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BOSS
WAZA Tube Amp Expander
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Bringing together a diverse range of professional tone tools for the very first time, the Waza Tube Amp Expander elevates the tube amp experience to a new level of versatility for stage performing and studio recording. This amazing device does it all - it's a variable reactive load box, active analog power stage, mic'd cab simulator, IR loader, and recording interface, all in one integrated unit that's road-ready and easy to use. With extensive connectivity, built-in BOSS effects, 10 fully customizable rig setups, and deep real-time control, you have unparalleled creative command for any scenario. Packed to the max with breakthrough BOSS innovations, the Waza Tube Amp Expander is an essential companion for every tube amp player.
Features
• Advanced variable reactive load circuit with discrete analog components supports tube amps up to 150 watts
• User-adjustable impedance tuning correctly matches the reactive load to your amp, retaining its natural tone, dynamic feel, and distortion characteristics
• 10 recallable rig settings for storing favourite setups
• Deep real-time performance control via GA-FC/FS-series footswitches and MIDI I/O
• Built-in 100-watt Class AB power amplifier with discrete analog design and seamless volume control
• Powerful DSP section with 32-bit AD/DA, 32-bit floating-point processing, and 96 kHz sampling rate
• Customizable stereo effects with premium tone quality: compressor, delay, reverb, and four EQs
• Seven mic'd cabinet emulations with five selectable mic types, plus four slots for loading user speaker IRs
• External effects loop with selectable series/parallel operation and control jack for switching amp channels
• Parallel speaker outputs for connecting up to two cabs for gigging
• Balanced XLR line outputs (mono and L/R stereo) for connecting to FOH console, stage monitors, and recording devices
• Headphones output for quiet practice with cranked-up amp tones
• Dedicated editor software (Mac/Windows)
• USB for direct audio recording and editor communication
Specifications
FROM TUBE AMP Input
• Maximum Input Power: 150 W
• Input Impedance: 4/8/16 ohms (selectable)
• Safety Load (power off): 16 ohms
TO SPEAKER Output
• Rated Power Output: 100 W (8 ohms)
• Load Impedance: 4-16 ohms
Nominal Output Level
• LINE OUT L/R: +4 dBu
• LINE OUT MONO (FOH): +4 dBu
FX LOOP Nominal Output Level: -10/+4 dBu (selectable)
Maximum Output Level
• LINE OUT L/R: +20 dBu
• LINE OUT MONO (FOH): +20 dBu
• FX LOOP SEND: +6 dBu (-10) /+20 dBu (+4)
Input Impedance: FX LOOP RETURN: 1 M ohm
Output Impedance
• LINE OUT L/R: 600 ohms
• LINE OUT MONO (FOH): 600 ohms
• FX LOOP SEND: 1 k ohm
Connectors
• FROM TUBE AMP jack: 1/4-inch phone type
• SPEAKER OUT jacks (OUT A, OUT B): 1/4-inch phone type
• LINE OUT L/R connectors: XLR type
• LINE OUT MONO (FOH) connector: XLR type
• PHONES jack: Stereo 1/4-inch phone type
• SEND jack: 1/4-inch phone type
• RETURN jack: 1/4-inch phone type
• FX LOOP jack: 1/4-inch phone type
• GA-FC jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type
• AMP CTL jack: 1/4-inch phone type
• USB COMPUTER port: USB B type
• MIDI (IN, THRU/OUT) connectors
• AC IN jack
Power Consumption: 100 W
Accessories: Owner's manual, Power cord, Rack mount angle x 2 (for EIA-2U), GA-FC sticker
SIZE AND WEIGHT
Width: 380 mm (15 inches)
Depth: 296 mm (11-11/16 inches)
Height: 110 mm (4-3/8 inches)
Weight: 6.8 kg (15 lbs)
Features
