Boss BD-2 Blues Driver-ology - Originals, Derivatives, and Adjacents!

Controls - Level, Tone, Gain.

The original trail-blazer - one of the most modified and best loved gain pedals of all time - and a pedal that Brian Wampler, Robert Keeley and Joshua Scott kind of all made their first start on in terms of their pedal and circuit experimentation.

Of course my very own favourite flavour of gain - particularly for those modified and evolved editions!

Controls - Level, Tone, Gain.

The same post 2017 SMT style standard circuit - just in a significantly prettier shiny metallic-hued enclosure.

Controls - Level, Mode : Standard / Custom (Phat), Tone, Gain.

As far as I'm aware this is very much Boss's take on Keeley's Phat Mod - for the Custom Mode that is. It's not exactly the same, but is significantly superior to the Standard Edition as far as I'm concerned. It's actually not quite as 'Fat' as the Keeley Mod - but plenty close enough!

Controls - Level, Tone, Gain, Fuzz Mod : On/Off, Phat Mod : On/Off.

And so to my all-time favourite Overdrive pedal - the Robert Keeley Freak Fuzz Modded BD-2- with both Phat and Freak Fuzz Mods courtesy of 2 x 2-way toggle switches. There's something a touch magical about mine - it's just always sounded superb!

Controls - Level, Tone, Gain, Phat Mod : On/Off, Top Boost : On/Off, Clean Mix, Clean Gain, Clean Level, 2nd Boost Footswitch.

24,000 Yen just gets you the Mod - and you need to be in Japan for that to happen! I've seen a couple of past sold second-hand examples on Reverb.com - one that went for $175, and the other for circa $250. While none of materialised for a long time now. Lots of people mostly use the BD-2 as a Clean Boost - and these extra Mods give you a broader range in that area. There are also Twin Drive more conventional 2-Channel takes on a similar kind of mod - it would definitely be cool to land a Soul Power El Diablo BD-2 one day - but that probability is probably very remote - unless I can call in a favour or two from Japanese contacts!

Controls - JHS } Level, Tone, Drive, Boss } Level, Tone, Drive, Mode : JHS / Boss / JHS|Boss / J>B, B>J, Parallel.

A really smart Boss x JHS collar - which a lot of people still overlook - the combination of the two voices - particularly in Parallel Mode gives you some very special results for both core circuits that are in the mix - this is for sure a very close second from the Original selection - have the Keeley Freak Fuzz Mod!

Controls - Level, Mode : Bright / Fat, Tone, Gain.

This is actually the one that started it all off for me - and I still recommend this to all and sundry. Of course it's not exactly quite as magnificent as the Keeley Modded Originals - but it's based on those very circuits and really does sound superb - one of the best bangs for you buck you can get - everyone I've recommended this to over the years really loves it - budget but brilliant!

Controls - Level, Tone, Drive, Mode : Flat / Phat.

This is kind of the one that got away - the limited 20 for 20 (2020) Boss Blue edition of the Super Phat Mod - the only one of those I've ever wanted. I was kind of aware of it at the time - but there was so much going on simultaneous - I was juggling a lot of tasks - and said pedal alas evaded my grasp. The fact that only 20 were made makes it pretty much an impossible task - while my luck has held out before - and I've been able to get hold of some super rare pedals the second time around!

Controls - Level, Tone, Drive, Mode : Flat / Phat.

This was a super cool limited Germanium vintage styled edition of the Super Phat Mod - which put in a brief appearance in 2019 - I was super quick off the mark for this one - really cool pedal all-round. It does take the core sound in a slightly more Fuzzy direction - which is really cool!

Controls - Tone, Tone Mods : AT (Low-Cut) / RK (Low Boost / Phat), Drive, Drive Clipping Mods : AT (Asymmetrical LED + Silicon Diodes) / RK (Dual Germanium Diodes), Level.

