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

Boutique Guitar Showcase | enTour 2026

Chicago Music Exchange is proud to once again host the Boutique Guitar Showcase enTour, returning for 2026 after six celebrated years. On Wednesday, September 9, join us in The Vault for an exclusive in-person showcase featuring over 50 one-of-a-kind instruments from today's most innovative boutique builders worldwide, curated by Jamie Gale. RSVP below to reserve your spot.

Read more

Benson Amps | CME Exclusive Blue Floral Amplifiers

Chris Benson has spent over a decade building hand-wired tube amps that give classic American circuits a harmonically rich twist — and now three of his amps are getting a look you can only find at CME. We're proud to introduce three CME Exclusive Benson Amplifiers in a one-of-a-kind Blue Floral finish: the Monarch Reverb Plus, Vinny Reverb, and Nathan Junior. All three are hand-built, point-to-point wired, and in stock now.

Read more

Introducing | Frank Brothers Guitar Company

Started by Nick, Jon, and Tim Frank in 2014, are building upon their family history of award winning music production for the next generation of performers! Together, they are building a lineup of models that stand out in a crowded field, inspired by the unique retro-cool styling of ‘60s and ‘70s Japanese imports to craft a family of guitars. Unlike those catalogue guitars of yesteryear though, each Frank Brothers guitar features a handmade quality, countless hours of craftsmanship, and carefully chosen specifications that define the playing experience of each instrument, such as an extra-deep neck tenon and their trademark blended heel.

Read more