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Average Price: $126

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$60

$201+

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Description

Unleash your creative side with the Boss BF-2 Flanger, a versatile tool to shape your sound. Known for its wide-ranging flanging effects, this pedal can generate anything from a subtle chorus to the dramatic swoosh of an airplane. With its intuitive controls for Manual, Depth, Rate, and Resonance, you can easily fine-tune your sound to achieve the perfect balance. Whether you're a beginner or a professional musician, the BF-2 Flanger offers an excellent way to enhance your music and experiment with various soundscapes.

Key Features:

  • Provides vast flanging effects, from mild chorus to dramatic airplane wooshes
  • Features intuitive controls for Manual, Depth, Rate, and Resonance
  • Suitable for both beginners and professional musicians
  • Ideal for enhancing music and experimenting with various soundscapes

Product specs

Brand Boss
Model BF-2 Flanger
Finish Purple
Year 1990 - 2001
Made In Taiwan
Categories Flanger Pedals

FAQs

Is the Boss BF-2 Flanger an analog pedal?

Yes, the Boss BF-2 Flanger uses analog circuitry, specifically BBD (Bucket Brigade Device) technology, to create its distinctive flanging effect.

What type of power supply does the Boss BF-2 Flanger require?

The Boss BF-2 Flanger requires a 9V power supply, which can be either a 9V battery or a standard Boss PSA adapter for consistent power during performances.

Is the Boss BF-2 Flanger suitable for both guitar and bass?

Yes, the Boss BF-2 Flanger is versatile and can be used with both electric guitar and bass, providing rich and dynamic flanging effects across a wide frequency range.

How does the Boss BF-2 Flanger differ from other flanger pedals?

The Boss BF-2 Flanger is known for its classic analog sound and robust build quality, offering a wide range of flanging effects from subtle to extreme, making it a favorite among musicians for its reliability and tonal versatility.

What are the control options on the Boss BF-2 Flanger?

The Boss BF-2 Flanger features four control knobs: Manual, Depth, Rate, and Resonance, allowing users to precisely shape the flanging effect to their preference.

Reverb

Reverb

1983 Boss BF-2 Flanger: Andy's Vintage Picks | Reverb Tone Report

Video thumbnail for 1983 Boss BF-2 Flanger: Andy's Vintage Picks | Reverb Tone Report by Reverb

1983 Boss BF-2 Flanger: Andy's Vintage Picks | Reverb Tone Report

Reverb

Reverb

Video thumbnail for BOSS BF-2 Flanger Demo by Pepe Music

BOSS BF-2 Flanger Demo

Pepe Music

Pepe Music

Video thumbnail for Boss BF-2 Flanger | Reverb Demo Video by Reverb

Boss BF-2 Flanger | Reverb Demo Video

Reverb

Reverb

Video thumbnail for The Best BOSS Modulation Pedal? BF-2 Flanger by Leon Todd

The Best BOSS Modulation Pedal? BF-2 Flanger

Leon Todd

Leon Todd

Video thumbnail for Free Pedal Friday: 1983 Boss BF-2 Flanger | Reverb Giveaway by Reverb

Free Pedal Friday: 1983 Boss BF-2 Flanger | Reverb Giveaway

Reverb

Reverb

Video thumbnail for MY FIRST VINTAGE PEDAL! Boss BF-2 Flanger MIJ 1984 (Demo) by Jackson Brooksby

MY FIRST VINTAGE PEDAL! Boss BF-2 Flanger MIJ 1984 (Demo)

Jackson Brooksby

Jackson Brooksby

Reviews

PROS

  • Classic 80s flanger tones perfect for post-punk and alternative music

  • Built like a tank; exceptionally durable construction

  • Versatile sound range from subtle chorus to extreme flange

  • Compact design allows for easy integration into pedalboards

  • Easily modifiable for personalized sound tweaks

  • Works well with both guitar and bass, offering a wide sonic palette

  • Responsive controls with significant impact on sound

  • Warm, lush analog circuit with a natural depth

  • Affordable pricing for a high-quality pedal

  • Renowned for its unique "jet plane" and "sitar-like" sounds

CONS

  • Not a true bypass pedal; can add unwanted high frequencies when off

  • Limited sweet spots; may not suit all musical styles

  • Can clip with certain distortion pedals in the signal chain

  • Lacks stereo output; not ideal for all setups

  • Some users find its sound too lo-fi compared to vintage alternatives

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Boss BF-2 Flanger.

