BOSS Nextone Stage Guitar Amplifier

Combining classic tube sound and feel with next-generation tonal diversity, the BOSS Nextone series presents an exciting new concept in professional guitar amplification. Distinctive channel voicings deliver a wide range of inspiring tones, while four selectable Class AB analog power amp types provide instant access to the unique characteristics of 6V6, 6L6, EL84, and EL34 output tube sections. Backed by our advanced Tube Logic approach, each power amp type re-voices the entire circuit from input to output, putting the complete sonic experience of these signature power stages in one amp for the very first time.

Want to dive deeper with even more sound customization? Just connect to the Nextone Editor and become a virtual tech, fine-tuning bias, sag, and other internal settings to perfectly match your individual style and touch. Nextone also includes convenient modern features for stage playing, such as built-in effects, a line out for mic-free direct tone, and a power control for expressive cranked-amp sound at manageable volumes. And thanks to Tube Logic, you get to enjoy all the great sound and response of your favorite tube designs without the backbreaking weight and ongoing maintenance hassles.

Nextone Version 3: New Features for Extended Performance Versatility
The free Version 3 update takes the capabilities of Nextone even further with new tone-shaping tools and enhanced features for home, stage, and studio.
• Self Bias—In addition to the Fixed bias options, a Self bias option is now available for all power amp types in the Nextone Editor. Fixed bias provides a punchier response, while Self bias offers a slightly softer, more vintage feel.
• Solo—An independent solo function is now available for the clean and lead channels, complete with level boost and dedicated EQ. The solo function is accessible via the Nextone Editor and can be controlled using the GA-FC Foot Controller.
• New Power Control Setting—The Power Control’s 0.5 watt setting can be reconfigured to 0.2 watts, allowing you to get cranked-amp tones at even lower volume levels. This Power Control behavior can be assigned with a power-up action or the Nextone Editor.
• Delay/Tremolo Panel Switch—Using the panel switch in the Effect section, it’s now possible to toggle between delay, tremolo, and bypass with each press.

For optimal performance, stay up to date with the current Nextone system software and editor

Download “NEXTONE Editor” for Windows/macOS

• Professional performance amplifier with authentic Tube Logic tone
• Four analog Class AB power amp circuits, selectable from the panel: 6V6, 6L6, EL84, and EL34
• Portable combo design with 40 watts of power and custom 12-inch speaker
• Clean and lead channels, with standard and custom mode options
• Dynamically responsive power control for cranked-up sound and response at reduced volumes
• Nextone Editor (macOS/Windows) for customizing tone stack type, sag, bias, effects, Character Shape, headroom, system settings, and much more
• Boost and Tone switches for adding crunch and sparkle
• Built-in delay, tremolo, and reverb effects, plus loop for patching in external effects
• External speaker jacks: one 8 ohm and two 16 ohm
• Line, USB, and phones/recording outputs, with three Air Feel mic’d cab settings selectable from the Nextone Editor
• Support for direct recording and re-amping via USB

Next-Generation Guitar Amplification with Tube Logic

Widely acclaimed by guitarists everywhere, the Tube Logic design approach delivers real-deal sound, feel, and response by reproducing the complex interactive behaviors of tube amps in every way. This comprehensive process also brings valuable advantages for today’s players, including greater reliability, reduced weight, and maintenance-free operation. Tube Logic evolves even further with the Nextone series, unlocking access to deep tone customization features that are impractical or impossible with traditional tube designs. A Nextone amp puts the true response characteristics of the most famous amp designs at your fingertips, allowing you to tweak your sound with unmatched precision.

Instant Power Amp Re-Voicing

In a tube-based guitar amplifier, the preamp is important for basic tone shaping, but it’s the power amp design that really defines the overall sonic signature and playing feel. Most amps use a specific output tube type, while a rare few allow you to swap out different power tubes. Unfortunately, this process usually requires physical tube replacement and bench time with a tech, making it expensive and inconvenient. For the most part, you really needed to buy multiple amps to access the unique tonal characteristics of different output tube sections…until now.
Nextone changes all this with the ability to instantly re-voice its analog Class AB power amp section with one of the four classic designs. American sounds are represented with 6V6 and 6L6 output tube types, while British sounds are represented with EL84 and EL34 types. Unlike modeling amps, which simply feed pre-cooked amp models through a non-reactive amplifier, selecting a power amp type on the Nextone physically changes the complete output circuitry, as well as the way the preamp and speaker interacts with it. This makes the entire amp perform authentically at each setting, providing realism that’s only possible with the advanced Tube Logic approach.

Nextone Power Amp Types

• 6V6—Found at the heart of many legendary low-wattage American amps, the 6V6 output tube is known for its distinctively sweet, crisp tone and organic compression.
• 6L6—Used in classic American stage amps and some modern high-gain designs, the 6L6 output tube delivers high-headroom punch with a round and full midrange character.
• EL84—Famous as the power tube in British combo amps introduced in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, the EL84 produces glassy, clean chime at lower volumes and rich, creamy distortion when cranked.
• EL34—The power tube found in the iconic British stack amps, the EL34 is loved for its warm, fat tone and unmistakable rock crunch.

