This popular pedal provides instant access to the kind of warm overdrive and emotive distortion usually reserved for 30yearold tube amps. However, in a discussion on the ten club community forums, it is mentioned that he uses both the ibanez tube screamer ts9 and the boss blues driver bd2. Looking for the best pedal for a good hendrix blues tone. There are a ton of ts, rat, and blues breaker clones or. Ibanez tubescreamer ts9 vs boss blues driver bd2 pedal. In praise of the humble, underrated boss blues driver. Gpx blog 12 of the best blues driver style pedals guitar pedal x. They stack great together, so why not get a cheap used blues driver and try it out stacked or alongside each other.
Blues driver and tube screamer are two ive been looking at, but not sure which one i like better. Ive really been trying to get away from pedals for my drive tones. In praise of the humble, underrated boss blues driver reverb news. Interesting, picking up my first strat made me really dislike my tube screamer. The blues driver will cut thru a little more and has overtones that almost make me think its like a classic fuzztone subtly blended into a tube screamer. Heres an overdrive pedal shootout between a boss blues driver and an ibanez tube screamer. If youre after a smoother, balanced lead tone, the. That pedal show tube screamer, blues driver, king of tone duration. The blues driver will cut thru a little more and has overtones that almost make me think its like a classic fuzztone subtly blended into a. It can get you that warm and vibrant sound of an overdriven speaker stack. Its also so standardmiddle of the road its like the honda civic of overdrive pedals. I just pickedup up 2 ts9 analogman silver mod pedals to alleviate these issues dont have to pick an order. Learn about the best tube screamer clones with our ultimate list.
The blues driver bd2 is a powerful pedal that provides excellent sound, tone and overdrive. I use the tube screamer with fender guitars to get more dirt and to cut through the mix, and blues driver for a clean boost or a bit of grit on fender and gibson guitars. Dec 09, 20 heres an overdrive pedal shootout between a boss blues driver and an ibanez tube screamer. Is a blues drivertype circuit redundant on a board with klon. I say, if you want that sound, go with the original. Also, i have used the tube screamer as an overdrive pedal and a clean boost. The tube screamer is a nice pedal and i think if it was between a stock bd2 and the tube screamer i would choose the tube screamer. The fulltone full drive 2 is also a nice pedal as well as the reverend train.
Blues tone with blues junior and keeley bd2 blues driver duration. March 24, 2016 leave a comment amp overdrive effects pedals have been used on countless recordings throughout history and are crucial in creating the sounds needed for blues, punk, classical rock, etc. Some of them are clones of the original model, and the others are a version based on the same technologies and sounds. More like a tube screamer without the mids so it comes across as more transparent. Seems to me that the tube screamer cant do the cleaner settings like the boss does but the the bd2 doesnt have as much overdrive either. In our recently profile of mike mccready of pearl jam, we mentionned he used the ibanez tube screamer. Ibanez ts9 tube screamer vs boss sd1 super overdrive battle of the screamers duration. Well, i do understand why you are torn between the two. The blues driver seems to fit with many rock players who are looking for a blues sound, whereas the tube screamer is what many blues players use to raunch up their blues a bit.
More than 20 years on, the boss bd2 blues driver has become a staple for players across genres. Jan 14, 20 vintage ibanez ts9 vs boss blues driver bd2 fender stratocaster vox ac30. But hey, if you are on a tight budget, ts9 is around thirty percent more affordable than the first tube screamer. While the blues driver has a very warm, full sound the tube screamer is far more biting and bright. I mean, thats where its reputation stems from and what spawned a thousand imitators and clones. Its warm overdrive is a sound many players, from advanced to beginner, could never do without. Oct, 2008 tube screamer as it is more natural sounding to me. While there are several tube screamer models out there, vs. The tube screamer has a pronounced mid boost and gets dirty more quickly.
That pedal show tube screamer, blues driver, king of tone. Vintage ibanez ts9 vs boss blues driver bd2 fender stratocaster vox ac30. How do two of rocks most iconic distortions stack up against each other. Read here how each pedal handles, sounds, and costs. Phil gates takes you on a guided tour of the bd2 blues driver. I played the ts9 before to test it out and i liked the clean. This is due to the substantial midrange boost the circuitry gives the sound. Ibanez tubescreamer vs boss sd1 fender stratocaster. A guide to the best distortion pedals on the market. The blues driver stays on all the time at a low level with a twin reverb and i use the tube screamer as the boostoverdrive for solos. The bd2 blues driver delivers the creamy, yet crunchy sound associated with great blues guitar. We all love that sweet spot on an amp where the circuit and tubes are.
Having said that, the blues driver is a dang good pedal with many, many useful tones hidden inside. It also has a reliable performance similar to the tube screamer ts808. Boss blues driver vs ts9 tube screamer ultimate guitar. Two pedals often compared for their similar effect is the boss blues driver and the ibanez tube screamer. Is a blues drivertype circuit redundant on a board with. The blues driver is in no way even similar to a tube screamer, and there is more to an ocd than a plexi in a box. Vintage ibanez ts9 vs boss blues driver bd2 youtube. But, the bd2 has the edge when it comes to overall. So which will win the battle of bd2 vs ts808 pedals. So within my pedal chain i have 4 key lowtomidgain overdrives ranging from klon style, to tube screamer style, to dumble style and onto blues driver type the way i have it each gets progressively gainier, in fact i have a 5th medium gain overdrive which used to be an ocd, but has now been displaced by the hamstead intergalactic driver. I am considering tube screamer vs blues one of these two pedals. The ibanez ts808 tube screamer is the most commonly used overdrive pedal by professionals, first released back in the 1970s, but still a worldwide favorite amongst hobby players and touring professionals. The blues driver is a bit more dynamic and versatile.
