Boss BCB-6 Pedal Case

Yes this is very simple to use, especially if you gig quite often! some venues that may be smaller or more cramped than others dont leave you much room for the floor, and leads can go EVERYWHERE, but at least with the BCB-60 its the same with every gig

I used a multi effects pedal before but only used it on a few songs, so most the time i would bypass it and it sounded harsh and distorted.. with this, there is no difference

Not A single Problem

Only get this if you have at least 4 boss pedals.. no point otherwise

Just plug all you boss pedals, and woila!

some problems might occur if you want to keep all the stuff in that box - 5 pedals + adaptor + cables might not fit. /-:

oh yes, if noone short-circued a local nuclear station to the socket you use - you will have no noise.
As for the reduction of the tone individuality - dunno, not as big as Boss Me-50 does anyway.
Imo, it is the problem of the pedals, not of the case.

plastic.
after one year, both locks broke down, so our guitar player had to use a wire to close that thing.
and don't jump on it too much.

if you have only boss pedals - go for this case to easen your life with all those sockets, cables, batteries and power supplies.

otherwise - forget about it, go to a local store and buy yourself a good backpack - you can carry all your pedals stuff in it, including powersupplies etc.

Why would anyone rate this less than a 10? As long as you've got the Boss PSM-5 Power Supply pedal to go with it, and only Boss pedals, it is definitely easy and convenient. But who just owns Boss pedals? They tend to be narrower than most, in particular DOD, so since it'd be nice to be able to fit the DOD pedals in the same case, we'd say it's worth a 9.

No sound, hence sound quality is a non-issue. It certainly doesn't add any noise to our setup.

Here's where it's lacking. If you mean to tour with this case, it's a great concept, but it's pretty cheap plastic. It will carry and protect your pedals just fine, but we've had the buckles and hinges break on this thing several times. Come on, why not spend the extra USD $3 to put some sturdy moving parts on this?

Never dealt with them, but we'd take them to task for the cheapness of the hinges, buckles and handle. But we've never talked to them.

We have enough Boss pedals and hate using batteries and polluting the environment, so with the Boss power supply pedal, this thing is a blessing. It might not be perfect, but if you have three or more Boss pedals, it's crucial.

firstly, i got this discontinued pedal case (came wif the PSM-5) cos i own a number of boss pedals... mainly to save me all the hassle of connecting every pedal together every time i play thus saving me LOTS of time... also to reduce de messy sight of wires crawling everywhere around my feet...

setting up is easy only if:

> u hv boss pedals that fits exactly in2 it wif only 1 ac adaptor input jack. that means 4 power supply, i can only use de PSM-5 power supply pedal (came with de case used) n i can't use de NS-2 noise suppresor, LS-2 line selector or even the TU-2 chromatic tuner 2 power up my pedals... this is bcos de new pedals come with 2 ac adaptor input jacks that make it impossible 2 fit it exactly in2 de case...

> de adaptor input jack slot is quite low on the pedal... if u hv pedals that hv de adaptor input jack kinda high on de pedal, certain times, de plastic cover 4 de daisy chain might pop up... 4 me, it's really no big deal if it's once in a while, but i do find it a tad irritating...

> u r using pedals that hv a single output jack... if u hv a pedal, e.g. chorus, delay or a reverb that hv 2 output jacks, it's really gonna test your nerves as de very 1st BCB-6 pedal case doesn't hv any room or space 2 cater 4 de stereo output of these pedals at the end of the effect chain. if u do notice, de BCB-6G came wif a slight difference that allows de connection of cables (in stereo or 4 looping) at de end n de beginning of the effect chain via de 2 cutaways at de left n right side of de BCB-6G case... compared 2 de original BCB-6 which doesn't cater 4 this setup...

besides all that i've mention above, (don't get me wrong, dis is my observation) 2 my observation, if u r constantly changing de pedals configuration in dis case (pluggin n unpluggin de pedals), u might notice that de paint might get chipped off on the parts of the pedal that hv contact wif de grooves securing it in place... de PSM-5 that came with de case has it...

