Boss HR-2 Harmonist user reviews ( 8/10) - 4 user reviews

• 11/29/11

  yoTrakkz's review "very classic pedal"

  Characteristics

  Te Boss HR-2 Harmonist is a great pedal for harmonizing that has been out for years, we still use this pedal and have been for over ten years and it works great!

  Utilization

  I use a Yamaha guitar And I warm up with all the lights of my Fender Hot Rod. I would glue before OD and distortion, and my clone Fuzz Factory afterwards. Why then? Because the fuzz has a dirty sound that does not fit well with the harmony and function is more appropriate to detune sounds a little neat. However much the Super Bend distorts the sound, but before the fuzz is great!

  Sound Quality

  Super Bend is why I bought this gem at the base. So the famous Whammy effect, we hear from Rage Against the Machine and especially for Muse! I was interested also to a tone bender or more sounds Clavinet example (oh yes another icon that uses the Whammy: Hervé Salters). It is possible to adjust the bend on a number given octave, tone, an octave above, below a (mono or right and left!) And modulations funny.
  
  
  
  With the Detune I use a clean sound or a slight overdrive (I use the BD-2) is wonderful! The effect is to double what you play the same thing slightly above or slightly below, as if you were given a fraction of discordant tone. We choose the fraction of a tone above and / or above, the balance and then ... Enjoy! After I get my distortion sounds to give some interesting synth pads with my guitar.

  Overall Opinion

  I like the originality and quality sound effects and Detune Harmony. At the beginning I did not like the harmony because it is clear in his ugly, you really learn to use it wisely, I think she is great! I sought a Whammy effect and Im not disappointed, great! I highly recommend you try this out, and for the price you really cant beat what you get with the quality of this box. You will love it for sure. Buy It!
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• 07/20/11

  iamqman's review "Another one bites the dust"

  Characteristics

  Boss came out with this harmonizing pedal back in 1994 and it was a pretty big hit. This pedal had some good functions to hit that made it fun to find great octaves harmonies with two different harmonies. This pedal was design for guys to find interesting new effects to add to their rig. this pedal unlike most effects including delay, phasers, chorus, and flangers this effect tackled the need to take an existing guitar line and double or triple it with a chorus of harmonies. This would essentially give you a wide range of possible tones within one little pedal.

  Utilization

  Controls
  
  
  
  Effect level knobs for A/B: These knobs are used to independently adjust the volumes of parts A and B. If either of the knobs are turned completely off, then you only have a 1-part harmony instead of a 2-part harmony.
  
  Voice switches A/B: These knobs adjust the harmonic interval of voices A and B. You can select any of the following setting for each voice, A or B, independently: -1 octave, -6th, -5th, -4th, -3rd, detune, +3rd, +4th, +5th, +6th or +1 octave.
  
  Key switch This knob allows you to select the key that corresponds to the song being played. The HR-2 then creates 1-part or 2-part harmony parts automatically.
  
  
  
  Specifications
  
  
  
  Controls: E. Level, Voice A switch, Voice B switch, 12-way Key Switch
  
  Connectors: Input, Detector In, Output A, Output B, AC Adaptor
  
  Current Draw: 75 mA (DC 9V)
  
  Recommended AC Adaptor: PSA Series

  Sound Quality

  You can set this pedal up to match the key to which you are playing and allow that harmony to either be played above your octave or below the octave and the great feature of having one play above and below at the same time. This was great for getting Brian May/Queen type harmonies. Queen used to pull off vocals harmonies and Brian May would also pull off guitar harmonies and used a pedal similar to this one to get that effect.
  
  
  
  I find this pedal suits best for lead line playing. I don't really like how it sound when you play a full chord. It sound very unique and interesting when you are soling or playing some sort of lead playing. It is a fun pedal and can give you hours of exploring different tones and effects.

