TPS Vlog – Dan & Mick At Boss HQ In Japan

This is a vlog about our recent trip to Hamamatsu, Japan, and the headquarters of effects giant, Boss (and Roland). We were the guests of Boss and Roland Europe, along with Rabea Massaad and Ola Englund.
During our trip we got to spend time with Yoshi Ikegami the company president, and also to meet key engineers and product leads in the jaw-dropping R&D centre. We took in the Japanese production line for Waza Craft Compact pedals and also the incredible Roland and Boss Museum. It was a fascinating insight into how this large corporation operates and organises itself around such sheer scale. It should be said that Boss does the main chunk of its manufacturing at its Chinese factory so this was really just a glimpse at the actual manufacturing side – maybe that’s for another day!
Dan and I were both surprised and humbled by the time given to us by Boss’s senior staff. As well as showing us new things (Nextone amps and the Waza Tube Amp Expander) we were both struck by their desire for genuine feedback and suggestions. On a personal note – Mick here – I’ve never experienced such a big corporation engaging in that kind of detailed and genuine dialogue. As we say, humbling and insightful.

We don’t actually talk about the Nextone amps that we're playing because they were super hush-hush at the time and we were sworn to secrecy! More of that coming soon on TPS.

Massive thank you to Matt and Jay from Roland UK, and of course to everyone at Boss Japan – Ken, you’re a legend! – for their incredible kindness and hospitality during our visit. It was way above and beyond: thank you.

Quick word on the audio. Sorry about the rumbling during the talking. I’ve tried to get rid of most of it, but it’s a Canon image stabilising lens doing its crunching through the on-camera shotgun mic. Note to self (Mick): never try and capture audio in camera. It NEVER works. For me anyway.
The guitars are better. Microphones and our little Zoom H6. Hooray.

In terms of the sounds themselves, it's a combination of Boss pedals and the amp's own drive. Not sure about Dan, but on my board the only OD I used was a BD-2W. Nice!

This video is a vlog - we’ll do more detailed product stuff back at Schwangri-La over coming weeks and months. Enjoy the episode…

Dan’s amp & pedals…

• Boss Nextone Artist

• Boss JB-2 Angry Driver

• Boss DS-1X Distortion

• Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter

• Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

• Boss VE-500 Vocal Performer

• Boss PS-6 Harmonist

• Boss RV-6 Reverb

Mick’s amp & pedals

• Boss Nextone Stage

• Boss BD-2W Blues Driver

• Boss DM-2W Delay

• Boss CP-1X Compressor

• Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter

Guitars in this episode:
• Fender Japan Telecaster Custom (thanks Ken!)
• Fender American Standard Stratocaster
• Gibson Les Paul Custom

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[grokness]

That story about Yoshi’s career progression… 👏 👀

[justingarcia]

There is a boss pedal for everyone and whether or not you like the tones of any in particular, it’s irrefutable how quality and price effective they are. With that said, they’re also insanely progressive, their output over the last few years has been crazy, let alone having a collab with JHS, waza series etc., you rarely ever see companies this large making smart, in touch choices like this. It’s a beautiful thing and speaks volumes to their leadership

[YonathanLeibovich]

TPS on Monday, Tuesday and Friday...
Gotta love the times we live in..
<3

[gcvrsa]

I started out with a 100% Boss pedalboard back in the early 1990s, , and last year, rbuilt an all-new 100% Boss pedalboard for my bass guitar. I couldn't be happier. My first synthesizer was a Roland SH-101 I purchased at Manny's Music on 48th Street in NYC in the 1980s, as a teenager. Roland and Boss have been a part of my life for almost 35 years and will always be a part of my life.

[alanscharrer]

Certainly all who have pedals have had 1 or 1000 Boss Pedals. When looking for a new effect, I always start with Boss....and usually end there as well. Thanks Yoshi for allowing Dan and Mick a look behind the curtain. Excused me whilst I go explore more BOSS TONES

[jimmyw]

TPS soon to be the best guitar related show on youtube ever.

[MarkPritchardGuitar]

Keep these Vlogs coming please guys, very interesting stuff!
You should do a series called "Dan & Mick's adventures"

[cabbage]

Love my early 80s Japanese-made Boss pedals. Still working perfectly. Can't beat them.

[lance]

Back in the '80s, I only had Boss pedals, because that's what every store sold. I still have a pedal from that era that I sometimes have on my board - the OS-2 Overdrive Distortion - because it still has such a perfect sound for that Strat neck pickup blues tone. I pay attention to everything Boss does because they're still always doing interesting and sometimes, great things. Recent purchases are the Angry Driver and Blues Cube Artist, and both get a lot of use. Thanks!

[Pstaines]

This makes me long for a trip to Japan. I love the weirdness, the politeness, the order, and the passion!!

[tjnugent]

Love this show.... Boss is the most important musical instrument company of the last 40 years.

[samwatson]

The Nextone amps sound pretty darn good. More great stuff guys - the best bit of Friday has become the best bit of more-days-than-Friday. Ace.

[jorgeleonel]

jams and such a cool visit report, kudos guys. Boss has been directly or indirectly part of guitar players lives for so long, great company

[guitarfreak]

Mick that black LP custom suits you.

I've had lots of Boss stuff over the years. Currently the Waza chorus is on my board and I love it so much. I had a DS1 forever that I loved too. You do sort of forget about them because they've always been there, but they make good stuff.

[Zwidawurzn]

You and Ola Englund did a great job of convincing me that Boss Pedals aren't always bad.
After years of using it as a doorstop i took my Boss Metal Core ML-2, plugged it in front of the amp, turned off the lows and it kinda works. Now it's on my board for the first time in 11 years of having it, don't have to buy a Metal Muff and the door is now stopped by the NS-2.
Thank you Ola and TPS!

[MythosSoundStudio]

Love this. Since I bought my very first Boss pedals in 1982 (an original Boss Metal Zone - wish I still had it), I’ve always had a preference for Boss Pedals. I’ve owned all their MultiFX processors GT-3, 5, 6, 100, always been amazed with their quality, and the fact they’re pedals are built like tanks. Great insight on the pride and passion they have for building and designing their products. Thank you.

[MrKkramme]

Great vlog! Some insight to impressive Japanese companies with passion and dedication to quality!

[dcmusicvideo-callmefordeta]

Mick's "love that tone" face is great in the outro

[budgetguitarist]

That trip must have been such a blast! We're all living vicariously through you guys. Thank you!

[MarcCoteMusic]

Throughout my career (40 years), I have owned more Roland and Boss products than any other company, possibly as many as all other companies combined. Boss pedals (by the ton) and a couple of BCB-6 cases, Roland and Boss rack effects (lots of them), a total of 4 MC500 sequencers, synthesizers, rack synths (a bunch of them), a couple of samplers, and more recently a couple of GT-1 multi-effects pedals... I'm probably forgetting lots of other things... they have all played a huge part in my professional career. If there was a company that shaped my sound as a multi-instrumentalist, more than any other, I guess it would have to have been Boss/Roland.