Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay main image

Photo of Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay and more gear in a pedalboard

Photo of Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay and more gear in a pedalboard and guitar

Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay

^# 18

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$219.00 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (27)

3 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

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Find out who is using Boss PS-3

3 community setups

25 wishlisted

76 saved

Page last updated Jul 03, 2026

Pricing and availability

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5.0 (28)

$219.00 3 available Used

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Average Price: $219

Standard/Professional

$100

$301+

Price Tier

In the Harmonizer & Octave Effects Pedals category, Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

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Description

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Introducing the Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay, a compact yet potent addition to your pedalboard. This remarkable pedal houses two distinct capabilities within its durable casing: a versatile pitch shifter and a malleable delay. Boasting seven pitch settings with a 26-step pitch shifting range, it offers an extensive sonic palette for your creative exploration. The PS-3 also provides three delay modes, with the ability to reach up to two full seconds of delay time. Its blend of shift and delay effects is easily customizable, encouraging tweaking and experimentation. Whether you're into garage rock, psychedelia, or grunge, this pedal is designed to cater to a wide array of musical styles.

Key Features:

Seven pitch settings with 26 steps of pitch shifting
Three delay modes with up to two full seconds of delay time
Combined pitch shift and delay functionalities
Encourages user experimentation for unique soundscapes
Ideal for a variety of musical genres from garage to grunge.

Product specs

Brand	Boss
Model	PS-3 Digital Pitch Shifter/Delay (Pink or Dark Gray Label)
Finish	Blue
Year	1994 - 1999
Made In	Taiwan
Categories	Delay Pedals, Octave and Pitch-Shifting Pedals

FAQs

What are the main functions of the Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay pedal?: The Boss PS-3 combines pitch shifting and delay effects, allowing you to create harmonies and layered sounds. It offers multiple modes for pitch shifting, delay, and a combination of both, making it versatile for creative soundscaping.
Can the Boss PS-3 be used with a bass guitar?: Yes, the Boss PS-3 can be used with a bass guitar, providing pitch shifting and delay effects that can enhance your bass lines with harmonies or rhythmic delays.
What type of power supply does the Boss PS-3 require?: The Boss PS-3 requires a 9V DC power supply, such as the Boss PSA adapter, or it can be powered by a 9V battery for portable use.
How does the Boss PS-3 differ from other pitch shifter pedals?: The Boss PS-3 offers a unique combination of pitch shifting and delay effects, with multiple modes to blend both effects seamlessly. Its ability to create complex harmonies and layered soundscapes sets it apart from standard pitch shifters.
Is the Boss PS-3 suitable for live performances?: Yes, the Boss PS-3 is well-suited for live performances, offering reliable pitch shifting and delay effects in a compact pedal form. Its intuitive controls make it easy to adjust settings on the fly during gigs.

Videos

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Brian Lynch

Boss PS3 Pitch Shifter / Delay

Brian Lynch

Boss PS-3 - Pitch Shifter / Delay Demo

GuitarWithGabe

Weirdest BOSS pedal ever? - BOSS PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay | A Journey Through Sound (Stereo)

wazu

Video Manual: Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay

Pedal Experiments

Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter / Delay demo (single and dual / stereo)

Depotgear

Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter Delay

Noise Merchants

Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter / Delay

Filth & Echoes

Reviews

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PROS

Offers lush chorus tones and versatile delay options
Unique pitch-shifting with tuneable specific notes and speed changes
Features like cascading pitch-shifted trails and glitchy sounds for experimental sounds
Dual outputs for expansive sound routing options
Compatible with an expression pedal for enhanced control
Can produce a wide range of effects from conventional to bizarre
Durable and reliable, suitable for touring musicians
Some presets closely replicate famous sounds from songs
Can act as a Swiss Army Knife for bedroom musicians with multiple modes

CONS

Wet sound slightly delayed from the dry sound, which may be bothersome
Changing delay time does not change pitch, limiting some experimental effects

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay.