Use cases and applications

  • The BF-2 complements light dirt or compression, creating atmospheric post-punk and shoegaze tones.

    Source
  • The BF-2 is reported as excellent for riffs but can be overwhelming for chords due to its untamed sound.

    Source
  • Using the BF-3's bass input limits the manual knob range, simplifying dialing in settings for subtle effects.

    Source
  • The BF-2 is favored for its analog warmth, popular in 1980s music, while the BF-3 is versatile with additional effects like slicer and stereo compatibility.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners appreciate the BF-2's versatility, achieving sounds from chorus to rotary and phase without frequent adjustments.

    Source
  • The BF-3's versatility makes it popular for bass, with users appreciating the additional features for bass applications.

    Source
  • Users find the BF-3's unintuitive tap tempo function difficult for live rhythmic adjustments, unlike more straightforward models like the PH-5.

    Source
  • Some owners note that the BF-2 can be noisy, while the BF-3 offers similar functionality with additional features and reduced noise.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The BF-2 is described as "sweeter" and more versatile for creating usable flanger sounds compared to the BF-3's harsher tone.

    Source
  • The BF-2 is described as the opposite of more static modulation pedals like the CE-2W, offering dynamic sound tweaking opportunities.

    Source
  • The TC Electronic Thunderstorm is a cheaper clone of the BF-2, with modern design preferences like top jacks and true bypass.

    Source
  • The BF-3 is a digital recreation of the BF-2's circuitry, eliminating noise and offering a wider frequency response, but some find the BF-2 warmer.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Internal trimpots may be adjusted by previous owners, affecting sound; ensuring original positions can restore intended tone.

    Source

Build quality

  • Some users report no significant difference between Japanese and Taiwanese BF-2 models, despite perceived value differences.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • BF-2 pedals are regularly available under $100 used, making them a classic yet affordable choice in the used market.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The BF-3 includes a momentary setting and gate/pan mode, offering versatility with a square wave tremolo sound in stereo output.

    Source
  • The BF-3 starts its sweep from the bottom when engaged, ideal for slow sweep effects but may not suit Van Halen-style punch-ins.

    Source
  • The BF-3 can create chorus effects, making it a versatile alternative to more expensive pedals like the DC Waza.

    Source
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 24 Reviews and 153 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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2 star
1 star
jimmarchi1

Great basic flanger that can handle some chorus duties!

Sometimes I really miss my Boss BF-2 Flanger pedal. I bought it for $20 in highschool from a kid named Frank who was really into the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I think we made the deal on a school bus.... so it must have been about 18 years ago! I used it sparingly, but devotedly for a decade and now I can't remember what I did with it. I wonder if its in a box somewhere with my Boss SD-1 overdrive....

update, found it

Anyway, the boss has a passable buffer and their usually sturdy build quality. Featuring controls for Manual (LFO sweep center point), rate, depth and resonance (regeneration), this little analog flanger sounds exactly like you would expect. At low resonance and depth settings it can do cool chorus sounds like the Cure's use of flanging. Get extreme and slow the rate down to achieve some cheesey Heart sounds for covering "Baracuda". Lots of great sounds inbetween. This pedal will not get as extreme and filtery as an electric mistress, nor does it sound as smooth and good as an A/DA or Mutron Flanger (oh to have that rare Mutron foot-flanger back from the junky who loaned it to me... I hope he didn't sell it for less than a grand). The BF-2 is capable of pretty solid Ibanez Jet Flanger tones with the Res knob cranked.

