Boss XS-1 Poly Shifter Pedal

Retailing in the region of £194.99

On the menu for January 2026 are the Boss Guitar Pedals, freshly added and carefully selected. These New units are available to order online with fast, secure delivery from trusted UK retailers. Read on for full details, specifications, demos, videos, reviews, and the best places to buy the Boss Guitar Pedals today.


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Description

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On the menu for January 2026 are the Boss Guitar Pedals, freshly added and carefully selected. These New units are available to order online with fast, secure delivery from trusted UK retailers. Read on for full details, specifications, demos, videos, reviews, and the best places to buy the Boss Guitar Pedals today.

The XS-1 Poly Shifter delivers instant retuning in a convenient, compact footprint. Driven by advanced BOSS algorithms years in the making, this magical pedal transforms the overall pitch while maintaining your instrument’s true character. You get speedy tracking, crystal-clear response, and zero compromise in tone—whether shifting down, simulating a capo, or using extreme octave jumps for effect. The versatile XS-1 unlocks a new level of performance freedom, making tuning changes fast, fluid, and seamless.

Key Features

  • Class-leading pitch shifting – Designed for guitar and bass, the XS-1 features class-leading new Boss algorithms for unrivalled pitch shifting capabilities with a clear response and natural feel that retains the fundamental sound character.
  • Expandable Control – Connect external footswitches for quick access to up to three tuning setups, or use an expression pedal for linear pitch control.
  • Easy to use – Its easy to find your perfect pitch-shifted tone with XS-1 simple controls. Change pitch across +/- seven semitones or +/- three octaves or use the detune function (+/- 20 cents) to create rich doubling effects. Its balance control allows you to quickly find your ultimate tone without hassle.

Natural Sound with Advanced BOSS Technology

In developing the XS series, BOSS engineers pioneered new methods to advance real-time pitch shifting and eliminate the tonal artefacts common in conventional designs. Powered by finely tuned algorithms and a specially selected DSP platform, the XS-1 provides balanced polyphonic performance that feels natural and musical across all playing styles, pickup positions, and pedal setups. Your instrument’s attack and tonal character are fully preserved, and even complex chords and sustained lead tones—typically a challenge for pitch shifters—are reproduced with stunning clarity.

Redefining Pitch Shifting for Live Performance

Retuning during a performance means long pauses, instrument swaps, or pedal solutions that can colour the sound in undesirable ways. With the XS-1, you can shift tunings on demand and retain great sound, feel, and response—without ever breaking the momentum of a show. Authentically play songs in drop tunings, change keys to suit a vocalist’s range, create unique extended-range sounds, and more.

Wide Range, Simple Controls

Offering a range of +/- seven semitones and three octaves up or down, the XS-1 adapts to virtually any musical need. Thanks to the signature BOSS compact interface, dialing in sounds is fast and intuitive. With semitone tunings, you’ll usually want to set the Balance knob for effect only to avoid pitch conflicts. For octave shifts, use it to blend in the direct sound for 12-string effects, parallel guitar/bass sounds, and unexplored colours. There’s also a Detune mode to create evocative doubling effects with high-definition tone.

Supreme Creative Command

The XS-1 provides a variety of control options to meet your creative intent. With the flip of a panel control, you can assign the pedal switch for standard on/off toggle use or momentary operation. Connect up to two external footswitches for fast access to alternate tuning modes with your preferred Balance settings. Or add an expression pedal to transform the XS-1 into a dynamic pitch-bending tool for dramatic, ear-turning shifts.

Specifications

  • AD conversion: 24 bits + AF method (AF method (Adaptive Focus method) This is a proprietary method from Roland & BOSS that vastly improves the signal-to-noise (SN) ratio of the AD and DA converters.)
  • DA conversion: 32 bits
  • Sampling Frequency: 48 kHz
  • Nominal input level: -20 dBu
  • Maximum Input Level: +7 dBu
  • input impedance: 1 MΩ
  • Nominal output level: -20 dBu
  • Maximum output Level: +7 dBu
  • output impedance: 1 kΩ
  • Recommended load impedance: 10 kΩ or greater
  • Bypass: Buffered bypass
  • Controls: BALANCE knob, SHIFT knob, PEDAL MODE switch, SHIFT DIRECTION switch, Pedal switch
  • Indicator: CHECK indicator (Used for check battery)
  • Connectors: INPUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type, OUTPUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type, CTL/EXP jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type, DC IN jack
  • Power supply: AC adaptor, Alkaline battery (6LR61 or 6LF22, commercially available) x 1
  • Current draw: 120 mA
  • Expected battery life under continuous use: Alkaline battery (6LR61): Approximately 3 hours (* This can vary depending on the specifications of the batteries, capacity of the batteries, and the conditions of use.)
  • Dimensions: 73 (W) x 129 (D) x 59 (H) mm, 2-7/8 (W) x 5-1/8 (D) x 2-3/8 (H) inches
  • Weight (including battery): 410 g, 15 oz
  • Accessories: Leaflet (“USING THE UNIT SAFELY”, “IMPORTANT NOTES” and “Information”), Alkaline battery (9 V, 6LR61 or 6LF22)
  • Options (sold separately): AC adaptor: PSA series, Footswitch: FS-5U, Dual footswitch: FS-6, FS-7
  • Expression Pedal: EV-30, FV-500L, FV-500H, Roland EV-5
  • * 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms

Additional information

Weight 2 kg

Brand

Boss

Boss is a prominent manufacturer of guitar effects pedals, multi-effects units, and related musical equipment, known for their durability, reliability, and wide range of effects. Founded in 1973 as a division of the Roland Corporation, Boss quickly became synonymous with high-quality effects pedals that are popular among guitarists and musicians worldwide.

Boss pedals are renowned for their rugged construction, intuitive controls, and signature sound quality. The company offers a comprehensive lineup of effects pedals covering various categories, including distortion, overdrive, delay, modulation, and more. Iconic pedals like the DS-1 Distortion, the DS-2 Turbo Distortion, the DD-3 Digital Delay, and the MT-2 Metal Zone have become staples on countless pedalboards due to their versatility and reliability.

Category

Guitar Pedals

Tags

Expression

Expression pedals allow real-time control over specific parameters on compatible guitar pedals, such as volume, delay time, modulation depth, or filter sweep. Used with an expression input, they let players shape effects dynamically with their foot, adding movement and performance control that cannot be achieved with fixed knob settings.

New

This is brand new, fresh in, and a UK warranty is included. New Gear always comes from trusted UK music retailers.

Octave

An octave pedal shifts your guitar signal up or down by one or more octaves, blending the altered pitch with your original sound to create a fuller, more complex tone. It can add a deep, bass-like layer underneath your playing or a shimmering high octave on top for lead lines and solos. Classic analogue octave pedals often produce slightly gritty, organic sounds, while modern digital versions track more precisely and can offer multiple octave ranges.

Octave pedals are great for thickening single-note riffs, creating synth-style textures, or even mimicking bass parts when playing alone. They pair well with fuzz or overdrive pedals for massive, harmonically rich tones. Whether you’re after vintage Hendrix-style octave fuzz or a modern polyphonic sound that tracks chords cleanly, an octave pedal opens up a world of creative possibilities and adds real weight and character to your tone.

Pitch

Pitch pedals alter the frequency of your guitar signal, changing the perceived note or adding harmony. They can shift notes up or down by fixed intervals, create harmonies, or produce dive-bomb and whammy-style effects without a tremolo arm. Pitch shifters and harmonisers are great for thickening solos, simulating multiple guitars, or experimenting with creative, otherworldly sounds that expand your tonal range.

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