BOSS IR-2 REVIEW - Better Than A Tube Amp? Best Amp In A Box? Best Pedal Amp? Amp & Cabinet Review

[@guyinpei]

Great to hear the various amps without so much gain/overdrive all over. Very nice demo showing sounds available and played with style.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thank you so much, really appreciate the feedback!

[@plaidretinas]

It’s actually a perfect 2 channel solution. When you dial in your EQ on say the green channel and set it, you can then switch over to red and set that channel, the pedal stores the last setting of each channel. It will only change if you make the change, then it stores that setting.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks so much for that info, you're totally right, I failed to test that function and mention that, and didn't figure that out until later

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

I added a subtitle correcting my statement around the eq settings and storing them. Thanks for the feedback.

[@dougfishback3116]

With the tasty drive tones and 2-channel setup, I'm wondering if I'll even need a drive pedal. A tuner, compressor, and the IR-2 could be enough.

[@redcomn]

@@dougfishback3116well i still need a drive pedal, Boss od3 is detrimental to my core sound. Plus my fuzz is kinda brittle and harsh without it.

[@gigaha]

⁠@@dougfishback3116 You can certainly dial in a ton of gain / distortion without needing an extra pedal. Depends on what you like, of course. I still put a fuzz in front of mine.

[@allenlocke1935]

I just got The Lion, but as soon I saw this I placed my order. This will come in handy at some point. No doubt in my my mind. I have a collection of some fine tube amps and this will still a have a use for me somewhere along the line. It's a boss pedal! It's just gonna work!

[@PedalPoopers]

It can't touch the Lion in any way, shape or form but it looks like the IR-2 will be a fun toy!

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

​@@PedalPoopersI don't know what the Lion is, but this IR-2 should be a game changer for my recording and practice setup.

[@tanguydelooz2881]

How do they compare ? What if you had to choose between the Lion and the IR-2 ? Thanks for your insight !! (I recently got the Simplifier MKII)

[@clintwhite3021]

@@tanguydelooz2881 Not satisfied with the MK2?

[@NEONNOONE]

FINALLY! A great review where great player don’t try to play metal on IR-2. Thank goodness. Amazing job! Love both content and playing.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

@@NEONNOONE thank you so much, I really appreciate the kind words and encouragement. Thanks for watching

[@v-gc7257]

This would be a great mini practice amp with headphones. Saving up for Christmas. Great demo

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks so much, totally! it's cool because you can have all your pedals hooked up and play with your sound just through the headphones.

[@joellebrodeur1015]

The beauty is if you don't like the stock IRs, you can load new ones. That's what I'm doing with mine. I've already heard from a few who have this pedal and did that. Went from "meh" to "yeah!🙌".

[@garyatkins4479]

Just bought one .. seems like a cool pedal to have so far ..

[@djparsons7363]

I'm going to use this pedal on my Steel Guitar, just ordered one!

[@SoloSi2024]

Sounds great. A simple cab on/ off switch would sell it to me even more. Guess I could easily store one with and one without to easily call up depending on the situation. Nice to be able to achieve an overdriven twin sound at any volume!

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks for watching

[@7171jay]

Kind of a strange signal path you have there to demo this pedal. I wouldn't think many people would go: Guitar- IR-2 -powered PA - 4x12 cab. On stage I think most would be going to the PA and then to a full range speaker system (monitors and mains) not just to guitar speakers. Alternatively going: guitar - IR-2 - effects return of a guitar amp and turning off the cab sim (I'm assuming the pedal does that) would be a way to get very different "amp" sounds out of an actual amp and is something a few people do with these kinds of amp sim pedals. The other major use I would imagine people would choose to do would be direct recording IR-2 to a recording interface DI input. As to your speaking on the video, a separate mic for that with a switch to turn it off when you are playing would be the best way to get both your speaking and the guitar sound proper. You are audible but it doesn't exactly sound pro the way you are currently doing it.

[@bradatherton9369]

I came in here for his opinion, not yours. I'm pretty sure most people in here, same story. Freedom of speech for you to get on his case over a free F'ing video, freedom of speech for others to tell you what's on their mind, too. Cheer asahat.

