The Boss PS-3 Digital Pitch Shifter/Delay is a compact Boss pedal, made from 1994 to 1999, that puts pitch shifting and digital delay in one stompbox. An eleven-way mode selector gives you eight pitch-based effects and three delay effects, and the two halves can be blended, which Delicious Audio describes as "allowing for a myriad of blended shift/delay effects"12. It is discontinued, and today it is found on the used market1.
Boss's own history of its pitch pedals notes that the PS-3's "reverse playback and pedal-controlled pitch sweeps made it a favorite among more adventurous performers"3. Delicious Audio calls it ideal for genres like garage, psychedelia, or grunge1.
Pitch settings and delay modes
The PS-3's eleven-way mode selector presents eight pitch-based choices and three delay choices3. Pedal of the Day breaks it down as seven pitch modes, three delay modes, and one expression mode2, while MusicRadar describes ten delay and pitch modes plus an eleventh expression-controlled patch5.
| Mode group | What it does |
|---|---|
| Pitch modes (7) | Pitch shifted up or down over two full octaves, each with 26 pitch-shifting steps16 |
| Detune mode | Creates chorus-like tones6 |
| Dual mode | Two independent pitch shifts at once, each sendable to separate outputs for stereo operation6 |
| Delay modes (3) | Up to two seconds of delay time1 |
| Expression mode | Pedal-controlled pitch sweeps32 |
MusicRadar's guide notes the range across the modes: "There's three delays, choruses and single pitch modes, a straight-up pitch-shifter on mode 5, as well as a very early example" of a shimmer octave sound on mode 75. Mode 7 is a pitch-shifting reversing delay, which Pedal of the Day's reviewer called a personal favorite2.
"Depending on where you place the settings it will give you a continuously reversed pitch-shifted delay. It sounds magical!"
The same reviewer summed up the pedal's sound as "various options for pitch shifting, from slight chorus-y shifts to drastic intervals! And classic spot-on BOSS digital delay settings"2.
Where it came from
The PS-3 arrived in 1994, the year MusicRadar says Boss "really hit their stride with the concept" of pitch shifting5. Boss's delay history explains that while the delay functionality is the same as the earlier PS-2, with up to two seconds of delay time, the pitch-shifting abilities were greatly expanded6. Production ran until 19994.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's Alex Lynham, writing in a 2021 pitch shifter buying guide, characterized the PS-3's repeats as gritty rather than clean: "It's not a pristine delay, with the repeats blooming and smearing, but then, it's not an ambient shimmer reverb either"5. The guide listed its used price at $200-250 and its bypass as buffered5.
Pedal of the Day's 2014 review found a lot to like in the small enclosure: "There's A LOT in this lil one-stomp pedal"2. The review includes a video demo by the reviewer showing the modes in action2.
Videos
Gear Confessions
wazu
Pedal Experiments
Questions
Is the Boss PS-3 true bypass?
No. The Boss PS-3 uses a buffered bypass, as listed in MusicRadar's pitch shifter buying guide. This is standard for Boss compact pedals of its era, which use a buffer in the signal path rather than a true bypass switch.
When was the Boss PS-3 released?
The Boss PS-3 was released in 1994. According to Boss's own history of its pitch pedals, it was produced from 1994 to 1999, when it was discontinued.
Is the Boss PS-3 still made?
No. Boss produced the PS-3 Digital Pitch Shifter/Delay from 1994 to 1999, after which it was discontinued. It is now found on the used market, where MusicRadar listed its price at $200-250 in 2021.
How long can the Boss PS-3 delay be?
The delay modes on the Boss PS-3 provide up to two seconds of delay time. Boss's delay history notes that this delay functionality is the same as that of the earlier PS-2.
How many pitch settings does the Boss PS-3 have?
The Boss PS-3 has seven pitch settings, each with 26 pitch-shifting steps. The pitch can be shifted up or down over two full octaves, and a detune mode produces chorus-like tones.
How much does a used Boss PS-3 cost?
MusicRadar's 2021 pitch shifter buying guide listed the Boss PS-3 at $200-250 on the used market. It is discontinued, so prices depend on condition and availability.
Sources (6)
- BOSS PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay, Delicious Audio, 2024-02-15
- Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter / Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2014-05-13
- Shifting With the Times: The History of BOSS Pitch Pedals, articles.boss.info, 2025-12-17
- BOSS - XS Series Pitch Pedals, BOSS (boss.info)
- 5 great pitch shifting pedals guitarists need to try, MusicRadar, 2021-08-03
- Echoes in Time: The History of BOSS Delay Pedals, BOSS (articles.boss.info), 2024-01-10
