Product: Boss DR-55
Price Paid: #25 used
Submitted
02/20/2004
at
02:08am
by
NerveJam
Ease of Use
:
10
Sounds are analogue. Basic but excellent.
Editing is incredibly simple. Once mastered, never forgotten.
Manual? All you need is the thing printed on the back!
Features
:
3
No MIDI. (It pre-dates MIDI)
Trigger output and a ROLAND-compatible input.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
8
Not realistic sounds. IT IS ANALOGUE!!!
All sounds very usable.
Reliability
:
10
Bullet-proof. Keep some spare batteries.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
See one. Buy it!!!
I bought my first one in 1985. My second in 2004. That was only because I stupidly messed up the first one.
Product: Boss DR-55
Price Paid: US $100
Submitted
08/22/2003
at
03:57pm
by
The Pick
Ease of Use
:
10
If you can flip a switch and twist a knob, you're in. This thing's definitely not hurting in the complexity department. It's got a pattern select knob, tempo, tone, volume and accent controls, along with a hi-hat toggle switch. Oh, and start and stop buttons, what a shocker.
Features
:
4
I've got a DR 110, the unit released by boss after the DR 55, and even it is hurting in the features section, but again, this drum machine is from 1979, and it's completely analog. I don't expect the terms "polyphony", "sequencer", or "patch editor" to even come into play. That said, it's got everything it needs, but very little more.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
10
UNBELIEVABLE. This thing is the boss-hogg of analog drum machines. The only machine I've found that makes a fatter analog sound is the TR-707... but I didn't have the bucks to shell out for one of those bad johnnies. Anyway, the hi-hat has a sweet analog tap to it, and the block is nice and cracky. The bass drum doesn't sustain, but it's nice and thumpy (a situation also found in the DR 110). The snare has some good pop to it. If you're looking for realism, this thing isn't your bag... but if you're looking for true vintage beats, this thing is right up your alley. Fortunately, I was looking for vintage beats.
Reliability
:
7
Mine's in like-new condition, with manual. Doesn't look like it wants to fail yet.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Hah, they'd laugh their asses off if I called them about this antiquated relic.
Overall Rating
:
10
I had no qualms ponying up a c-note on this fat daddy-o, and if it ever failed, I'd do it again in the blink of an eye. This thing has the fattest sounds, plain and simple. I'll put up with extremely limited beat editing and such just for the sounds on this bad boy any day. Snag one if you can, but you won't be getting it from me!!
Product: Boss DR-55
Price Paid: US $50
Submitted
12/11/2002
at
04:25am
by
Torbjorn "Toby" Frisk
Email: info at soundofmusic<dot>se
Ease of Use
:
10
It was the first drummashine from Boss, the origin Dr Rythm
Its simple to use with only 4 analog drumsounds
Features
:
7
4 voices and some few knobs. It lacks MIDI
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
10
Not realistic instruments, but cool and warm (!)
Reliability
:
10
It a tank
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Its out of production for decades
Overall Rating
:
10
A wonderful little mashine that I probebly never sell, not because the sound, but because its so cool.
Please visit my Boss Dr Rythm DR-55 page att www.soundofmusic.se
