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Boss’ new Nextone Special might be its best Tube Logic amplifier yet
Featuring two independent channels, a brand-new Custom Waza B12W speaker and more.
Image: Boss
The Nextone Special is the latest to join Boss’ series of premium solid-state combos, and it brings along a handful of key feature additions. These include a brand-new Custom Waza B12W speaker and “enhanced reactive drive circuitry” for improved tube feel.
Like the Nextone Artist and Stage that were introduced at NAMM 2019, this amplifier runs on Boss’ Tube Logic technology, which recreates the nuanced sound and feel of tube amplifiers. It also has the four selectable Class AB power amps that emulate 6V6, 6L6, EL84 and EL34 tubes, offering the option of instant re-voicing at the turn of a dial.
The two independent clean and lead channels are outfitted with both American and British EQ options as well as onboard boost, delay, tremolo and reverb effects. There’s even a dedicated power amp control section for more granular tone sculpting. You can save up to three tone presets, which you can recall on-the-fly via the front panel.
Meanwhile, a power control knob lets you run the Nextone Special all the way from 0.5 watts to a maximum of 80 watts – plus, there’s a dedicated Extra Headroom switch that should help it play better with pedals.
The Nextone Special is equipped with a single Custom Waza B12W speaker, which Boss claims to offer “classic Blue Bell” tones. We can assume this to refer to the coveted Vox Blue Speaker that featured in AC30 combos of the 1960s.
On the connectivity front, the Nextone Special has two speaker outputs (eight- and 16-ohm), as well as an XLR line out. These are bolstered by a trio of mic’d cabinet IRs. For direct recording – or tone shaping via the companion Nextone Editor software – there’s also a USB port.
Other connectivity options include a headphone output for silent practice, a footswitch input, a MIDI input port and an effects loop.
Check out the Nextone Special in action below:
The Boss Nextone Special is launching in December 2020 for $899.
Learn more at Boss.info
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