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Average Price: $102
Standard/Professional
$50
$176+
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Price History
Based on price data from 7 merchants for "Boss BD-2 Blues Driver". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Step into the realm of vintage blues with the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver, a compact stompbox that replicates the warm, emotive distortion of a classic tube amplifier. This pedal is more than just a sound effect; it's an invitation to explore the rich heritage of blues and rock, from the subtle whispers of soft jazz to the raw screams of hard rock.
Unlike the vintage tube amps it emulates, the BD-2 is designed to endure the rough and tumble of the road. Its sturdy metal chassis is robust enough to withstand constant use while being compact enough to fit any pedalboard setup. The BD-2 is not just a replication of a vintage amp; it's an improvement, offering consistent performance without the bulk and fragility.
The BD-2's controls are simple but effective - Gain, Tone, and Level. These controls allow you to navigate the full spectrum of bluesy tones, from a gentle crunch to a fully saturated distortion. The responsiveness of these knobs lets you dial in the perfect high-end contour and match the output to your amp, ensuring your tone always cuts through the mix.
The BD-2 is a testament to BOSS's commitment to quality and reliability. Whether you're a beginner looking for your first pedal or a seasoned pro looking to add a new flavor to your sound, the BD-2 Blues Driver is a pedalboard essential.
Key Features:
- Tube Amp Emulation: Experience the warm, natural overdrive of a vintage tube amp.
- Durable Construction: A sturdy metal chassis designed for the rigors of the road.
- Responsive Controls: Gain, Tone, and Level knobs offer a spectrum of bluesy tones.
- Consistent Performance: Runs on a 9V battery or optional power supply.
- BOSS Quality: Built to last, offering reliable performance for years.
Owner's manual
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver User ManualProduct specs
| Pedal Type | Overdrive |
| Analog/Digital | Analog |
| Inputs | 1 x 1/4" |
| Outputs | 1 x 1/4" |
| Bypass Switching | Buffered |
| EQ | Tone Control |
| Power Source | 9V DC power supply (sold separately) |
| Batteries | 1 x 9V |
| Power Usage | 20mA |
| Height | 2.37" |
| Width | 2.87" |
| Depth | 5.12" |
| Weight | 1 lbs. |
FAQs
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What type of overdrive tone can I expect from the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver?
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The Boss BD-2 Blues Driver delivers a warm, tube-like overdrive that is highly dynamic and responsive, making it ideal for blues, rock, and country genres. It preserves the natural tone of your guitar while adding a smooth, creamy overdrive.
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Is the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver suitable for use with both electric and acoustic guitars?
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Yes, the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver can be used with both electric and acoustic guitars, offering a natural-sounding overdrive that enhances the tonal qualities of each instrument.
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Does the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver work well with other pedals on a pedalboard?
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The Boss BD-2 Blues Driver integrates seamlessly with other pedals, making it a versatile addition to any pedalboard. It complements a variety of effects, including delays and reverbs, without overpowering them.
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What power supply does the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver require?
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The Boss BD-2 Blues Driver operates on a 9V power supply, either from a 9V battery or a standard 9V DC power adapter, making it convenient for most pedalboard setups.
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How does the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver compare to other overdrive pedals?
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The Boss BD-2 Blues Driver is celebrated for its natural, tube-like overdrive and exceptional dynamic response. Unlike more compressed or mid-focused overdrives, the BD-2 allows your guitar’s tone and picking nuances to shine through. It works equally well as a mild boost or as a gritty, edge-of-breakup drive, making it a favorite for blues, rock, and expressive lead work. The BD-2W Waza Craft retains the classic BD-2 character in Standard mode, but introduces a Custom mode that adds more body, warmth, and gain. It's slightly smoother and richer, with a more refined low end and less top-end harshness when pushed. If you find this standard BD-2 a bit too “fizzy” at higher gain, the BD-2W might fix that without losing what makes the pedal great. Compared to the iconic Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, the BD-2 is more transparent, has broader frequency response, and is better for clean-to-dirty dynamics. The TS9 is more compressed, mid-heavy, "sings" in a mix but colors your tone more.
Equipboard's Expert Review
Equipboard tested this
Bluesy Overdrive Delight
We’ve been loyal to BOSS for a reason: their reputation for durability and reliability is legendary. So when we got our hands on the BD-2 Blues Driver, our expectations were sky-high—and it didn’t disappoint.
Our first impression? This pedal is built like a tank, as you’d expect from BOSS. The solid construction instills confidence that it can withstand the rigors of touring and heavy gigging. Right out of the box, the BD-2 feels substantial and robust.
The control layout is straightforward with just three knobs—Level, Tone, and Gain. It’s incredibly intuitive, allowing even less experienced players to dial in a usable tone quickly. We found the knobs to be responsive and smooth, making it easy to tweak on the fly.
Now, let’s talk sound. The BD-2 excels at delivering a transparent overdrive that maintains the character of your guitar and amp. This transparency is a double-edged sword; it’s a blessing for purists but might be too bright or brittle for others. We found that dialing back the Tone knob helped mitigate some of the brightness, especially when playing through single-coil pickups.
This pedal shines in its versatility. It performed admirably across various genres—classic rock, punk, even some metal. The dynamic response is another highlight; it reacts well to changes in playing dynamics and guitar volume, offering a nuanced overdrive experience.
