Japan · Est. 1973
Boss
The world's most popular effects pedal brand. Boss pedals are the industry standard: reliable, affordable and with decades of history on the pedalboards of the best guitarists.
About the brand
Boss is a division of Roland Corporation founded in 1973 in Japan. From the beginning, Boss specialised in compact effects pedals designed to be robust, affordable and musically effective. Boss's battery mounting system, the iconic 9V connector and the durable design became the industry standard that all other manufacturers had to adapt to.
Pedals like the DS-1 Distortion (1978), the CE-1 Chorus Ensemble (1976), the DD-3 Digital Delay and the BD-2 Blues Driver have become classics that have been in production for decades and on the pedalboards of millions of guitarists. The DS-1 is probably the best-selling distortion pedal of all time.
Boss also manufactures workstations, loopers, tuners and practice amplifiers. The Katana amplifier series has been particularly successful, combining digital modelling technology with ergonomics and pricing that have made it one of the most recommended practice amplifier lines on the market.
Key facts
- Division of Roland, founded in 1973 in Japan
- DS-1 Distortion (1978): probably the best-selling pedal in history
- Industry standard in compact pedal design
- Katana amplifier series: the reference for practice and home studio
Iconic models
Katana 100
Boss's most successful practice and stage amplifier, featuring five amp characters, high-quality built-in effects and adjustable power making it suitable for any situation.
Katana Artist MkII
The premium version of the Katana series with a 12-inch Waza speaker and greater tonal depth, aimed at the discerning professional musician.
Nextone Special
An amplifier that emulates the behaviour of four power valve types via solid-state technology, achieving the dynamic response of a traditional valve amplifier.
Waza Craft Amplifier Head
A limited-edition valve head under Boss's premium Waza Craft line, built with hand-selected components for superior tonal performance.