Best beginner guitar pedal! Boss ME50 review

If you're a beginner guitarist then a multi fx board is a great way to sample and experiment with different effects. While the Boss ME50 is over 15 years old,I feel it is a great bit of kit for anyone who is getting started, or is just value/budget orientated. I pair this with a simple looper pedal for my guitar setup.
Apologies for the slightly wonky audio on this one, not sure what happened!
0:00 Intro
0:39 Tour
1:19 Product Features
4:56 Pros
6:04 Cons
7:13 Other options
8:36 Conclusion
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Beginners - check this out! Boss ME50 multi effects pedal board review

[@soonersfan74]

I’ve been playing guitar for 34 years and ha e been exclusive to BOSS since day 1. I acquired the ME-50 12 years ago and I still use it everyday.

[@stephengibbons7282]

I bought it in 2006 and I'm still using it. In my opinion it's the best multi FX unit ever made for lead guitarists. Can't beat the Boss brand !

[@beenderedonedat]

Bought mine in 2010 for a tour across Europe for 70 bucks. it saved my a** so often until today. I played in Finland to 15.000 people using this and a Fender amp. It was great

[@nish_ttp]

That's cool! what is your band called=

[@beenderedonedat]

@Nish to the Point that particular leg was with the Baseballs. Search for "Baseballs Oulu 2019", that's the ME 50 in full effect haha. The tour I mentioned was with Lucky Tubb from Texas in 2013

[@juana1483]

Which amp bro???

[@beenderedonedat]

@@juana1483 for the Finland thing it was two Hot Rod Devilles

[@Haraamcore13]

Great review/demo man. Did a much better job than many of the big review channels. Subbed!

[@Ukuleleal]

Awesome bit of kit. Had one from when they first came out and still use it today. :)

[@conartist267]

I’m just about to buy one. Thanks for your video. Lovely presentation. God bless!

[@littlstix]

Use this every show. Been playing 10 years

[@brandonearley9624]

I’ve still got one of these that a friend gave me. It was my first pedalboard setup

[@kampalaband]

Really enjoyed that review mate. Love the candid yet enthusiastic way you delivered it and it looks bloody great. Nice one. Definitely gonna sub.

[@arborinfelix]

This was a really helpful review. Thank you.

[@720p30fps]

The XX! Very informative video! I'm really liking the content 😌

[@raveenshahdadpuri]

Excellent video. Thanks !

[@Paindriller]

This thing is still on my board, the verb and delay is serviceable and you have a master volume control and a volume pedal AND it is great for hammering some nails!

[@aeromech8563]

Awesome cheers for the insight into this kit

[@r0L4Nd0d4V1D2]

Great video man!

[@jonathanelgol2283]

I saw Tony McPhee - one of the best British guitarists (The Groundhogs), playing with just the ME50 on stage. He was brilliant. If he used it, the board must be one of the best buys around at the moment for any level of player. I bought mine new, ages ago, and I'd never sell it because it's so easy to use.

[@Merjia]

My mate got one of these back in '08, sounded so damn good and I've wanted one ever since.

[@nizamkamalbasha1713]

I still used this pedal until now..Very good pedal and easy to setup..

[@cosmophire]

thanks a mil for explaining it, considering getting one now!

[@ThisMichaelBrown]

My go to live unit for years and years! Gonna pair with a Tonex. Boss pedals are great quality for all levels and times. Thanks for the review! 👍

[@balltic7]

Thanks Nish this is useful.

[@LuisAli758]

I know both Matthew followill and jared followill uses this pedal. ‘Closer’ the intro is being played on the -1 octave setting (played by bassist jared followill), mcfearless, uses the wah (played by lead guitarist Matthew). Big part of KOL sound and I know many other musicians use them. Brilliant piece of gear 👏

[@timbrendley9826]

I used an ME 50 in front of a Hotrod Deluxe gigging for years. Paid for itself many times over. Modern Distortion setting. IMO it's the only distortion setting in there for hard rock rhythms and leads I mostly use a fractal AX8 direct to in ears these days, but in some situations if I'm going with a small amp setup, it's still this rig with the ME50. Still love it 18 years later.

[@beenderedonedat]

Dude, my setup exactly 😂

[@fawltytenor]

Scored one of these to use for synths, etc. If you just need basic effects like chorus, phaser, delay, reverb it's actually pretty nice. Works quite well for keyboard stuff.

