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BD-2, a cheaper tube screamer?

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11/12/2000 4:28 AM

BD-2, a cheaper tube screamer?

After trying seemingly every dist/OD/fuzz on the planet, I have decided I prefer the TS-9. the main thing I like is the mid boost it has, it just seems to make it more "chunky". anyway, I kind of wanted to get two, one to just color the sound and one to boost things.
I was wondering how the Boss blues driver differs from the TS-9. they are $30-$40 cheaper. does it have the "big mid" like the TS-9?
Also, I have heard that the Boss super overdrive(SD-1) is also close to a tubescreamer. how does the tonality of this pedal compare to that of a TS?
thanks,
Josh

11/13/2000 7:58 AM

I think the consensus is that the SD1 has less of a pronounced mid spike than a ts. I bought a SD1 at a pawnshop for $10 a few years ago, and my Ts went in the closet.
The Boss is a little more aggressive, while at the same time doesn't seem to force it's personality on your tone as much as the TS does.
I modded my Sd1 with a different input cap switch to go between 'stock' and low boost settings.
then I put a switch in my modded fuzz face to go from 'stock' to a less bassy position. Now I have 9 combinations between the 2 pedals where I used to have 3.
anyway, getting an SD1 to use along with the TS would be more interesting than 2 TS's
Not familiar with the BD2, but people seem to compare it favorably to the TS.

11/13/2000 9:20 AM
Anders	I don't think the SD-1 comes close to a TS, even if the schematic is really close. Joe is right about the BOSS being a little more agressive (probably because the 3 diode arrangement giving assymetric distortion) but on the other hand I don't think it gives as much sustain as the TS. I love the TS sound but I never cared about my SD-1.

11/13/2000 4:09 PM

I have no idea what the thing sounds like, but looking at the schematic (thank you Patrik Eriksson)(http://home.hawaii.rr.com/stompbox/Bd-2_1.jpg and http://home.hawaii.rr.com/stompbox/Bd-2_2.jpg) it sure is a different beast. Interesting schem, for one, what's with the diodes between + and - inputs on IC1b? Never seen that before?
A friend does own one, he claims the BD2 does more blues raunch on it's own, while a TS9 is more suited to drive a valve amp into saturation - so for less than earsplitting good blues sound it should be great. I think. Who knows?

11/13/2000 6:02 PM

Mike & Josh,

I have the Blues Driver and I really like it. In fact, I like it better than the Tube Screamers. For one thing, it has more gain (to my ears) than the TS, and it doesn't have the mid hump. It can be a tad bright, especially with single coils, so I keep the tone control at about 9 o'clock. I also use it as a clean boost, turning up the level and turning down the gain, you know the drill.

I used to own a TS-808, and I consider the BD better sounding and more versitile than the TS pedals.

My $.02

Steve

11/13/2000 8:33 PM
Josh	Hmmm... if the bd-2 doesn't have that mid boost going, I don't think I want it. one thing I really like about the TS is the way it colors the sound. I like it so much, I was going to buy two, one to just color the sound "cleanly" and the other actually set to distort. Josh

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