The Boss AW-3 is a Boss wah pedal, currently around $115.40. Close alternatives include the Cry Baby Dunlop 105Q CB Bass and the MXR 105Q Crybaby Bass Wah. It pairs well with the Marshall Super Bass and the Friedman BE-Mini Head.
Boss AW-3
Boss · pedal
The Boss AW-3 Dynamic Wah is an envelope filter pedal delivering automatic wah effects triggered by picking attack. Features a Humanizer mode that produces vowel-sound vocal-style filtering in addition to standard dynamic wah. Includes a dedicated Bass input for bass guitar use. Controls include Sens, Range, Manual, and Mode selector. Suited for funk, soul, R&B, and expressive rock and bass playing where touch-sensitive wah character is desired without a foot-rocker pedal.
- wah
- touch
- attack
- vocal
- bass
- envelope filter
- dynamic
- vowel
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Boss AW-3 is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the Boss AW-3
Marshall Super Bass
Marshall
14% matchMarshall Super Bass stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchPut Friedman BE-Mini Head in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchRun mid-forward into Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 for more high gain on top
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchRun mid-forward into Synergy SL2 Module for more high gain on top
Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head
Hiwatt
tonal matchRun mid-forward into Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head for more high gain on top
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Coreblade stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Friedman Phil X Signature
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman Phil X Signature stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
EVH 000
Evh
tonal matchEVH 000 layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Pedals that stack with the Boss AW-3
Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz
Wren And Cuff
20% matchPut Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
19% matchPut Greer Black Mountain in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Red Witch Titan
Red Witch
6% matchRed Witch Titan's ambient voice goes after Boss AW-3 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Boss AW-3's own dynamic character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath
EarthQuaker Devices
6% matchRun EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath after Boss AW-3 in the signal chain, clear of Boss AW-3's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Cusack Music Carolina Reaper Overdrive Fuzz
Cusack Music
tonal matchRun mid-forward into Cusack Music Carolina Reaper Overdrive Fuzz for more high gain on top
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchPut Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Crowther Prunes
Crowther
tonal matchCrowther Prunes layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter
EarthQuaker Devices
tonal matchRun mid-forward into EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter for more fuzzy on top
Cheaper alternatives
Aguilar DB316
Aguilar
64% similarityShared character: vocal, bass
Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander
Electro-Harmonix
63% similarityShared character: attack, bass
Dr. Green Doctors Note Bass Envelope Filter
Dr Green
62% similarityShared character: bass, soul, filter
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar character
Cry Baby Dunlop 105Q CB Bass
Cry Baby
71% similarityShared character: overdrive_pedals, wah, filter
MXR 105Q Crybaby Bass Wah
MXR
71% similarityShared character: wah, vocal, filter
Creation Audio Labs Funkulator
Creation Audio Labs
68% similarityShared character: filter, signal_chain, bass
Dunlop Low Rider
Dunlop
65% similarityShared character: wah, filter, bass
Electro-Harmonix Battalion
Electro-Harmonix
63% similarityShared character: bass
See all alternatives to the Boss AW-3 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Boss AW-3?+
The closest matches in character are the Cry Baby Dunlop 105Q CB Bass, the MXR 105Q Crybaby Bass Wah, the Creation Audio Labs Funkulator. Budget picks: Aguilar DB316, Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander, Dr. Green Doctors Note Bass Envelope Filter. Boutique upgrades: Mission Engineering ReWah Pro Bass, MXR M82 Bass Envelope Filter.
What pairs well with the Boss AW-3?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Super Bass, Friedman BE-Mini Head, Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 — Marshall Super Bass stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here.
How much does the Boss AW-3 cost?+
Around $115.40 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).