Boss BD-2 Blues Driver

Very easy to get good sound out of. Despite its name (Blues Driver) you can use it to simply gain more volume, get a crunch sound, medium distortion, and damn near that good ol SRV blues guitar sound. It's a very versatile little box. 3 knobs, can't get too much easier than that. --Its hard to get BAD sound by turning any of them.It has a control for Level, Tone, and Gain, and the manual comes with several settings to start you out. Play with it for awhile, and you can get some neat sounds.

I'm using this with a Yamaha Pacifica 412, and a Peavy Express 112 Amp. The BD-2 is a good way to get around that "hiss" sound when you turn your amp/guitar volume up too loud, and still retain volume.

I can depend on it, as long as its got a fresh battery.. takes awhile to run out. NOTE: Like most pedals, even though the red light might be off doesn't mean its not sucking some power. I've had some batteries go bad this way, just make sure its unplugged from both the in and out cables.

No problems.

I play rock, blues... even a little classical, its great all around. I'm not big on effects pedals, I usually like to keep them at a minimum. The only two I've ever needed have been the BD-2 and my Crybaby Wah, I can get virtually any sound out of these, with the turn of a few knobs. I love how it boosts the sound just enough so that you can play clean if you want to, but if you pick the string(s) a little harder, you can get a slight distortion sound.. its really great.

3 knobs, and a pedal. step on it. The only trouble i had was finding a nice bluesy sound.

I use this setup:
Epiphone SG->BOSS Octave->BOSS Blues Driver->DOD Chorous->DOD GS30 Multi-effects-> a 25 watt fender. Well, I don't think mine is very bluesy. In fact its a light OD when the gain is set low, a crunchy mordern OD when set at the middle, and a noisey, crunchy, raunch when dialed all the way. I'm not saying its bad, its very nice, but I really wanted an Incubus type of overdrive that i can run into an MXR i ordered for a massive gain assault.

Well im not gonna put a stupid BOSS cliche down, so just look at the score.

again, no cliche.

I'm gonna keep it so i can have a cruchy distortion, but its npot what i expected.

Just three knobs, LEvel, Tone, and Gain. You can't go wrong. The users manual is very helpful. It even has a few blank pages so you can record your favorite settings.

This is perhaps the best overdrive pedal I have used from BOSS. My current setup is a Standard Strat--->Boss BD2--->Boss CH1--->Peavey Bandit. The pedal delivers awewsome overdrive with no noise. The tones generated have a nice crunch, with plenty of sustain, controllable feedback, and a nice bottom end. Hats off to BOSS.

It's a BOSS pedal. Need I say more.

Never had to deal with any customer support.

I like to play classic rock (i.e. Skynrd, .38 Special, AC/DC, etc.) current pop/rock (i.e. Melissa Etheridge), and other rock (i.e. Pat Benetar, Joan Jett, etc.). This pedal delivers all the tones I need. I have played MXR and DOD, but I always come back to BOSS. While some consider BOSS a little pricey, I think the price/easy of use/sound ratios are the best in the business. Other reviews of other BOSS pedals slam them. My advise, don't buy it until you try it. And when trying it, use your guitar and amp setup at the store so you know what it will sound like. If you don't, you have no right to criticize. Remember, your sound is your sound and not someone elses. Don't copy, just create!!!

3 Bottons. Duh!

I always use my 60s Gibson Skylark on 10 and have this pedal's volume on 10 and gain all the way down or sometimes on about 2 or 3. The sound is incredible!!

It's Boss! Give me a break!!!

Never dealt with 'em!

It's is a great pedal for the blues or light rock. I love this pedal. I can dial in Albert Collins, Freddie King, SRV, whatever you want. If it were stolen I would find the guy who stole it and beat his brains in!!!!!!!

This pedal is very easy to use and isn't very complicated. It has three knobs: Tone, level, and Gain. The only thing thats anoys me about it is that the tone and level knobs are backwards from the DS-1. Thats the only thing wrong with it.

The sound on this peadal is supreme. It sounds much better than the TS-9 (Tube Screamer). It sounds like its got more gain and beef to it. I love it.

I've never had a problem with it. It's very reliable and very energy eficiant. I'm not saying don't have a back up but you'll like it.

Never had a problem.

If you like classic rock, blues, or any kind of music requiring a real beafy fat distortion with a crunch this is the pedal to use. It's got tone that'll knock you on your feet. Buy it and love it just don't use it with a Marshall.

VERY easy. Three knobs, then step on it.

