ROAD TEST
BOSS SY-300 Guitar Synthesizer
By Hal Rodriguez
For musicians seeking new sonic territory to explore , BOSS ’ s SY-300 offers sounds modeled after analog synthesizers in an easy-to-use guitar pedal . Unlike Roland ’ s GR synthesizer pedal , the SY-300 doesn ’ t require the installation of a special pickup to operate and has no issues with latency while playing . The unit has 70 factory preset patches that are ready to use out of the box and players can edit and save their own sounds in 99 available user patches .
Ease of Use Guitarists will be glad to know there isn ’ t a steep learning curve to using and editing the synthesizer sounds in the SY-300 . The manual is simple to follow and even the layout of the pedal is intuitive to use . Simply stepping on the CTL 2 and CTL 3 buttons marked with up and down arrows will allow the player to scroll and audition all the available preset patches . The volume can be adjusted with the steel knob marked “ Output Level .”
The sound of each patch is a result of the signal chain of three oscillators and four effects , ranging from delay to chorus . For players inclined to create their own sounds , editing a patch is done by simply pressing the Synth / FX button , and then using the Select , Page Forward , and Page Backward buttons to move through the menus displayed on the pedal ’ s LED screen . The signal chain is displayed visually on the screen and each oscillator and effect can be selected for editing . Their parameters can be easily controlled with four knobs below the screen , which are laid out much like the EQ section of a guitar amplifier . An effect in a preset patch , such as a chorus , can also be changed to any one of the 21 effects available on the pedal , like a compressor or touch wah .
Sounds & Application The analog synth sounds in the SY-300 are impressive and fun to use as lead tones to play melodies , riffs , licks , or bass lines in electronic , dance , pop , and hip-hop music .
My favourite patches were cinematic , atmospheric sounds like Phased Strings and Soft Sine Wave , which would make great pads for composers working on soundtracks or producers looking for cool new overdubs in recording sessions . Some patches also mimic the sounds of organs , horns , and even harmonica , and would be useable in virtually any style of music .
Adventurous guitarists in rock bands and loopers who are into creating soundscapes will find plenty of patches in here with extreme modulation , distortion , and delay , and can even trigger sequences that automatically play arpeggios after just playing a single note . Some patches can be manipulated in real time in live performing situations by stepping on the CTL1 footswitch , which creates a different effect depending on the patch . For example , hitting the CLT1 button in the Dance Chords patch will raise the pitch of what you ’ re playing by a whole tone , and in U38 , it will change the filter and boost high frequencies .
Since there is no latency while playing the SY-300 , the pedal had no trouble following fast passages such as quick legato licks and arpeggios . The pedal also accurately reproduced the dynamics of my playing while using a pick or fingerpicking ; moreover , hitting the strings harder didn ’ t just produce louder sounds ; it resulted in more exaggerated effects , such as longer delays . I was impressed that chords , double stops , and harmonics rang out clearly and even dead notes produced cool percussive effects through the patches .
Summary The SY-300 is a dynamic , simple-to-use guitar pedal that is packed with plenty of fun analog synth patches . The LED screen and the simple four-knob layout really make editing intuitive for guitarists who are used to just working with amps and traditional guitar pedals and may otherwise shy away from adjusting the parameters of a synthesizer . I found that a little experimentation with the editing menus goes a long way . For example , changing the waveform of an oscillator can make the patch sound more like a horn or a whistle .
Creative producers and musicians in many different genres will find plenty of useful patches for recording and performing , particularly in the worlds of dance , pop , and other synth-heavy genres , but those inspired by rock guitarists like Tom Morello and The Edge might also carve out their own sonic niche with the SY-300 .
Hal Rodriguez is a Toronto-based musician , published writer , and music transcriber who has done work for premier guitarists like Oz Noy and Derryl Gabel . For lessons and transcription services , contact him at halromusic @ gmail . com .
22 • CANADIAN MUSICIAN