Very much the new kid on the block - appearing at UK dealers on February 5th supposedly - so not so far away now. Interestingly one Robby Harris reached out to me from Keeley at the start of last week - I replied twice! - but got no response. I had hoped to get an inside track at Keeley for a while - but it looks like I will still be doing my own figuring out for the foreseeable future. The new Muse Driver does indeed make the very recent Super AT Mod obsolete - as it comes with two Mods - and that is one of them - so the Muse Driver delivers more - which is a shame really - as many feel that the Super AT Mod is the prettier pedal - but is now reduced to shelf-ware - at least for me. Looking forward to getting my hands on the Muse Driver in any case!

Controls - Volume, Tone, Gain, Low, Mid, Voicing / Mode : Fuzz / Normal.

Intriguingly the cheapest compact is also one of the very best. The Homework Series Blues kind of conceals its brilliance - but is about as close to the prowess of my Keeley Freak Fuzz Modded BD-2 as you can get. Their Fuzz tonality is not identical - but they both sound superb and do the same sort of thing - the Homework Series Blues with a little more range and granularity - as befits its extra controls!

Controls -  Gain, Gain Structure : ↑ Distortion / Overdrive ↓, Volume, Bass, Mids (Active), Treble.

Ben Carlin's super collaboration with Brian Wampler - and was one of my big hits of 2023 - really takes the Blues Driver format forward in the best way. More range and more finesse - if you mostly liked the Blues Driver - but could never quite dial it in to you preferences - then this is your pedal! A must have for BD-2 fans alongside the Winnipeg Electrical Homework Series Blues!

Controls - Level, Low, High, Gain.

DigiTech's take on a Blues Driver style circuit - rather than the exact Blues Driver itself. This is Blues Driver adjacent - as there are obviously similarities in gain cleanup and overall kind of tonality - while the EQ profile is slightly different - the mids and lower mids sound like they're in a different place - and you get a more punchy short of low end - still sounds great - while I do prefer the overall original Blues Driver profile the best!

Controls - Level, Drive / Gain, Clipping : ’+’ Modern (More High Gain, Textured) / ’-’ Vintage (Smoother, Subtler), Range (Treble), Weight (Pre-gain Thickness).

The Old Blue is very specifically NOT based on either the Blues Driver or that Blues Breaker for that matter - but can easily cover both via having smart extended range controls - which have also been default calibrated to perfection. Again not exactly the same profile as the Blues Driver - but really plenty close enough and with plenty more in the tank! If you were in two minds about whether you needed a Blues Breaker or a Blues Driver - then get this one instead and instantly satisfy both urges!

Controls - Dual Gain (MOSFET 1 + 2 Bias), Volume (Output + Low End in Circuit + Gain).

This was my favourite overdrive pedal of last year - what it can do with just two knobs is incredible - it's full fat and in your face - and while not exactly Blues Driver in profile - has a similarly fat delivery, and exceptional guitar volume gain cleanup!

Controls - Level, Gain, Treble / Bass-Cut, Mode : High / Low, Input Filter.

Another 'not really' Blues Driver -esque profile - still with superb dial-in ability for ball parking those same kind of sounds. A very handsome pedal in more ways than one - and glad to see it back in circulation again!

Controls - Gain, Volume, Bias, Bass, Treble.

This is such a secret weapon - and so many player's favourite all-time overdrive, such a shame that smallsound/bigsound has been on hiatus for the last few years - we all hope it will return eventually! I kind of slept on this one a little and had to get mine from my Ukrainian friend Konstantin as I waited too long to get one - and there were no more to be had. These occasionally pop up now and again - but often with relatively silly prices attached. Fantastic sounding fuzzy-drive / overdrive - and yes it can delivery gorgeous Blues Driver -esque tones too! 

Controls - Drive, Gain : Low / High, Push : Norm / Mid, Level, Bass, Middle, Treble, Favorite Footswitch, On Footswitch.

Possibly one of the more left-field recommendations here - but this has just the right core tonality, calibration and range to deliver fantastic Blues Driver style tones. Early days I had my Blues Driver dialled-in tone set on the Favourite Footswitch - while nowadays it tends to be more 80's liquid distortion! Both the Strymon Hybrid pedals - this Riverside and the Sunset have been long-term favourite of mine - they're both so versatile - and so very easy to dial in!