Compact Rotary Speaker Effects with Vintage Tone and Modern Control
BOSS has announced the release of the RT-2 Rotary Sound Machine, a new compact effects pedal designed to deliver authentic rotary speaker tones in a streamlined format. While not built specifically for bass, the RT-2 offers rich tonal flexibility and control options that may appeal to adventurous bass players looking to add movement and harmonic texture to their sound.
At the heart of the RT-2 is BOSS’s advanced rotary speaker modeling, offering three distinct modes:
- Mode I faithfully reproduces the classic rotary speaker sound, delivering organic modulation that works well across instruments—from electric guitar to keyboards and even bass.
- Mode II expands on the vintage sound with a broader tonal range and enhanced spatial imaging, particularly effective when used in conjunction with overdrive or distortion.
- Mode III features a more modern voice with increased definition and modulation depth, ideal for solos, arpeggiated lines, or more aggressive textures.
The RT-2 includes a Drive control inspired by the tube amplification stages of traditional rotary cabinets. This knob adds variable saturation to the signal, from subtle warmth to full-bodied grit. A rear-panel switch lets users assign the Drive knob to instead control the balance between treble and bass rotors, offering additional tonal shaping. Settings are automatically saved and recalled with power-up.
A Fast/Slow control adjusts the rotor speed on the fly, and a Rise/Fall Time switch fine-tunes how quickly the virtual rotors transition between speeds—great for creating dramatic swells or subtle fades. The RT-2 also features a virtual rotor display, with LED indicators showing the independent speeds of the treble and bass rotors.
The pedal supports four different footswitch modes, allowing users to configure how the RT-2 behaves in live situations—whether toggling bypass, speed changes, or a brake function. For expanded control, the RT-2 also supports external footswitches or expression pedals, assignable to functions like speed or braking.
Connectivity includes mono and stereo I/O, with two output modes: standard stereo or independent wet/dry outputs, useful for players routing their clean signal separately from the rotary effect.
Though designed with general instrument use in mind, the RT-2’s tonal flexibility, modulation depth, and expanded control options make it a versatile tool for bassists looking to explore rotary textures within their own rigs.
The RT-2 is available now and comes with the standard BOSS five-year warranty.
