The Boss BD-2 Blues Driver for Country Picking

[Aceguitar1]

Hey everyone! Knowing how popular the Boss BD-2 Blue Driver is, I was excited to do a bit of country picking with a brand new one on my channel. I tend not to use much (if any) overdrive for my own chicken picking stuff, but when I do, I still try to keep the drive pretty low – more like an “edge of breakup” sound with some EQ from the pedal as opposed to full drive.

I chose to do this video with three different levels of gain on three different country styles, ending the video with a “high gain” clip. For those who are wondering, the “high gain” on the Alt. Country style is meant to sit pretty low volume in the mix. Artists like Cody Jinks tend to have a fairly gainy guitar that sits low and just adds a bit of texture to the primary acoustic track. I do not really like to use high gain guitars on most country sub-genres, but I tried to work with an example that would keep it useful and a bit tasteful.

Either way, I’d love to hear from anyone who still uses one of these pedals as their primary or even as an alternative drive on their boards!

 

[stevo]

Oi mate - that sounds great!

I would have never picked a BD-2 myself as they've always come across as quite fizzy even at low gain. But if you're generally staccato picking without a lot of sustain, it seems to work well.

Have you tried a Paisley drive?

 

[Aceguitar1]

Oi mate - that sounds great!

I would have never picked a BD-2 myself as they've always come across as quite fizzy even at low gain. But if you're generally staccato picking without a lot of sustain, it seems to work well.

Have you tried a Paisley drive?

Thank you! Yeah, like most pedals the BD-2 definitely has its limitations. However, I was surprised that I got the amount of versatility out of it that I did. I thoroughly enjoyed playing with the pedal.

I have played the Paisley drive and the Paisley Deluxe -- both great pedals! I have to push myself to do more with overdrive because I usually play super clean, but it is really tough to beat Wampler drive boxes. I have the Belle and the Hot Wired (of course) among others.

 

[stevo]

Thank you! Yeah, like most pedals the BD-2 definitely has its limitations. However, I was surprised that I got the amount of versatility out of it that I did. I thoroughly enjoyed playing with the pedal.

I have played the Paisley drive and the Paisley Deluxe -- both great pedals! I have to push myself to do more with overdrive because I usually play super clean, but it is really tough to beat Wampler drive boxes. I have the Belle and the Hot Wired (of course) among others.

For that style of music I saw you playing, it seems like fat with low fizz is the order of the day. Belle types look like a common choice for a lot of guys in that club. I really want a Nordland ODC-R. Kind of pricey though.

 

[Pine Apple Slim]

One of my fav drives at low gain, but too fizzy for me once the gain gets above 2 or 3 on the dial. For more sustain and gain I much prefer the smoother and rounder Nobels style.

 

[Byron]

I had a blues driver, Keely modded. Misplaced it so bought a Mooer Blues Mood which is a copy. But. It's just way better! Sorry Boss, it's cheaper, less fizzy and more focused somehow. I'd recommend it

 

[Aceguitar1]

I had a blues driver, Keely modded. Misplaced it so bought a Mooer Blues Mood which is a copy. But. It's just way better! Sorry Boss, it's cheaper, less fizzy and more focused somehow. I'd recommend it

I have never played the Mooer Blues Mood, but it sounds like should try one if I ever get the chance!

 

[Aceguitar1]

One of my fav drives at low gain, but too fizzy for me once the gain gets above 2 or 3 on the dial. For more sustain and gain I much prefer the smoother and rounder Nobels style.

Yeah, I really enjoyed the low gain setting on the BD-2. Honestly, the moderate drive setting that I used in this clip was also quite fun if I stayed on the lower strings. However, like you said, getting into the higher notes added a "fizz" sound that was not great. I like the ODR ciruit, too! I have a Wampler Belle that does that sound excellently.

 

[WillyW]

I just got the waza version, it really opens up the possibilities with this already awesome pedal.

 

[Danno]

Great playing. I love the BD-2. Many do love it others not so much. Looks like you are in good company, the Official Boss Youtube Channel suggests it in one of their videos (5 video series)

 

[hcsterg]

I tested long ago the standard BOSS BD-2 for a time, but not kept it, finally... I found it less than terrible and went for DOD 250 instead, which sounded much better, more touch-responsive to my ears at low to medium drive settings.

But it's me, OK ?

A+!

 

[Teledriver]

I first got mine a year or two after they were released. Mine has never really been used as overdrive per se. When live with the band I never really went above 2 or 3 (9:00) maximum, and that was only for certain songs where I wanted to dig in or rock out. Any more than that was fizzzzz.
I thought I had a bad pedal or something, but I knew that at the lower gain setting I liked it very much.
It was only after the internet entered my life that I found the vast majority of BD-2 owners never really go above that position either- I hate that I had to re-invent the wheel, but at least I did find the sweet-spot for this pedal (IMHO).
Now I notice I rarely even go above 0 on the gain. There is just some magic in this pedal, it adds a boost and some color. Hard to go without sometimes. I place it in front of a Wampler Plexidrive Mini (at/near unity volume, gain at <1, for 70's rock, usually through a Les Paul) and it just adds a tiny but nice color/boost for a solo or lead. My wife wouldn't notice it, most probably wouldn't either, but I do.
If I just wanna play an electric straight to amp, but with some slight grit, this is the one pedal I tap on.

Nice video, and good explanation of the 'what and why'.

 

[Chmason85]

My all time favorite so far is the Earthquaker devices “Plumes” OD. It’s so versatile; I used it with my RHH just to thicken the clean sound and use it now with my YJM Strat for full on shred, it does it all and not fizzy.