[@sytharnia1717]

When mine arrives I will be going into a power amp into a guitar cab

[@adrianmcgrath1984]

It’s a salient point. I stopped the video when I saw it. There is no real value to demonstrating a modeller into a guitar cab. Cabs all have their own characteristics, which is precisely why the pedal has Cab IRs. If you are going to achieve cab simulation, you have to have a cab that has no 'colour' of its own, it’s a waste of time. @@bradatherton9369

[@ernestomartinez5296]

What about feed back? I rely a lot on it

[@adrianmcgrath1984]

you should be more able to get feedback from a monitor, its facing you and aimed up at the guitar, and its easier to step in and out of the "beam" from a monitor than a guitar amp @@ernestomartinez5296

[@carpediem4413]

Wish it had: aux in, midi, more extensive ambiance, two outs with ability to send one to front to house, ability to use two stereo IR's.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

That would be cool, thanks for watching

[@MarshallorFender]

I want this to be better then my tonex but note sure it is… I guess I won’t know until I try it. Nice job using a real cab in the video. I sometimes find it hard to hear the pedals when folks go straight into their audio interface and I can’t hear the speaker room sound.

[@TempleOfTheMartyrs]

WE'VE USED IT ON OUR LAST RELEASE, SOUNDS AMAZING

[@joellebrodeur1015]

Cool.

[@Idontlikethisever]

I love the way the Tele is aged. Looks awesome

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks so much! Appreciate that, it's a MJT body

[@Gibson1976uk]

I have one! wasn't sure at first but I have found I have grown quick to like it more and more! you just need to set it up work with your set up! once you have that sorted! its all very good

[@LIKEFUNK]

That's only a bit of what it can be tweaked to using a Tele, you need to get your microphone level set with your demo of the pedal, you are inaudible volume wise in several places during your Tele demo here.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks for the feedback, I'm still working through how to do that with trying to record the uitar tones at a good volume where the tone and touch feel right, but then having the mic pick up my voice. I'll keep trying to get better at that and thanks for watching

[@elipapapsanchez9856]

Waiting on mine to arrive the second week of January

[@bleepbooster]

Great review Neil. Thanks from Tim in London UK.🙏

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@MRxr400]

sounds great to me. nice playing too. i use a two channel amp, and this suits my desires and needs.

[@MRxr400]

by the way, the crunch and brit setting sounds great to me. i'd be tempted to use as my main tone and roll off guitar volume for clean like a single channel amp.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks for watching and appreciate the compliments! It’s really a great pedal and you could totally use it as a two channel

[@cliffdykes1171]

That is some great playing!

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks so much for watching, and really appreciate the compliments!

[@istvanbarany57]

Cool video and pedal. Enjoyed your playing as well! What would be a cheap way to play live in small venue w/o a PA system. To play it through the tube amp I have seems like would defeat its purpose - would overprint the output with the amp’s response. Cheers!

[@joellebrodeur1015]

Not totally. With the IR-2, you can turn off the cab or adjust the cab to match the cab you're running it into. I have this pedal and hadn't taken it out to rehearsal yet, but got the Fender FR12 to run it through at the space.

[@christopherkennedy873]

Nice playing - thanks for the straight through demo - what are your feelings about this a few months in?

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks so much, I've actually really grown to love the pedal, I used it yesterday the tone sounds great plugged directly into a PA, and I feel the touch sensitivity has become more comfortable. I highly recommend the pedal

[@christopherkennedy873]

@@neilmorrisonofficial got one on the way - sounds like a pretty inspiring pedal! 🤘♥️💥

[@dreamdancer8212]

Many thanks for your work and your great review. Just one thing makes me wonder - reviewing an Amp/Cab simulator and then putting it through a Guitar cabinet to "get a more realistic guitar tone"- isn´t that a bit contradicting the purpose of your review. I mean this thing is meant to simulate an amp and a cabinet. I would have liked to hear the pure sound this thing can make on its own - did you feel it had to be sent through a guitar cabinet to sound good?

[@fullcirclesound6498]

You can turn the cab section off, then run the IR 2 into say a Powerstage 200 with a 12” Cannabis Rex speaker cab. This gives you an amp power section with EQ control and the IR 2 provides pre amp EQ and amp tones Makes a great live rig. Then turn on the IR section, plug into your interface or USB into your computer and you have a great sound for recording.

[@jimmyfrombrooklyn8550]

Great demo, lots of food for thought

[@dumalucky]

Yep I think he got it wrong with the EQ, the pedal saves the settings on red or green. You only get two options when playing even though you have many to choose from.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Yeah, I should have dove into that a bit more before posting, I did make a note during that section clarifying that it does save EQ's

[@stratjed]

Katana in a Boss pedal format. Even runs on a 9v battery. Perfection Boss.

