Know Your Gear Podcast with Phillip McKnight

Episode 428: Boss’s New Plug Out Pedal Has Players Divided
Date: September 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Phillip McKnight dives into the week’s hot guitar gear headlines, focusing especially on Boss’s highly anticipated but divisive new PX1 Plug Out FX Pedal. Phillip offers honest, sometimes blistering commentary about this release, contrasts it with competing pedals, and unpacks what he sees as a troubling trend toward paid digital add-ons in gear. The discussion then segues into reactions to the new Bad Cat mini amp, insights on current amp and pedalboard preferences, thoughts on semi-hollow-body guitars, and detailed listener Q&A covering everything from gear donations to customer service standards in guitar retail.

Main Topic: The Boss PX1 Plug Out FX Pedal

Product Rundown ([01:00]-[10:30])

• The Boss PX1 is a stompbox-sized multi-effect pedal, priced at $249 and includes 8 classic Boss effects (overdrive, spectrum, phaser, compressor, wah, slow gear, DS1, and SD1).

• Discussion about the inclusion of a USB-C port and 9V DC input, its physical reliability, and the ability to load more effects (up to 16 total) via the Boss Effect Loader app.

  “It’s a Boss pedal that looks like a Boss pedal … but it has a massive difference.” ([01:30])

  “$250, you get eight different effects, and I could see why everyone in the world is rushing towards it now…” ([03:00])

Competing Pedals and Value Comparison ([10:30]-[15:00])

• Phillip compares the PX1 to:

  • Line 6 HX One and M5 – Offers a much larger selection of effects (100–200) for similar price or less.
  • Zoom MultiStomp MS-70CDR – $109, tons of effects, lets you chain up to 4-6 at once.

  “… The Boss comes with 8 and [Line 6] comes with 200, and they’re the same price-ish…” ([09:30])

The Controversy: Paid Effect Downloads ([15:00]-[22:00])

• Major frustration with Boss’s model: You must buy additional effects (beyond the initial 8) at $10 each via the app—something he feels isn’t transparent in the marketing or justified by the price.

  “What I don't like about the Boss one is, if you haven't figured it out, the Boss wants to sell you effects. That’s right.” ([14:50])

  “You have to buy additional effects in the future at $10 a whack. $9.99.” ([15:25])

  “If a new company like Spark or somebody like that came with this pedal, they—it would be a laughing stock. We would be making fun of how silly their… buy their pedal sounds.” ([18:10])

The Business Model and Emotional Reaction

• Phillip expresses disappointment and personal hurt as a former and current Boss fan (with stories of Boss pedal durability).

• Argues this “pay as you go” model betrays what made Boss great: value and one-time purchase reliability.

  “I was hurt. I know that sounds silly. Please make fun, play your violins if you want. I think I was just hurt that a company … I always thought [Boss] was quality for the money.” ([20:00])

  “I hope the repercussions are aggressive and swift and Boss changes their mind.” ([30:25])

• Speculates about possible subscriptions for effect downloads, and bemoans the lack of clear information from Boss—a transparency issue.

Listener Poll Reaction ([01:45:00])

• Phillip runs a live poll: "Should all effects be included in the new Boss pedal?"

  • Result: ~80% of listeners feel they should be included
  • Compares Boss’s model to BMW’s controversial heated seat subscription

  “This is gonna go over as well as when BMW wanted you to buy a subscription for heated seats.” ([32:20])

Counterpoint and Positive Spin ([37:30])

• Points out: If you’re happy with the 8 included effects, this product may work for you.
• Links Boss’s value misstep to broader industry trends toward monetized digital add-ons.

Follow-up Rant: Boss Rotary Ensemble Pedal Release ([40:00])

• On a positive note, Phillip’s excited by the new smaller Boss rotary ensemble pedal ($239). He confirms that “everything in the pedal is included” and appreciates both the format and straightforward pricing.

  “This has me very excited… everything’s included. I think I am a buyer for this.” ([40:50])

New Product Segment: Bad Cat Mini Amp ([42:00])

Overview & Personal Bias

• New Bad Cat “Mini” lunchbox amp: $1,299 at Zzounds; announcement & impressions.
• Phillip has a friendship with Bad Cat’s owner John Thompson—discloses bias.

Candid Opinion

• Notes fatigue with the black metal 'toaster amp' aesthetic—thinks this trend is saturated.

• Compares Bad Cat Mini directly to his favorite small heads: Engl Steve Morse/Fireball, Synergy, Mesa Boogie, MT15.

  “If Bad Cat and Synergy could make a module together, that would be the dream.” ([48:00])

• Wishes Bad Cat's innovation would focus on something different or modular (i.e., what makes their amps stand out compared to the crowded lunchbox amp market).

Ideal Features for Small Amps ([50:00])

• Emphasizes: Must have great clean tones, onboard reverb, ideally built-in effects (delay, noise gate, boost).

• Critiques current small amp market for repetitive designs that don’t add enough extra value.