4 ease of use, setting up only boss pedals n leaving them there permanently is OK... besides that, my only complaint is de grooves securing de pedal (chipped paint) n de inability 2 connect pedals in2 stereo... i was kinda wondering y wasn't de space 2 store a tuner larger, so maybe i could've store extra pedals there... storing batteries in de storage slot is a no no... stored some there b4 n de little culprits were rattling inside de case... but 4 practicallity sake, it's worth parting wif jst a fraction of de dough...

4 sound... didn't quite hear anything... until de case actually dropped... luckily it was secured, n it was really LOUD (de case... LOL)

sturdy n tough... it'll protect de pedals... de only thing 2 take note of is de 2 rubber paddings on de outer underside of de case... meant 2 prevent de case from slipping, but eventually the rubber won't last n will bcome kinda hard, thus no more grip...

never ever did found de need...

Practicallity sake 4 transportation, setting up n 4 basic storage of 6 Boss pedals... satisfactory n does it's basic job.

pedals from other manufacturers... it's gonna b hard 2 find pedals wif de same dimensions as Boss pedals. either a Modify or a New Buy, *Sigh*

constant removing, changing configurations, changing pedals... might chip de paint on your pedals.

using pedals wif 2 outputs at the end of the effect chain... doesn't cater 2 this need; maybe a BCB-6G (unlikely) or get a cable with the angled-head jack.

hving more than 6 pedals n wanting 2 store it inside this case... pray that maybe Boss will make a case for 9 or 12 (!) i dunno. until then, it's Modify or 2 cases together.

Easy to use, just a case that fit 6 boss pedals only, comes with all cabling. Be sure you have the PSM-5 power supply master switch or the LS-2 line selector to power all the pedals. I boughth it new in 12/04, but now this is discontinued, the latest model is the BCB-60 that contains the power supply built in and can fit other pedals of other manufacturers. I bought it because I have the PSM-5 and I think it can be versatile with only boss pedals, because I own a lot of boss pedals, so I'll give a:

The cabling is of good quality, so the tone would not be affected, as far as versality, this is not as versatile as the BCB-60 that can fit the twin pedals and other non boss pedals, but I think they designed the new model to upgrade the BCB-6, but for me the BCB-6 works, and I'll give a:

It uses moulded plastic that is very rugged and durable giving you years of trouble free use, and is it a very convinient way to transport your pedals, and it is all setup.

It ia a very convinient way to transport your pedals and you dont have the hassle of setup and wiring all pedals on stage, and it is very reliable. But it only accept boss pedals, I collect boss pedals so I can change the setup often and have different tones with different guitars.

It is easy when doing gigs but it's a bit too big i guess. I never play with six (boss) pedals so i think the BCB-3 would be more convenient. Also it sucks if you're using non boss pedals too

Now here is the reason i do this review: if you play with a lot of pedals your sound will suck, always. For each (boss) pedal you ad in your rig you will lose about 10% of your guitar signal. So with 5 of them it really doesn't matter if you are playing a '69 Strat or a cheap 100$ Squier. Just try it at home: plug your guitar directly in the amp and then try it with only 1 pedal, you will hear the difference. So if you're really fond of effects make shure you make a loop (for instance with the Powersupply). There are some effects on the market with a true bypass wich doesn't have these problems (eg Line 6). If your amp has an effects loop then try it out with some effects, most of the effects will be less articulated or colourfull but you won't lose your guitar's tone

do NOT throw this baby from a cliff because the latches are made from plastic and break quite easy