[@bradatherton9369]

160 mA current draw. Yes, it 'works' with a 9v battery, but will eat through them quickly. Kind of an emergency feature. But on that note, USB-to-9v converters are becoming commonly available, so you can use a USB battery bank and size it according to your needs.

[@Makabaru]

Hi Neil, thanks for your video from Italy! Finally lots of nice clean sounds and really nice playing. I'm considering purchasing the Boss Ir2 and since I would like to keep my Dv Mark C112 speaker (very light) I was thinking of a pedal power amp (e.g. Harley Benton GPA 100). Alternatively, considering a cabinet change, an FRFR, but I don't know which one. Since we have very similar musical tastes and sounds and I also play blues, soul, R'n'B, swing, etc. In your opinion, which of the two could be the most suitable solution? A thousand thanks!

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

I think either situation would work great. I'd just keep the cab you have :)

[@dtmateo]

That telecaster sounds FANTASTIC. It sounds like a tele no matter which amp you use. What’s the secret?

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks so much, I agree it's a magical tele! I took a risk and bought it off of ebay for $900. It's an MJT parts tele with fender custom shop pickups, it's just got that mojo!

[@StratTones]

Wow! Sounds incredible

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thank you so much! I agree

[@andrew6978]

Quite funny you start playing Desire on the Vox setting.

[@jbbeaudry]

Thanks Neil. Some questions : if you are using the Amp/cab simulation and send the signal back to your cab, that’s basically two cabs in one. How does the pedal sound through monitors ? Is there a possibility to have solely the power amp simulation with IRs, without preamp, so you can run your preamp based rig through the pedal and into front or interface ? That would be the use for me and I find those complete amp simulations a bit underwhelming.

[@therewasascene]

Technically should not being double cabbing but dang it sounds good. Especially that neck pu on the tweed. If it sounds good it is good, right? 😃 Just like I’ve heard that those boss/fender pedals in the past sounded great through PAs even though they didn’t have balanced outs or IRs

[@JB2024-gx2kp]

Excellent demo! Quick question for you can you use this pedal with a power ramp into a cabinet?

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks so much, I think you probably could. In the video I actually plugged it into a PA system and out of the PA to a guitar cabinet. the 4x12 behind me in the vid

[@Smart-Alex]

Sounds great, man. Do you recommend pairing it with a tube amp or another speaker, like a FRFR?

[@joellebrodeur1015]

I suggest the Fender FR10 or FR12. I have the FR12 and it's ridiculously simple. It's literally plug and play.

[@Smart-Alex]

@@joellebrodeur1015yeah I think I’m going to go that way

[@HaggisnNeeps]

Thanks for a very honest an Brill review

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

appreciate you listening!

[@slawsonscot]

Great video - thanks! Just curious if you've tried an acoustic (or acoustasonic) through the clean setting for church? I was using an ME-90 with my Acoustasonic which was ok, but I've gone back to my Katana for Sunday mornings because it just lacked something. Merry Christmas!

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks for watching, I didn't even think to try an acoustic through the clean setting, but It could work- I think some other acoustic pedals would sound better though and give you more options. I use the Zoom AC-2 and I like it a lot for acoustic

[@dananthony6258]

I thought the pedal remembers the eq setting you had on prior to switch it ? I thought I heard someone say that. That tele sound sick through it for sure.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

You're right, it does - I was anxious to do a review that I jumped the gun and didn't look into that, and then another viewer let me know - I did make a correction adding text in the video mentioning that. So please disregard my thoughts on EQ :) It's super cool

[@zippy61]

Great playing! Was that an Andy Timmons lick you did in there?

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks so much! I appreciate the compliments, I don't listen to too much Andy Timmons, but maybe great minds think alike? haha I know Andy rips!

[@evallejo8735]

So when u go from pa to amp,are going into fx return or into amp input. Also i guess the line from pa to amp is both amp and cab sim from the boss ir2 pedal. Geat video and playing.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

I just went to amp input, i have my delays and reverbs through the effects loop. For the video I just went from the amp pedal into a channel on the pa, and then speaker out of pa into the 4x12 cab behind me in the video. Thanks for watching.

[@Shredsofeden]

Can you put this pedal in front of a clean fender amp.With the Cab simulators off!

