Boss launches XS-1 and XS-100 polyphonic pitch-shifter pedals

September 1, 2025 · 4 sources

Boss announced the XS-1 and XS-100 Poly Shifters, two polyphonic pitch-shifting pedals for electric guitar and bass. Guitar World reports both launch in October 2025, with the XS-100 at $349.99 and the XS-1 at $199.99¹. Guitar Pedal X describes the pedals as over two years in the making².

The XS-100 is the larger unit, with an expression treadle, footswitches and an LED screen. Boss calls it an "Advanced pitch-shifting workstation with class-leading sound and feel" and says it spans an eight-octave range³. Guitar World describes that span as four octaves up and four down, and lists MIDI connectivity, 30 preset slots, a toe-end switch for momentary pitch jumps with adjustable rise and fall times, analog dry-through, USB-C for updates, and support for all frequencies, including bass¹. Guitar Pedal X lists 1/8 MIDI in and out, USB-C, 30 presets, and a pedal range setting of absolute or relative, and gives dimensions of 147 by 230 by 72mm².

The XS-1 is a compact stompbox using the same algorithms, which Boss says enables "instant retuning, drop tunings, capo effects, and octave leaps"³. Guitar World puts its range at plus or minus seven semitones or three octaves, with a detune function across plus or minus 20 cents, a Balance control, momentary switching, and connections for up to two external footswitches or an expression pedal¹. Guitar Pedal X lists controls for dry/wet balance, latching or momentary action, shift in semitones 1 to 7 or octaves 1 to 3, and direction of downward, detune or upward, plus a CTL/EXP port for a remote switch or expression pedal². The two outlets differ on the XS-1's detune range: Guitar World gives plus or minus 20 cents¹, while Guitar Pedal X describes detuning across plus or minus 50 cents². They also differ on current draw: Guitar Pedal X lists 100mA², RockBoard's PedalPedia lists 120mA⁴.

Boss attributes the performance to a SHARC processor working with its algorithms. The company says the pedals "retain your instrument's character while delivering immaculate polyphonic pitching"³.

RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the XS-1 as delivering "precise, glitch-free retuning for both guitar and bass," with 24-bit converters and a shift range of plus or minus seven semitones plus three octaves⁴. The XS-1 and XS-100 join Boss's line of octave and pitch pedals, which the company traces back to the OC-2 Octave (1982-2005) and PS-2 Digital Pitch Shifter/Delay (1987-1994)³.