Clean and Lead Channels Times Two

Nextone features a dual-channel design with clean and lead channels plus a shared three-band tone stack and presence control. Boost and Tone switches are on hand as well, allowing you to add some extra gain and sparkle if needed. With a quick button press, you can switch the amp into custom mode, which provides factory-tweaked variations of the standard clean and lead channels. Better still, the custom mode channels can be fine-tuned to your liking with the Nextone Editor software.

Be Your Own Amp Tech and Customize Tones for Your Style and Touch

The full-featured Nextone Editor gives you sophisticated editing tools to refine the sound for your personal style and favorite pedals. Set a channel’s tone stack to American or British types, shape the overall tone with multiple EQ stages, and tweak the playing response by adjusting bias, sag, and more. The Tone switch can be assigned to two different types, and the Boost switch can be set to one of eleven different characters, including a compressor. And with 99 user setups available, you’re able to customize Nextone’s sound for any gig you play.

Shape Your Sound at the Heart of the Amplifier

One of the Nextone Editor’s most potent features is Character Shape, located in the power amp section. This lets you adjust the amp’s feel and response along with the tonal characteristics, providing deep, circuit-level personalization with just a few mouse clicks. Going further, pre and post EQs in the preamp section allow you to not only re-voice the sound, but also compensate for the gain and tone variations of different guitars. And when you need even more dynamic response for loud gigs and clean playing styles, simply kick on the Extra Headroom switch for added punch when the power control is maxed.

Cranked Sound and Feel at Lower Volumes

With any tube amp, you really need to push its output tubes to get it to sing at its best. Unfortunately, this means turning up the volume, which is nearly always frowned upon by sound engineers, bandmates, and neighbors. Driven by Tube Logic, Nextone delivers the complex distortion characteristics of output tubes and their interaction with the output transformer and speaker, providing that rich, dynamically responsive sound we love. And with Nextone’s adjustable power control, you can always experience this cranked-amp tone while matching the volume to any situation, be it home, studio, or stage.

Onboard Effects and Switchable Effects Loop

With its built-in delay, reverb, and tremolo effects, Nextone brings even more versatility and convenience to gigging guitarists. Using the Nextone Editor, the delay section in custom mode can be freely assigned to analog, tape, or SDE-3000 delay types or a tremolo effect, while the reverb can be assigned to plate, spring, or hall types. Furthermore, each effect type offers a deep set of parameters for dialing in the perfect tone. The amp also includes a loop for integrating your own effects, with series/parallel operation, loop position, and more selectable via the Nextone Editor.

Practical Features for Performance and Recording

Connecting with just a single cable, the optional GA-FC foot controller provides a command center for channel selection, Tone, Boost, effects, pedal volume, and more. If you want to travel even lighter, up to three FS-series footswitches can be used to control various functions. There’s also a line out for sending a direct signal to a PA, plus a phones/recording output for silent practice and tracking sessions. Using the Nextone Editor, the character of the direct sound can be set to one of three Air Feel settings for a range of mic’d cab tones.
External speaker jacks are included too, with support for connecting up to two 16-ohm 4x12 cabs for even bigger tones. In addition to providing communication with the Nextone Editor, the amp’s USB jack functions as a direct recording interface for your favorite DAW software. Multiple channels are supported, allowing you to record both a cab-emulated output and a dry direct tone for re-amping later through the Nextone.

Specifications

Rated Power Output

40 W

Nominal Input Level

INPUT: -10 dBu (1 M ohm)
RETURN IN: -10 dBu (100 k ohm)

Speaker

30 cm (12 inches) x 1

Controls

CH SELECT button
BOOST button
TONE button

[CLEAN]
VOLUME knob

[LEAD]
GAIN Knob
VOLUME knob

[EQUALIZER]
BASS knob
MIDDLE knob
TREBLE knob

[EFFECT]
DELAY button
TAP button
DELAY knob
REVERB knob

PRESENCE knob
MASTER knob
POWER AMP SELECT switch (6V6, 6L6, EL84, EL34)
POWER CONTROL switch (STANDBY, 0.5 W, HALF, MAX)
POWER switch

Indicators

CLEAN
LEAD
CUSTOM MODE
BOOST
TONE
DELAY
TAP

Connectors

INPUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type
REC OUT/PHONES jack: Stereo 1/4-inch phone type
SEND jack: 1/4-inch phone type
RETURN jack: 1/4-inch phone type
LINE OUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type
SPEAKER OUT 16 ohms A jack: 1/4-inch phone type
SPEAKER OUT 16 ohms B jack: 1/4-inch phone type
SPEAKER OUT 8 ohms jack: 1/4-inch phone type
CH SELECT/BOOST jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type
DELAY/GA-FC jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type
USB port: USB B type
AC IN jack

Power Consumption

37 W

Accessories

Owner' s manual
Power cord
GA-FC sticker

Options (sold separately)

Footswitch: BOSS FS-5L, BOSS FS-6, BOSS FS-7
Expression pedal: Roland EV-5, BOSS FV-500L, BOSS FV-500H
GA FOOT CONTROLLER (GA-FC)

Size and Weight

Width

492 mm
19-3/8 inches

Depth

248 mm
9-13/16 inches

Height

427 mm
16-13/16 inches

Weight

13.4 kg
29 lbs 9 oz

* 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms

*The specifications are subject to change without notice.