[@nish_ttp]

That's cool, hasn't thought of other instrument use cases!

[@princepugh7683]

I use this to front-ending instruments and vocals going to a digital 8-track recorder. Mated to a simple EQ pedal it's been incredibly useful and versatlie in that role, sometimes meaning I can go DI and not have to bother miking up an amp. A definite keeper; and I'm not a beginner.

[@1Ma9iN8tive]

Nice work man - you made it to 1,000 subs. Nice review in ‘22 for the ME50 … like a Boss.

[@At0m05]

Great pedal! Was my first pedal, and now have upgraded pedal board, but me-50 remains a great addition to this day. Built in tuner. Volume expression, octave up/down..etc. So many useful features. The mild crunch can be used as a great boost to stack on top of tube distortion to kick leads into 5th gear. And wash works decently well. Get a better wah sweep when master vol is high. Wah barely works when vol is low. But who does that? Will be a part of my board until it croaks on me. PLUS harmonizer n octave pedal can be "wigged out" or overloaded for some really out of this world FX (not intended by manufacturer lol), esp when combined with delay or reverb

[@luckyhouston1054]

JHS had a review of the POD. I was impressed with the tones. Before my Me 50, I had a Dod gs 30 and there was an audible digital hiss. But that was way back in the day. Lol

[@davidstevenson5522]

Enjoyed that. I had a similar model back in the 90s and thought your review was interesting.

[@janerikmellesdal571]

Thank you, you got right to the point without talking for 30 mins;)

[@TheSkarlander]

Nice review, I am considering buying this little thing :)

[@Subilon]

I bought one of these used a few years ago.ive got an me 80 now which I love.

[@nish_ttp]

Ah nice, I'm trying to find a ME80 too! :)

[@omikl]

I still have one of these that a take out as a backup or as a grab & go for rehearsals. If you use a TRS cable and a dual momentary footswitch then both the Compresor & Tone Modify can be switched on & off.

[@HeimirTomm]

I used the ME-50 using an Ibanes Universe, Ibanes 360 (heavily modded) and Epiphone (Also VERY heavily modded) through a Marshall 8080 Valvestate and got frigging amazing sounds out of it. To me, the trick was try and use the amp and the ME-50 to try and compliment one another. Luckily, I knew a guy that was professional sound technician an he helped me out a lot. Once you figured out what you exactly wanted, it was easy enough to set up a few "presets", that is, you knew where all your dials were supposed to point for a given song. Thankfully we had a singer who liked the spotlight so I used to have time to set it up, after a while it was memorized. That only was the true down side of the ME-50. I later tried a lot of the newer versions where you could program the presets but it never quite got the same tone. I've quit playing professionally (discreet cough) but I still have it and use it regularly. Have even taught my son to use it.

[@Wardell43]

I think it is a great pedal for most players at any level. I've been through all sorts of pedals and rackmounts and I've been looking for another one of these in the $100 range, as I bought one, but gave it to my 12 year old granddaughter. So I have pedals, but I also have needs and one of my needs is a good volume pedal that doesn't take up as much space as my Morley Gator. The ME50 fits that bill, Yes it is larger, but space wise it is more options for the buck than my gator. So the reverb, and delays and a few modulations can be used to augment the sound. I will always use a crybaby as I have since 1968 and some of my pedals can sit on my amp where I can manipulate to controls. I really don't need the preamp or compression or tuner. But for $100 I can make it work for me. I don't buy too much new equipment, but I have nice equipment. all 3 of my 50 watt tube amps are from the 90s

[@skrattzerat5831]

ME-70 was my first, used it as part of a trade for my first real tube amp. Got a great deal on an ME-80 moved up. The fact the usability of these pedals are so simple, almost as a real analog pedal, yet you can go ahead into creating pedal combos according to playlist once you start using presets. Now I am a GT-001 user in home studio, GT-100 rest of time. For those who like computer control yet are new to multi-effects, the GT-1 would be an option, but nowhere near the ruggedness of an ME series pedalboard.

[@nish_ttp]

Well put!

[@benhajvan]

Regardless of the pricetag I use this unit for practice and gigging through a Peavey valveking. This thing is amazing if yo have the patience to dial it in.

