Deep Diving the Boss Blues Driver

The Boss Blues Driver brings a lot to the table, but it's not a pedal you get because it's the *most* anything. It excels at being in-between. In this video, we'll explore exactly what that means.

Chapters:
0:00 - Opening Jam "Shoot Me Down"
1:34 - The In-Between
2:36 - Sample Settings
3:36 - A Blessing for Solid State Amps
4:08 - The Differential Pair
5:42 - Higher Gain
7:26 - Comparisons (SD-1 / TS-9)
9:11 - The SMT BD-2
10:38 - The Waza BD-2
12:05 - The JB-2 Angry Driver
13:18 - Wrapup

[bsriaudio]

The Waza SD-1 using Boss' discrete opamp architecture makes it quite a bit like the non-Turbo mode of the OD-2 or OD-2r which is an interesting plot twist.

[ebartley]

I always loved the Blues Driver when I played in a band. I also had to get the Waza when it came out. I came to the conclusion that the Waza was just too smooth where the original had some rough edges in the sound that I liked.

[Wallybear]

Great breakdown, as a recovering electrical engineer I love your neerdy enthusiasm! I've not heard of the Angry Driver, it sounds like a great pedal. Thanks for the video.

[Unusednickname_]

Great demo! The BD-2 is a solid, versatile dirt pedal, and the BD-2W is even more versatile with its custom setting.

It’s not always on my board, but I will never sell my BD-2W.

[michaelfowler]

I distinctly remember trying one of these and returning it right away, didn't know what I wanted - but years later I tried the fulltone OCD on a whim, and instantly loved it and felt at home. It made my ampeg bass amp breakup effortlessly where other pedals didn't penetrate. Years later I learn how much in common those two pedals seem to have.
Also I always love a megaman blue color on my pedals.
Excited to watch the video, but just wanted to share.

[al]

The blues driver is a classic, I loved mine til I got the OD-3 and realized that did everything I loved about the BD-2 but event better, imho. Of course, that was eventually dethroned by the Barber Gain Changer which will do absolutely *everything* I’ve ever wanted from a 3 knob dirt pedal, but really you can’t go wrong with any of those pedals. Check out the Barber GC if you haven’t already, it’s a low key legend. Does the BD-2 thing, the TS thing, the BB thing, low gain, high gain, it really does just about everything.

[PuttinOnTheRiffs]

Might have to pick up a waza blues driver after this video. Great video!

[callumalston]

For £75-90 these things are ridiculously versatile, everything from the blues to psych to shoegaze, phenomenal piece of engineering

[ThePhantomnaut]

The Angry Driver is an excuse for me to not use a Tube Screamer or SD-1, also a lazy excuse to not buy a separate Angry Charlie and the Blues Driver, and I love it.

[cheezyridr]

i'll be the first to admit that lots of guys know about this stuff more than i do. however, my experience seems a little different than what you and others are reporting. i have an ocd, and it sounds just fine with certain amps. there are other amps that don't seem to like it as much. but my blues driver gives me predictable results every time, no matter what amp i play through. it's taken me quite a while to get the sound i want, so i can do what i do. the blues driver has been on my board since it came out. for me, it just works.

[KennethKassabian]

Really well done video. They should all be like this.

[pattepato]

I always love to see the joyful passion in your smile when hitting a nice tone.
If you're going to make a video about the Angry Driver, I'd appreciate a maximum dirt test (with humbuckers and maybe D tuning? 😬). I love my BD-2's grid with the gain knob at 4.

[denssession]

Very informative and beautifully explained as always😎✌🏽

[addictedtone]

People talk about the splatty decay of them but thats what makes them magical to me. Especially with single coils and a compressor.

[angusorvid]

Great demo, great channel! I'm now subscribed. I've always been pedal guy. I've owned some of the finest, most expensive boutique amps in the world, and I'm perfectly fine with a simple amp with a good pedal. I know how to dial in a righteous tone with a good pedal. The Blues Driver is one of the best pedals out there. I don't care for super high gain pedals for the same reason I don't care for high gain amps as they often have too much compression and lack feel and organic tone. The Blues Driver manages to mitigate these issues when you crank it up. Great pedal.

[sz]

shout out to Digitech Screamin Blues which has A) an incredibly tacky yet charming 90s visual design B) 2 separate EQ bands C) much more normal price than bad monkey

[RSKR]

I still have my Fender Stage 100 DSP and my Blues Driver. Great amp and great pedal.

[erikavery]

I still use the OG SD-1 and BD-2 that I bought new in '96.

[paulrichardson]

Excellent video. Very informative. Thanks.

[orangeblue]

I bought this years ago thinking it would give me a blues tone. Well it does say Blues Driver on it. But I found it sounds more like a fuzz instead.