. I picked up a couple just in case. They are $65 a pice. Not a steal but brand new. If you ever want shoot me a PM and i'd be happy to swing by and pick them up for you. paydirt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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