• Advanced variable reactive load circuit with discrete analog components supports tube amps up to 150 watts
• User-adjustable impedance tuning correctly matches the reactive load to your amp, retaining its natural tone, dynamic feel, and distortion characteristics
• 10 recallable rig settings for storing favourite setups
• Deep real-time performance control via GA-FC/FS-series footswitches and MIDI I/O
• Built-in 100-watt Class AB power amplifier with discrete analog design and seamless volume control
• Powerful DSP section with 32-bit AD/DA, 32-bit floating-point processing, and 96 kHz sampling rate
• Customizable stereo effects with premium tone quality: compressor, delay, reverb, and four EQs
• Seven mic'd cabinet emulations with five selectable mic types, plus four slots for loading user speaker IRs
• External effects loop with selectable series/parallel operation and control jack for switching amp channels
• Parallel speaker outputs for connecting up to two cabs for gigging
• Balanced XLR line outputs (mono and L/R stereo) for connecting to FOH console, stage monitors, and recording devices
• Headphones output for quiet practice with cranked-up amp tones
• Dedicated editor software (Mac/Windows)
• USB for direct audio recording and editor communication
Specifications
FROM TUBE AMP Input
• Maximum Input Power: 150 W
• Input Impedance: 4/8/16 ohms (selectable)
• Safety Load (power off): 16 ohms
TO SPEAKER Output
• Rated Power Output: 100 W (8 ohms)
• Load Impedance: 4-16 ohms
Nominal Output Level
• LINE OUT L/R: +4 dBu
• LINE OUT MONO (FOH): +4 dBu
FX LOOP Nominal Output Level: -10/+4 dBu (selectable)
Maximum Output Level
• LINE OUT L/R: +20 dBu
• LINE OUT MONO (FOH): +20 dBu
• FX LOOP SEND: +6 dBu (-10) /+20 dBu (+4)
Input Impedance: FX LOOP RETURN: 1 M ohm
Output Impedance
• LINE OUT L/R: 600 ohms
• LINE OUT MONO (FOH): 600 ohms
• FX LOOP SEND: 1 k ohm
Connectors
• FROM TUBE AMP jack: 1/4-inch phone type
• SPEAKER OUT jacks (OUT A, OUT B): 1/4-inch phone type
• LINE OUT L/R connectors: XLR type
• LINE OUT MONO (FOH) connector: XLR type
• PHONES jack: Stereo 1/4-inch phone type
• SEND jack: 1/4-inch phone type
• RETURN jack: 1/4-inch phone type
• FX LOOP jack: 1/4-inch phone type
• GA-FC jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type
• AMP CTL jack: 1/4-inch phone type
• USB COMPUTER port: USB B type
• MIDI (IN, THRU/OUT) connectors
• AC IN jack
Power Consumption: 100 W
Accessories: Owner's manual, Power cord, Rack mount angle x 2 (for EIA-2U), GA-FC sticker
SIZE AND WEIGHT
Width: 380 mm (15 inches)
Depth: 296 mm (11-11/16 inches)
Height: 110 mm (4-3/8 inches)
Weight: 6.8 kg (15 lbs)
Media
Youtube video product demo
Description: Jeff from Boss demonstrates the Waza Tube Amp Expander at NAMM 2019.
Q & A
There are currently no questions for this product.
Reviews
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The only downside is the price 1 of 1 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Longueuil, Quebec
After trying all the usual ways to get cranked amp tone at reasonable home levels, this is the first successful solution. I'm finding amazing tones in my amps while the wife is watching TV upstairs. And I can easily add superb reverb and delays to amps that don't have FX loops.
For recording... Best reactive load so far thanks to the adjustable resonance and presence response.
As a speaker sim, not so found of the built in cabs but with the update it can hold 32 IRs.
I do wish you could access all options without needing a computer though. Not a big deal at home, but will be annoying on stage.
