The Boss RT-2 is a Boss chorus pedal, currently around $216.26. Close alternatives include the Source Audio Vertigo and the Tech 21 RotoChoir. It pairs well with the Dumble Steel String Singer and the Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head.
Boss RT-2
Boss · pedal
The Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble is a compact pedal delivering authentic rotary speaker emulation with three distinct effect voicings. Features concentric dual knobs controlling Slow and Fast rotation speeds and Level and Drive adjustment, with three crown switches selecting bass/treble horn balance, ramp time between speeds, and mode voicing. Mode 1 models a vintage rotary speaker with preamp tones, Mode 2 adds natural spatial ambience, and Mode 3 delivers enhanced modulation with expanded drive range. Stereo inputs and outputs plus TRS external speed jack. Reviewed by Guitar World, Premier Guitar, and Sound on Sound.
What stands out
“Use-case wise it suits organ players, guitarists, and keyboard players wanting authentic rotary speaker character”
— from the community notes
“stereo inputs and outputs plus trs external speed jack”
— from the listing
“Strengths: Three mode voicings cover vintage rotary preamp tone, spatially enhanced ambience, and high-drive rotary character in one compact pedal”
— from the reviews
“Mode 1 models a vintage rotary speaker with preamp tones, Mode 2 adds natural spatial ambience, and Mode 3 delivers enhanced modulation with expanded drive range”
— from the listing
“Reviewed by Guitar World, Premier Guitar, and Sound on Sound”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“the rt-2 delivers convincing rotary speaker emulation from warm vintage leslie-style shimmer to spatially enhanced modern rotary”
— from the community notes
- rotary
- trs
- vintage
- modern
- drive
- modulation
- treble
Good for
- Silent Recording
- Silent Stage
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Amps that pair well with the Boss RT-2
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
23% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
Dumble Steel String Singer's smooth balances out the bright tone
Comes later in the signal chain
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
22% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
Where this leans bright, Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head answers back warm
Comes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W
Hiwatt
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W's warm balances out the bright tone
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans bright, Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp answers back warm
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans bright, Orange Terror Bass answers back warm
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Orange Little Bass Thing's warm balances out the bright tone
Gibson GA-50
Gibson
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gibson GA-50 leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Victory Amplifiers V50 The Earl
amplifier
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Victory Amplifiers V50 The Earl after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Pedals that stack with the Boss RT-2
Greer Mizuki blue
Greer
16% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
Greer Mizuki blue's warm balances out the bright tone
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Catalinbread SFT
Catalinbread
16% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
Run Catalinbread SFT after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Dunlop Echoplex All-Analog Dry Path Delay
Dunlop
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Dunlop Echoplex All-Analog Dry Path Delay after Boss RT-2 in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Boss RT-2 — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
T-Rex Junior Roomate
T Rex
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
T-Rex Junior Roomate's warm voice goes after Boss RT-2 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Boss RT-2's own modulated character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Where this leans bright, SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive answers back smooth
Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo
Dunlop
tonal matchDunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo's warm balances out the bright tone
Black Rabbit Little Earthquakes
Black Rabbit
tonal matchBlack Rabbit Little Earthquakes's warm balances out the bright tone
NuX 6ixty5ive Overdrive Effektpedal
Nux
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Run NuX 6ixty5ive Overdrive Effektpedal after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Cheaper alternatives
JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Rotary Chorus
JHS Pedals
52% similarityShared character: modulation
TC Electronic Vibraclone Rotary
TC Electronic
50% similarityShared character: modulation
Catalinbread Pareidolia
Catalinbread
47% similarityShared character: modulation
Warm Audio WA-C1 Chorus and Vibrato
Warm Audio
47% similarityShared character: stereo, modulation, vintage charm
CMATMods Tremoglo
Cmatmods
43% similarityShared character: modulation, vintage charm
Catalinbread StarCrash Valcoder
Catalinbread
41% similarityShared character: signal, modulation, vintage charm
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Source Audio Vertigo
Source Audio
58% similarityShared character: modulation, vintage charm, full
Tech 21 RotoChoir
Tech 21
55% similarityShared character: modulation
Dunlop JD-4S Rotovibe
pedal
55% similarityShared character: live performances
Electro-Harmonix Lester G
Electro-Harmonix
54% similarityShared character: stereo, full
Fender The Pinwheel Rotary Speaker
Fender
53% similarityShared character: stereo
Alexander Dynaflanger Model 213
Alexander Pedals
46% similarityShared character: live performances, stereo, modulation
See all alternatives to the Boss RT-2 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Boss RT-2?+
The closest matches in character are the Source Audio Vertigo, the Tech 21 RotoChoir, the Dunlop JD-4S Rotovibe. Budget picks: JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Rotary Chorus, TC Electronic Vibraclone Rotary, Catalinbread Pareidolia. Boutique upgrades: Strymon Lex V2, ThorpyFX Pulse Doppler.
What pairs well with the Boss RT-2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Dumble Steel String Singer, Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head, Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W — Dumble Steel String Singer's smooth balances out the bright tone.
How much does the Boss RT-2 cost?+
Around $216.26 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).