The Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay is a Boss reverb pedal, currently around $109. Close alternatives include the Fjord Fuzz Mime and the Strymon blueSky Reverberator. It pairs well with the Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head and the Gibson EH-150.
Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay
Boss · pedal
The Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay is a compact twin-effect pedal combining digital reverb and delay algorithms in a single compact footprint. Manufactured from 1994 to 2002, the RV-3 offers three distinct delay modes, four reverb algorithms (Hall 1, Hall 2, Room, Plate), and four combined delay-plus-reverb modes. Controls include Balance for wet/dry mixing, Feedback/Tone, and Delay/Reverb Time adjustment. The RV-3 delivers crystal-clear, precise digital effects with a characteristic metallic sheen that suits shoegaze, post-punk, and atmospheric lead work. Used by notable artists including Radiohead, The XX, and Korn.
- metallic
- delay
- post punk
- digital
- clear
- natural
- reverb
- bright
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay is commonly used in
- Experimental
- Alternative Rock
- Jazz
- Shoegaze
- Blues
- Post-Punk
Amps that pair well with the Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
25% matchInto a transparent tone, Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head brings the mid-forward it's missing
Gibson EH-150
Gibson
12% matchKeep the RV-3's digital reverb in the EH-150's loop, after its own mellow, breakup-prone jazz tube tone shapes the signal.
Ampeg V-4B 100w Bass Head
Ampeg
9% matchBoss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay's pristine voice goes in Ampeg V-4B 100w Bass Head's effects loop — it's not there to compete with Ampeg V-4B 100w Bass Head's own gritty character
Gibson GA-50
Gibson
9% matchRun Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay in Gibson GA-50's effects loop, clear of Gibson GA-50's own gain stage
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Synergy SL2 Module gives it high gain to fill it with
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Friedman BE-Mini Head brings the high gain it's missing
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head
Egnater
tonal matchEgnater Tweaker 88 Head's low gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Ceriatone 2202H gives it high gain to fill it with
Pedals that stack with the Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay
Beetronics Overhive
Beetronics
27% matchInto a transparent tone, Beetronics Overhive brings the medium gain it's missing
Beetronics Nectar
Beetronics
26% matchBeetronics Nectar's low gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Walrus Audio Monument CS
Walrus Audio
20% matchRun Walrus Audio Monument CS after Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay in the signal chain, clear of Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay's own gain stage
Boss BF-2 Flanger
Boss
20% matchPut Boss BF-2 Flanger after Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay in the signal chain, clear of Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay's own gain stage
Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo
Dunlop
11% matchKeep Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo's modulated voice out front: Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay goes after Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo in the signal chain so its pristine voice doesn't muddy it
Donner Tutti Love
Donner
11% matchRun Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay after Donner Tutti Love in the signal chain, clear of Donner Tutti Love's own gain stage
JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2
Jam Pedals
10% matchKeep Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay after JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2 in the signal chain, clear of JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2's own gain stage
Spaceman Aurora Analog Flanger
Spaceman
10% matchBoss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay's pristine voice goes after Spaceman Aurora Analog Flanger in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Spaceman Aurora Analog Flanger's own analog warmth character
See all 10 pedals that pair with the Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay →
Boutique & premium upgrades
Death By Audio Reverberation Machine
Death By Audio
71% similarityShared character: digital, bright, reverb
Mooer Ocean Machine 2 Devin Townsend Signature
Mooer
70% similarityShared character: digital, delay, reverb
Alexander Pedals SpaceXpander
Alexander Pedals
67% similarityShared character: digital, delay, bright
Keeley Memphis Sun
Keeley
67% similarityShared character: delay, reverb
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dark Star V3
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
66% similarityShared character: delay, reverb
Walrus Audio Mako R1 Reverb MkII
Walrus Audio
66% similarityShared character: delay, reverb, natural
Similar character
Fjord Fuzz Mime
Fjord Fuzz
70% similarityShared character: bright, reverb, clean
Strymon blueSky Reverberator
pedal
67% similarityShared character: digital, reverb, natural
Strymon BigSky
Strymon
66% similarityShared character: reverb, natural
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Deluxe
Catalinbread
65% similarityShared character: natural
See all alternatives to the Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay?+
The closest matches in character are the Fjord Fuzz Mime, the Strymon blueSky Reverberator, the Strymon BigSky. Boutique upgrades: Death By Audio Reverberation Machine, Mooer Ocean Machine 2 Devin Townsend Signature, Alexander Pedals SpaceXpander.
What pairs well with the Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head, Gibson EH-150, Ampeg V-4B 100w Bass Head — Into a transparent tone, Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head brings the mid-forward it's missing.
How much does the Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay cost?+
Around $109 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).