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

PRS Guitars | Fall 2025 PRS SE New Models

Experience world-class playability at an accessible price point with the newest PRS Guitars SE models, now available at Chicago Music Exchange! For over 25 years, the PRS SE line has redefined value, offering legendary design, tone, and craftsmanship to players of all levels. This Fall, PRS expands the SE family with exciting new additions—from the high-octane SE Chleo, developed with Dragonforce’s Herman Li, to the expressive SE Hollowbody II Piezo, blending acoustic and electric tones with PRS precision. Shop the latest PRS SE arrivals and experience why PRS continues to set the standard in playability, versatility, and style. Call, chat, or visit our showroom to get your hands on these brand-new arrivals today!

Read more

Boutique Guitar Showcase | enTour 2025

Boutique Guitar Showcase enTour 2025 at Chicago Music Exchange! Join us Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, to experience over 50 hand-curated boutique instruments from world-class builders around the globe. Shop the full collection online or join us in-store for the Boutique Guitar Showcase enTour in The Vault at Chicago Music Exchange!

Read more

Orangewood | Clementine Double Cutaway Chambered Electric Guitar

Orangewood Guitars unveiled their first electric guitar design with the Del Sol Baritone earlier this year, striking out on a bold new addition to their lineup of player-friendly, value-packed acoustic guitars! Now, players everywhere can experience a semi-hollow design that was designed for supreme comfort with the new Orangewood Clementine! Pairing a traditional double–cutaway  design with a contoured belly cut and a reduced body profile, Clementine is made for players of all stripes to harness the supreme tonal versatility that the semi-hollow body design is known for!

Read more