PART 3:
Check Out the ME-70's Distortion Effects!

In this article, we're going to go over the essentials of the ME-70's distortion section. It's everything you'd expect from BOSS's latest model. Please refer to this information as you use the ME-70, as it differs slightly from the BOSS GT-series and stompboxes.

Check Out its OD/DS Section
The ME-70 is equipped with 10 types of distortion effects. While the number of effects it features is half of that of the ME-50, the ME-70 comes with a useful and diverse selection of effects that guitarists of all genres will love. The knobs are responsive so you can create a great variety of sounds just using this section.

In previous articles, we created many different sounds in the studio in combination with guitar amps such as the JC-120. This time, we will be using the MICRO CUBE in conjunction with the ME-70’s 10 types of distortion. We also changed the types on the amp side to test for compatibility. We learned a lot and it was very interesting.

• A great combination with the MICRO CUBE!

1. BOOST
First, we're going to set the amp side to clean (JC CLEAN). This is good for creating clean-yet-fat lead sounds. This type of sound is sometimes referred to as "clean boost”.

You'll get a little distortion when you turn [DRIVE] up. But instead of thinking of this as distortion, think of it as a way to make your sound fatter. It's particularly effective on guitars with single-coil pickups.

If you have your amp distorted, you can also increase this distortion. This is referred to as boosting your amp's distortion.

By setting [DRIVE] lower and adjusting [LEVEL], you can change the amount of distortion without changing the character of your tone. When you crank [DRIVE] up, naturally, you will get a sound with more midrange.

• You can create a wide variety of sounds just by switching between different types.

2. NATURAL
This is a flat, neutral sound in which all ranges are reproduced more or less equally. Distortion texture is similar to the BD-2 stompbox, producing an edgy distortion that’s easy to control by picking force and volume controls.

By distorting the amp, you can also increase the amount of distortion without changing the tone. This is effective when you want to add deeper distortion to your amp; in contrast to "BOOST," you can add distortion from the effects unit.

3. OD-1
Released in 1977, the OD-1 was BOSS's very first stompbox. When used alone, it creates a sweet and subdued sound with a tight low end. This sound has been inherited by the SD-1, and it is one of the sounds that you can recreate easily on ME-70.

When combined with a clean amp, the OD-1 and SD-1 create subdued and sweet distortion sounds. Meanwhile, many guitarists have used the OD-1 to boost their monster stacks in what have become legendary performances. (Prominent examples include early Van Halen songs.) Depending on your settings, you can get a rambunctious and flashy distortion tone from this unit.

A characteristic to keep in mind, which is not limited to solely this effect type, is how slight adjustments to the knobs can dramatically change your sound if you have distorted your amp as well. In particular, you can create a variety of expressions using the [TONE] settings, so try it out and have fun.

• Sounds exactly like the original OD-1!

4. BLUES
This compressed distortion is similar to what you would get with the FBM-1 in the BOSS Legend series — a classic bluesy sound in the lineage of Fender Bassman amps.

While a similar type of distortion is available in the preamp section of the ME-70 (explored in our previous article "Create Amplified Sounds on ME-70 with the Preamp Modeling Function”), the distortion you get in BLUES is slightly brighter. It can be easier to use because it has fewer knobs.

5. DIST
This distortion sound has an edge and yet it has a fat, meaty midrange. Its distortion has a finer grain compared to the DS-1 stompbox, resulting in a sound that’s easier to use.

This is a well-rounded distortion sound that you can use not only for riffs and power-chord backing parts, but also for playing lead. You may think there are many types of distortion effects that give you a fat sound, even when you play on a Strat's bridge pickup, but there actually aren't that many.

This is a pretty strong distortion tone, so you might want to go easy on your amp distortion.

6. CLASSIC
This is similar to the [STACK] setting on the preamp, but it also gives you the latitude to create sounds with more distortion than you would get on an amp.

Just by turning up [DRIVE], you get a rich sound similar to what you might get on a large stack boosted by an OD-1. This is a classic sound that’s easy to control.

7. MODERN
This and the following two types fall into the "high gain" distortion category. It gives you a dynamic sound with lots of low end, which makes it perfect for playing riffs on lower strings. You can of course use a JC-120 as your amp, but you can get a more dynamic sound by feeding it through a large stack amp that is set to clean.

Just as its name suggests, this is a modern type of distortion, and most guitarists might want to use it for backing parts and riffs. This distortion will come in handy in a broad range of genres, from pop to metal.

8. METAL
This gives you an aggressive metal sound with lots of midrange, somewhat similar to the MT-2 stompbox. It can be used not only for lead, but is also a good sound to use at home when you’re playing through your amp at low volume levels.

9. CORE
This is an extreme distortion effect with pronounced highs and lows. It’s very edgy so your notes don't get mashed, and it lets you play dynamically even when you're playing metal riffs on lower strings. This distortion is perfect for death-metal type riffs.

10. FUZZ
From Hendrix to Shoegaze, this fuzz provides a smooth, fat sound with not as much edge. It’s neutral and easy to use, and is a favorite of many guitarists.

You can also change the sound dramatically with different amp combinations. If you are going to use it with a distorted amp, you might want to go easy on [DRIVE] so your sound doesn't get overly mashed. It’s also fun to combine this with other effects.

Brush Up Your Distortion with EQ

While the different distortion types and three knobs give you unlimited possibilities for creating tone, you can also use the equalizer if you're into more detailed sound making. The ME-70 comes with a 4-band parametric equalizer that lets you fine tune the character of your distortion sounds or dramatically change its texture.

Each of the four knobs are assigned to bands that are important for creating guitar tones, so you will be able to find the tone you are looking for quickly by moving these knobs. As we described in our previous article, simply select [EQ] in the [PREAMP] section to use the equalizer.

• Set [TYPE] to [EQ] to turn the [PREAMP] section into a 4-band parametric equalizer.

Combine Distortion and Preamps to Create Your Unique Tone

An obvious but important factor for guitarists in creating their unique character is the amp they use in combination with their distortion effects.

In reality it would be difficult to try out different distortion combinations with so many types of amps. But with the ME-70, all you need is one amp, such as the JC-120, set to a clean sound.

I'm a huge fan of real tube amp tones. Each amp has its own unique character, but that character is basically all you'll get from that particular amp. For many of us, owning many different amps is just not practical.

With the ME-70, you can try out "standard" distortion and amp combinations, as well as unique settings that few have ever tried before. The benefits of being able to try a wide range of sounds are priceless.

Problems You May Encounter When Creating Distorted Tones

You may encounter some obstacles when you create your distorted tones or combine several different distortion effects as we did in our examples. The most typical problems are "howling" and "noise."

Howling refers to that high-pitched sound you get when you increase the gain on your effects or other unit to produce a loud (distorted) sound.

This depends on where you are playing, the type of pickup on your guitar, and how the pickup is mounted, but in most cases, howling occurs when you "over distort." Basic antidotes include reducing the distortion, lowering your volume, and pointing the guitar in a different direction. You can also try using another guitar, or reducing the volume on your guitar or volume pedal when you are not playing. Typically, vintage pickups seem to be more prone to howling.

You might also hear a growling noise. This noise is not caused by the effects unit, but by the amplification of noise entering the pickup. If you don't notice the noise when you are playing as a band, you could ignore this, as all guitars create some noise. If it's too noticeable however, try using the noise suppressor.

Reduce noise by pressing the button on the right. But make sure to use this in moderation or you may end up with unnatural sound cutoffs. Listen to your tone as you adjust this.

• Adjust the noise suppressor's sensitivity using these buttons.