My biggest caveat with the BF-2 is the fact that if you want to run a distortion effect like a TS9 or Tonebender Fuzz into it (instead of after it, 2 VERY different sounds), it is very easy to clip the input stage of Boss's internal buffer wether the flanger is engaged or not. Also, this flanger is NOT stereo, but frankly none of the best sounding flangers ever were as I recall from my youth when they were hella popular. This is a good meat and potatoes modulation effect that does a good job of well, everything flange!

paul_sepp

Great and versatile

Great and versatile. Does anything from hollow chorus to rocket flange. Real good.

moogbadger

The original BOSS stompbox flanger

Yes! I finally found one in Liverpool's Curly Music for about £50. I typed the serial number into Google and apparently this one's from about 1990, Taiwanese. This is the one to get if you want those classic 80s tones - Robert Smith, Prince, Siouxie, Billy Duffy ('She Sells Sanctuary'), Cocteaus, Psychedelic Furs...Not saying the BF-3 is a bad pedal, but it's a modern digital flanger which just doesn't have the mojo of this one. The BBD chips make all the difference, especially in the feedback control - it's a flange that seems to sit with and become part of the guitar sound, rather than sitting on the top of it.

cwirus88

Flanger for a classic tones

So, here we have something what Boss decided to discontinue. Why? That is a million dollar question, because that flanger is absolutely great. It can give you delicate chorus, little detune, classic flanging or extreme sweeps for EVH stuff. Very tweakable; analog circuit sounds warm, lush, natural and deep. On the other hand I find BF-2 a little metallic when compared to HF-2. Nevertheless it is definately worth the money and yes - it can be found cheap. I have the MiJ version with silver screw - got it for 20$. Fav settings: Manual: minimum, Depth 2:00, Rate 2:00, Res: minimum.

dorgsan

OK/meh

This flanger is OK, but compared to my vingate MXR Flanger it sounds too lo fi and midrangy. It sounds like a small toy heard from the old telephone or radio.

memeshaw

The King of Flangers

My favourite pedal of all time. 4 really brilliant knobs (Manual, Depth, Rate, Resonance) and a pretty affordable price. I personally use it on bass (because who said you can't use guitar pedals for bass?) and it sounds brilliant, especially when you crank the treble tone knob up on your bass.

jimmarchi1

I used to use my BF2 for bass religiously when I played for-hire alternative rock gigs, it really brought the late80s/mid90s alterna-wobble to my lines, which were otherwise very Motown. Totally underrated as a bass effect, wish I could find mine.

azfatboy

Yet another de-facto standard from BOSS, nothing fancy but sounds AWESOME

Yeah it's just another boring BOSS pedal, right? And it's purple, or fuchsia, or whatever... But it is yet another example where BOSS does something, and does it so well, that everything else is now compared to it. The BF-2 Flanger is a classic, and for good reason. It sounds awesome. There is a wide range of sounds, easily dialed in, going from a full-on psychedelic wobble, to a 747-soaring overhead, to a soft chorus-like blend. If you want to flange, there are plenty of options, but not a better one.

xavierl

Very good flanger but used with a bass...

...it sometimes makes it difficult to cut through the mix, especially in low frequencies. On a Warwick Corvette $$ it offers a colourful wave. On a P-Bass fretless, the effect gets muddy and sometimes inaudible. I particularly like putting the rate between 3 and 5 o'clock for a psyche/disco, fat, sound.

jimmarchi1

[deleted]

xavierl

Thanks for the very informative comment jimmarchi1. You're right about the BF2 being made for guitars (explaining the muddiness of the low frequencies). You just gave me some ideas for this gear.

jimmarchi1

I try... without a schematic I can't be 100% sure my comments are accurate, I am just taking a qild guess. I am pretty sure Bos made a bass version of the BF2 for a while in the 80s and 90s that would be worth hunting down on ebay and reverb if you like the sound of your guitar model. Also, the very affordable 90s DOD fx72B stereo flanger is a VERY similar design to the BF2 but passes a lot more low end stock if I recall (my buddy had one in the 90s, he was mr DOD back then). If I run into a boss bass flanger on my gear travels I will let you know. Heck, if I find one in person I will buy it for you and trade you for your BF2. I can't find mine and cannot recall if I sold it or lost it or what... I like my Ibane FL9 a lot, but it would be fun to have both 80s flangers since they are hella different.

