BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

[Rodney Gene]

These are truly classic low-gain transparent drives, particularly when modded to smooth out the top end or changing out an op amp. For any price they are exceptional sounding pedals with little reason not to have at hand if you play with low-drive. (Plus they are so dang cool looking) My own favorite is the original Keeley Phat mod which you cannot get done anymore (least not by Robert), but alot of other great options available. For boost, for chime, grit or transparent crunch, even though it is only 20 years old it has inspired alot of music and other pedals. Cheers, RG

 

[Southbound Suarez]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

I have a Mesa Boogie V-Twin, Fulltone Full-Drive II Mosfet, Keeley/Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive, Fulltone Robin Trower Overdrive, Foxrox Captain Coconut MkI, Skinpimp MkII, DigiTech iStomp, and a Keeley/Boss BD-2 pedals.

I use the Keeley/Boss BD-2 pedal "All Of The Time", doesn't matter what guitar or amp as it has enough gain and clarity for me for much of what I'm playing.

 

[Demanic]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

I wonder if the resale value of Keeley modded pedals is going to increase now that he's not doing them anymore?

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[Rodney Gene]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

I wonder if the resale value of Keeley modded pedals is going to increase now that he's not doing them anymore?

Who knows brother, it's been a year or so already. The guitar community is excessively particular, superstitious, trendy, self standardizing etc as well as paradoxically pragmatic. All it takes is a few sellers getting their high asking price. Right now it's still a total bargain when you can find em below 125. RG

 

[Demanic]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

I have a few of their production pedals, but only one modded one. I regret not getting more done back when I still could. I heard he did some magic with the SD-1.

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[jeremy]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

wonder how the waza version is. the stock version is the only one ive spent much time with and the harsh high end kills me. ive never owned one and have managed to get decent tones with it on the fly but i hear others use it with mixed results. granted the better players do get the goods out of it while the less experienced guys are the ones that usually use it in a way i dont like.

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

wonder how the waza version is.

The Waza version is great! The Stock mode on it is the same as a normal Blues Driver but with a much more useable tone control (it doesn't get as overtly harsh or bright as the tone control on the regular one, see how Rodney in the OP runs his at about 9 o'clock) and it runs a lot quieter than the stock BD-2s I've played in the past. The Custom mode is a boost to the low mids, similar to what the Keeley Mod does with a very slightly different flavour. I'm not as into the Custom mode because I already play with really fat humbuckers so it gets a bit flubby, but with my Tele it sounds great.

I love the BD-2, it's such a versatile pedal. I've used it as a low gain overdrive for a bit of boost and grit. Above noon you can get a really cool 80s tinged distortion out of it (I know thats how Andy Timmons runs his, and how I normally run mine if I'm playing through a clean amp), and I've even see a metal band use it as his main 'fuzz' pedal with the gain at 3 o'clock and gets a really great sound from it.

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

wonder how the waza version is. the stock version is the only one ive spent much time with and the harsh high end kills me. ive never owned one and have managed to get decent tones with it on the fly but i hear others use it with mixed results. granted the better players do get the goods out of it while the less experienced guys are the ones that usually use it in a way i dont like.

I hear ya brother Jeremy. The stock BD-2 can be brutal. Modded, it's a great natural alternative to a Timmy. It feels as if the Timmy had to have had some inspiration from the BD, but that's only speculation. Modded the top end is super smooth and something about the gain stage is so original. Amp-like but in a different way. A chimy shimmer on top of the OD sound. Makes a Tele happen-nenn'.

The Waza version is great! The Stock mode on it is the same as a normal Blues Driver but with a much more useable tone control (it doesn't get as overtly harsh or bright as the tone control on the regular one, see how Rodney in the OP runs his at about 9 o'clock) and it runs a lot quieter than the stock BD-2s I've played in the past.

