This was the first programmable floor mounted Multi FX unit that Boss made and would make an extremely good bargain if you could find one. With 64 available patches for storing sounds, MIDI control and archiving, it was a well specified machine when it came out in 1988.

Compared to today's machines the 9 effect types (including noise suppressor) may seem limited, but they were sensibly arranged and, when set up properly, could produce excellent sounds.

The ME-5 was also well built – the only thing I didn't like about mine was the plastic jack sockets; the input socket on mine broke after I accidentally pulled the ME-5 around the floor with the guitar lead!!

The presets shown below are presets I came up with when I was in a band called Tantrum and I was putting the ME-5 through a 100 watt Marshall 2203 master volume head (using the Low Gain input and with a clean sound) and two 4x12 cabs loaded with Celestion GT12-75 speakers.

Rhythm Sound:

1. Distortion
Mode 3
Drive 7
Level 6

2. EQ
High –2
Mid f 1 (1kHz)
Mid g 0
Low 0
Level 0

3. Chorus
Mode 1
Rate 4.3
Depth 4.5
Level 1.5

4. Reverb
Mode 2
Time 3.5
Tone 5
Level 3
Master 5.0

Lead Sound:

1. Distortion
Mode 3
Drive 7
Level 7

2. EQ
High –2
Mid f 0.5 (500Hz)
Mid g 1
Low 0
Level 0

3. Chorus
Mode 1
Rate 4.3
Depth 4.5
Level 2

4. Delay
Mode 6
Time 42 (420ms)
Feedback 3
Tone 4
Level 4
Master 5.3

Distortion with Flange Sound:

1. Distortion
Mode 3
Drive 7
Level 4

2. EQ
High –2
Mid f 1 (1kHz)
Mid g 0
Low 0
Level 0

3. Flange
Mode 5
Rate 2.8
Depth 7
Resonance 4
Level 5.5

4. Reverb
Mode 2
Time 3.5
Tone 5
Level 3
Master 5.0

Clean Sound:

1.Compressor
Sustain 4.5
Attack 7
Tone -1
Level 7

2. EQ
High 0
Mid f 0.5 (500Hz)
Mid g –2
Low 0
Level 1

3. Chorus
Mode 1
Rate 4.3
Depth 4.5
Level 7

4. Delay
Mode 6
Time 38 (380ms)
Feedback 3
Tone 7
Level 3.5
Master 2.5

Notes About the Settings:
On the distortion sounds you can see the drive is on max (7). This was a great 80's rock sound with plenty of harmonics and sustain. It never seemed too mushy though although I may have my rose tinted glasses on!

On the Clean sound I used the compressor. I always do this as single notes stand out just as well as chords. I find that without the compressor, single notes get lost in the mix. Looking back at these settings, the master level was quite low but the compressor level was on max. This is just a balancing act using the two parameters but these days I try to keep the master levels roughly the same.

I always find I can have my clean sound a bit louder than my rhythm sound. This is because the clean sound doesn't drown out the vocals like distortion does – there are more gaps between the notes. Other things to note with the ME-5 are that you have to choose between certain types of effect. These are Overdrive/Distortion; Chorus/Flange and Reverb/Delay. Obviously processing power wasn't what it is today but these restrictions are quite practical and the fewer options make it quite an easy machine to operate.

My next article will be on the follow – up to the ME-5 which was the ME-10 (and not the ME-6 as some would have you believe!)

One or two people have asked me for operating instructions for the ME-5 so here is my version of the Boss manual.

1. Press the Menu key until the LED lights up next to EDIT. On the Left of the buttons there are two flashing red LEDs which line up with one of the parameters above the pedals. The value of this parameter is displayed in the LED display.

2. To change the Value of this parameter use the Value Up and Down keys.

3. To choose a different parameter, use the arrow keys to make the flashing "cursor" LEDs line up with the parameter you want to adjust.

4. You can switch effects on and off using the pedals themselves. Each pedal corresponds with an effect.

5. When you've finished editing press the Write button. Use the pedals and Group button (if desired) to select a location (Bank, Group, Pedal No. etc) for the new sound.

6. Press the write button again and the new sound or "Patch" will be saved.

How easy is that?