The Boss SDE-3 is a Boss delay pedal, currently around $210.17. Close alternatives include the Roland SDE-3000D and the Strymon TimeLine. It pairs well with the PRS HX 50 Head and the Peavey MAX 150 150W 1x12 Bass Combo.
Boss SDE-3
Boss · pedal
The Boss SDE-3 Dual Digital Delay is a compact pedal capturing the warm digital tones, rich modulation, and smooth low-pass filter character of the original Roland SDE-3000 rack delay in a pedalboard format. Features two parallel delay lines for complex dual-delay textures with independent time and modulation control per line. Delay time up to 800ms per line. Reviewed by Guitar World. Suited to ambient, post-rock, and studio players seeking the specific warmth and modulation of vintage SDE-3000 digital delay.
- vintage
- digital delay
- delay
- ambient
- parallel
- complex
- modulation
- stereo
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Boss SDE-3 is commonly used in
- Post-Rock
- Ambient
- Lo Fi
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Experimental
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Shoegaze
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Boss SDE-3
PRS HX 50 Head
PRS
25% matchRun PRS HX 50 Head after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Peavey MAX 150 150W 1x12 Bass Combo
Peavey
24% matchRun Peavey MAX 150 150W 1x12 Bass Combo after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Boss Waza-Air
Boss
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Boss Waza-Air answers back bright
Egnater VN-412A
Egnater
tonal matchRun Egnater VN-412A after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Laney Richter
Laney
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Laney Richter answers back bright
Soldano 4x12 Straight Classic Cabinet (Purple)
Soldano
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Soldano 4x12 Straight Classic Cabinet (Purple) answers back bright
Winfield Typhoon Combo
Winfield
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Winfield Typhoon Combo answers back bright
PRS DG
PRS
tonal matchRun PRS DG after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Pedals that stack with the Boss SDE-3
EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea
EarthQuaker Devices
23% matchWhere this leans warm, EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea answers back bright
Catalinbread RAH
Catalinbread
21% matchCatalinbread RAH's bright balances out the warm tone
IdiotBox Effects End of Line
Idiotbox Effects
18% matchKeep IdiotBox Effects End of Line after Boss SDE-3 in the signal chain, clear of Boss SDE-3's own gain stage
Walrus Audio Lillian
Walrus Audio
18% matchRun Walrus Audio Lillian after Boss SDE-3 in the signal chain, clear of Boss SDE-3's own gain stage
Boss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer
Boss
tonal matchBoss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition
California Wub
tonal matchCALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition's bright balances out the warm tone
Friedman Plexi-Drive Mini Overdrive
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman Plexi-Drive Mini Overdrive leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Fuzzrocious Baxtabber
Fuzzrocious
tonal matchFuzzrocious Baxtabber leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Cheaper alternatives
Behringer VD400 Vintage Analog Delay
Behringer
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Visual Sound GarageTone Axle Grease
Visual Sound
90% similaritysimilar tone character
JHS 3 Series Delay
JHS Pedals
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Hammertone Delay
Fender
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Boss SDE-3000D
Boss
71% similarityShared character: modulation, faithful_recreation, delay
Universal Audio Starlight Echo Station
Universal Audio
70% similarityShared character: modulation, delay, stereo
Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay
Dunlop
69% similarityShared character: modulation, stereo_output, delay
Meris LVX
Meris
69% similarityShared character: modulation, delay, stereo
JHS Lucky Cat Delay limited edition
JHS Pedals
68% similarityShared character: modulation, delay, digital
Hungry Robot The Aether Modulating Delay
Hungry Robot
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Roland SDE-3000D
Roland
70% similarity“capturing the warm digital tones, rich modulation, and smooth low-pass filter character of the original Roland SDE-3000 rack delay in a pedalboard format”
Strymon TimeLine
Strymon
68% similarityShared character: modulation, delay, stereo
Strymon Dig 2FS Delay
Strymon
68% similarityShared character: modulation, stereo_output, delay
Boss DD-7 Digital Delay
Boss
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Alexander Pedals Quadrant Audio Mirror
Alexander Pedals
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Acoustic Strymon DIG V2 Dual Digital Delay
Acoustic
90% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Boss SDE-3 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Boss SDE-3?+
The closest matches in character are the Roland SDE-3000D, the Strymon TimeLine, the Strymon Dig 2FS Delay. Budget picks: Behringer VD400 Vintage Analog Delay, Visual Sound GarageTone Axle Grease, JHS 3 Series Delay. Boutique upgrades: Boss SDE-3000D, Universal Audio Starlight Echo Station, Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay.
What pairs well with the Boss SDE-3?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: PRS HX 50 Head, Peavey MAX 150 150W 1x12 Bass Combo, Boss Waza-Air — Run PRS HX 50 Head after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright.
How much does the Boss SDE-3 cost?+
Around $210.17 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Behringer VD400 Vintage Analog Delay
- vs Visual Sound GarageTone Axle Grease
- vs Boss DD-7 Digital Delay