Celebrate 50 Years of BOSS Guitar Tone At CME!

Founded as an offshoot of its parent company, Roland Corporation, BOSS has pioneered the development of unique and innovative gear for guitar and bass players of all styles since 1973.

Now, in celebration of the company’s 50th Anniversary, BOSS has unveiled three limited-edition stomp boxes: DS-1-B50A Distortion, SD-1-B50A Super OverDrive, and BD-2-B50A Blues Driver.

A Half-Century of BOSS

From heavy distortion to subtle crunch, BOSS compact pedals have remained the go-to for gain pedals for nearly 50 years. Renowned for their sound, rugged durability, and unique practical design, BOSS first launched the iconic compact series in 1977—and, since then, it’s been hard to find an experienced guitarist who hasn’t used one or more BOSS pedals at some point throughout their playing career.

Appearing in exclusive livery with a dedicated 4-digit serial number and bespoke packaging, each limited-edition pedal features the same beloved circuitry as its standard production counterpart but sports a metallic finish, silver thumb screw, gold-capped knobs, and a commemorative 50th-anniversary emblem. These collectible versions will be available in strictly limited numbers of no more than 7,000 units worldwide for each model.

DS-1-B50A Distortion

The iconic compact pedal design was unveiled in 1977, and BOSS released the multimillion-selling DS-1 Distortion the following year to wide acclaim. Prized for its edgy attack and smooth sustain, this classic stompbox can be heard on countless hit records.

SD-1-B50A Super OverDrive

Following on the heels of the game-changing OD-1 OverDrive released in 1977, BOSS released the SD-1 Super OverDrive, which features the added benefit of a tone control, in 1981. This workhorse gain machine has remained in production ever since, continuously gracing the pedalboards of beginners and pros worldwide.

BD-2-B50A Blues Driver

For those guitarists seeking a delicate, nuanced tone that allows a player’s technique to shine through, it’s hard to beat the popular BD-2 Blues Driver. Introduced in 1995, this acclaimed drive pedal is revered for its broad palette of sounds, touch sensitivity, and articulate, tube amp-like response.

Call CME, chat us online, or stop into our showroom today to shop BOSS 50th Anniversary pedals!

SHOP BOSS GEAR

Related Posts

Vongon | Replay Polyphonic Virtual Analog Synth

Now available at Chicago Synth Exchange, the Vongon replay represents the Oakland, California-based effects pedal maker’s first foray into the polyphonic synth world! Hear the Vongon replay today at the Synth Exchange!

Read more

Gibson Custom Shop | 1958 ES-335 Murphy Lab Aged Reissues

Chicago Music Exchange is proud to offer our customers a chance to own any of these very special Gibson Custom Shop 1958 ES-335 Murphy Lab aged reissues, paying homage to the debut-year design specs on one of the most versatile electric Gibson Guitars ever made!

Read more

DR. Z | X-RAY Amplifier Head & 1X12 Combo Amp

Conceived as an amalgamation of two amps country legend Brad Paisley helped popularize —the Stang Ray and the DB4—the new Dr. Z X-RAY combines the best of both earlier amplifiers, alongside a few tweaks, modifications, and design evolutions. Learn more on Chicago Music Exchange's Soundboard Blog!

Read more