BOSS PS-6 Harmonist
Here we have another HornFX favorite. This is by far our most beloved pedal from Boss. The idea of diatonic harmonizers is one that can be a huge benefit to any horn player. This really opens up the world of the one man horn section to you. With surprisingly beautiful tone and wonderfully usable harmonic options, this pedal will greatly enhance any board it is wired to.
External Control: EXP
Cost: $
HornFX Review
Interface: 3.5/5
As with many boss pedals, the PS-6 is quite hard to read, and very unclear as far as the harmonic intervals are concerned. It is one of those pedals whose options and knob positions have to be memorized. Please read the manual. It does have a dry/wet signal knob, which can be very advantageous in a performance setting.
Versatility: 4/5
This stompbox can play in all twelve keys, and therefore, in all diatonic modes. Sadly, it cannot play diminished, augmented, or altered keys. The PS-6 is not only diatonic, but has fixed interval harmonization as well. It also has a nice chorus (detune), about equivalent to the digitech whammy V, and a “divebomb” setting that is pretty unique. There is truly a lot this little stompbox can do.
Tonal reproduction: 3.5/5
The PS-6 has great, organic tone reproduction for notes close to played note (about a 5th down to a 6th up). The octave down/up settings are not nearly as good as other pedals on the market.
Tracking speed: 4/5
The tracking speed is excellent, but not perfect.
Complexity: Simple
Live application: 4/5
The PS-6 is wonderfully useful from a harmonic perspective, building chords diatonically with ease in two and three note voicings. The dry/wet knob makes it even more useful. With that said, since the controls are poorly labeled, and because of the nature of the pedal’s layout, it does take some time to switch between settings. While its frustrations when recalibrating are very real, its tonal and harmonic output far overshadow its shortcomings.
Product Information
FOUR INTELLIGENT PITCH EFFECTS IN A STOMPBOX
Meet the new BOSS harmonist, with four intelligent pitch-shift effects and three-voice harmony in one convenient unit. Among the effect modes are Harmony, Pitch Shifter, and Detune, plus the all-new Super Bend for authentic pedal-bending effects and wild three- and four-octave pitch sweeps. You can even control pitch with an optional expression pedal. The harmony function is fast and simple to use, and supports a variety of interval patterns. It’s easy to create rich, three-voice harmony: choose a major or minor key, and set SHIFT to 3-VOICE—that’s it! The PS-6 Harmonist is an unbeatable combination of superior sound quality, ease of use, and powerful pitch effects, all under one hood.
Four effect modes in one stompbox: Harmony, Pitch Shifter, Detune, and S-BEND (Super Bend)
Easily create two- or three-voice harmonies with selectable key and voicing
High-quality pitch shifting
Three-voice Detune capability
Super Bend provides up to four octaves of extreme pitch bending
Control pitch via expression pedal (optional BOSS FV-500L/H or Roland EV-5)
BOSS five-year warranty
Higher Sound Quality
The PS-6 is the new-generation pedal for harmony shifting. Sound quality has been improved dramatically thanks to the DSP that is unparalleled in power. With the PS-6, you can render complex harmony voicings beautifully, naturally, and easily.
3-Voice Harmony, Detune, and Pitch-Shift
The PS-6 can generate two or three voices, such as direct/third/fifth, in each of the following modes: Pitch Shifter, Detune, and Harmony. This will add rich depth to your guitar sound. Detune broadens the sound in a natural way, as the PS-6 allows 3-voice detuning with slightly raised and lowered pitch added to the direct signal. Voices can also be pitch-shifted one octave up and a fifth below your note — great for arpeggio-style playing, for example.
Super Bend
This amazing effect bends pitch across a 7-octave span, from –3 to +4 octaves! Set the Rise and Fall time to your taste. You can control the bending effect in real time with the pedal’s knob or from an external pedal such as Roland’s EV-5 Expression Pedal (sold separately).
Easy Operation
Manipulate a wide variety of effects using simple operations. In Harmony mode, for example, all you have to do is select the key, specify whether it’s major or minor, and use the SHIFT knob to select the voicing you want to use. The Shift knob switches between the different pitch settings available in each mode.
Nominal Input Level: -20 dBu
Input Impedance: 1 M ohm
Nominal Output Level: -20 dBu
Output Impedance: 1 k ohm
Recommended Load Impedance: 10 k ohm or greater
Power Supply: DC 9V: Carbon-zinc battery (9V, 6F22), Alkaline battery (9V, 6LR61),
AC Adaptor (optional)
Current Draw:45 mA (DC 9 V)
* Expected battery life under continuous use:
Carbon: 2 hours
Alkaline: 8 hours
These figures will vary depending on the actual conditions of use.
Accessories: Owner's Manual, Alkaline battery (9V, 6LR61)
Options: AC Adaptor (PSA series)
Expression Pedal: EV-5 (Roland), FV-500L/FV-500H
Product info from the BOSS website.