Features and functionality

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Mode 7 is highlighted as a standout 'shimmer' delay, offering a unique, inspiring sound compared to other modes, making it a favorite among users.
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The expression input allows the PS-3 to function like a Whammy pedal, though the tone of the octave algorithm in this mode is criticized for its quality.
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Mode 11, when paired with a toggle footswitch, allows instant switching between a fifth and octave up, enhancing versatility in live performance.
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Owners suggest that the PS-3 would greatly benefit from having preset capabilities, given its wide range of sounds and modes.
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The pedal's versatility is emphasized by its ability to produce a wide array of effects, from shimmer and stereo detune to digital delay and unique 'weirdo' sounds.
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Use cases and applications

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Mode 8, known as the double detune mode, is praised for creating a thick pseudo-chorus effect by subtly detuning two voices.
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Mode 4, with its spiraling octave effect, is noted for its eerie sound, reminiscent of songs like Pavement's "The Hexx."
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Some users achieve complex layered pitch shifting by combining the PS-3 with a Meris Hedra, finding new creative uses.
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The PS-3 is used in conjunction with a Tri Parallel Mixer for running multiple units in parallel, expanding creative possibilities.
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The PS-3 is noted for emulating glitchy octave-up effects similar to Radiohead's "My Iron Lung," showcasing its versatility in creating experimental sounds.
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A comprehensive guide on Harmony Central offers specific settings for achieving Cave In-style riffs, indicating the pedal's use in replicating niche tones.
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Comparisons

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Users note that the Boss PS-3's unique pitch-shifting sounds can be replicated with multi-effects units like the Zoom MultiStomp or Line 6 Helix, potentially influencing long-term ownership.
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Owners compare the PS-3’s reverse delay and octave shimmer favorably against Whammy, noting cleaner pitch tracking.
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The PS-3 is compared to a Sunn Model T amplifier setup, highlighting how a dirty preamp can enhance the pedal's effects, making them sound less sterile.
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User experience

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The pedal is described as a "quirky beast," with some modes not performing as expected, such as the delay not self-oscillating, which may surprise new users.
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Stereo output capability is highlighted, with users favoring Mode 8 for stereo detune and Mode 10 for its -1/+1 pitch settings.
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 27 Ratings

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moogbadger

3982

over 8 years ago

Crying out for a reissue

If ever there was a BOSS compact pedal crying out for a reissue, it's this beast!

In 1994, as a callow 20 year-old, I blew my student loan on a four track. I had just enough dosh left for one pedal. First I tried the reverb, the RV-3, which was nice. I was about to get that when the bloke in the shop said, 'I think you should try this too.'

I was immediately gobsmacked by it. BOSS had somehow managed to fit a sophisticated rack-mounted 16 bit DSP engine into a guitar pedal. As I skipped through the 11 modes on offer, I realised that it was something of a Swiss Army Knife for the bedroom musician. Three modes gave you standard digital delay, and eight more gave you what were, at the time, groundbreakingly weird pitch and delay effects. It split the signal into two voices, each of which could be shifted independently; so you could do so much stuff with it. Debussy whole-tone cascading fairy ascending motifs; octaver effects; harmonist effects; bass imitations; robotic shimmery electronic noises; reverse delay, useful as a psuedo reverb; chorus-like detunes. And I never even got round to exploring the expression input. If I had, I'd have discovered that it can also be a whammy pedal.

There was so much it could - and still can - do. The only thing I missed was that changing the delay time didn't change the pitch, like on the DD-3. So, you can't do that spiralling feedback thing with it; you'll just get nasty clicks when you change the delay time as the clock gets reset.

But apart from that, this pedal was a masterpiece. It was discontinued in 1999. If there's one pedal I'd like to see BOSS reissue one day, it's this one. I put everything through it! Guitar, drum machine, synth. It made everything sound interesting - almost like a Rainbow Machine before there was a Rainbow Machine. Highly recommended for experimentalists.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Keyboardist

Genres:

Electronic Rock Pop

bradflora

576

over 11 years ago

Sounds like sleeping at the bottom of the ocean

This is a quirky pedal. It has a some nice digital delays and then several pitch shifted delays that get progressively weirder with each preset you try. Weird....and beautiful. Preset 7 is the famous one, a kind of pitch-shifted reverse reverb that sounds incredible when set fully "wet" and detuned one octave. I ran a chord progression out of my Ditto Looper into it...and when I closed my eyes I imagines I was floating just off the bottom of the ocean looking up at the surface. Dark and shifty.

One of the higher presets is either the effect used on the lead part in Radiohead's "My Iron Lung" or dead close to it. Really great pedal.

One quirk, the wet sound is slightly delayed off the dry. This bugs me a bit.

engels

309

almost 9 years ago

Unique and weird

I've got this pedal on my board since the late 90's. It does many interesting things, combining delay and pitch shift. When I go on tour and arrange a minimal pedalboard to saveweight and space it is the only modulation pedal I take. It has a straight ahead digital delay, a digital chorus (detune) and with an expression pedal it can do Whammy too. The most unique mode is # 7 and it combines reverse delay with pitch shift. The resulting shimmering voice is pretty unique and it's the more I use the most. Very versatile and sturdy box, if you like strange noises and weird things - go get it.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Rock Metal