Boss Blues Driver

deepeddy

Joined: May 19, 2009
Posts: 1263
Austin, Tejas
1 Link Pin

Posted on Feb 28 2011 12:30 PM

Ever use one? Opinions? Any ideas on how it may compare to the Boss DS1 distortion?

—

Ted James
Deep Eddy Records http://www.deepeddy.net
The Nematoads http://www.nematoads.com

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Stormtiger

Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
United States

Posted on Feb 28 2011 12:42 PM

I have one that I used for a little extra gain and volume, they are similar to a Tube Screamer, not nearly as much distortion as the DS1. I also had a Tube Works Butler Tube Driver (an Eric Johnson/David Gilmour favorite) I read many reviews comparing the BD favorably to the Butler, especially after a Keeley or Analog Man mod. I got rid of the Butler but still have the BD and wouldn't hesitate to use it if my Line 6 M-13 Stompbox modeler fails, which I am using because all of the effects I use are in one package and it sounds pretty good to me.

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deepeddy

Joined: May 19, 2009
Posts: 1263
Austin, Tejas
1 Link Pin

Posted on Feb 28 2011 02:53 PM

Thanks for the info. Based on that, I could see myself using the Blues Driver alongside the DS1, switching off depending on the song.

I asked a couple of friends offlist about it, and they both (independently) recommended the Fulltone OCD. I'll have to demo them both side by side.

—

Ted James
Deep Eddy Records http://www.deepeddy.net
The Nematoads http://www.nematoads.com

Top

EricB

Joined: Dec 16, 2007
Posts: 193
Newport, RI

Posted on Feb 28 2011 03:46 PM

My experience pretty much echoes Stormtiger's. It's a great pedal for a very transparent sounding overdrive. I have two effects loops on my board - the loud fuzzed out crazy loop, and the vintage surf-ish sounding loop. I have the Blues Driver on the 2nd loop to add some balls to the otherwise clean sorta sound.

A DS-1 on the other hand is a totally different animal. Hi gain, very distorted, could almost pass for fuzz on some settings. If you wanted to sorta split the difference, you could try a DS-2. In Turbo mode, it's a lot like the DS-1. But in regular mode, I found it to be pretty tame. Grittier than a Blues Driver, but not nearly as high gain as a DS-1.

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davidphantomatic

Joined: Oct 12, 2008
Posts: 580
San Antone, TX
2 Calendar Pins

Posted on Feb 28 2011 05:02 PM

I had one and it was super shrill until I modded it with the Tweed Amp mod. Then it became one of my favorite pedals.

I think in order for it to be completely usable, you definitely have to mod it.

—

The Phantomatics on Facebook
The Phantomatics on Instagram
The Phantomatics on Bandcamp

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LHR

Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
Costa Rica

Posted on Feb 28 2011 05:48 PM

I use one in front of my Twin Reverb. It does the job of adding a bit of hair adequately. It has been beefed up internally by Robert Keeley's shop. Though, in all honesty, it did not sound so bad before the mods.

—

SSIV

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bodysnatcher1

Joined: Mar 16, 2010
Posts: 215
Norwalk Ca
1 News Pin

Posted on Feb 28 2011 06:24 PM

I've never played through one, but a very notable musician and inspiration of mine told me his favorite tone is his blues driver through a roland amp. However it doesnt look as good as a fender stack

—

http://reverbnation.com/Bodysnatchers
http://facebook.com/TheBodysnatchers
http://myspace.com/TheBodysnatchers1

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JetKing64

Joined: Feb 15, 2011
Posts: 38
Tennessee

Posted on Feb 28 2011 10:25 PM

I play through one, though I use it more for rock than surf. Still, it's one of my favorite pedals.

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RobbieReverb

Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2387
San Jose, Ca.
3 News Pins

Posted on Feb 28 2011 10:46 PM

To my ears, the Blues Driver is a very good pedal. I had the Robert Keeley mod done. I liked it quite a bit before the mod, but it is way better with the mod. I also have a DS-1 that I've had since '81. Like the others have said, the Blues Driver has much lower gain, and is more transparent than the DS-1. It differs from a Tube Screamer in that it is a fuller-range pedal (better bass response, and less of the midrange bump). It also cleans up a lot better than a Tube Screamer when lightening up on your picking touch, or turning down the volume control on the guitar. The blues driver turns a clean Fender amp into an amp sounding like an overdriven Super. It's great for slide playing (Think Derek Trucks).

—

Bob

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deepeddy

Joined: May 19, 2009
Posts: 1263
Austin, Tejas
1 Link Pin

Posted on Mar 01 2011 08:14 AM

Wow! Thanks for all of the great input. I do use the DS1 mainly for fuzz. When I want feedback, I'll step on the Turbo Overdrive in conjunction with the DS1. Or if I want a really loud, screaming tone, the Turbo Overdrive works quite well.