Posted by Y B on Apr 25, 2021
Excellent bit of gear 0 of 0 customers found this review helpful
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Quality
Value
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Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Grande Prairie, Alberta
I'm largely underutilizing this thing for the amount of features it has. I can speak to the load box and amp portion for starters. Sounds incredibly accurate. Feels transparent. Using this with a Mesa Roadster and Royal Atlantic, and a Marshall 2266, primarily. Sometimes an AC30. They all sound and feel just like themselves. The magic is there. That's the biggest thing for me. As for the direct recording, it's a breeze and also sounds authentic and convincing. The onboard IR's are great and I've found a lot of terrific sounds just using those. At some point I'll add some 3rd party IR's, but out of the box I haven't felt like I need to. The most unexpected thing I've come to love on the unit is the ability to bypass my amp's effects loop and use the Waza's. There's a significant improvement in tone for the Roadster and 2266 when I bypass the loops. I'd expect that to be true for a number of other amps as well. It's been a really nice feature and let me get so much more out of my favorite amps. Overall it's been a dream to have in my jam room. Only point I'm taking off is for value because I think there will be similar products that do all this for less in the near future. As it stands I'm happy to pay the price they're asking for all the things the Waza TAE adds
Posted by anonymous on Apr 11, 2021
Fantastic unit no matter what amp I use it with! 3 of 3 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Brampton, Ontario
This is a great, great jack of all trades unit! It is the centrepiece of everything I use live, rehearsing, recording and just playing period. I can keep my amps at their optimal volume and use the Waza as a master volume depending upon where I am playing and what I am doing. Just before the pandemic hit, I was doing a small gig on a theatre stage. No cabinets allowed due to space constriction in the orchestra pit, I brought the Waza, my head and a small pedalboard direct to FOH. Tones were absolutely awesome! This unit serves also as a backup when playing live. If my amp goes down, I can simply run my pedalboard into and and use the emulations to FOH and I am good to go. Love that they updated it recently to 2.0.1 with more IR slots but truth be told, the stock units with the new R121 emulations and blends are fantastic! The power amp on this unit is solid as is the construction and components used. I have this housed in an SKB short Roto rack and I use a punched panel with all of my connections in front. Very quick and easy to hook up and use. Looking under the hood, the unit has a lot of quality components and is built to last. Much, much thanks to my good friend Dan McNab @ L&M Brampton for always taking care of me with orders and amazing customer service!
Posted by Paul G on Jun 28, 2020
Fantastic load box! 0 of 1 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Brampton, Ontario
I have had several load boxes over the years now (Live, Studio, OX) and this one simply takes the cake. It is feature loaded and so easy to get a great tone from it. The recent 201 update to the unit is outstanding and they included the R121 emulations along with some blend settings that mixes this mic with an SM57 as well as more IR slots if you desire. The built in power amp is outstanding and also works as a great backup when I am playing live with the unit if my amp was to go down. I can simply use the distortion from my FX unit into the WAZA and use the FOH emulation to the PA and listen through my cab at the same time. Fantastic! I have found this unit sounds outstanding with Mesa amps, specifically my JP-2C and my Mark V 25. Big thanks to Dan McNab as always for being the best!
Posted by Paul G. on Apr 16, 2020
Great unit once dialled in 0 of 0 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Winnipeg (Pembina), Manitoba
My experience with this unit has been positive after taking the time to learn all the functions and understand how it works with my other gear. Be warned it is not plug and play! I have an assortment of amps from a 20 watt z, 30 watt matchless, 50 watt Mesa to an assortment of 100 watt heads. Every amp requires different settings to achieve good results. Input and gain settings need to be adjusted differently than just going straight into your favourite cabs.
I have found it is important that you run this into your board line level and bypass the mic pre’s. Otherwise is does tend to create noise. Other than that it sounds great!
Posted by Johnny on Mar 2, 2020
Very good product BUT one thing. 1 of 3 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Winnipeg (Pembina), Manitoba
I had a boss Waza and it's truly a great product. sounds, features, usability. I used it with low wattage amps (I am not sure if it's the thing) and it worked like a charm. I used it with my Z Wreck 30W (This thing is loud) and once I connected everything (I use high quality cables and etc) I had a contact feedback unless I get around 6ft from the unit. I simply could not use it with the Z Wreck (which is my best and more usable amp). it's a killer, eat value for all the features but you will have to make sure it works for you.
Posted by Adir Iakya on Feb 11, 2020
Boss Waza amp expander 4 of 17 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Kanata, Ontario
I had high hopes for this unit, did some research all reviews were saying how great this unit was. That was not my experience. When I ran direct out of the unit to my PA it sounded like bees in a nest, terrible sound. I don't know if my unit was defective but it did not sound good. I returned this unit and purchased a H and K red box and it sounded great much better than the Boss. Yes I know the red box doesn't have the functions the Boss does but what is the point when it sounds like crap. I don't know but this unit did not work for me and for the price it should have.
Posted by Tim on Dec 5, 2019
Great Unit!!!!!!! ........But...... 10 of 11 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store London North, Ontario
I bought this unit last week and hooked it up to my JCM800. Sound quality was mint. The effects are awesome. Very user friendly.
