Japan · Est. 1973
Boss
The world's best-selling pedal brand. Their compact format has been the industry standard for over 50 years.
About the brand
Boss, a division of Roland, has been manufacturing pedals since 1973. Their standard compact format has defined the market for decades. The DS-1, the BD-2 Blues Driver, and the DD-3 Digital Delay are ubiquitous on pedalboards around the world. No other brand has such cross-genre and cross-skill-level reach.
The famous rugged enclosure, the easily swappable battery, the standardized footprint — these were all Boss innovations that the rest of the industry eventually copied. Their build quality and reliability became the benchmark for what a production pedal should be.
Today Boss continues to push boundaries with models like the SY-1 Synthesizer, the MD-200 Modulation, and the ES-8 Effects Switching System, while maintaining the classic lineup that made them legendary.
Key facts
- Over 50 years of uninterrupted history
- DS-1: the best-selling pedal in history
- The compact format that the entire industry copied
- Over 130 different models manufactured
Iconic pedals
DS-1 Distortion
The best-selling distortion pedal in history. Its simple, affordable circuit made it the first pedal for millions of guitarists worldwide.
BD-2 Blues Driver
A transparent, dynamic overdrive that responds to picking attack with a sensitivity close to that of a tube amplifier.
DD-3 Digital Delay
The reference compact digital delay for two decades. Simple, reliable, and with the clean, clear sound that defined modern delay.
CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
The first compact chorus pedal in history, based on the Roland Jazz Chorus amplifier circuit. It defined the chorus sound of the 1980s.
RC-1 Loop Station
Boss's Loop Station line popularised looping as a creative tool. The RC-1 is the simplest and most accessible version of that legacy.
Notable musicians
- Kurt Cobain · DS-1, DS-2
- John Frusciante · DS-1, CE-1
- Eddie Van Halen · OC-2, CE-1
- Stevie Ray Vaughan · OD-1