[@BrunoLessaFerreira]

I bought it 8 years ago and I still use it. If you add a dual foot switch you can control the tone mode and compressor in manual mode, in patches mode it works to switch between the banks. This unit has a built-in guitar-amp simulator that is activated when you plug a p10 stereo in the line/phone jack. The only thing that I do not like in this unit is that you can not use two kind of modulations at the same time. but Last year I choose to add a joyo american sound and the old zoom 505 only to use reverbs or another modulation to resolve this.

[@nish_ttp]

Sounds like a very capable setup!

[@rochat]

Good video, but I don't think the cons listed are valid. Many professional musicians have and still gig using the ME 50 with high end amps and no one would know just by listening. There's a reason these things have gone back up in value despite the regurgitated info on guitar forums. Another pro to this unit is that you can use it without an amp by plugging headphones in and selecting a tone model. A great way to quietly practice or mess around with all those effects on hand.

[@Meowlico]

Does anyone know if the Resonance Expression effect on this board is available on a stand alone pedal?

[@khaledalkasem6593]

Hello please how can i change octave or transport to my OUD

[@FlamesAt1000ft]

It is ironic that now,..Musicians whom are more advanced will return to these for simplicity and functionality to express THEIR own ideas of tones,..sounds and art! The Boss ME-50,70 & 80 will STILL kick ass even TODAY!! But in today’s world ..these are harder to make due to the cost of quality parts that just may be hard to find. The newer ..present models are Software based thus cheaper to produce so,..most manufacturers have chosen this route plus the fact that musical gear MUST be capable of interface with Computers in this day and age. IMO,..Good Ol’ Analog Sound just can’t be beat!! It was THE way hits were made back in the day that lasted thru time! Just why we Humans still love to listen to the songs recorded in yesteryears!! I’ve got this series of Boss Multi FX and they’re STILL Killin’ em in recording or “Live✨🎸🔊🔉🎶Format‼️b(‘ _

[@OisinMcCullough]

This is definitely a professional level pedal! Have compared the the blues driver to the actual blues driver pedal and it’s identical except you have control over the bass and tone

[@tangomini8100]

YOU RIGHT !!!....""Good Review Brother""...

[@CraigHlavka]

yea I had one of these in 2009. It got stolen and I never felt the urge to replace it.

[@marting.official]

Jam Bumanlag use this pedal live with his band and he kills it every show...

[@Motters74]

Awesome video. My teacher brought this to my latest lesson along with a looper. So much fun. Won’t work with the looper and my spark amp though so now may need a new amp, looper and this board…time to sell a kidney

[@kelasbebas8742]

O M G This was my first pedal ever back in around 2007

[@kornelious1]

If you run this through a good tube amp and use the 4 cable method it sounds amazing... I have had mine for almost 15+ years now. And I won't let it go. There are many pro's who use this on tour, and 30 snap shots are plenty.

[@Mrowa64]

May I ask you how.it works. 🙂

[@chagotron69]

I use it with an EQ pedal and its sounds great especially distorion mode

[@booitsnick]

Dude rad squier. You just got another subscriber because of that

[@starboy3741]

I’ve seen a video where if you use the variation of the blues driver with compression and a little bit of chorus it actually sounds great with the me50 you just have to tweak it and you can get a good distortion sound out of it

[@ChrisLT]

This thing's evergreen.

[@RollerCoasterFenatic]

These boss pedals will out last any line 6 helix or any other high end computer Chip bullcrap guitar processors out there currently on the market! Mine is still ruggid and strong and still works excellent. For beginners?? Haha !! This unit is pro all the way!! I'm no damn beginner and have been playing guitar For 40 years and use my Boss ME50 exclusively!!

[@-_AjB_-]

I have a Katana amp with the GFGC footswitch. I think it sounds great, but I'm not a fan of the tone studio scenario. I wonder if I'd be better with an ME50. My question for anybody with experience of both, is how do the effects compare. Does the ME50 sound dated?

[@pugmahorn]

I’ve had one of these for years and years. I run it in my effects loop and use it for the harmonist and volume control. It would cost me way more to buy these two pedals separately.

[@pecahndasmu]

I bought this unit for $60 and ditched Tc Electronic G-System and my Head Rush Gig Board. It is an awesome simple unit actually and sound fantastic.

[@alejandrosuarez2347]

Gran video amigo

[@nish_ttp]

Muchas gracias!

[@TheMountainDemon]

Nice review, man! Can you run this in front AND in the loop as well (dirt in front and time-based in the loop)?

