Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitar Amps
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • EVH trance state
  • Antonoff on Please Please Please
  • “Mick looked peeved. The Beatles had upstaged him”
  • 95k+ free music samples

Recommended reading

boss pedals plugin
Tech Roland puts 8 classic Boss effects pedals in a new plugin, and there are more to come... but they're only available with a Roland Cloud subscription
Darkglass Electronics Anagram Bass Workstation: The new multi-effects unit for bass guitar has a sleek design with a touchscreen and 6 high-resolution endless rotary knobs for fine-tuning each parameter.
Bass Guitars “A purpose-built solution for bassists seeking unparalleled sound-shaping capabilities”: Darkglass Electronics unveils the Anagram Bass Workstation – a state-of-the-art multi-effects for bass guitar with neural amp model support and a 7” touchscreen
Xotic AC Booster V2: this yellow stompbox has four white dials, external dipswitches and two footswitches
Guitars “Sets a new standard and dynamic and expressive drive pedals”: Xotic’s AC Booster v2 is a feature-packed but compact overdrive that promises amp-like touch sensitivity and dynamics
JHS Pedals 3 Series Tape Delay, Rotary Chorus, Oil Can Delay
Guitars “Three simple controls and one toggle that offer a wide range of sounds, perfect for beginners and professionals alike”: JHS Pedals expands mega-value $99 3 Series with Tape Echo, Rotary Chorus and Oil Can Delay
TC Electronic Ditto 2 Looper
Guitars “We’ve taken everything great about the original Ditto Looper and made it even better”: TC Electronic’s Ditto 2 Looper is as simple as looping gets – but there is more than meets the eye to this super-compact, single-knob stompbox
Jam Pedals Octaurus Standard and NOS: The Greek stompbox company brings back a modern classic of octave-fuzz, with the NOS black version on the left, the Standard green on the right.
Guitars “Built from the same sacred stash of NOS silicon transistors and germanium diodes, giving it the soul – and snarl – of the original”: An octave-fuzz cult classic returns as Jam Pedals resurrects the Octaurus
Strymon EC-1 Single Head dTape Echo
Guitars “The dreamy sound of a classic ’60s single head tape echo complete with the harmonic richness of the accompanying tube preamp”: Strymon launches the EC-1, a tape-echo emulator based on a vintage EP-2 modded by SRV's tech
  1. Guitars
  2. Guitar Pedals

NAMM 2016: Boss revives the VB-2 Vibrato and releases new compact effects pedals

News
By Michael Astley-Brown published 19 January 2016

New stompboxes include Vocoder and Bass Compressor plus new Effects Switcher

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Boss Waza Craft VB-2W Vibrato

Boss Waza Craft VB-2W Vibrato

NAMM 2016: 2015 was a big year for Boss – the SY-300 and DD-500 were standouts in the company's recent output – and this year's products carry a few surprises, too.

For guitarists scouring eBay in the hope of tracking down an original, the best news of all will be the resurgence of the VB-2 Vibrato under Boss's Waza Craft line.

The new VB-2W uses all-analogue circuitry to recreate the rare 80s original's much sought-after wobbles, as well as adding a new Custom sound mode and real-time control functions.

Custom mode offers more depth than the original, and adds a low-pass filter along with the pitch for stronger low-range pulse, while Boss has also integrated a jack for controlling effect depth using an optional expression pedal.

In Standard mode, the Graham Coxon-favoured VB-2 promises the same BBD-driven analogue sound as the original, with rate, depth and rise time control, as well as latching or non-latching functionality.

The VB-2W will be available in the UK from mid-Febraury at RRP £159.

Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4
Boss VO-1 Vocoder

Boss VO-1 Vocoder

A combined guitar and vocal pedal, the VO-1 allows musicians to “sing” with their instrument for electronic voice textures, talk box sounds and choir emulations.

By plugging in a mic and guitar, Boss's newly developed technology features four modes: vintage offers typical synthesized voice sounds; Advanced delivers “all-new vocoder tones”; Talk Box does the Peter Frampton/Bon Jovi thang without the hassle, while Choir creates big vocal textures from a direct instrument input.

As well as tone, colour, level and blend knobs, the VO-1 offers a standard 1/4” input plus an XLR mic input, and send and return jacks for patching in external effects for use on the direct sound.

You'll be able to grab a VO-1 in March at RRP £185.

Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
Boss BC-1X Bass Comp

Boss BC-1X Bass Comp

With the BC-1X, advanced Boss Multi-Dimensional Processing tech means studio-level multi-band compression optimised for bass players.

A natty 16-segment gain reduction meter displays the amount of multi-band compression, adjusted via ratio, threshold, release and level controls.

While bassists plays, Boss's MDP engine “analyses the signal and applies the appropriate amount of compression based on frequency range and playing dynamics” – that should result in even and balanced sound at all times, all with low noise and high headroom for active basses.

The BC1-X will be available, RRP £149, from March.

Page 3 of 4
Page 3 of 4
Boss ES-5 Effects Switching System

Boss ES-5 Effects Switching System

Stripping last year's ES-8 switcher back to the essentials, the considerably more compact ES-5 offers five audio loops, real-time control plus MIDI compatibility.

