4 minute read
Boss SY-200 Synthesizer
from February 2022
BOSS
SY-200 Synthesizer
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By Ted Drozdowski
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premierguitar.com Roland produced the first guitar synthesizer, the GR-���, in ����. It was cumbersome—requiring multiple rack spaces or a tabletop stand, and a special guitar outfitted with hexaphonic pickups. Problems with latency and tracking were all too real, as anyone who tried bending a note learned. But, with the right coddling, they sounded heavenly. Check out David Bowie’s “Ashes to Ashes” to hear the GR-��� at its best.
Many generations later, Roland subsidiary Boss delivers the SY-���. Inside its vault-like �" x �" x � " metal enclosure dwells all the processing for ��� sounds spread over a dozen core analogstyle synth voices, ��� preset variations on those sounds, MIDI, and a deep but simple set of controls that put a variety of ferociousand-twisted, elegant, and classic-synth-cheesy sounds at my fingertips.
The James Cagney of Guitar Synthesis This tough little guy is the kid cousin of Roland’s SY-����, a ��" x ��" stomp synth issued in ���� that brought ’��s GR-���-flavored synth sounds and more to any guitar or bass for a grand. At a third of the price, the SY-��� offers a lot to any guitarist
LCD display screen
Tone, resonance, and depth controls
Guitar level
Effect level Memory dial for 171 preset/128 programmable settings
Synthesizer style selector
Memory control
or bassist with a taste for adventure. There’s zero latency, the dynamic response is excellent, and the control set is so simple and intuitive that you almost don’t need a manual—which is good, because the manual explains little more than the device’s exterior anatomy. (Failing to include a list of those ��� sounds is a major omission. A Google search brought up a downloadable list.) The SY-��� runs on three AA alkaline batteries or a Boss PSA series ���ma adaptor.
The �" x � �/�" LCD screen is a godsend. Running the SY-��� on the floor with my pedalboard plugged through the SY-���’s effects loop, I could read the effect names clearly and switch through presets readily with the Memory/CTL � stomp button. However, I ultimately decided to place the SY-��� on a stand to better make changes on the fly—like adjustng the guitar/ effect balance of my ��� bubble sound preset (video-games, anyone?), or adding resonance to my favorite voice, the ��� touch filter (raging, dynamically sensitive, attenuated fuzz).
You start building tones on the right-side dial, by selecting from one of �� core analog synth sound options. They are lead, pad, string, bell, organ, bass, dual (beefy tones), sweep, noise, SFX, sequence, and arpeggio. Some, like arpeggio and pad, are self-explanatory. Others have characteristics associated with their organic equivalent. Bell, for example, is bright and metallic, while lead is tightly focused for soloing. Noise and SFX yield modulations and octavetype sounds that are fairly unpredictable from setting to setting but very cool as trail tones at dryer settings. And I swear that I could hear the keys clicking in ��� layered organ, where I got my Jon Lord on.
Re-Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun Tone, resonance, and depth knobs are situated directly under the LCD screen and provide control of EQ and dimensionality. D. level and E. level are separate controls for balancing the organic guitar tone and the selected effect. The variation dial, meanwhile, lets you blend in additional voices from each sound category. For example, ��� layered organ has �� additional variations within its sonic spectrum. The number of variations per sound varies. All the controls have detents, and the tone, resonance, depth, D. level, and E. level dials each have ��� subdivisions for ultra-precise tweaking. Sometimes the change of a few detents was imperceptible, to my ears, at least. In other settings, the arpeggio and pad, for example, very small changes could be significant.
Pushing the menu button activates the control menu and expression pedal functions and enables access to MIDI capabilities. The memory control button also works as a tap tempo, and you can control pitch shifting effects or envelope parameters via an expression pedal (not included). Want to save a particularly interstellar sound? Simply hit the menu and exit buttons at the same time, and then press down the memory dial. Bingo! It’s there in the preset bank, waiting to be called up via the Memory CTL/� switch.
As with any synth pedal, there are occasionally unpredictable results. In a few settings, like ��� bubble, bent notes peter out a bit. And in some sweep, noise, and SFX settings, fast runs and chording got a bit sticky. But dialing back the effect level usually yielded a balance where clusters of noise sat comfortably below the core guitar tone, providing a foundation for the chaos. Some sounds, like ��� Touch Filter, had more boldness and character on the lower strings.
The Verdict It’s hard to imagine a more sonically diverse pedal than the SY-���—especially for its size. Whether I used humbuckers, single-coils, or effects like delay and overdrive—the SY-��� was a delight to play. Even sounds that didn’t please my ear—like some chirpy classic synth tones—were intriguing and authentic. And at $��� it’s a bargain, particularly when you consider the vast number of tones and the ease with which they can be sculpted. Some players might even find that the SY-��� renders their flanger, phase shifter, organ emulator, shimmer delay, or other pedals redundant. Needless to say, there’s plenty in Boss’ latest synth to please both guitar synth newcomers and veterans.
RATINGS
Tones Ease of Use Build/Design Value
PROS A staggering amount of classic and otherworldly sounds that are easy to shape. Compact enclosure. Easy to use.
CONS Really? There’s 171 preset voices and they’re not listed in the manual?
$299 street boss.info
