Boss BP-1WFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 38 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment74%
PROS 74%
CONS 26%

Rank based on 38 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a versatile always-on EQ/boost pedal for clean or crunch tones
  • You play single-coil guitars and want added fatness and harmonics
  • You're chasing CE-1 chorus or RE-201 Space Echo preamp coloration

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You already own an EP Booster and don't need extra modes
  • You want a traditional high-gain overdrive/distortion sound
  • You need a built-in tone control for shaping the boost

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Mid
Boss BP-1W
Versatile boost/preamp modesEffective always-on tone enhancerGreat with single coilsOverlaps with cheaper EP BoosterSubtlety misunderstood by some buyersNo tone control
Boss BP-1W
Versatile boost/preamp modes
Effective always-on tone enhancer
Great with single coils
Overlaps with cheaper EP Booster
Subtlety misunderstood by some buyers
No tone control

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

A remarkably versatile boost/preamp that adapts to many rigs and guitars. Commenters describe using the BP-1W across acoustic and electric setups, clean channels, crunch amps, and stacked with other drives. It works well into both clean and dirty amp channels, fattens single coils, and pushes humbuckers into creamy overdrive. Several gigging musicians built it into jazz, blues, and rock setups, citing its adaptability as a major strength across genres and rigs.

Preamp modes evoke beloved vintage tone sources like the CE-1 and RE-201. Users repeatedly connect the CE and RE modes to the Frusciante-style CE-1 chorus preamp tone and the Space Echo/RE-201 tape delay preamp coloration, both requested by players for years. Some note the RE mode can be bassy or induce unmusical clipping with heavier picking at higher gain, but most find the vintage-inspired coloration to be the pedal's standout 'magic' quality.

Comparisons to the Xotic EP Booster reveal a genuine but pricier alternative. Multiple commenters directly compare the BP-1W to the EP Booster, noting the EP combines RE's fatness with NAT's top end in one control-free package. Some feel BP-1W's extra versatility isn't worth the bigger size and higher cost over the simpler EP, while others switched after finding the Boss more useful for humbucker players or added tonal flexibility.

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