The Boss FA-1 FET Amp is a Boss overdrive pedal, currently around $379.99. Close alternatives include the Strymon Riverside and the Behringer PB100 Preamp Booster. It pairs well with the Blackstar St. James 100 and the Friedman Dirty Shirley.
Boss FA-1 FET Amp
Boss · pedal
The Boss FA-1 FET Amp is a vintage 1983 preamp pedal by Roland Japan using FET transistors to simulate the input stage of a valve amplifier. Originally marketed as a rack preamp in compact pedal form, it provides transparent clean boost and subtle preamp coloration without significant gain clipping. Famously used by The Edge of U2 throughout the 1980s as a clean boost to drive his amplifiers and enhance his guitar tone. Adds presence, definition, and harmonic body without adding distortion character. Long discontinued and now a collector piece among vintage tone enthusiasts.
- clean boost
- preamp
- transparent
- subtle
- presence
- fet
- boost
- warmth
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Boss FA-1 FET Amp is commonly used in
- Ambient
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Boss FA-1 FET Amp
Blackstar St. James 100
Blackstar
24% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Blackstar St. James 100 gives it high gain to fill it with
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
23% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Friedman Dirty Shirley gives it high gain to fill it with
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman BE-Mini Head's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Warp 7's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone 2202H's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Hughes & Kettner Coreblade gives it high gain to fill it with
Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-100 Head
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-100 Head brings the high gain it's missing
Pedals that stack with the Boss FA-1 FET Amp
EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas
EarthQuaker Devices
22% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas gives it high gain to fill it with
Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz
Black Arts Toneworks
22% matchBlack Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz's fuzzy fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Walrus Audio Monument CS
Walrus Audio
18% matchRun Walrus Audio Monument CS after Boss FA-1 FET Amp in the signal chain, clear of Boss FA-1 FET Amp's own gain stage
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive
Vox
15% matchVox Valvenergy Silk Drive's own smooth character is the real reason this is worth trying
Eventide Modulated Delay
Eventide
9% matchKeep Boss FA-1 FET Amp's clean boost voice out front: Eventide Modulated Delay goes after Boss FA-1 FET Amp in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb
Alexander Pedals
9% matchKeep Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb after Boss FA-1 FET Amp in the signal chain, clear of Boss FA-1 FET Amp's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchElectro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Boss FA-1 FET Amp delivers it
J. Rockett Blue Note Select
J Rockett
tonal matchJ. Rockett Blue Note Select's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Boss FA-1 FET Amp delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke'
Toneconcepts
73% similarityShared character: amp, boost, presence
Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost)
Benson Amps
73% similarityShared character: amp, boost, studio
Keeley Electronics Katana Boost
Keeley
71% similarityShared character: boost, subtle, warm
67Audio Libido
67audio
70% similarityShared character: amp, boost, stage
Beetronics Nectar Tone Sweetener
Beetronics
70% similarityShared character: presence, guitar, subtle
JHS Clover
JHS Pedals
70% similarityShared character: edge, boost, subtle
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
70% similarityShared character: boost, studio, stage
Behringer PB100 Preamp Booster
Behringer
70% similarityShared character: amp, definition, boost
Dr. Scientist Boostbot
Dr Scientist
95% similaritysimilar tone character
TC Electronic Zeus Drive Overdrive
TC Electronic
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Dophix Michelangelo
Dophix
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Boss FA-1 FET Amp (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Boss FA-1 FET Amp?+
The closest matches in character are the Strymon Riverside, the Behringer PB100 Preamp Booster, the Dr. Scientist Boostbot. Budget picks: ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke', Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost), Keeley Electronics Katana Boost.
What pairs well with the Boss FA-1 FET Amp?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Blackstar St. James 100, Friedman Dirty Shirley, Synergy SL2 Module — The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Blackstar St. James 100 gives it high gain to fill it with.
How much does the Boss FA-1 FET Amp cost?+
Around $379.99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).