[@nish_ttp]

If I understand correctly, I don't believe so, if you link this up with a looper you will need to put it before or after

[@thewhiskychef_nl]

Hey man like your video! I need to say something about a tiny bit tough. The Boss me50 really doesn't make a good amp sound less. Yes the od/ds channel is not al that but it's not a beginner pedal, it's a great pedal to start out on but do keep it.. i've used it in de studio and it was great. I know that bands like kings of leon use them. Yes that famuse pirch shift intro is a me50. So if you can, buy one and have fun.. forever. Cheers man

[@nish_ttp]

that's fair man, it isn't an area I have expertise in so I was going off what I had seen in other videos.

[@timbrendley9826]

Try the modern distortion setting. Its the only one in there worth a crap. but if you dial in the EQ it's SUPER solid!

[@jayyy_24]

Can i just plug it in directly into the audio interface or do i need to add a DI box? Thank you 🙌

[@nish_ttp]

To my knowledge you can go straight into an audio interface, though I imagine you could also skip this and go direct guitar to interface and use effects on your pc!

[@Herman138]

Hi,is any option there connect this unit to interface?

[@nish_ttp]

yeah I think you can use the quarter inch out to go into an interface

[@nedim_guitar]

I had one long ago, but I sold it after a few years. I never really got the most out of it. But the main reason I got rid of it because switching between patches is done with an short delay, you get a short silence in the middle of your playing.

[@nish_ttp]

I agree it is somewhat cumbersome to use. I found it useful to learn about different effects!

[@TimOost]

Exactly my reason for selling the unit, I would want to go from rythm to solo and there would be a short silence so no smooth transitions there. However now, 15 years later in giving it another chance as a backup rig, with batteries and a lot of features without having to be too kind on the unit sounds like a great thing to me

[@agony664]

Yeap!

[@goldenultra]

It is massive.

[@nish_ttp]

True, though so are DIY pedal boards!

[@andyjett]

It looks a bit like zoom GFX-1 but a bit more developed and extended functionally.

[@nish_ttp]

Yeah not a bad comparison. I think the main difference is you have less digital screens/menus which I found very useful indeed.

[@JoeSmith-zv4ic]

By no means the beginners crappy pedal. This this was the daddy when it came out. I bought one new and still use it. You can get great distortion from it if you know how to use all your equipment. Still blow people away with the ' = audioslave - like a stone solo on this board. doesn't sound tinny or over computerised. I wont be replacing mine any time soon .

[@charlespancamo9771]

I was about to pull the trigger on this but it not having any way to get a stereo input into was a deal breaker. It would have to be a couple certain places to work in the chain and not I'm about that type of limitation.

[@nish_ttp]

Ah that's a shame. I think maybe as they designed it as an all in one solution they don't expect a stereo input. I think the newer versions should have it though! (eg me80)

[@JohnnyNation]

Not only do I think it's still good/ I've sold 2 ME-70's and an ME-80 because I simply think my 2 ME-50's are better !!!###

[@iain1019]

£ 80 a steal i brought mine years ago for about £ 270. It should have came with a power adapter, but be warned the cable will break. Amazon replacements are good, happy jamming, brother.

[@ZPDSurvival]

Great Video. I have been playing for years and own the Boss ME-6. The ME50 is something I always was interested in. It has a metal case right? Peace Bro. Cheers. +27 now.

[@At0m05]

Yes pretty durable. Metal casing. Plastic nobs though so be sure not to stomp them off lol. But that goes for all pedals i guess

[@sampaton5460]

Can you put it through a tube amp that already has fx?

[@nish_ttp]

You probably don't want to use amp effects if you also use this. I would say you use this type of pedal mostly with an amp on clean. Sometimes people prefer to use an amps onboard distortion/overdrive, in that case you would use the amps effects loop to integrate this pedal.

[@GavinPang]

3:55 is that sweet disposition by temper trap?

[@nish_ttp]

yup!

[@MrBrandonLau]

Nice taste in guitar music. I also heard the Xx’s intro in there as well.

[@terencejamesmusic4126]

Excellent explanations.

[@Tzadeck]

I actually only have a tube amp right now, and while it has a headphone jack it sounds awful. But someone sold me a Boss ME-50 for like $30 USD and it sounds pretty decent through headphones, haha. Saved me from buying a headphone amp. My neighbors should be thanking Boss too.

[@CaptainFantastic222]

Does your amp need to have an FX Loop to use this pedal?