jimmarchi1

the 72b by DOD might have been a specifically bass flanger and not stereo. It might be the FX72A that was for guitar. I wanna say my buddy had the B even though whe was a guitarist. At any rate, the 90s DOD modulation effects are highly underrated and can still be had for spit. The phaser is awesome too, similar design to a small stone but the voicing is really unique and pleasing. The thing with DOD modulation pedals is that the 90s models have very delicate switches as well as non-buffered, non-mechanicalbypass so they are tone eaters that sometimes will not turn on and off as they should. without modding sometimes the best bet is to use them with a true bypass looper. Even something simple from looperman.

emuemulator2

Generic purple flanger that does what it says it does/

Society when the flanger flanges:

andrew_moran

Great

Dont try and tell me Boss pedals are rubbish its only boutique marketing that says it. This pedal is a classic you have to have one even if you only use it for the jet flange sound on the ending of 1 song.

jimmarchi1

love the BF-2.... I think boss only gets a bad wrap because of tis mediocre buffering and of course the ubiquitous DS-1 which is really not abd for the price one pays for it, but hey....

I've never heard anyone trash boss' modulating effects.... the CE-2 is the benchmark mono chorus for instance.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Jason Newsted uses Boss BF-2 Flanger

Jason Newsted

Bassist

Metallica

...
Verified via YouTube

At 5:11 in this video, when talking about his pedals, Jason Newsted mentions his "original flanger," bought "way back in the day," which he describes as just a "regular old purple flanger."

See how Graham Coxon uses Boss BF-2 Flanger

Graham Coxon

Guitarist

Blur

...
Verified via Photo

As seen in this Guitar Geek rig diagram, Coxon used a Boss BF-2 in 1993.

See how Chris Shiflett uses Boss BF-2 Flanger

Chris Shiflett

Guitarist

Foo Fighters

...
Verified via Photo

In this pic there is clearly a Boss BF2 visible

See how Pat Smear uses Boss BF-2 Flanger

Pat Smear

Guitarist

Nirvana

...
Verified via Photo

In this screenshot of the Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1996, we can see the pedalboard of Pat, it is composed of a ProCo Rat 2 (see one of my previous submission), a Arion Stage Tuner (we can clearly see that it’s the Arion Stage Tuner), a Boss BF-2 (sure it’s the Boss BF-2 because of the shape and color of the pedal but also of the live at Concert Hall 1996, where during the noise part of Exhausted we can ear a Flange effect, and the version is the Japanese one with the black knobs), and a Digitech Whammy II (sure it’s a Whammy II because of the shape, footswitch, and color of the pedal).

See how Omar Rodríguez-López uses Boss BF-2 Flanger

Omar Rodríguez-López

Guitarist, Bassist

At the Drive-In

...
Verified via YouTube

In the video "The Mars Volta - At The Drive In - Omar Rodriguez Lopez - Gear Rundown - Guitars, Amps, Pedals" by Future Sound Music on YouTube, Omar Rodríguez-López is shown using the Boss BF-2 Flanger around the 3:01 mark.

See how Ray Toro uses Boss BF-2 Flanger

Ray Toro

Singer, Guitarist

My Chemical Romance

...
Verified via TIDAL Browse - High Fidelity Music Streaming

Ray Toro most notably used the Boss BF-2 Flanger in the Intro and Verse parts for "The Ghost of You". Ray Toro can be seen using this pedal live on the "The Ghost of You" AOL Sessions video as well. Additonally, the BF-2 can also be heard in songs throughout the album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge -- such as the chorus/verse link in "Helena", the intro verse in "The Jetset Life Is Gonna Kill You", before the second chorus of "It's Not a Fashion Statement, It's a Deathwish", and the pre-chorus & clean bridge of "I Never Told You What I Do for a Living".

The BF-2 can also be heard on a recorded live cover of Morrisey's "Jack the Ripper" -- which is featured on the My Chemical Romance EP, Like Phantoms Forever.