I want to get rid of my gnx3 and buy one or the other. Ibanez tubescreamer vs boss sd 1 fender stratocaster guitar. This way i can combine them and really get over the top if thats what i want to do. Tube screamer as it is more natural sounding to me. I use a blues driver and ts808 bothmodded by keeley and they work well. Tonemonkeyapr, welcome to the gearslutz pro audio community. What are the advantages of the boss bd2 blues driver. Ibanez tube screamer and boss bd2 blues driver are two pedals with sterling reputations. The tube screamer would give you more gain than the blues driver, the bd is more of a medium gain od pedal than any sort of distortion.
Ok so i have a boss blues driver but ive been thinking about switching it out for a ts9. Im playing a prs custom 24 and a fender blues deluxe. Blues driver discussion in the effect effect started by kevin8122006, mar 11, 2009. As far as specifics, the tube screamer does midheavy smooth break up extremely well. Fender forums view topic boss blues driver versus ibanez. Dec 06, 2009 looking for the best pedal for a good hendrix blues tone. However, if you want that retro vibe and you dont have a problem with your budget, you can go ahead and have a ts808.
If youre a blues and country player looking for a more subtle overdrive, both do very well and are widely used. The blues driver is very much not a tube screamer, so they fill very different needs. You can also use the bd2 to get more out of you amps natural breakup. The ibanez tube screamer, in its many versions and forms, can be found on pedal boards in every corner of the globe, on arena stages, in small studios, and bedrooms.
It seems to be a tube screamer with some snottier attitude. Bluesbreaker vs blues driver i have a keeley modded blues driver and its my favorite pedal for soloing, i love the tone alone with humbuckers and run simotaniously with my tube screamer for singles. I use more than one because i keep them at low gain except for the ts808. The tube screamer from ibanez is one of the most highlyrated guitar effect pedals on the market. If you got another pedal you would suggest let me know. Fulltone ocd vs boss blues driver discussion in the effect effect started by rockerxdx, dec 22, 20. Ibanez tubescreamer ts9 vs boss blues driver bd2 youtube.
If youre using it for a different od sound, not just as a boost, you may find that you like it before the blues driver. The bd2 earned its place in the stompbox hall of fame thanks to those evolutions and the ways it continues to. I would go for the tube screamer, or if you go boss get a bd2 or od3 instead. You can stack them, too that is, turn on both for more volume and dirt. Not only this, but it has also become a base for the development of many innovative overdrive pedals. The ibanez tube screamer and boss blues driver are two of the most popular and acclaimed overdrive pedals of all time both are similar in what they do they mimic the sound of a tube amp distorting, giving you more sustain and a more aggressive sound that is still responsive to your playing and clear. Apr 28, 2020 learn about the best tube screamer clones with our ultimate list. If you want an edgier overdrive tone, with the ability to crank up the gain. Ive got a stock bd2 and i really like it but it can sound a little shrill and fizzy from time to time.
Ive had both but got rid of the blues driver and just have the ts9 now. You can also expect an excellent tone and sound effect in the ts808. Tube screamer vs blues drivers drivers from core zeam. I also use a butler tube driver and a lovepedal eternity. For the sound of the guitar on its own the tube screamer can be off putting due to this biting quality but when placed in the context of a full band mix, the sound of the tube screamer really helps the guitar cut through. Blues driver bd2 vs tube screamer ts 808 and the winner is. Maybe im just a little too picky but the screamer is what i bought after hearing the blues driver at that show. But, the blues driver has more bass girth as well as a more cutting top end.
Bluesbreaker vs blues driver i have a keeley modded blues driver and its my favorite pedal for soloing, i love the tone alone with humbuckers. The blues driver is probably my favorite nonboutique drive and is the one that. Bd2 blues driver guitar pedal the perfect tone for blues the bd2 blues driver delivers the creamy, yet crunchy sound associated with great blues guitar. Ibanez tubescreamer vs boss sd1 discussion in the effect effect started by. I agree with chris that the blues driver sounds similar to the tube screamer. In its time, it has inspired pedal tinkerers, builders, and even its own parent company to make the humble overdrive even better. This would be a great pedal to add to your pedal board if youre looking to play with an overdrive pedal that. Basically a low to mid overdrive pedal that plays well with most amps. So within my pedal chain i have 4 key lowtomidgain overdrives ranging from klon style, to tube screamer style, to dumble style and onto blues driver type the way i have it each gets progressively gainier, in fact i have a 5th medium gain overdrive which used to be an ocd, but has now. Love my tube screamer but also fond of my boss blues driver. Ibanez tube screamer ts 9 vs boss blues driver overdrive. Actually id more likely be in the market for the tube screamer mini as its comparable in price i can actually pick up a used one in the next day or so for. This is a little known trick used by many tube screamer vs blues in the studio, and you can compensate for the eq of the distortion pedal itself, which many find lacking.