When you think of the main innovators in effects pedal history, there’s one name that’s near, if not at, the top of just about everyone’s list: Boss. Crushing the game since before most of you were probably born, these guys just keep churning out hit after hit, and have for decades. Once in a while, however, they release a pedal that folks, for whatever reason, just don’t dig. Those pedals’ production usually gets halted fairly quickly, and they die off into the history books, until years later when they are re-discovered by a new generation. Such is the case with today’s pedal, the XT-2 Xtortion, a ripping distortion pedal that has been described rather unfavorably for many moons, although the players who dig it REALLY dig it. Let’s see what some call “the worst pedal Boss ever made,” shall we?
Now, if you’re looking for a plug-and-play distortion, this one might not be for you. The controls are labeled, and work, rather obscurely, and it takes some sitting down with the XT-2 to find the hidden powers it holds inside. Level and Distortion do what they always do, but Contour and Punch are not knobs you often find on ANY pedal. In the XT-2’s case, Contour cuts the highs or boosts the lows, while Punch sets the distortion depth, adding in a bit of mid boost as well. These two parameters work together to create a wide array of distortion sounds, ranging from grunge to hard-edged to solid rhythm and more. Touted as providing a cutting-edge 90’s distortion sound, this one takes a bit of finesse to work into your rig, but once there, you’ll love how it sounds.
As with any pedal, the XT-2 Xtortion is not going to be for everyone. In fact, a good majority of you might not like it at all. That said, we thought it was a pretty rad pedal, and after experimenting with some settings, we put together a little demo video (see below) so you can hear it in action. Will this one ever make it into the Boss Hall of Fame, like say the CE-2 or the DC-2? No, no it won’t. But, if you’re on the hunt for a relatively inexpensive distortion, and want to try something that really doesn’t sound like anything else, this is one that will fit the bill precisely. Enjoy!
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