Boss announces 50th anniversary metallic DS-1, SD-1 and BD-2 pedals

November 16, 2023 · 3 sources

Boss announced on November 16, 2023, 50th anniversary editions of three of its compact pedals: the DS-1 Distortion, the SD-1 Super Overdrive and the BD-2 Blues Driver¹². Each is a limited run in a metallic finish¹.

There will be 7,000 made of each pedal, according to MusicRadar¹; Guitar.com and Guitar World describe 7,000 as the total available worldwide²³. Each pedal has a metallic finish, gold-capped control knobs, a silver battery-compartment thumb screw and a commemorative 50th anniversary emblem¹. Guitar World places the anniversary logo on the pedals' right-hand side³. The pedals carry unique four-digit serial numbers and come in exclusive packaging²³. MusicRadar reports that circuit-wise they are the same as the standard models¹.

Boss said in a statement:

The sources give different US prices. MusicRadar gives $82.99 for each pedal¹. Guitar.com says they are available through November at US Boss retailers starting at $82.99². Guitar World gives $82.99 for the DS-1 Distortion and SD-1 Super Overdrive, which it says is $20 more than the regular price, and $109.90 for the BD-2 Blues Driver, which it says is $10 more³.

Guitar.com dates the pedals' origins: the DS-1 Distortion first appeared in 1977, the SD-1 Super Overdrive arrived four years later, and the BD-2 Blues Driver was first introduced in 1995². Guitar World notes that Boss began in 1973 as part of the Roland corporation's guitar effects department, and that its 2017 anniversary pedals marked the anniversary of the first compact pedal³.