It aint made in Japan and it aint vintage but this Boss TR-2 stomp box is cheap. Standard 3 pot set-up with controls for rate, wave and depth this effects pedal is really easy to use, and being Boss will probably outlast the cockroaches in the unlikely event of a nuclear attack. It does dampen output a bit so some people recommend modding this pedal to remove the C4 capacitor. But if tremolo is your ‘thang’ then you can’t go to far wrong with the Boss Tremolo TR-2.

The Boss Tremolo TR-2 stomp box is still being manufactured by Boss. Their website has this to say about the TR-2 effector:

The BOSS TR-2 Tremolo is designed to provide guitarists with classic tremolo effects in an easy-to-use compact pedal. Dedicated “Wave,” “Rate,” and “Depth” knobs provide a multitude of effect possibilities.

• Provides guitarists with high-quality vintage tremolo effects in an easy-to-use compact pedal
• Dedicated “Wave,” “Rate” and “Depth” knobs allow for precise effect tailoring
• “Rate” control allows for higher speed adjustment than BOSS’ classic PN-2
• “Wave” control alters LFO waveform from triangle to square
• “Depth” control determines the strength of the effect

The Tremolo pictured is up for auction on Yahoo auction Japan. With 13 hours to go, the asking price is a mere 3000 yen. Factor in about $20 for shipping from Japan and that is an excellent price for a second hand effector like this. You can follow the auction here: Boss TR-2 Tremolo Effects Pedal auction.

If you liked the Boss CS-1 Compression Sustainer we just blogged about then you are really going to love this beauty: an original Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble stop box in cracking nick. There is another one of these up for auction at ebay currently, if you are interested: I don’t know the seller, but he has great feedback and seems reliable.

Guitargeek have this to say about the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble:

The Holy Grail of all chorus pedals! Boss issued the CE-1 back in the late 70s and early 80s and nobody has come close to matching its captivating chorus sound since. It is a sexy grey box of sculpted metal with a choice of either chorus or true pitch shifting vibrato. Its’ warm analog circuitry really has to be heard to be appreciated. The CE-1’s chorus has a depth of character that truly fuses with your guitar sound instead off simply sitting on top of it like the annoying metallic shimmer of most modern units. As for the Vibrato section, it is absolutely stunning in capturing the wobbly magic of the Magnatone vibratos of the late 50s and early 60s. To top off the praise, the built-in power supply and lengthy AC cord are certainly a welcome addition in our current world of annoying wall warts.

This Boss CE-1 is up for auction at Yahoo auctions Japan. You can check out the auction here: Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble auction. The current price is 49,500 yen (not cheap) and the auction has another 12 hours to run

Ah, if only the missus hadn’t spend all our money on tickets to England to see Led Zeppelin reunited again!

Black label, silver screw and made in Japan. Everything you look for when you look for Boss effects pedals – and this Boss CS-1 Compression Sustainer pedal has all that and it comes with the original box and pedal manual (in Japanese of course) and it has barely a scratch on it. Wow, what a great pedal!

Opinions vary greatly on the Boss CS-1 Compression Sustainer: but if you read between the lines you can quickly see the guitarists who have been using an original Japanese model and those who have been forced at gunpoint to use a Taiwan model. Comparing the two is almost the same as comparing the acting abilities of Samuel L. Jackson with those of George W. Bush – they just aren’t even in the same ball park.

This pedal rocks for those on fairly distorted lead channels looking for a boost in their solos.

It is, like most of the pedals we feature here up for auction at Yahoo! Japan: Boss CS-1 Compression Sustainer auction. As I write there are 12 hours left on the auction, and the current price is 15,800 yen. Not bad for a CS-1 in this condition.

Never seen one of these before? I haven’t either…

I know National put out a fuzz wah a long time ago but this is the first time I have seen a volume pedal from National. This one looks like it has been kicking around for about 30 years. Still working fine according to the seller on Yahoo Auctions. Very very rare.

You can check out the auction here: National Volume Pedal. 8 hours to go and the asking price is 45,000 yen. Not cheap for a volume pedal – but for something as rare and vintage as this Japanese effects pedal curiosity well worth it.

This is a beautiful Vintage DOD Overdrive Preamp 250:

Only 10 hours left on the auction, and the price is currently at 80,000 yen – and that will only go up! For its’ age this DOD 250 is in excellent condition, and comes with the original warranty card, as well as a box which has been well taped up.

The DOD Overdrive Preamp 250 is one of the finest vintage pedals in its class and they are pretty hard to find. Very warm sound like Eric Clapton at the height of his career with Cream – this pedal rocks!

You can check out the Vintage DOD Overdrive Preamp 250 auction at Yahoo Auctions Japan.