Boss eBand JS-8 Audio Player with Guitar Multi Effects  

I’ve own the Boss JS-8 eBand for four months and I can’t think of a single guitarist who wouldn’t enjoy owning one. First, let’s talk about what the JS-8 isn’t. The JS-8 isn’t an amp replacement, if you’re in a band and you need something to plug into at the club, buy the amp you want. Second, the JS-8 doesn’t take batteries; you’re not going to take it camping and record in the woods. The JS-8 has all the build quality of a desk top clock/radio, and that makes sense, as that is where Boss expects the JS-8 to live, on a desk and preferably next to a computer. 

So why would you want this thing? Well, if you’re like me, you need a lot of inspiration to practice and I believe that is true of most guitarists. JS-8 makes it incredibly easy to just plug in, find a jam track and start playing with a minimum of hassle. That is how I use mine 95% of the time. It makes playing fun and so you play more. Beyond that the JS-8 will handle all of your digital files as long as they are MP3s or WAVs, you can practice to whatever music, backing tracks or drum loops you want.

PROS:

The amp modeling and effects are top notch and sound very natural.

The supplied Jam tracks are of great quality and variety.

You can record a dry or wet signal with or without backing tracks directly to the unit.

Works great with a computer either as an interface to a DAW and/or USB speakers.

CONS:

Has the build quality of a good clock radio, so it is not very portable.

The menu system, while straight forward, has a lot of nested menus. So it takes a little time to create the perfect patch.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

As others have mentioned, the speakers are a little quiet, they are of good quality though so you get good sound at low volume. I bought a pair of monitor headphones that sound amazing with the JS-8, and it gets loud enough to be painful. As a bedroom guitarist, this fits me fine as I can live out my rock god fantasies without disturbing my family. People also make a big deal about the price, but I don’t think it is overly expensive given that you are basically getting a practice amp/ DAW interface/ recording unit /virtual session band and a multi-effect pedal all in a single device.

Built like nice clock radio.

Not cheap, but does the work of many devices.

One of the most satisfying products I own.

You know those things you eventaully do and realize you should have done it a LONG time ago. The EBAND is one such thing.

Like alot of you I play at home alone. Mostly noodling or playing to that imaginary band in my head. I have big bucks in my pedal board, 3 different amps along with 2 dozen guitars.  I finally broke down and got the Eband today and within 5 minutes knew it was a winner.

Songs- I have only scratched the surface but found a good bass and drum line and spent 30 minutes just on it. Got into the different amp models, effects and spent almost another 30 minutes rocking.

Its all there. Some with guitar riffs and other instruments but my fav are the bare bones so I can do my own riffs.

All my guitars are tuned 1/2 step down. Big issue BUT with the Eband you can simply hit speed,key and lower it by one. Problem solved. Way,way to many tweeks,features and ways to manipulate the tone,speed to even begin.

Its compact and light so you do not want to be yanking your guitar cord and have it falling onto a hard floor. But its a Boss so it might take it.

Even though I love my pedalboard with easily over 2 grand in effects, this Eband could easily replace it. Of course you are not going to get that tone but for us bedroom players it sounds surprisingly good. The presets the Eband automatically sets when you change songs is usually better than I could do after tweeking it myself.

The stock speakers are ok but I am not one to leave good enought alone. Hear me now and beleive me later. Run it into a stereo!

I went to BB and got a Sony EC70919 stereo, You know one of those modular small stereos with 2 external speakers that have woofs and tweets, 300 or so watts IIRC.

Pick up a Dynex stereo mini RCA y cable. I my case 6 foot. Plugs into the front of the stereo into the Eband and wow. Night and day. From weak and slightly tinny to feel it in your chest.

Finally a band to play along with that do not drink all my beer or drag along their girlfreinds!

This baby has it all, I knew it could do a lot because of the write-ups, but when I opened up the manual I found it could do all kinds of other great stuff that I was not aware of, such as:

• Use as monitoring device
• Direct record any audio ran through the device in mp3 or wav format
• Play/record music on a usb drive (not just the included sd card)
• The amount of editing you can do to the amps and effects is ridiculous! 
• Very intuitive

Sturdy and responsive

The price is initially what kept me away from this one, I admit.  I am very frugal and this price seemed like a lot to lay down for a practicing tool.

However, now that I have it, I am kicking myself in the but for not buying this thing sooner.  Not only is it THE best practice tool I have ever found (and I have had the G-Dec 30 and the JamVox) it also is a great recording interface and the tones are so good, I am considering buying the pedals and just running it straight into a PA the next time I have a gig.  It really sounds that good!  With all that said, it is well worth it.

This will make you a better player and/or inspire your playing!