[@nish_ttp]

Nope, just go direct from this onto the clean channel of your amp. FX loops are there if you want to add effects to your amp sound prior to the built in amplification (i.e gain) on your amp.

[@user-rk9pm8tk2f]

I would say and i do use it connect you amp onto Line/Phone back of the ME50 the distortions will sound much better

[@paul_henderson]

Can you nail Metallica/Slayer harmonies with this harmonizer? Or it's not even close to TC Quintessence pedal?

[@nish_ttp]

Unlikely

[@Habinatic]

People love to trash the distortion on these, but of you have crappy pickups , no pedal with make your guitar sound "good" distorted.

[@ziphdelosreyes]

I'm planning to buy 1 I'm a beginneer guitarist. Should i go for it? Or save for me 70

[@nish_ttp]

I think it's worth a shot! remember, if you buy used at a reasonable price, at worst you can just sell it on again and get most of your cash back!

[@danieljimenez6112]

Nah it’s worth the LOW price ! I got one and i haven’t got a new one yet because there’s no need for a new one it has most effects if not everything anyone needs to shred a guitar 😎 yurrrr

[@SyedAbbas-rz2zk]

Subbed

[@rexjosephaventuna8467]

Lol i was planning for this gear and i found out we have the same amp on hand 😅

[@nish_ttp]

haha it's a handy little amp!

[@alejandrordz.1250]

GT-1 or ME-50? What's better?

[@nish_ttp]

Having owned and used both for a while I have to say GT1 for compactness and flexibility (stomp box mode is great). But the ME50 wins for usability and if you aren't planning to trave/gig/busk I think it is also a very good option.

[@alejandrordz.1250]

@@nish_ttp if I'm not planning to travel/gig/busk, GT-1 is better? Or ME-50?

[@nish_ttp]

@@alejandrordz.1250 Better is a tough word here haha, I have a review of the GT1 too, but I would check out some reviews and see what you think of the menus and navigation, if it seems too complicated the ME50 could be better. In any case I would buy 2nd hand and if you don't end up enjoying whichever you choose you can just sell it onwards! :)

[@luckyhouston1054]

Early digital means EVERYTHING.sounds digital. Nothing above or below 20-20k. They say you can't hear anything above or below that range. But, if you plug your guitar into an analog pedal you will hear the difference. I have two: super stout, way easier to manage, all the basics (too basic in sound), super flexible, well-laid out but requires external pedals to "bank up" or "bank down" But listening just now I spotted (heard) the reason this doesn't have the pop of analog pedals.

[@nish_ttp]

that's fair. Though I think these days even pros are saying that digital amps on PC are getting very capable! I think it's something where progress is being made anyway, but I totally understand that analogue pedals can beat out this pedal.

[@tomakafrankconlon3207]

Its was introduced in 2002 not 2007.

[@gabekoehler]

Not just for beginners in my opinion boss always got a bad reputation that they didn’t deserve. It may be a bit dated of a pedal but good sound is good sound.

[@iggyward]

Great review but get some oil on that dry fingerboard, your guitar will thank you ;-)

[@nish_ttp]

Will look into it, I'm terrible with maintenance 😂

[@michaelromeo5689]

Because you are an obvious beginner you fail to make a case that the ME50 is a beginner pedal. This pedal is a workhorse with 100% useable patches and effects. Current overpriced models are merely jammed with ridiculous dying animal noises and other strange sounds that no working guitarist would ever find useful.

[@nish_ttp]

It's a fair point. I guess for me budget and versatile is beginner ish, while expensive separate pedals are more orientated to enthusiasts and advanced players who know what they want.

[@michaelromeo5689]

@@nish_ttp I revised my comment to be less combative sounding. I appreciate your reply.

[@nish_ttp]

@@michaelromeo5689 Don't worry dude, it's a fair point that calling it "beginner" can be interpreted as selling it short, but I think the great thing about gear these days is that you can get really good stuff for pretty cheap! Though I'm sure in the past "beginner" and cheap stuff was probably not so great.

[@mramlija]

My go to pedal for fail safe for more serious & big events since it first came out (can't recall what year it was). Saves alot of time during sound check. For fun casual jams I use Zoom G3Xn earlier was GFX8. Sometimes standalone pedals.

[@diktroy]

Ngomong mulu

[@nish_ttp]

I couldn't agree with you more

[@rafaelki8654]

lah namanya juga ngejelasin