  “If you want to win us over… If you’re going to make a small amp that’s in the $1,000+ price range, it needs to not just be, ‘Oh, look, you get a tube amp.’” ([53:30])

Segment: Semi-Hollow and Hollow Body Guitars ([01:12:00])

• Phillip answers listener questions about his personal guitar inventory, primarily semi-hollow bodies.

• Shares backstory on why he plays a Kiesel Delos Strat (as an affordable, more accessible copy of a custom copper Fender Strat) and how brands responded to his requests for affordable versions.

  "I just want people to be able to get something they see me play, not something super rare or expensive." ([01:15:20])

• He prefers semi-hollow guitars (PRS S2 Semi-Hollow is his favorite) for both plugged-in tone and unplugged acoustic convenience.

Listener Q&A Highlights

Speaker Upgrades ([01:24:00])

• Recommends speaker or pickup upgrades only if you’re unhappy with your amp/guitar as it is—not just for the sake of modding.
• Shares personal preferences, especially for Creamback speakers, but stresses it’s all about personal taste.

Guitar Donations ([01:50:00])

• Advises to donate locally (schools, teachers, churches) rather than shipping to large charities.

• Praises “Guitars for Vets” and afterschool music programs as top places to donate where you know the instrument helps directly.

  “I've had really good luck with teachers and churches… I just want to hand it to somebody who can use it and put it to good use.” ([01:52:00])

Warmoth Parts Builds ([01:42:15])

• Reveals he’s working on a Warmoth build, shares experience with Warmoth’s high quality but acknowledges high (and rising) price of parts.

• Stresses that sometimes, even “perfect” bolt-on parts will require fret-leveling or fine-tuning.

  “I love Warmoth parts…this guitar that I'm building was way more expensive, double the price I thought.” ([01:44:00])

Customer Service: Discount for Flawed Custom Shop Guitar ([01:59:30])

• If a custom guitar arrives with significant issues (e.g., flipped controls), recommends asking for a 10% discount or free correction of the issue—more if you’re negotiating with a big dealer.

  “My go-to is always 10%. Some people ask for the world and get it, but being reasonable is a good conduct in life.” ([02:04:20])

  “Customer service isn’t determined when everything goes right. It’s when everything goes wrong. That’s when you determine how customer service is.” ([02:05:00])

Sweetwater and Guitar Center CEO Interview Insights ([01:30:00])

• Discusses his interviews with Sweetwater (Mike Clem) and Guitar Center (Gabe Dalporto) CEOs for compare/contrast on company cultures.

• Observes that both CEOs are “products of their environment”—Sweetwater’s relaxed and thriving, Guitar Center’s focused on survival and turnarounds.

• Shares behind-the-scenes of how these interviews are made, edited, and philosophies on fair questioning.

  “What I learned was they're both a product of their environments. The one that was relaxed had a company that's booming and the one that seemed more tense was trying to fix something not going great.” ([01:37:30])

Strong Opinions & Notable Quotes

• On Boss’s paid effects model:

  “Boss didn’t do it better, so why even do it? Just to say you have this thing too? It was really, really, I think, a miss. We’ll call it a big miss on that one.” ([37:00])

• On customer service and small retailers vs. Sweetwater:

  “Good customer service is when you screw up—that’s when you need service, and that’s when they happen.” ([02:08:00])

• On current guitar and amp trends:

  “I kind of think the whole making a small amp, you know, metal case thing is...kind of dead, in my opinion.” ([46:40])

• On his philosophy for gear changes:

  “I only recommend any upgrade if you’re unhappy with something. Changing for changing’s sake is no good.” ([01:26:30])

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• [01:30] Introduction to Boss PX1 Plug Out FX Pedal
• [10:30] Comparing Boss PX1 to Line 6 HX One, Zoom MultiStomp
• [15:00] The Paid Effects Controversy
• [20:00] Emotional Reaction as a Boss Fan
• [32:20] Audience Poll Reaction, BMW Heated Seats Analogy
• [40:00] Excitement for Boss Rotary Ensemble pedal
• [42:00] New Bad Cat Mini Amp, Lunchbox Amp Market
• [53:30] What Small Amps Need to Succeed
• [01:12:00] Semi-Hollow/Hollow Body Guitar Preferences
• [01:24:00] Speaker Upgrade Advice
• [01:37:30] What CEOs Reveal About Their Companies
• [01:42:15] Warmoth Parts & DIY Builds
• [01:50:00] Where and How to Donate a Guitar
• [01:59:30] Custom Shop Issue—How to Get Service or Discount
• [02:05:00] Customer Service Philosophy

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is conversational, blunt, often self-deprecating, and highly opinionated, matching Phillip’s usual “no BS” approach. Listeners are treated as peers in the gear community. When particularly disappointed (as with the Boss PX1), Phillip isn’t afraid to “go off,” but he also tries to see both sides and gives praise where due. He peppers the show with anecdotes from his years as a dealer and player, never shying from directly extending advice to listeners.

Conclusion

This episode is a deep, honest look at how new gear launches and changing business models are reshaping expectations in the guitar world—especially for longtime fans of legacy brands like Boss. Phillip’s insight, hands-on experience, and audience engagement make this an essential listen for gearheads wondering where to put their next $250—or their next vote as a consumer.