  Overall Opinion

  This pedal is not disconnected and is only available on the used market. You can check the classifieds for what they are going or you can pickup the newer model the Boss PS-6 which has an array of features that top this pedal. I feel that the newer one is more user friendly and has more to offer the guitarist.
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• 02/06/10

  moosers's review

  Characteristics

  The Boss HR-2 Harmonist is a pretty unique and interesting harmonization pedal designed for use with electric guitar. While this is suitable with any electronic instrument, I've only used the pedal with electric guitar, so this review will be focused on this application of the pedal. The pedal has two 1/4" inputs and outputs, and can be powered by either a nine volt power supply or battery. The HR-2 was discontinued about ten years ago and isn't rackable since it is a stomp box.

  Utilization

  The configuration of the Boss HR-2 Harmonist offers up a lot of options, but I didn't find it hard to use at all. Like all Boss pedals of this size, it has four separate parameters. The HR-2 has knobs for effect level, voice A, voice B, and one for choosing the key you want for harmonizing within. It has a lot different keys, but not all as it doesn't offer up any sharps or flats, but does have minor and major. I've never seen a manual for the pedal, but unless you're a beginner or are having some sort of technical problem, I don't believe that one would be necessary.

  Sound Quality

  I've used the Boss HR-2 Harmonist in tandem with a Fender Stratocaster and a '65 Fender Deluxe Reverb amplifier. This should work pretty much the same no matter what type of set up you are using it with, as I don't feel that it would respond differently in different rigs like an overdrive pedal might. As far as how the pedal sounds, this definitely does its job quite well. While maybe not the most realistically used pedal in all situations, when it does work, it works very well. It has a pretty clean sound quality overall like most Boss pedals, but doesn't have the best tracking, which could be one of the reasons it was discontinued.

  Overall Opinion

  While the Boss HR-2 Harmonist is no longer being made, the same idea is in a new pedal known as the PS-5. However, if you'd like to get the HR-2 as it has some features not found on the PS-5, I'd bet you could find them used, but it might cost you a bit of money as these aren't the most readily available pedals. I'd encourage those interested to do some research on the HR-2 as well as the PS-5 and other harmonizing pedals to see what might work best for you...
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• 06/11/09

  Mambosun's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Stros three effects pedals in one:
  
  
  
  Align: up two playable all harmonies and settings separately.
  
  
  
  De-Tuner / Chorus: When both buttons are rgls harmonization 12, great chorus even though I am far from being a fan of this l.
  
  
  
  Octave: octave to the high notes + to a low notes for each of the two buttons of harmonization, all playable characters and settings separately.
  
  
  
  Obviously we can mix two DIFFERENT effects at the same time, for example + Harmonizer Chorus.

  Utilization

  The choice of the range of harmonization is not intuitive, especially for those who do not know solfge.
  
  It ncessitera a lot of learning to express and achieve the desired effect.
  
  
  
  Once found it's really a unique effect!
  
  
  
  Impractical if the pedals up APRS and other effects: connect with a Y-jack connections and use the "In" and "Detection" to allow the HR2 properly detect the note jou e and thus produce the harmonization prcismment.

  Sound Quality

  The effects are trs effective against a few limitations:
  
  
  
  Align or position Octaver ago lgre latency which can be likened a lightweight effect "short delay", it n'altre not too sound but must be taken into account in its game, and ensure for example not to use it in addition to a delay.
  
  
  
  The harmonization "suprieures" (button rgl APRS position 12) color the sound and make it a little synthetic, so make sure not to push the button of the effect of intensity too far .
  
  on the other hand, it's a little "guitar-synthquot; is less pronounced for rglages in the forward position 12 and virtually disappears when used with distortion.
  
  
  
  Not a test but I guess qualiseur paramtrique must effectively address the small default stamp.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for a dozen years both in chorus, that harmonizing Octaver, I think it brings a spectacular solo, as it is abused or not.
  
  
  
  She is also sometimes look for harmony in my compositions.
  
  
  
  My only concerns the Reserved SETTING THE range of harmonization should be idalie Fawn transparent compltement automatic.
  
  
  
  No problem of reliability report: the good, the beautiful, the Boss .....
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