That makes sense, Boss BD-2 users seem to run both sides of the fence. With this version I do have more headroom in the tone control, at least up to 2' clock with sanity and musicality. But I find it is often in direct relationship to the gain level and corresponding compression. Low gain, low tone. I was running a vintage Ibanez with Super 70's out of phase today.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

They are good. The waza is particularly good and works nicely with humbuckers, but i prefer a nobels odr-1 in the role of "just a bit more" from a tele and fender amp.
Still, all this stuff is just more colours for the palette.

 

[Diego]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

I use a half-way Keeley modded (by myself) Blues Driver for everything to Deep Purple to Mastodon through my Tweaker 15 head.
It does great things to a dirty amp. Through clean it's a bit weird but it sits just right goosing extra juice from an overdriven tube amp.

I've had lots of OD pedals and the BD2 has stayed, and will stay for many years to come.

 

[Southbound Suarez]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

I wonder if the resale value of Keeley modded pedals is going to increase now that he's not doing them anymore?

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Who cares if they're a mandatory part of one's arsenal.

 

[Demanic]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

Just a thought. I'm not planning on selling mine.

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[Southbound Suarez]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

I use a half-way Keeley modded (by myself) Blues Driver for everything to Deep Purple to Mastodon through my Tweaker 15 head.
It does great things to a dirty amp. Through clean it's a bit weird but it sits just right goosing extra juice from an overdriven tube amp.

I've had lots of OD pedals and the BD2 has stayed, and will stay for many years to come.

:bigthumb:

 

[HiFiRebel]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

I have one with the Brent Mason mod. I used to really like it, but after coming back to it after some years away, it isn't working for me too much anymore. Nice pedal, but it's time for it to go.

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

They are good. The waza is particularly good and works nicely with humbuckers, but i prefer a nobels odr-1 in the role of "just a bit more" from a tele and fender amp.
Still, all this stuff is just more colours for the palette.

Cam, cheers. The Nobles ODR-1 comes up for sale (here in the US anyway) often and cheap in my own field of gear sources. I always passed them up in the past. I'd like to check one out. They are often no more than $50. I am not a fan or user of Roberts modern pedals but the Keeley modded BD-2 platform is as sweet (sound, feel, response) as any pedal that I own. Would love to see how the Nobles stacks up.

I use a half-way Keeley modded (by myself) Blues Driver for everything to Deep Purple to Mastodon through my Tweaker 15 head.
It does great things to a dirty amp. Through clean it's a bit weird but it sits just right goosing extra juice from an overdriven tube amp.

I've had lots of OD pedals and the BD2 has stayed, and will stay for many years to come.

Hey brother, how do you 1/2 way mod it? No phat switch? No component swaps?

I have one with the Brent Mason mod. I used to really like it, but after coming back to it after some years away, it isn't working for me too much anymore. Nice pedal, but it's time for it to go.

I remember that mod. I had/have Brians original mod book from years back, it has at least five cool options for the BD-2. As far as not working for you right now, I get it. Personally if it were mine I would find a way to tuck that pedal away again or have it re-modded. It would provide so much more value than the scratch I might get for it used. It is such a sweet platform and tone needs always cycle around which is how this whole gig and industry keeps pedaling forward.

 

[HiFiRebel]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

I may hang onto it. It is a good platform.

 

[Diego]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

Hey brother, how do you 1/2 way mod it? No phat switch? No component swaps?.

Hey Rodney! Nothing fancy. I had all the instructions for a Keeley mod, did all the tone tweaking goodies to increase mids and reduce shrillness, and left the phat as a constant thing although not as fat as the original, and left out some mods to reduce noise.
So don't think much of it.

I was too lazy to end the job and I lost the paper where I wrote the mods I didn't do. So it's kinda unique I guess? I'm basically stuck with a half assed job. Ha!
I still wanna buy another BD2, have it fully pimped then compare what I've been missing!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: BOSS BD-2 Modded Blues Driver

Cam, cheers. The Nobles ODR-1 comes up for sale (here in the US anyway) often and cheap in my own field of gear sources. I always passed them up in the past. I'd like to check one out.

It really surprises me that you haven't!
I thought it was a staple in your neck of the woods, especially for tele/fender amp guys.