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Boss XT-2 Xtortion

$155.24 Price Tier: Standard

3.5 (18)

7 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Boss XT-2

6 community setups

9 wishlisted

42 saved

Page last updated Jul 04, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated July 4, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (13)

$155.24 8 available Used

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Average Price: $155

Standard/Professional

$80

$181+

Price Tier

In the Distortion Effects Pedals category, Boss XT-2 Xtortion is priced in the upper end of the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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Introducing the Boss XT-2 Xtortion, a versatile distortion effects pedal that allows you to experiment with a range of sounds. It offers more than your traditional overdrive and distortion effects, providing you with the ability to explore from bluesy drives to crunchy distortions and even industrial screeches. With its unique Contour and Punch controls, this pedal is perfect for those looking to add a new dimension to their metal, doom, or post-rock creations.

Key Features:

Traditional knobs for level and distortion
Unique Contour and Punch controls for added tonal variety
Enables a broad spectrum of effects from bluesy drive to industrial screech
Ideal for metal, doom, or post-rock genres

Product specs

Brand	Boss
Model	XT-2 Xtortion (Silver Label)
Finish	Red
Year	1996 - 1998
Made In	Taiwan
Categories	Distortion Pedals, Filter and Wah Pedals

FAQs

What type of distortion does the Boss XT-2 Xtortion pedal provide?: The Boss XT-2 Xtortion pedal delivers a unique, aggressive distortion with a strong midrange presence, designed to cut through dense band mixes, making it ideal for hard rock and metal genres.
Can the Boss XT-2 Xtortion pedal be powered with a standard 9V power supply?: Yes, the Boss XT-2 Xtortion pedal can be powered using a standard 9V DC power supply or a 9V battery, offering flexibility for different performance settings.
How does the Boss XT-2 Xtortion compare to other Boss distortion pedals?: The Boss XT-2 Xtortion is distinct for its pronounced midrange and cutting edge, differing from other Boss pedals like the DS-1, which offers a more classic distortion sound with a wider frequency range.
Is the Boss XT-2 Xtortion pedal suitable for use with bass guitars?: While primarily designed for electric guitars, the Boss XT-2 Xtortion can be used with bass guitars, though it may result in a more aggressive tone with a focus on midrange frequencies.

Videos

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Pepe Music

BOSS XT-2 Xtortion Demo

Pepe Music

Remember The 90s: Boss XT-2 Xtortion

Riffs, Beards & Gear

Boss XT-2 Xtortion Distortion

Pedal of the Day

Boss Distortion shootout - Mega Distortion (MD-2), Power Driver (PW-2), Xtortion (XT-2)

We As A Company

The late 90s in a Pedal - Boss Xtortion XT-2

TheSuperFunAwesomeHappyTimePedalShow

Boss XT-2 Xtortion

Wall of Sound

Boss XT-2 Xtortion Pedal | Playthrough Demo

ChoptonesOfficial

Pedal Party Ep #1: Boss XT 2 Xtortion

Magnetic Audio

Reviews

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PROS

Unique distortion capabilities, not just a typical metal noisemaker
Versatile sound range, from 90s distortion to cocked wah effects
Encourages experimentation and finding your own sound
Can be blended with other dirt sources for complex tones
Tough and reliable BOSS compact series build quality
Suitable for both guitar and bass applications

CONS

EQ knobs (punch and contour) are confusing and frustrating for some
Requires patience and experimentation to dial in preferred sounds
Not ideal for those looking to reproduce established sounds
Some may find the pedal's effects too niche or specific
Can produce undesirable "bees" sound if not adjusted correctly

Owner Insights

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

Features and functionality

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The XT-2 has a unique EQ with "punch" as a pre-distortion mid boost and "contour" as a post-distortion mid scoop.
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The gain knob has a wide range, allowing for clean tones with unconventional EQ settings.
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The XT-2 can achieve a "Blackface overdrive" sound by setting the volume to max, contour to 11 o'clock, and others to zero, offering a scooped EQ with bass and treble boost.
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The controls of the XT-2 are noted to become overly extreme past the 12:00 position, suggesting a sweet spot for dialing in usable tones.
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Use cases and applications

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The pedal is favored for industrial rock tones, akin to Nine Inch Nails, and can create a "cocked wah" effect.
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Some users find it more suitable as a studio tool rather than for live pedalboard integration due to its unique EQ characteristics.
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Found to be effective in industrial and trash metal punk genres, especially when seeking aggressive distortion textures.
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The XT-2 has been used on bass to achieve unique distortion sounds, offering a different tonal character than when used with a guitar.
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User experience

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Users report excessive treble with no direct way to tame it, unlike pedals with a dedicated treble control.
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Owners note the pedal requires experimentation to achieve satisfactory tones, and it may not integrate well with all guitars and amps.
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Owners have reported nostalgia-driven purchases due to its unique sound and distinct mid-90s aesthetic, despite initial dissatisfaction with its performance.
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Owners mention the pedal's tight bass response is suitable for dynamic palm muting, though the overall tone remains harsh.
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Mods and upgrades

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A specific mod involves altering the contour control to address excessive treble and spiky EQ issues.
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Some users have explored modifying the contour and punch knobs with an expression jack for greater control over mid frequencies.
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Comparisons

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Described as a cross between a Metal Zone and a half-open wah, the XT-2's distortion is considered very digital and not suitable for early '90s alternative rock tones.
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The XT-2 is considered less rare than the SP-1 and SG-1, with around 20,000 units produced, making it more accessible to collectors.
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3.5 out of 5

Based on 7 Reviews and 18 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

gorillamac

706

over 3 years ago

Solid, overlooked, and misunderstood pedal

I've been using this for a bit now, and the more I use it the more I love it. It's definitely different, but that's certainly not a bad thing. I think they might get a bit of a bad rap from people misunderstanding the controls, and they certainly aren't the most intuitively named, but if you do a bit of reading on it you can start to dial it in. This works great as a standalone 90s-style distortion, paired with other dirt sources to add a bit of bite, and even to create some wacky effects such as a cocked wah. Very cool pedal that can be used in many applications.

QUICK EDIT: I've seen some going on Reverb for stupid prices like $350 Canadian or higher. Don't pay that. If you look for a better deal, you can find it. Don't give price gouging dorks your money.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Death metal Old school death metal canadian death metal

diepacheco

871

over 10 years ago

Something different.

I hate to say it but this is one of those "either love it or hate it pedal". It's definitely not for everyone.

Personally, I love this pedal, the four knobs allow you to create different distortion sounds from regular distortion, fuzz-like distortion, grunge e. I must say that the contour and punch knob take time and experimentation to find the right sound for you. Also the controls seem to be really sensitive to one another because one turn can make a difference on the overall sound.

I will use the pedal for rhythm guitars and heavy riffs, I think that's what it does best. I'm sure you can get good sounds for soloing but I wouldn't say that's its strength. Overall it's a good and flexible pedal.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Drummer

Genres:

Rock Pop Orchestra

julianwolf2

13060

over 12 years ago

I bought this pedal to extend my collection of BOSS pedals

ivan_heenan

142

almost 7 years ago

Reasonable for the price

Capable of decent Distortion sounds and also capable of sounding like Bees. I'd recommend finding one at a pawnshop or on the cheap. It's fun to use but not enough to blow money on.

kk_lawrence

292

over 9 years ago

Not a good Distortion!

I got this one in a package with a guitar, so i was surprised what kind of pedal it was and how it sounds. But then i heard it and was disappointed at first, but i use it now only with no distortion as a preamp compressor kinda thing or with too much gain as a fun pedal.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Alternative rock Indie rock Metal