A New Chapter in Pitch Control
Boss has officially announced two new entries in its effects lineup: the XS-100 Poly Shifter and the XS-1 Poly Shifter, bringing advanced pitch-shifting capabilities to both flagship and compact pedal formats. Designed for both guitar and bass, these pedals aim to push real-time pitch control deeper — with more range, more flexibility, and cleaner tracking with fewer artifacts.
XS-100 Poly Shifter — The Flagship Workhorse
The XS-100 offers an impressive ±4-octave range, giving players a massive eight-octave span to explore. It includes a built-in expression pedal for smooth sweeping control, with the ability to set independent pitch-change speeds for upward and downward movements. This allows for effects that can resemble revving engines or controlled glides.
A toe switch at the end of the pedal travel enables momentary pitch jumps, and players can assign different rise and fall times for creative results. Two onboard footswitches give quick access to semitone jumps or other functions across the full range, and the pedal holds 30 memory slots for storing favorite setups. Additional customization includes reassignable switches, compatibility with external footswitches or expression pedals, MIDI integration, and a secondary output for parallel routing.
Most importantly, Boss claims the XS-100 runs on a newly developed DSP platform designed to suppress artifacts and preserve clarity, even with complex chords and wide-interval shifts. For bassists, this could mean clean tracking across the low end, smooth sub-octaves, and expressive sweeps without losing punch or definition.
XS-1 Poly Shifter — Compact Power
The XS-1 brings a simpler approach in a smaller form factor. It offers up to ±7 semitones of shifting in semitone mode, or a full ±3 octaves in octave mode. Controls are pared down to two knobs — one for balancing the dry and shifted signal, and one for selecting the shift interval. A detune mode is included for chorus-like doubling effects.
Despite its compact size, the XS-1 supports external footswitches and expression pedals, letting players add flexibility and pitch-bending control. Like the XS-100, it benefits from the same new pitch-tracking algorithms aimed at delivering clean, artifact-free performance.
Pricing and Availability
The XS-100 will retail at $349.99, while the XS-1 will come in at $199.99. Both are scheduled to begin shipping in October 2025.
Conclusion
With these two new pedals, Boss is making a strong statement in the world of pitch-shifting. The XS-100 is designed for players who want maximum control and versatility, while the XS-1 delivers the essentials in a compact, straightforward package. For bassists and guitarists alike, both pedals open the door to new creative possibilities, from subtle harmonies to dramatic pitch sweeps. Whether you need a full-featured pitch workstation or a streamlined solution for retuning and layering, the XS series looks set to become an exciting new option on the market.
Want to See More Boss Products?
Check out our other reviews of standout pedals from the Boss lineup:
- Boss CE-2W Waza Craft Chorus Review – A modern reissue of the legendary chorus pedal with expanded modes and stereo depth.
- Boss SY-1 Synthesizer Review – Instant synth tones for bass and guitar, no special pickups required.
- Top 5 Boss Pedals for 2025 – Our roundup of the must-have Boss pedals this year for bass and beyond.