-

It's a pain to hide all the power supply wires under the steel cover. I don't even try anymore. One whole pedal space is wasted on a power supply on/off pedal. Stereo pedals were not a consideration when this board was designed. The cords that go between the pedals are no longer procurable and I haven't found an aftermarket cord that fits without a trip to the grinder. Speaking of grinders...I took a dremel and made some holes in my friends case so he could plug in and have stereo out without being burdened with the space wasting Power Supply and Master Switch. I also spliced the wall wart to the daisy chain so the PS/MS was no longer needed. Now he can run 6 pedals that effect the guitar tone but he loses the bypass feature.
The lid must come off when in use and the little metals hinges cut feet and toes when playing barefoot. The big handle is a waste of space. The lid should have hinged on the opposite side and have been made to support the case at an angle should the musician so desire. The input and output jacks on Boss pedals should have been designed to be on the top instead of the sides so more pedal could have fit side by side. Atotal of 9 or 10 pedals could have fit on the same size board had Boss engineers had a little more fore sight. It boggles the mind that after discontinuing the BCB-6 that Boss didn't bother with producing a better design. The BCB-3 thatis still made is even more worthless. Still I use the BCB-6 because I haven't bothered to look for anything better. There is something better out there....right?
This board must have been designed before stereo pedals were invented at Boss.

The wallwart can effect the sound! I used a non-Boss wall wart and ended up with a horible buzz. I found an Ibanez wallwart that does work great.

The original wallwarts wire doesn't stand for being stood on to many times. I spliced and soldered a new heavy duty wire in their once to replace the fragile original. I now thing the wallwort should have a short wire and be inside the BCB-6 case with a regular and easily replacable AC extention cord running to it.
Other than that and the foam that turns yellow and slowly starts to pull from the glue holding it on the BCB-6 is strong enough....oh gosh, here it comes....park a tank on!

Bosses failer to keep the proper cords in stock is a pisser.

One of Bosses worst ideas and still they haven't come up with a superior replacement.
WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

Maybe I should design one and market it.

You're kidding, right?

N/A

Solid and rugged, no worries here.

As I said in my BCB-3 review, long ago I did consult Boss Customer service regarding a general enquiry. I was promptly emailed back. I may not have liked the answer (Boss does not reissue discontinued lines of products) but they were nice about it!

To avoid repeating my "Boss should come up with a BCB-9" tirade from my BCB-3 review, let me just say this: it would be a best seller should Roland/Boss come up with one.

Until they do, I am using a BCB-6 and a BCB-3. I can see where the criticism of the BCB-6 comes from: Roland/Boss techies came up with the original BCB-6 without thinking that their own pedal specifications might change, let alone the fact that the average electric guitarist/bassist might use (gasp!) a combination of Boss/Ibanez/other pedals!

I hear the BCB-6G addressed those flaws (I wouldn't know). Personally, I like my makeshift BCB-9, it serves the purpose and does it well.

Very poor designing went into this project. I don't know why they didn't add slots in each end to allow the use of standard guitar cords(I did).

And they made two compartments for carrying extra cords, batteries, etc. Why didn't they make them large enough to store a couple more pedals(I did). There was enough room available.

There was also no consideration for pedals with multiple outputs; i.e., RV-3, CE-5. And not all Boss pedals have the same height power jack outlet. The black plastic power cord cover does not properly seat over the higher outlets with the power plugged in.

My Dremil tool got pleanty of use. As did a hot glue gun.

I don't know why they chose to put those thin metal hinges right where you stomp the pedals. I just know I will be trying to re-attach those oneday.

I don't know why Boss doesn't make a 6 pedal case anymore. They currently only market a 3 pedal case. I found mine over the internet. It was in excellant condition and had all the cords. I don't think I'd buy it again though. Maybee if it was redesigned by an actual guitarist. I believe the origional price was $129, which was way to much.

The Idea of having all of your pedals in a compact pack is absolutely brilliant. I've had it with nailing the pedals on a peace of wood or scratchig them off after glueing them to the floor. The idea is brilliant but the design is rather less. I recently have 5 Boss's pedals "on board"; CH-1,NS-2,TR-2,PQ-4,SD-1,(empty slot). I bought the NS-2 to have an option to split electricity to all my pedals from one transformer. Then I bought the BCB to have all the cords in order. To my unpleasant surprise I discovered that it's almost impossible to fit all the cords in the cord-tunnel. Having the TR-2,PQ-4 and SD-1 looped with NS-2 doesn't really make it easier. I had also to invest a 250 FIM ($ 40) to for new cords to fit inside the thing. When I last got the hole thing packed together it looked nice and neat, worth the sweat.