Ok, this is gonna sound weird. I bought this to fatten up the tone of my Strat, played through a couple of nice tube amps. It was disappointing. I put it away, thinking it was money wasted. But I also dabble in bass, and one day I just got the urge to plug it into my 100 watt bass amp's effects loop. Let me tell ya, THERE'S where the tone was hiding! It's great for a nice volume boost, with just a touch of fuzz added. Now I'm a happy guy again.

Like all Boss gear that I've seen it's very tough.

No experience dealing with Roland directly.

For guitar - 5

For bass - 10

Three knobs and a foot switch....

I bought her to use as a boost going into my modified Reissue TS-9. What I was looking for has been answered; it adds a nice push to the Ibanez and even sounds good running before my Reissue Big Muff. It also sounds good by its self for rhythm chords and such.

So far so good....

n

Three knobs. Two Jacks. One pedal. It doesn't get any simpler. The manual is clear, gives some good settings.

I love it. I've got a standard strat, and a small peavey amp. It adds some noise, but nothing disruptive. Gives crunchy tones very easily, and if you set it right, you can get some smooth tones as well. Not very warm but it's good for a very wide range of musical styles, unless you're into really metally, obnoxiously-distorted sounds. a little muddy on low settings

Remarkably dependable. If you want to break it buy a jackhammer. I'd use it without backup IF i'd checked the batteries, or had an AC for it. (It goes through nine volt batteries like babies go through diapers!)

N/A

I'm into bluesy, alternative stuff, and this pedal is excellent for that. I haven't been playing that long, a few years, but this is the best overdrive I've come across. I love the tone, although it could be a bit warmer. For the price, an excellent piece of gear.

Any questions about the use of this pedal can be forwarded into the vast reaches of space. Completely idiot-proof.

Excellent sound. A bit muddy on the low end, but has enough heart-stopping tone to make up for it. I expected it to be pretty one-dimensional, but it covers a large expanse of sounds and styles. Sounds best (as does everything) cranked through the roof. Cleans up nicely when you roll off the guitar's volume. An excellent all around pedal.

It's a BOSS. To break this you would have to chuck it out of an airplane window.

Never needed it.

This pedal surprised me with its versatility, but I also play mostly blues and most forms of rock. My gear is as follows: Fender American Standard Strat, BOSS HR-2 Harmonist, BD-2, Uni-Vibe, and a 535 Crybaby Wah into a Fender Deluxe 112 Plus. This is a wonderful pedal for almost anything, except for punk and metal, but I can wrench that out of my amp if I need to. I've been playing for ten years, and this is my favorite overdrive thus far.

One day, I went on a hunt around town for a second distortion pedal that would do three things. 1) Have a nice overdrive that wasn't overpowering, 2) Provide added gain when placed infront of my Ibanez Tubeking, enough to noticable affect the tone, and 3) Sound good! In the second Store, I had already gone through 5 or 6 pedals including the Ibanez TS-9 reisue, the Danelectro Daddy-O, and the Boss DS-1. I was getting ready to leave, and asked to try the BD-2. (Did I mention that i had lugged both by guitar ('94 Strat) and my Tubeking to the store, and was playing through the same model amp that I had so I would know what the actual sound would be?) One of the things that struck me was how esay it was to use. Only three knobs: Volume, Tone, Gain. A child could use it. I purchased one a month later used, over the internet. Manual was understandable with some very usefull suggested presets.

I like this pedal a lot!! I play a lot in church, so I don't have as much need for a Over-the-top tube distortion. This pedal is perfect for what I need. With the Vol almost all the way up, and the gain almost all the was down, it is the best booster I have EVER heard. It makes me sound like Vaughn (Yeah Right!!) With the Vol at 9-10 o'clock, tone at 11, and gain at 1-2, it is a great overdrive, by itself, and adds needed gain with the Tubeking. With the same setup, but the gain at max, this could almost replace my Tubeking, but... It lacks in two areas, so I took off two points. 1) It is the slightest bit too muddy, and 2) It doesn't pick up the Harmonics as good as the Tubeking.

I rank this a ten, unless you don't have a AC adapter. It has never given me any problems except that I leave it plugged in sometimes, and it drains the batteries.

Never had to deal with them.

I have been playing for almost four years, but since I can't be great as solo's yet, haveing great tone is the most important this for me. I am a tone freak!!!!!!! I tell you right now, that I have good tone. I play a modded strat to a Vox wah, to the BD-2, to the Tubeking, to the Boss TR-2 Tremelo, to a volume pedal, all ran into my Fender Blues Junior. You can't tell me that that won't get good tone (Even if at low volumes.) This pedal is my main pedal. I was going to replace both distortions with a Mesa V-Twin, but changed my mind and decided to keep the Blues Driver if I do, because I love it too much!!!