First established in 1973 as MEG Electronics—an R&D division within its parent company Roland—the company was introduced to the public with the now-famous Boss name and logo the following year. The special “BOSS at 50” microsite spotlights five decades of innovation with an interactive timeline of milestone products that have established industry trends and opened new creative possibilities for musicians everywhere. The microsite also showcases significant moments in music history and honors the artists who have used Boss products to shape the sound of music over the last 50 years.
Presented in exclusive packaging and marked with unique four-digit serial numbers, these pedals deliver the same sound and circuitry that have made the standard versions so beloved by generations of players in every musical genre. These collectible versions have been produced in strictly limited numbers, with only 7,000 units available worldwide.
DS-1 Distortion
After the Boss compact pedal series debuted with its first three models in 1977, the DS-1 Distortion was introduced the following year to wide acclaim. Prized for its edgy attack and smooth sustain, this multi-million seller has remained in the lineup ever since and can be heard on countless hit records. $82.99 USD.
SD-1 Super Overdrive
Boss released the SD-1 Super Overdrive in 1981, improving on the groundbreaking OD-1 model by introducing a tone control and other subtle circuit enhancements. This workhorse gain machine has stood the test of time and continues to grace the pedalboards of beginners and pros alike. $82.99 USD.
BD-2 Blues Driver
For guitarists seeking delicate, nuanced gain tones that allow their feel and technique to shine through, it’s hard to beat the BD-2 Blues Driver. Introduced in 1995, this acclaimed drive pedal is revered for its broad sound palette, touch sensitivity, and articulate tube-like response.
Boss Limited-edition 50th-anniversary BD-2 Blues Driver Pedal
For more information, please visit boss.info.
LACS5 "Root Beer Float"
Over time, this model has become the quintessential metal guitar, but the luthiers at Ibanez' LA Custom shop aimed to strike a warmer, more vintage note with this design. A Light Root Beer Burst finish rests atop a stunning, roughly half-inch-thick Flamed Maple top, delivering a color combination that blends perfectly with the Maple fingerboard, a rarity on any modern Iceman. The styling is more reminiscent of designs from the late 70’s, rather than the menacing metal machines of today. This throwback motif is further enhanced by Flamed Maple neck binding, gold hardware accents and a custom made Flamed Maple truss rod cover emblazoned with the classic Ibanez “spaghetti” logo. The LACS 5 Iceman is an exquisite example of what happens when the skills of Ibanez’s best modern-day luthiers are matched with a longstanding symbol of the brand’s enduring legacy.
Specifications
- Neck: 3pc Maple / Korina
- Neck Width: 43mm @ Nut, 57mm @ 22nd Fret
- Neck Thickness: 20mm @ 1st Fret, 22mm @12th Fret
- Grip Shape: Round
- Fretboard: Maple
- Fretboard Radius: 12”
- Inlays: Block Pearloid / Abalone
- Side Dots: Luminlay
- Scale Length: 24.7”
- Neck Joint: Set Neck
- Body: Mahogany
- Top: Flamed Maple
- Pickups: DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary
- Controls: 2 Vol, 2 Tone, 3 WayPickup Selector
- Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Locking
- Bridge: Gibraltar 1
- Finish: Light Root Beer Burst
JPCS32 "Sakura"
Ibanez' Japanese Custom Shop team opted for the name ‘Sakura’, ‘cherry blossom’ in Japanese, for this very special bass. The reason for the name is fairly obvious: the entire span of the top of this bass is inlayed with many cherry blossoms made from various types of wood and seashells. The inlay work on this bass involved individually cutting, sanding and seating well over 90 individual pieces of shell and wood. Not to mentioned the extra time involved to seat, level, and dress the stainless steel frets. The end result of all the hours that went into this bass is absolutely stunning. The inlay work, combined with the Maple Burl top, and Yozakura Blue finish, combine to form an exquisite piece of functional artwork. Other unique features found on this instrument include matching pickup covers with cherry blossom inlay work and a Maple Burl “mountain ridge” headstock inlay.
Specifications
- Neck: 5pc Maple/Purpleheart (Timeless Timber Maple core)
- Neck Width: 38.0mm @ Nut, 60.0mm @ 24th Fret
- Neck Thickness: 19.5mm @ 1st Fret, 22.5mm @ 12th Fret
- Grip Shape: Atlas-4 HP
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Fingerboard Radius: 12”
- String Spacing: 19mm
- Inlays: MOP & Abalone
- Side Dots: White
- Scale Length: 34”
- Neck Joint: Bolt-On
- Body: Alder
- Top: Maple Burl
- Pickups: Nordstrand Big Singles
- Tuners: Gotoh RES-O-LITE
- Bridge: MR5SEQ: Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-Band EQ
- Controls: Vol/Blend/Treble/Mid/Bass/EQ Bypass/Mid Selector
- Finish: Yozakura Blue
LACS18 "Hang 10"
This surf wagon-themed Talman inspires visons of the beaches of Southern California from which it hails. This spectacular instrument doesn’t only evoke vintage imagery, but also delivers a vintage-style sound, capitalizing on a classic tone wood mix of Alder, Maple and Rosewood. This wood combo, paired with the three lipstick-style pickups, delivers a highly-stylized design that’s totally impossible to overlook.
Specifications
- Neck: 3pc Maple/Purpleheart
- Neck Width: 42mm @ Nut, 57mm @ 22nd Fret
- Neck Thickness: 20mm @ 1st Fret, 22mm @ 12th Fret
- Grip Shape: Half Round
- Fretboard: Rosewood
- Fretboard Radius: 16”
- Inlays: Mother of Pearl Dots
- Side Dots: Luminlay
- Scale Length: 25.5”
- Neck Joint: Neck-ThruBody: Alder
- Top: Quilted Maple
- Pickups: Seymour Duncan Strat Lipstick
- Controls: Vol, Tone, 5-Way Pickup Selector Switch
- Tuners: Gotoh Magnum LockingBridge: Gibraltar Std. II
- Finish: Turquoise Blue Stain Gloss
Additional info at ibanez.com.