Roland Updates the Range of BCB Pedalboards

Roland updated their flagship BCB pedalboard range and added a new model—the premium travel-friendly BCB-1000. The BCB-90X and BCB-30X offer more flexibility for modern pedal layouts and the BCB-1000 is a robust and practical solution for traveling with your pedals.

The world of effects pedals really started to expand in the early 1970s, launching a new era of creative exploration for guitarists. Soon, top touring players and session musicians began commissioning elaborate custom-built rigs to house their effects, and the concept of the modern pedalboard was born. But for the average player, an affordable, off-the-shelf option was virtually non-existent for many years.

That all changed in 1982 when BOSS introduced the BCB-6, a user-configurable pedalboard for the masses. This breakthrough product featured an innovative molded design that was both the board and carrying case, and allowed guitarists to incorporate six compact pedals—plus the new BOSS TU-12 tuner, another milestone product—in an integrated, ready-to-play package.

Adopted by countless players in the decades since BCB pedalboards have continued to evolve to meet their changing needs. The latest BCB lineup is our most versatile and diverse to date, providing trusted BOSS solutions for modern pedal setups and musicians on the move.

All the amp and effects processing of the flagship GT-1000—now in a compact and portable stompbox. GT-1000CORE takes the pro-level features and full DSP power of our flagship GT-1000 and packs it into a compact form factor that’s ready to supercharge your rig.

Whether you need an ultra-versatile multi effects pedal to supplement your existing pedalboard, an all-in-one flyrig that fits in the pocket of your travel bag, or a control center for deep integration with your amp and recording setup.

Amazingly powerful and ultra-versatile, GT-1000CORE delivers the most complete guitar and bass processing experience available in a single stompbox. The full DSP muscle of the flagship GT-1000 lives inside this mini juggernaut, driving class-leading sound quality, advanced AIRD technology, 24 simultaneous effects blocks, and over 140 unique amp/effect types for unlimited creative expression. GT-1000CORE fits into any pedalboard setup and works equally well as a standalone processor for playing live and in the studio.

Next-Generation Compact Pedal with Vintage and Polyphonic Modes, Lightning-Fast Tracking, and Extended Range

BOSS announces the OC-5 Octave, the latest generation of the long-running OC series of octave pedals for guitar and bass. Offering the most advanced BOSS octave performance to date, the OC-5 features a new Vintage mode, polyphonic
enhancements, and an octave-up feature for extended range. And with the latest tracking technologies, users can enjoy smooth, accurate playability with no latency. Highly versatile and easy to use, the OC-5 covers a wide variety of octave sounds in one high-performance pedal.

OC-5 Octave Features

• The industry-standard octave pedal, updated with enhanced features
• Newly developed tracking technology provides more accurate response and natural feel with no latency
• Vintage mode faithfully reproduces the mono sound of the original OC-2
• Poly mode for chord playing; Range knob sets the note range where the effect is applied
• Lowest Range setting in Poly mode applies the octave effect to only the lowest note in a chord
• New octave-up effect, available on its own or blended with octave-down effects
• Mode switch optimizes the tracking engine for guitar or bass
• Direct out for wet/dry setups
• BOSS five-year warranty

Introduced in 1982, the OC-2 Octave was the world’s first modern octave pedal for guitar and bass, and its characteristic voice can be heard in many famous songs. The OC-5’s Vintage mode delivers the OC-2’s iconic mono sound, coupled with improved response thanks to the new tracking engine. Dedicated level controls are provided for -1 and -2 octave effects and the direct sound, giving quick access to a variety of sub-octave colors.

The OC-5 also features an evolved version of the smart Poly mode first introduced with the OC-3 Super Octave, letting users play full chords with octave effects. The variable Range knob restricts the effect to only the lower notes on an instrument, perfect for playing octave bass lines alongside normal chords and melodies in the higher registers. In addition, it’s now possible to isolate the octave effect to the bottom note in a chord by turning the Range knob to the “Lowest” setting.

The OC-5 introduces a new octave-up effect, which is available in both Vintage and Poly modes with a dedicated +1 OCT knob. Players can use the octave-up effect on its own for faux 12-string sounds and unique solo tones, or blend it with the octave-down effects for extended chord voicings and super-fat leads.

Via a dedicated switch, the OC-5’s tracking engine can be optimized for either guitar or bass. And with the Direct Out jack, users can route dry and effect sounds to different destinations, such as two stage amps or discrete channels on a mixer or audio interface.