[@FerdnandFreeholi]

I'mpicking one of these up. I've got a ton of boost pedals but this one seems pretty versatile. I agree that how did you split your signal so you could go into the IR stereo?

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

I just plugged the IR mono into a PA system and from the PA out to the 4x12 cab behind me. It was a mono setup

[@dandeg1438]

@@neilmorrisonofficial So you played an amp and cab sim pedal through an actual guitar cabinet? Isn't that doubling up on speaker sims?

[@toddclarke1580]

Did i Miss what you are running it through ? Powered Speakers ? Di to interface ? And fortunately its not a shared eq.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks for watching. I just plugged it into a cheap PA system and then out of the pa to the 4x12 bigger cab behind me.

[@user-xj5dj5lp3y]

Thanks for the honest video. Won't be buying one of these. Other KZbin channels recorde them with all this u beaut gear. Good video

[@casarole45-music]

Great vid, what settings were you playing at the intro or was that a tube amp?

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks so much, that was the pedal on the intro, in fact that whole video is the pedal itself. I was on the Tweed setting, in fact at 5:29 on the video, that will show you the exact setting I used for the intro

[@casarole45-music]

@@neilmorrisonofficial nice it sounded great, I find though my perception and ear changes when I know what it’s coming from, so without knowing I was thinking, is that a tube amp?

[@empiriko1]

The BOSS ir2 is conectec to frfr or pa?? Suena genial

[@SuperGrandpierre]

Hi How do go from your PA to your seaker cab ? Interested in that... 🤘

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

I went from one of the speaker output's out of the pa and straight into my cab with a speaker cable, I'm sure the OHM rating was off but I was so low volume and playing for a short while, it didn't seem to mind

[@braddinsmore2696]

Well done demo

[@yliu4093]

Thanks, for home playing, what are the options for output except headphone? Thanks

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Just a 1/4 out and head phone jacks are the outputs

[@summersendband]

Great playing

[@DizzyKrissi]

Hey - did you use the Boss exclusively on your intro-track?

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Yeah the intro is exclusively the IR-2 pedal. It was just the tweed setting, which to me, is my favorite setting on the whole pedal. Most realistic soudnign and feeling and takes my pedals well.

[@DizzyKrissi]

@@neilmorrisonofficial : wow-sounds really nice. Does it work as an USB-interface to record directly into my DAW?

[@Izya__]

​@@neilmorrisonofficial wooow, i think this really amp 😮

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

Darn, just found out I'm not getting this pedal til early january and my Boss BP-1w won't be arriving until April. Oh well, got my spot in line. 🤷‍♂️

[@joellebrodeur1015]

I just went through this today. I thought Kraft Music's reverb listing was in stock (never said presale). Nope, I inquired and they also said backordered until APRIL. I did quick Google search and found one Boss IR-2 in stock at an audio/visual shop. Asked if it was indeed, for real, in stock. I snagged the last one. It shipped and arrives Tues. Keep searching random retailers you wouldn't think of trying. The audio/visual/camera shops carry a limited amount of pedals, so keep stalking those smaller retailers. You will score one long before April.

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

@joellebrodeur1015 Well, I can wait for the IR-2 until early January, that's coming right up, it's the April for the BP-1w that gets to me. If I find one in stock before then, I may grab it and cancel my current order.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Bummer, hopefully it will come soon enough!

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

@neilmorrisonworld Yeah, at least it's not like the TB-2w Tone Bender, they made like 3,000 units, and if you didn't grab one in time for $349, people are selling them for $800+ now. 😪

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

Well, nevermind. My BP-1W just shipped (as well as a dual footswitch for the IR-2). Just waiting on the IR-2, I can hold out another week or two... 😂

[@GuitarTeleMan]

I've heard many demos of this pedal, and I prefer the sounds you are getting. What pickups are in that guitar? Your sound has that girth and snarl of a vintage telecaster. Thanks

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks so much, they are DiMarzio Twang Kings

[@markbenson2986]

Great sound! What pickups are in that Telecaster?

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks, DiMarzio Twang Kings

[@udertyrat]

Nice job.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks for watching and appreciate the comment

[@JediMasterRick2]

I’m getting me one. Just curious. What pedal were you using for the Eric Johnson stuff you were playing? It sounded good.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

It’s a hermida distortion pedal.

[@lr9421]

I have a question, this can work putting it directly to a Fender Champion 40 input since it does not have send/return? Thank you!

[@whatever_shaker]

send/return!

