Boss PN-2 Review Vintage Tremolo Pan Effects Pedal

Boss PN-2 Review - Intro

Boss PN-2 review and instruction sheet scans. The Boss PN-2 is a stereo tremolo/pan pedal which was on sale between 1990 and 1995. It was replaced by the TR-2, which is still available. Because the PN-2 was in production for a relatively short amount of time and not one of the more popular effects, it is nowadays quite a sought-after pedal.

Boss PN-2 tremolo pan — Boss PN-2 Review Pic 1

The PN-2 was designed to emulate the tremolo effects of vintage guitar amps. With the pan function it could also be used to create a rough imitation of a lesley revolving speaker. The PN-2 has two inputs and two outputs and is the only stereo tremolo pedal Boss has ever made. The stereo inputs allow use with stereo instruments, or after other stereo pedals in the effects chain.

The PN-2 has three controls: rate, depth and mode. The rate and depth controls are self-explanatory; the mode selector determines the effect type (pan or tremolo) and the waveform type (triangle or square).

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Display

The PN-2 has two LEDs: the usual effect on/off indicator LED, and one that displays the tremolo/pan rate. This flashes in pan mode and smoothly fades in and out in tremolo mode, irregardless of whether the effect is on or off. Whilst the practical benefits are negligible, it does look good flashing away on your pedal board!

Boss PN-2 Review - In Use

During this Boss PN-2 review we found the unit was capable of producing anything from a warm tremolo to a manic on/off stuttering effect. The pedal sounds great used with a single amp in mono; when hooked up to two amps in pan mode the effect can be mesmerising. However, using it in the mono (tremolo) mode is perfectly adequate for producing very usable and inspiring sounds.

Sounds

The Boss PN-2 can create great novelty stuttering effects with the rate and depth controls turned up full. Used more subtly, the PN-2 can inject some interest into rhythm guitar parts. Used with clean / slightly overdriven sounds and perhaps a hint of chorus, the pedal comes into its own, producing wonderful vintage tremolo effects.

The PN-2 is not a quiet pedal. Even when the effect is off, it creates a faint but noticeable rhythmic hiss. This rises to a click when the gain is turned up. There are other pedals that make this much noise, but because the PN-2 is rhythmic, it is much more noticeable.

Boss PN-2 Review Conclusion

The Boss PN-2 is a very useful pedal to have in your collection, and it is understandable why collectors are so eager to acquire them. Bringing it in for quiet verses, for example, can provide instant contrast in a song. You may want to alter your set up to allow for the sound issue, but in a noisy gig setting it is unlikely that anyone else will notice. Many digital effects units have tremolo and pan effects which are probably comparable, and maybe even better. However, for convenience and ease of use a dedicated pedal is often preferable. For lovers of the nineties 'shoegazing' sound, or for collectors of useable vintage gear, the Boss PN-2 is worth seeking out; others may decide that a digital effects unit can do the job better.