Yeah, it sounds really nice. There's no plughole nor microphones but I think it has a very good and musical acoustic sound. I use it with my guitar stand and they make a great couple. When I turn it upside down I can catch the exact sound Jimi Hendrix used in BBC '69. It's not really noisy, I've tried to get feedback with my 6100 Marshall all at ten, but nothing happened. It sounds lot better than curvers or tupperware.

You can throw this baby of a cliff, smash it with a 80lbs. hammer, drop it in acid, give it to your little brother, use it as a bumber of your car and discover that you have destroyed both the box and everything inside it , or you can use it in a more concervative way and have it in prime after 40 years of playing.(sick and tired of reading old Boss slogans)

No opinion of Boss's, I assume they could do a lot better.

It keeps the pedals where you want them. Even if you felt like sprintin' around. The difficulty of use decreases 2 points of the overall raing.

Pretty easy to use... not hard at all..

This box is not very noisy. Ofcourse it makes noises if dropped on the floor. However when i plug it through my Marshall rig with a cable it sounds nice. Too fuzzy overtones though. Maybe this box should come with a Control knob?

I got tired of hooking up all my Boss Pedals each time I play, so I decided to get a BCB-6. That way I can leave most of them hooked up all the time, and they will store nicely underneath my bed. So, I placed an internet order for it, and the next day I received a phone message stating that it was being discontinued. I knew that they still had them at the local guitar store, so I went down there to get one.
It really is a great idea, but there are a few problems with the design. I think that the Boss people made the assumption that people would be hooking up 6 pedals all in serial. Not in my case. I wanted to hook up a PCM-5, LS-2, NS-2, (2) GE-7s is one "loop" (along with an outside connection to an EMP-45 Effects Memory Programmer where all of my distortion devices are at) and a PS-3 in another "loop" to the mono in/out of my amp. Anyone who has ever used those boxes knows that you do not have just a simple serial connection.
Consequently, I was not able to use all of the Boss supplied angle cables because the lenghts were not right for my setup. Then I had to go back to the store and buy some longer cables. These cables have larger right angle jacks, and they don't fit properly! The Roland (Boss) ones are very slimline.
Second, some of the boxes with multiple ins/outs have a problem in that they need rubber feet to elevate them. My NS-2 came with these feet. But my LS-2 and PS-3 did not. Now I have to hunt some down, or kludge something up. When the NS-2 is elevated, the power cable no longer fits properly in the channel for the daisy chain power cable to connect the 5 pedals to your PSM-5. It's not really a big deal though, as you can just dispense with the cosmetic cover to the power cable channel.
This is not the typical Ease of Use that we all have come to expect from Boss, and I suspect it may have something to do with why the BCB-6 was reported to me as discontinued.

It's a great idea, but it has some design flaws in it. I hope that Boss fixes the flaws and comes out with a modification.
Despite the problems, I'm keeping mine. It sure beats seting all this stuff up every time I want to play.

Well this is a Pedal Case, there is not much to talk about. The case comes bare without pedals(DUh..Really) and it has an option to turn it into a pedal effects board with the optional PSM-5 pedal. As far as ease of use is concerned it is really simple to use. Step 1- put your pedals in the damn thing., Step 2- Plug and Play.

Eventhough the effect boxes are plugged together by cables, they are special Boss noise-less cables. THis is good because the only noise that one gets is from the pedals themselves.

Can I depend on it... Hell yeah! Many people have mentioned that boss pedals can be dropped from a building and still sound great, well if one puts boss effects in the case and drop it from a building, the case might get some scratches but ones pedals will be safe. Get the idea!!

This is the spicy part. The BCB-6 has a foam lining in the cover. One day when my band had a practice I left the case and My drummer's Ferrot scratched a hole in the foam and it is not useless. Now I have no stinking idea where I could get just the foam. Called my dealer, and they have no idea, Can't even E-mail Boss/Roland and Enquire! Help!!

Sure I would buy it again but there is no need, once you get one it will last for a very long time. For the price it is a steall, can case six pedals, not necessarily Boss, But others too.