However. It would only allow me to set my amp at #2(9 o’clock ) volume on my 100watt amp. If I boosted or used a wah pedal in front of the amp the unit would feedback. Even with the volume on the guitar down. The only way it would stop was if I was at least 5 feet away from the unit.
I returned it today. To the London north store fully knowing I would have to pay a restocking fee...no problem for me .... however the guys at the store must have been having a bad day. They seemed to be insulted that I was returning it. They said the unit makes every amp sound great...I agreed... then told them to try it with a wah or overdrive in front of the amp. Even with the volume rolled back it still squealed... they said I must have hooked it up wrong.
I said nothing else. Bit my lip..
I have all high end gear(newer gear) I tried it any way I could to eliminate cables,ground hum,changed guitars and pedals and amps. The results at the end were the same.
Great unit! But be warned. Test it with your pedals and your own amp before you pay the 1,599.00 price tag.
Posted by Corey on Nov 16, 2019
Protect your investment with the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty
A warranty can be a very important factor when making a buying decision. Because repairs can be very expensive in terms of parts and labour costs, manufacturers usually only provide one year limited warranties that generally only cover items that malfunction due to a manufacturer’s defect. With an important purchase such as a musical
instrument or piece of studio gear, however, many people want to have the peace of mind in knowing that their investment will be protected should the product no longer be performing at 100%.
Because of this, Long & McQuade provides our customers with a FREE one-year Performance Warranty on most of our products. The Long & McQuade Performance Warranty supplements the manufacturer’s warranty to ensure that our customers receive complete “no hassle” warranty coverage within their first year.
How does the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty differ from most manufacturers' warranties?
- Performance Guarantee: Normal wear and tear is covered, so your product will be performing as well as the day you purchased it for the entire duration of the coverage. Band and Orchestral Performance Warranty does not include replacing pads or cleaning for woodwind instruments, unless deemed necessary by our repair staff. Ultrasonic cleaning for brass instruments will be provided if deemed necessary by our repair staff, but is not routinely offered under the Performance Warranty.
- Product Replacement: If your product cannot be fixed or costs too much to fix, we will replace it with the equivalent model for no additional charge. If this is not possible, a full refund will be provided.
- No Lemon Policy: Your product will be replaced should the same problem occur multiple times.
- Convenient: Easy drop off and pick up of the product at any Long & McQuade location.
- Guitar Setup: Guitars purchased at Long & McQuade come with 1 free setup, to be redeemed within 1 year for new guitars and 90 days for used guitars.
- Loaners Available: A loaner product may be given while the product is being repaired.
- Power Surge Protection: Your product is covered even if damaged from a power surge.
- Accessory Coverage: Any peripheral devices or accessories that come with your product (i.e. foot pedal, case) are also covered.
- Commercial Use Coverage: Music and recording professionals who purchase gear for “heavy-use” commercial purposes will still be covered.
Long & McQuade reserves the right to restrict the purchase of additional years of Performance Warranty. Used products come with a 3-month Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Some products (i.e. computers, software, cymbals and other items) are covered only by the manufacturer‘s warranty. Consumables (i.e. strings, reeds, drum sticks, batteries, tubes, cross faders) are excluded as they are designed to be replaced. Cosmetic Damage, Accidental Damage, or problems caused by Humidity or Temperature Issues are not covered. Speakers damaged by overpowering are generally not covered. Our coverage does not provide compensation for loss of use. As of June 2018 the Performance Warranty is no longer transferable. The warranty is only valid in Canada.
Purchasing additional years of coverage
Some manufacturers provide warranties for longer than 1 year; however, these are usually limited warranties that do not provide the same coverage as the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Customers interested in more complete and convenient (but not necessarily longer) coverage are still able to purchase additional years of the Performance Warranty.
If you are interested in receiving this coverage for longer than one year, you have the option of purchasing additional years of the Performance Warranty. The pricing is as follows:
- NEW products: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.
- USED products: 4% of the current new selling price to increase the warranty from 3 months to 1 year. 4% for each additional year.
- GUITARS: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year. $45 maximum. An additional free setup is not included with additional purchased years of Performance Warranty.
- BAND and ORCHESTRAL instruments: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.
Great Additions
Reserve in Store
| Product | SKU | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| WAZA Tube Amp Expander | 704850 |
