Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal

^# 48

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$134.00 to $178.99 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (8)

4 Reviews

Find out who is using Boss PW-3

1 community setup

4 wishlisted

23 saved

Page last updated Jul 04, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated July 4, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

3.5 (7)

$178.99 $178.79 $0.20

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$178.99

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4.2 (42)

$178.79 New

$143.42 Used (Good)

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4.0 (8)

$145.40 21 available New

$57.93 17 available Used

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4.0 (1)

$178.99

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$178.99

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4.5 (43)

$134.00

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£122.50

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Average Price: $154

Standard/Professional

$75

$251+

Price Tier

In the Wah Pedals category, Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

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Introducing the Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal, a compact and versatile addition to your musical arsenal. This all-analog gear is designed with an emphasis on practicality without compromising on the rich, full wah tones that musicians seek. Its unique Rich mode is a groundbreaking innovation by BOSS, retaining the low-end definition and fullness often lost with other typical wah circuits.

For those who prefer a more traditional tone, the rear-panel switch to Vintage mode will bring back that classic wah vibe. Unlike other pedals that sacrifice functionality when downsized, the Boss PW-3 provides the perfect blend of practicality and playability. Its die-cast aluminum chassis is solid underfoot, and the long, smooth pedal action is highly responsive, offering a great feel.

One common issue with smaller pedals is visibility - it can be hard to see whether the effect is on or off. The Boss PW-3 resolves this with status LEDs on each side of the pedal, making it easier to ascertain when the wah is activated.

Key Features:

Two switchable voicings for a modern or vintage sound
Compact design that is pedalboard friendly
Die-cast aluminum chassis for durability
Status LED on each side for visibility
Long, smooth pedal action for great responsiveness
Rich mode that retains low-end fullness
Legendary BOSS reliability
Low-noise design

Owner's manual

Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal User Manual

Product specs

Available since	December 2015
Wah Wah Pedal	Yes
Volume Pedal	No
Dynamic Wah	No
Distortion	No
True Bypass	No

FAQs

Does the Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal have true bypass?: No, the Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal does not feature true bypass. It uses a buffered bypass to help maintain signal integrity, especially when using long cable runs.
What are the tonal features of the Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal?: The Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal offers two distinct voicings: a rich, vintage sound and a modern, full-range sound, allowing for versatile tonal options that cater to different musical styles.
Is the Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal suitable for live performances?: Yes, the Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal is designed for live performance, featuring a compact and robust design that fits well on pedalboards, making it convenient for gigging musicians.
How does the Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal compare to other wah pedals?: The Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal is compact and offers dual voicings, providing both vintage and modern sounds, which sets it apart from traditional wah pedals that typically offer a single tonal option.

Videos

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Rob Chapman

Boss PW3 Mini Wah & Boss RC1 Looper

Rob Chapman

BOSS PW-3 Pedal Wah featuring Joe Robinson

BOSSchannel

BOSS PW-3 Wah Pedal Review by Sweetwater

Sweetwater

Guitar Paradiso - Boss CP-1X Compressor & PW-3 Wah Pedal

Andertons Music Co

Boss PW3 Wah Pedal | Review | Guitar Interactive Magazine

Guitar Interactive Magazine

Wah Shootout!! Cry Baby vs Boss PW3 (Clean/Dirty)

Cryptic Mask Guitar

Boss PW-3 Compact Dual Wah Pedal Demo Review

Sound Affects

Boss PW-3 Compact Wah Pedal Demo at gak

GAK

Stompbox Saturday No.71 : BOSS PW-3 (Wah Pedal Demo & Review)

Sean Pierce Johnson

Call the Wah-mbulance!: Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal

JaredGunstonTV

Dunlop Crybaby Gcb-95 vs. Boss Pw-3 comparison

Henning Curtis Walter

Reviews

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PROS

Built like a tank, highly durable
Two tonal modes (Rich and Vintage) enhance versatility
Smaller, compact size fits well on pedal boards
LED indicators provide clear operational status
Lower floor noise compared to other wah pedals
Retains low ends well, avoiding harsh tones
True bypass with no noise when switched off
Easy to modify for lighter switch operation
Reasonably priced compared to competitors
Works well with both clean and dirty sounds

CONS

Requires significant force to activate switch
Shorter pedal travel can take time to adjust to
Some users experience a loss of treble in off position
Mid-range can sound harsh with high gain settings
Switching between modes can be inconvenient
On/off state does not have memory function
Some find the pedal too stiff to operate comfortably
Not as visually appealing as vintage models
Rich mode preferred over Vintage by some for being too soft
Noisy without true bypass, though fixable with manual adjustments

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Boss PW-3 Wah Pedal.

Features and functionality

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The Boss PW-3 offers a switch for 'Rich' and 'Vintage' tones, aiming to balance treble and bass for both clean and high-gain sounds.
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The Boss PW-3 contains a hidden internal range selector with multiple positions, allowing customization of the wah sweep. Position 7 provides the widest sweep range.
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User experience

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Some users find the sweep of the Boss PW-3 too quick, impacting the playability by making it feel either fully on or off.
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Comparisons

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Unlike the CryBaby 535Q, the Boss PW-3 is noted to perform well with high-gain settings, making it suitable for genres like hard rock.
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The PW-3 is perceived as less extreme in sweep compared to the Dunlop 535Q, but adjusting the internal selector can increase its intensity.
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Use cases and applications

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The Boss PW-3 is favored by players of clean jazz, blues, and rock, providing versatility in handling both mild overdrive and heavy distortion.
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The Boss PW-3 is appreciated for its compact, pedalboard-friendly design, offering a lighter alternative to bulkier options like some Dunlop models.
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Mods and upgrades

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A user modified the PW-3 by drilling a hole to access the internal range selector, enhancing the pedal’s usability and performance.
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 4 Reviews and 8 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

kalam_mahardhika

223

over 2 years ago

favorite wah

This is my favorite wah that I've used so far. The Rich mode is perfect for cocked wah tones, because of how it retains your low ends, your tone never gets too ice-pick harsh. The floor noise is relatively low for a wah, and the treadle is extremely sensitive and easy to sweep. One issue is how much force you need to turn the unit on and off but if you remove the two rubber parts below the treadle it easily resolves the issue.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Rich mode, always on, using a humbucker equipped guitar

Roles:

Guitarist Composer

Genres:

Rock Funk / Soul Jazz

dannfeltrin

1871

over 9 years ago

Good sound, difficult to turn on/off

I tried this pedal for a couple of days, and returned it. The switch was always on the RICH mode, because I felt the Vintage mode too soft and it has a skinny sound. The Rich mode was pretty cool and sound amazing, great for single-coil and humbucker, using for both clean and dirty sounds! The problem to me was the switch (On/Off). If you're playing sitting down, you won't be able to turn it on or off, you need to be standing up and put your whole body weight to press it and switch it. Weird, because all the wah pedals I had before were always easy to turn it on/off (Cry Baby Classic, Morley Power Wah and Cry Baby Wylde Wah). If you like to keep the wah ON the whole time, you'll probably like it.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Drummer

Genres:

Rock Pop Metal

wasstoned

149

about 8 years ago

Space saver

Love this pedal, two different WAH settings, the only downside is that it powers on active which is sometimes a pain, I wish BOSS had an on/off state memory.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist

Genres:

Rock Pop Blues