See how Gustavo Cerati uses Boss BF-2 Flanger

Gustavo Cerati

Singer, Guitarist

Soda Stereo

...
Verified via Photo

El Boss BF-2 formó parte del set de Gustavo en Soda durante 1986 - 1987. No era un efecto que utilizaba muy seguido en los shows, pero sí se puede distinguirlo en "Afrodisiacos", más específicamente en la introducción que solían hacer en esos años. (escuchar la versión del show en Obras 1986)

See how Brendon Urie uses Boss BF-2 Flanger

Brendon Urie

Singer, Guitarist

Panic! at the Disco

...
Verified via YouTube

In a Guitar Center Music session hosted by Vox Amps on YouTube, Brendon Urie is seen using the Boss BF-2 Flanger in his setup.

See how Brad Delson uses Boss BF-2 Flanger

Brad Delson

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Linkin Park

...
Verified via Guitar Chalk

According to this site he uses analog flanger by Boss.

See how Simon Gallup uses Boss BF-2 Flanger

Simon Gallup

Bassist

The Cure

...
Verified via Photo

In this interview from the October 2004 issue of Bass Player magazine, Simon says that he uses the BF-2 in his live rig.

See how Rory Gallagher uses Boss BF-2 Flanger

Rory Gallagher

Guitarist, Singer

Taste

...
Verified via Photo

Pictured on Gallagher's official website's "Effects / Pedals" page and mentioned in an interview in an August 1991 Guitar for the Practicing Musician interview with Vivian Campbell.

VIVIAN: You get a tremendous tone for a single-coil Strat. Are you using any kind of distortion device between the guitar and the amp?

RORY: I've got a Boss Graphic EQ.

VIVIAN: Is that a little 6 band?

RORY: Yeah, one of the real old green ones. And I've got a DOD analog. They're back on the amps, and that's set at the minimum setting, just for a little bit of slap-back. I've got a Dyna-comp, which is on all the time, to drive the songs from the leads. It's not for effect. It's a form of compression and I have it at a setting where the compression's really low on it. I usually use a Tube Screamer, which broke down on me. Last night I was using a Boss overdrive. I use them for some solos, not all solos. I was against using them for years. If I was doing a solo, I had to look at the monitor guy to turn it up and all this. So I keep close to the natural sound. I have a brown Boss octave thing.

VIVIAN: I heard that last night. You sounded like Prince! He uses that a lot.

RORY: I've got a Boss flanger, as opposed to a chorus, which I use sparingly, I use that only in “Shadow Play” and “Moon Child,” and one other song. That's my talk on technology. I have a Vox wah-wah which I did use for one or two gigs, but purely to click it on for slide solos. I used it in the studio, for some solos as well. I don't use it on-stage, because even as it is, I try to keep it simple, within reason.

See how John Squire uses Boss BF-2 Flanger

John Squire

Guitarist

Oasis

...
Verified via Pdmcauley

Another pedal in the Boss range. The BF-2 Flanger. This purple pedal is in my view the best flanger available. It was a veteran pedal in Squire's set up and served him well in the sound quality department. This pedal is commonly known for being able to emulate a jet engine type of sound.

Squire would use this pedal mostly for intense sweeping sounds over chords during various sections of tunes live.E.g End of She bangs the drums, "You're eyes are gazing back from...." middle 8 bit in Sally Cinnamon, Made of Stone chorus, spacey sounds during the instrumental of Resurrection etc.If set up for the jet engine sound, the pedal can really give a sound like you are about to take off at 1000mph!! It's certainly great fun to strum through a chord and hear the this effect full on. It can also be set up for more subtle chorus type sounds and wierd wobbly sounds, although Squire seemed to opt mainly for the sweeping swooshy sounds.

These pedals have risen in price quite recently and are probably about £80-£90 brand new. It may sound quite a lot but boss pedals are fantastic quality and well worth the money. It is a very versatile pedal and is certainly worth putting in the time to experiment with it. This will make the money spent a bit more justifiable. Personally, I feel the jet sound alone is worth the money!!! Again, from the Tokyo picture it may seem impossible to tell it's a flanger but it's the only boss pedal that has an extra trim around the control panel which can be seen from the pic if you get eagle-eyed. This pedal can also be seen from the blackpool pic at the end of Squire's pedal chain.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Boss BF-2 Flanger, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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