BOSS is a name synonymous with tone innovation. Think of the Katana line’s cutting-edge amp technology or a wireless wonder like WAZA-Air. Then, of course, there are legendary pedals like the SD-1, DM-2, CE-2, and others. With the release of the EURUS GS-1, BOSS is pursuing its vision in a new realm: electric guitar. To that end, Yoshi Ikegami shares the goals and philosophy behind the company’s first foray into guitar manufacturing.
In Search of the Magic Combination
“Guitarists are forever chasing their signature tone,” Ikegami explains. In the background, Eastern-tinged licks dance over a synth bed—all created on the EURUS. He describes the quest for the “magical combination that fuels fresh inspiration and makes them stand out from the crowd.”
"The EURUS electronic guitar concept from BOSS presents a bold new path for this creative journey." -Yoshi Ikegami
The EURUS achieves that goal and more. It does so by combining top-of-the-line features with advanced synthesis techniques. Furthermore, its 24-fret neck, compound radius rosewood fingerboard, and double-cutaway body scream premium guitar. Under the hood, the EURUS contains a polyphonic BOSS synth engine. This gives players a palette of analog-flavored synth tones.
A New Path
To Ikegami, the guitar “presents a bold new path for this creative journey.” He sees the EURUS “unlocking infinite sonic possibilities for adventurous modern players.”
Indeed, playability is at the forefront for BOSS. “We strived to create a guitar experience that allows every player to explore a world of new musical potential,” Ikegami explains. Moreover, he believes, the GS-1 provides a “natural extension of their normal style and technique.”
He’s understandably proud of the guitar’s exceptional feel. EURUS expands on the innovations of acclaimed guitar synth pedals like the SY-1 and SY-300. He praises the “carefully tuned synth engine” which delivers “smooth touch response.” To the delight of guitar synth fans, the EURUS tracking is exceptional. Ikegami lauds the fact that there are “no latency or triggering issues to disturb your musical flow.”
"We strived to create a guitar experience that allows every player to explore a world of new musical potential."
Pursuing Expression
Equally important, Ikegami stresses the instrument’s options for self-expression. One important part of the EUROS ethos is the ability to create and save settings. “You can customize synth sounds or build new ones from scratch using the GS-1 Editor on your mobile device,” Ikegami says.
A recent BOSS talk featured UK-based guitarist Alex Hutchings giving his impressions of the EURUS. Of course, he also slipped in some of his trademark runs. No stranger to guitar synthesis, in Hutchings’ hands it’s easy to hear the endless range of textural possibilities EURUS offers. The blend of his dexterity and the onboard tones give a clear picture of where the guitar can go.
"Deep, inspiring, and infinitely playable, this instrument is ready to take your musical vision where it’s never gone before."
In the spirit of the mythological Eurus, god of the east wind, comes a fresh take on guitar synthesis. Both groundbreaking and built on the BOSS tradition, Ikegami considers EURUS a creative epiphany for the company. “Deep, inspiring, and infinitely playable, this instrument is ready to take your musical vision where it’s never gone before,” he says. Guitarists will undoubtedly clamor to see where this quest leads.