The on/off state and connection order of the ES-5's audio loops can be stored in 200 patch memories, while input and output buffers can be switched on/off per patch, too.

External control outputs for switching amp channels and sending tap tempo information can also be added, as can expression pedals and additional footswitches – Boss also promises MIDI integration and pure signal transfer.

The ES-5 will be in stores from March at RRP £329.

Page 4 of 4
Page 4 of 4
Michael Astley-Brown
Michael Astley-Brown
Social Links Navigation

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

Read more
boss pedals plugin
Roland puts 8 classic Boss effects pedals in a new plugin, and there are more to come... but they're only available with a Roland Cloud subscription
Darkglass Electronics Anagram Bass Workstation: The new multi-effects unit for bass guitar has a sleek design with a touchscreen and 6 high-resolution endless rotary knobs for fine-tuning each parameter.
“A purpose-built solution for bassists seeking unparalleled sound-shaping capabilities”: Darkglass Electronics unveils the Anagram Bass Workstation – a state-of-the-art multi-effects for bass guitar with neural amp model support and a 7” touchscreen
Xotic AC Booster V2: this yellow stompbox has four white dials, external dipswitches and two footswitches
“Sets a new standard and dynamic and expressive drive pedals”: Xotic’s AC Booster v2 is a feature-packed but compact overdrive that promises amp-like touch sensitivity and dynamics
JHS Pedals 3 Series Tape Delay, Rotary Chorus, Oil Can Delay
“Three simple controls and one toggle that offer a wide range of sounds, perfect for beginners and professionals alike”: JHS Pedals expands mega-value $99 3 Series with Tape Echo, Rotary Chorus and Oil Can Delay
TC Electronic Ditto 2 Looper
“We’ve taken everything great about the original Ditto Looper and made it even better”: TC Electronic’s Ditto 2 Looper is as simple as looping gets – but there is more than meets the eye to this super-compact, single-knob stompbox
Jam Pedals Octaurus Standard and NOS: The Greek stompbox company brings back a modern classic of octave-fuzz, with the NOS black version on the left, the Standard green on the right.
“Built from the same sacred stash of NOS silicon transistors and germanium diodes, giving it the soul – and snarl – of the original”: An octave-fuzz cult classic returns as Jam Pedals resurrects the Octaurus
Latest in Guitar Pedals
Fortin Fourteen Dual Boost Overdrive: the new tricked-out green stompbox from Mike Fortin packs two Tube Screamer OD flavours in one housing and is packed with features.
“Each of the three modes represents a milestone in pedal history”: Fortin triples down on modded-TS tones with the Fourteen – an boost/overdrive pedal representing the “apex of Mike Fortin’s modification philosophy”
Brad Paisley wears a white cowboy hat, burgundy jacket black jeans and cowboy boots as he sits with his new Fender Lost Telecaster from the Custom Shop.
“I like the real thing that happens when you dig in a little bit and the amp starts to cry for mercy”: Is the compressor pedal a country guitar essential? Brad Paisley doesn’t think so – and here’s why
Polyend Mess
“Not another multi-effect for your dentist,” but Polyend’s Mess looks like an FX sequencing powerhouse that you can really get your teeth into
ThorpyFX Hanami
“We were able to up the gain and the volume on tap way past the levels we would normally get”: ThorpyFX’s Hanami fuzz pedal is packing NOS germanium, dynamic, and blooming lovely
JHS Pedals NOTADÜMBLË: the new DIY pedal kit from the Kansas stompbox company requires no soldering, is keenly priced, and promises two channels of tone inspired by the holy grail tube amps favoured by the likes of Joe Bonamassa.
“A half-million dollars of tone at your feet”: Nail the sound of a holy grail tube amp with a pedal you made yourself – JHS Pedals unveils the NOTADÜMBLË solderless DIY kit
Catalinbread Wake Chorus/Octaver: this blue-green stompbox combines a chorus with an octave down effect running in parallel, which you can blend into your guitar signal and make it sound bigger.
“An additive chorus effect that plays well as an ‘always-on’ tonal thickener with a twist”: Don’t sleep on Catalinbread’s Wake if you’re looking for dream pop tones on your pedalboard
Latest in News
Lindsey Buckingham Charli XCX
“Getting kinda saucy already”: Watch Lindsey Buckingham react as he checks out Charli XCX’s Von Dutch video for the first time... alongside his daughter
David Lee Roth in 1985
“The acrobatics. The sexuality. In his prime, he was the super frontman of all time”: The rock icon hailed by Gene Simmons as the GOAT
Money
From bedroom to billions… The Sunday Times Rich List 2025 just revealed the wealth and rankings of the UK’s biggest music stars
Lorde
“I love making bangers. Someone’s got to make them. I’m really proud when they come out of me”: Lorde reveals that she used the drums from Radiohead’s Reckoner while she was writing new single What Was That, and they probably weren’t too hard to find
teenage engineering
"I snuck in an easter egg that most people don't know about - I don't think anyone's found it yet": Teenage Engineering engineer reveals hidden Pocket Operator feature
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a massive $550 off a premium Fender Strat, £380 off the Epiphone Dave Grohl DG-335, and £189 off the Boss SDE-3000D delay pedal

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...