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Bass Guitars > Bass Guitar Pedals & Effects > Boss SYB-5 Bass Synthesizer Pedal

Boss SYB-5 Bass Synthesizer Pedal

Item ID: SYB5

Bass Synthesizer Pedal with 11 Synth Sounds and DSP

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From Our Research Team:

A Fatter, Funkier Pedal for Bassists

The BOSS SYB-3 was the world's first bass synthesizer to be packed into a compact pedal, and it found favor with experimentalists and tone afficiandos alike. Today, the next-generation bass-synth pedal has arrived - the SYB-5. Utilizing the latest in DSP technology, the SYB-5 faithfully reproduces the fat and sharp sound characteristics
of classic analog synthesizers.

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BOSS SYB-5 at a Glance:
  • 11 internal synth sounds, envelope and LFO modulation.
  • External pedal input jack for cutuff filter and LFO rate control, note hold.


Enhanced Sound With the Latest DSP
All of the 11 internal synth sounds have been markedly refined and enhanced to produce a fatter, more cutting sound than ever. The sounds are built on variations of three oscillator Waves (Saw, Square, Pulse) and filters that modulate according to the envelope
and LFO changes you apply. You won't believe how much synth-bass beef can come from such a small pedal.

Enhanced Playability Via External Control.
An external pedal input jack has been added to the SYB-5 for connecting an EV-5 Expression Pedal (sold separately), which allows you to control filter cutoff and LFO rate in real time with your foot. In Modes 1-9 you can use the SYB-5's onboard pedal
to hold a note while playing a bass phrase over it. Time for a bass solo? You bet!


BOSS SYB-5 Bass Synthesizer Features:
  • 11 DSP variations of Saw, Square, and Pulse synth waves
  • Control filter cutoff and LFO rate via EV-5 Expression Pedal (sold separately).
  • Enhanced Wave Shape Mode provides sharper sounds.
  • Hold notes with the onboard pedal and jam over the top.

Specification Detail
Type Bass synth
Inputs 1 x Instrument; 1 x expression
Outputs 2 x 1/4" (mono, stereo)
Power Supply Included No
Batteries 1 x 9V
Height 2.375"
Depth 5.125"
Width 2.875"
Weight 1 lb
Manufacturer Part Number SYB-5

SYB-5 Bass Synthesizer Pedal Image Gallery

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I was very pleased with the shipping speed and the way the stand was packed. I was especially surprised to see candy thrown in the box as well, thank you. It was very relevant to your name "sweet" water. Your "Thank You" inserts provided an insight into your service to your customers - and it really shows how you really appreciate your customers. Your customer service is excellent and I would not hesitate to buy from you again ... in fact, you will be the first company that will come to mind for my next purchase because I know what I will expect. Excellent Customer Service!


Cheryll, Lott, TX

Reviews

based on 5 reviews

Know what you're getting into

by Andrew Smith from Seattle
January 27, 2011
Music Background: Geek w/ dayjob
I think at least one other reviewer may have been expecting a device that tracks like a high-end bass MIDI controller. That's not what this is.
This box can make your bass sound like (or sound ... read more [+]like its being accompanied by) an alien, a spaceship (taking off or landing w/ use of expression pedal), a robot monk, a fuzz-wah/envelope (optional expression pedal is nice) lo-fi face melting machine, a synth-wah punch of wet, tight, robot sex... BUT TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!!
Make sure this pedal suits your needs or fits somewhere into your sound or what you're trying to sound like.
It will not track your Jaco riffs; that's probably asking too much of your audience anyway. It will not provide fluffy pad synth to fill out your Creed covers.
Also, for cleaner tracking (on the actual SYNTH settings 1-8) it likes clean input of single notes (NO CHORDS) without a lot of harmonics, so don't put any effects (ooo! except maybe the fx only output of a clean delay!) between it and your instrument. Dial out that growly bridge-panned jazz tone, solo your neck pickup, or pull out the P-bass.
And DON'T PLAY WEEDELY SOLOS AND RIFFS THROUGH IT! It can't keep up with them and it's not meant to.
Do a youtube search on this thing for some examples of what actual talented and creative players and hacks (the good kind) have been able to do with it. Hell, one dude even looped the dry output back to the input for a feedback loop and tweeked on the freq/res and rate knobs, playing the fool thing without an instrument (per se) plugged into it! close [-]

COOL PEDAL!

by LANCE PALMGREN from BRANSON MO.
April 9, 2013
Music Background: PRO BASS PLAYER,VOCALIST,SONG WRITER.
THIS NEW PEDAL FROM BOSS IS VERY INTERESTING,YOU NEED TO TURN UP SOME SO THE NOTES RING THRU,SO IF YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT IT MAY NOT BE FOR YOU HOWEVER IF YOU KEEP TWEAKING IT YOU CAN FIND SOME VERY... read more [+] INTERESTING NEW SOUNDS ON THE BASS LIKE NOUTHING YOU'VE EVER HEARD WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS AFTER. DEFINATELY A HEAD TURNED close [-]

A keyboard for your bass

by Ricardo C, Orta from
March 22, 2012
Music Background: Pro Musician
a really great pedal, can produce crazy synth space wahs to the more funky waves. definitely a must for those bassist looking to experiment, or just love the synthesizer but don't want to let go of th... read more [+]eir bass to play one. close [-]

Be subtle and mindful with this effect

by Ed from CA
March 2, 2012
Music Background: Always learning
Of the 11 synths the SYB-5 has, I'd say only 3 or 4 are use-able. Some of the synth sounds don't sound too great and the Boss techs have a lot of work to do in their bass-FX department.

... read more [+] The secret is to be subtle with it and keep your dry signal up all the way and the synth low. If you want full on synth, you might aw well put the bass down and become a guitar player or play keys.

On some of the synth modes, you can hold the pedal down to increase the intensity of the effect while you're playing.

What I've always loved about Boss pedals is they are 1) true-bypass (I picked this pedal over the Electro-Harmonix synth for that reason), 2)sturdy & break-proof and 3) you can daisy-chain them from the stage-tuner and power a bunch of Boss pedals with 1 power supply.

For now, the SYB-5 will have to do and maybe Boss will come out with a new improved pedal soon. close [-]

Unusable.

by from
November 12, 2010
Music Background: Pro Bassist
If only there was a "negative 5 stars" rating available...Latency and tracking issues abound, and the sounds, when you can coax them out by playing veeerrrry sloooooowwwwly are lame - even at the sugg... read more [+]ested settings for different types of sounds. Sorry, but if I can't get a useable sound out of a stomp box after repeated manual readings and 2 hours of knob twiddling, it's "bye bye stomp box", Thankfully, Sweetwater has stellar customer service, and I was able to return this completely hassle free. close [-]

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See Also: Bass Pedals , Boss , Boss Bass Guitar Pedals & Effects

Boss SYB-5 Bass Synthesizer Pedal

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