Top 5 Distortion and Overdrive Pedals and How To Use Them
The Top 5 Distortion and Overdrive pedals you can buy easily, and how to dial them in for great guitar tone
Read the guide →Brand hub
Boss
Boss started life in 1973 as Roland's effects division, and the six compact pedals it launched together in 1977 — including the OD-1 Over Drive — set the template every stompbox on a pedalboard has followed since: single footswitch, 9V input, a steel enclosure built to survive being stood on. Fifty-plus years on, the catalogue runs from that same OD-1 lineage to today's Waza Craft reissues and the Katana amp range. Here's what we've covered on GuitarBomb.
last coveredOfficial site ↗
Latest Boss news
Evolution of Guitar Effects: A Historical Guide to Pedals and Their Impact on Sound
The Evolution of Guitar Effects: Explore the history of guitar effects pedals, from early mechanical innovations to modern digital FX.
Founded1973
Based inHamamatsu, Japan
Parent companyRoland Corporation
Articles here39
Makes
- Effects pedals
- Multi effects
- Amplifiers
- Loopers
Known for
- DS-1 Distortion
- SD-1 Super Overdrive
- CE-2 Chorus
- DD-3 Digital Delay
- MT-2 Metal Zone
- BD-2 Blues Driver
Best of Boss
Hand-picked by the editor
Boss news
All Boss articles →
Boss deals
All deals →
Keep up with Boss.
Leaks, deals and reviews in your inbox, once a week. No spam, just gear.
Boss FAQ4 questions
Why are Boss pedals so durable?
The folded steel enclosure and the pressure plate footswitch design have barely changed since the 1970s, and they are genuinely hard to break. It is the main reason so many pedalboards that get gigged heavily are built around them.
Which Boss pedal should I buy first?
For most players the SD-1 Super Overdrive or the DS-1 Distortion, depending on whether you want to push an amp or generate the dirt in the pedal. Both are inexpensive, on almost every dealer's shelf, and the reference point everything else is described against.
Is Boss the same company as Roland?
Boss is Roland's guitar effects brand, established in 1973 and based in Hamamatsu, Japan. Roland develops and manufactures the products; Boss is the name they carry.
What is the difference between the DS-1 and the MT-2 Metal Zone?
The DS-1 is a relatively mild, mid focused distortion that still lets the amp through. The MT-2 has far more gain and a powerful mid sweep EQ that lets you scoop or boost aggressively. The Metal Zone is the more extreme and the more divisive of the two.