—

Ted James
Deep Eddy Records http://www.deepeddy.net
The Nematoads http://www.nematoads.com

Top

deepeddy Joined: May 19, 2009 Posts: 1263 Austin, Tejas	Posted on Feb 28 2011 12:30 PM Ever use one? Opinions? Any ideas on how it may compare to the Boss DS1 distortion? — Ted James Deep Eddy Records http://www.deepeddy.net The Nematoads http://www.nematoads.com Top
Stormtiger Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2687 Ventura, CA	Posted on Feb 28 2011 12:42 PM I have one that I used for a little extra gain and volume, they are similar to a Tube Screamer, not nearly as much distortion as the DS1. I also had a Tube Works Butler Tube Driver (an Eric Johnson/David Gilmour favorite) I read many reviews comparing the BD favorably to the Butler, especially after a Keeley or Analog Man mod. I got rid of the Butler but still have the BD and wouldn't hesitate to use it if my Line 6 M-13 Stompbox modeler fails, which I am using because all of the effects I use are in one package and it sounds pretty good to me. Top
deepeddy Joined: May 19, 2009 Posts: 1263 Austin, Tejas	Posted on Feb 28 2011 02:53 PM Thanks for the info. Based on that, I could see myself using the Blues Driver alongside the DS1, switching off depending on the song. I asked a couple of friends offlist about it, and they both (independently) recommended the Fulltone OCD. I'll have to demo them both side by side. — Ted James Deep Eddy Records http://www.deepeddy.net The Nematoads http://www.nematoads.com Top
EricB Joined: Dec 16, 2007 Posts: 193 Newport, RI	Posted on Feb 28 2011 03:46 PM My experience pretty much echoes Stormtiger's. It's a great pedal for a very transparent sounding overdrive. I have two effects loops on my board - the loud fuzzed out crazy loop, and the vintage surf-ish sounding loop. I have the Blues Driver on the 2nd loop to add some balls to the otherwise clean sorta sound. A DS-1 on the other hand is a totally different animal. Hi gain, very distorted, could almost pass for fuzz on some settings. If you wanted to sorta split the difference, you could try a DS-2. In Turbo mode, it's a lot like the DS-1. But in regular mode, I found it to be pretty tame. Grittier than a Blues Driver, but not nearly as high gain as a DS-1. Top
davidphantomatic Joined: Oct 12, 2008 Posts: 580 San Antone, TX	Posted on Feb 28 2011 05:02 PM I had one and it was super shrill until I modded it with the Tweed Amp mod. Then it became one of my favorite pedals. I think in order for it to be completely usable, you definitely have to mod it. — The Phantomatics on Facebook The Phantomatics on Instagram The Phantomatics on Bandcamp Top
LHR Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle	Posted on Feb 28 2011 05:48 PM I use one in front of my Twin Reverb. It does the job of adding a bit of hair adequately. It has been beefed up internally by Robert Keeley's shop. Though, in all honesty, it did not sound so bad before the mods. — SSIV Top
bodysnatcher1 Joined: Mar 16, 2010 Posts: 215 Norwalk Ca	Posted on Feb 28 2011 06:24 PM I've never played through one, but a very notable musician and inspiration of mine told me his favorite tone is his blues driver through a roland amp. However it doesnt look as good as a fender stack — http://reverbnation.com/Bodysnatchers http://facebook.com/TheBodysnatchers http://myspace.com/TheBodysnatchers1 Top
JetKing64 Joined: Feb 15, 2011 Posts: 38 Tennessee	Posted on Feb 28 2011 10:25 PM I play through one, though I use it more for rock than surf. Still, it's one of my favorite pedals. Top
RobbieReverb Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 2387 San Jose, Ca.	Posted on Feb 28 2011 10:46 PM To my ears, the Blues Driver is a very good pedal. I had the Robert Keeley mod done. I liked it quite a bit before the mod, but it is way better with the mod. I also have a DS-1 that I've had since '81. Like the others have said, the Blues Driver has much lower gain, and is more transparent than the DS-1. It differs from a Tube Screamer in that it is a fuller-range pedal (better bass response, and less of the midrange bump). It also cleans up a lot better than a Tube Screamer when lightening up on your picking touch, or turning down the volume control on the guitar. The blues driver turns a clean Fender amp into an amp sounding like an overdriven Super. It's great for slide playing (Think Derek Trucks). — Bob Top
deepeddy Joined: May 19, 2009 Posts: 1263 Austin, Tejas	Posted on Mar 01 2011 08:14 AM Wow! Thanks for all of the great input. I do use the DS1 mainly for fuzz. When I want feedback, I'll step on the Turbo Overdrive in conjunction with the DS1. Or if I want a really loud, screaming tone, the Turbo Overdrive works quite well. — Ted James Deep Eddy Records http://www.deepeddy.net The Nematoads http://www.nematoads.com Top

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Boss Blues Driver