[@joachimlindback]

Great stuff. What guitar and pickups is that?

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

It’s an MJT Tele with a fender custom shop bridge and a DiMarzio twang king neck. Thanks for watching

[@oscarm4154]

Does it sound just as bad as the Katana stuff? Hard to judge on you tube. My guess is that the software is probably a Katana without effects and a speaker

[@ivanpop6565]

Hi Neil. Very very nice playing and review indeed, thank you. Would have been nice if you elaborated a little on incorporting this into a normal board, ie using it as just another effects pedal rather than an amp/cab simulator. I've had it for a short while and so far have only used it into my amp, which is a solid state pedal platform with rather flat response, albeit it is a bass amp (D-class Warwick Gnome 300W into a Warwick Gnome 10" bass bin, loud and punchy AF). I found that the IR-2 sounds better as is, with the cab simulators on, just as the Boss ME-80 does, for example. It is just another option of sound, with the cabs on or off. I guess all that will depend on the typoe of amplifier it goes into. To come back to my question, I am considering playing the IR with all my other pedals, including 2 or three drives and distortions, choruses, reverbs, delays, wah, Whammy DT etc.. How would you link all that for use into an amplifier? I play mainly double humbucker guitars. Best regards! Ivan

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Hi @ivanpop6565, thanks for the feedback. I actually finally just had some giggin experience with the pedal, and honestly say I was impressed. Did a full private party gig and a worship set at church and the pedal sounds legit through a PA system, it accepted my pedals wonderfully, and having the effects loop for delays and verbs was awesome. I really enjoyed the pedal and the touch and feel was great. It's definitely gorwing on me and I would recommend this pedal to anyone!

[@bearlyawake]

You have this going via the P.A to your 4x12 to get “more realistic guitar tones”. Are the cab models turned off ? Are the pedals in front of the IR-2 or in the loop ?

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Thanks for watching, I’ve got reverb, delay and trem in the effects loop and the boost and drive pedals in the front.

[@bearlyawake]

@@neilmorrisonofficial sounds good in the room. Do you have the cab models turned off or on since you’re going through the quad ?

[@frankphvrvon3153]

Hey ! Did you put the drive/booster in the loop or in front of the pedal?

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

The drive and booster is in the front. Reverb, trem, delays through the effects loop. Thanks for watching

[@gobartie6304]

I've heard different demo of Boss IR-2 and Amp simulations sounded terrible, more gainy Amps sounded nearly same as old Roland Boss GT-6 multi effect that I used 10 years ago, so uninspiring not like real amps at all. I feel like trick of these pedals are all postprocess effects added after main pedal.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Yeah, I hear you - I found that the tweed setting for me was the only one I liked and would use. I'm not a high gain player, but I wasn't a fan of those amp mods, something was missing. But, for a couple hundred bucks and small gig settings where you need little to no stage volume, I think it can work.

[@gobartie6304]

@@neilmorrisonofficial I'm currently looking for some decent Amp Sim that would let me pick good clean tone and high gain drive like 5150 but can't find anything that would fit that criteria. Hype around IR-2 was so huge that my hopes were also high, especially that all competitors gear moved to next level but amp simulations of this pedal reminds old boss or zoom multieffects. It's trendy to go ampless nowadays but I can tell that trend will go away soon IMO.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

@@gobartie6304 me too! nothing beats a real amp!

[@slidersson]

maybe we could here the output from the pedal and not what you hear in the room?????

[@Johnny-oy9fh]

Who needs tubes eh

[@kimmolingonheimo]

My ZOOM G2 has a very nutral Twin 65 mod....!!!

[@teejay2556]

Sounds like any other amp tbh

[@joellebrodeur1015]

That's the idea, I guess. It's compact enough to not drag a heavy tube amp.

[@elipapapsanchez9856]

Wait, what are we reviewing again?…got lost in your chops. 🔥..come play at my church

[@djganton]

I don't know if you were going for an "in the room" sound, but the audio was horrible both on your voice and the guitar. It didn't do much to showcase the pedal. Great playing, though!

[@gibson2623]

That is a ridiculous question, ffs.

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

Haha, I agree

[@gibson2623]

@@neilmorrisonofficial LoL :)

[@charlesdufrene6244]

So recording direct to a DAW while using only headphones would not be very realistic non good sounding?

[@neilmorrisonofficial]

I think it would sound great, I just haven't tried it yet

[@Mike-fc5vp]

this is nothing ,, bad