However, there are some caveats. When pushing the Gain past noon, the BD-2 gets a bit noisy. This isn’t a deal-breaker for us, but it’s something to consider if you need a pristine signal.
Bottom line: The BD-2 Blues Driver is a fantastic addition to any rig, especially for musicians who value tonal transparency and dynamic response. It’s perfect for blues, rock, and even heavier genres, but if you’re sensitive to brightness or need a noise-free pedal, you might want to look elsewhere. At its price point, it’s a solid investment that holds its own against pricier boutique options.
Videos
BOSSchannel
BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver [BOSS Sound Check]
![Video thumbnail for BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver [BOSS Sound Check] by BOSSchannel](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Po9K258e1y4/mqdefault.jpg)
BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver [BOSS Sound Check]
BOSSchannel
Guitar Pedals for CHEAP! Boss BD-2 Blues Driver Overdrive Pedal - Thursday Gear Video
Marty Music
What Makes This Pedal Great? Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
Wampler Pedals
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver | Reverb Demo Video
Reverb
4 Blues Driver Style Pedals (Boss BD-2, Waza Craft, Mooer, Keeley)
The Pedal Bored
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver Pedal Demo W/Fender Stratocaster
David Dayton
A Blues Guitarist Tries the BOSS Blues Driver BD-2 Pedal - My Review
intheblues
How to use a Boss Blues Driver BD-2
Jeff Starr's Not Bad Films
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver | The Best Overdrive Pedal Ever?
Jack Fossett
A Blues Guitarist and the BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver Pedal
intheblues
4 Great Sounds with the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver!
SRGuitar
BOSS BLUES DRIVER BD 2 DEMO
Sandy Ridge Music
Reviews
PROS
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Highly versatile, covering a wide range of sounds from blues to heavy distortion
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Durable and reliable, capable of withstanding heavy use
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Can be used as both a primary drive and a clean boost
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Offers a dynamic and responsive overdrive
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Transparent overdrive allows for the guitar's character to shine through
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Effective in both live and studio settings
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Compatible with other pedals for expanded sound options
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Easy to replace battery and set up
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Works well with various guitar types, enhancing tone
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Provides great value for its price
CONS
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May not be the best choice for metal genres without modifications
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Some users find the pedal a bit too bright and need to adjust settings
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The full gain setting may not be as easy to dial in as on some competitors
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Using a transformer with a battery installed can cause unpredictable behavior
Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 101 Reviews and 624 Ratings
87
Solid boost/overdrive - underrated high-gain distortion
This thing rivals my turbo RAT clone (black secret) as a high gain distortion. Try the rat running low gain (8'o'clock) into this thing at 3'o'clock and the note clarity is unbeatable. Only minor gripe is that the treble is like an ice pick to the face unless the tone knob is below noon. But once it's in that sweet spot its a dark, gnarly machine. Currently running it as a slightly dirty boost into a low gain RAT.
Preferred Settings + Usage:
Level - max
Gain - 9'o'clock
Tone - 10'o'clock
60
Great OD
Use it as a low gain booster pedal paired with my jcm 900 distortion it sounds great
Preferred Settings + Usage:
low gain (think reverse L where that reverse L is that where my gain is), level maxed out, tone slightly rolled back (pointing at o in the little tone words)
187
near perfect
Gets all the tones i need along with the ds2 and lizard queen. no notes.
832
Exceptional and inexpensive
You can pick these up for <£100 and it's an absolute classic for a reason. So much gain on tap if you need it or a solid boost to a driven amp, works both ways, and being Boss it's built like a tank.
522
More than a classic overdrive
My first transparent overdrive that I've ever used, I replaced a SD-1 with this one and I don't regret the buy. This Blues Driver pedal makes my guitar sounds like the classic overdriven amp that I've heard thousand of times in a lot of records, it's organic. Just for that, is a winner.
But this pedal hides in their circuit more than a classic overdrive, because when you turn the gain up it's shows that it can be a distortion/fuzz pedal, it can do the job nicely.
I usually do my gain stacking with a Klon after the BD-2, and it's sounds very strong. But my main use for this BD-2 it's for a rhythmic guitar. Some people say it's weird to do solos with this pedal, it's true, it sounds a bit strident, but you only need to do some EQ on the amp (or a pedal) to get rid of this frequencies that are out of the way.
266
great
stop complaining about this pedal's tone and take the time out of your day to mess around with it and get a good tone! it doesn't just happen. I crank the distortion all the way up on this thing and set the tone to where it's just a little bass-heavy. then I set the volume of this pedal to be just hair louder than my clean/dry amp volume. and then I use this pedal for 4/5 songs and get complimented on my guitar tone. this thing is amazing, appropriately priced, and versatile as hell.
Preferred Settings + Usage:
Genres: Punk Rock, Hard Rock, Blues Rock
922
Classic for a reason
Great pedal with a lot of versatility. Useful for almost every genre. I personally like to use it for a light overdrive (bluesey player) but I've cranked it a few times and it can get into some pretty heavy distortion quick. Highly recommend.
One of the best!
The BOSS BD-2 has been on my list of effects that I've wanted since i was a teenager. My brothers friend who was a fantastic musician used 2 of them, one as his main drive, the other to boost it into saturated heaven. I only have one myself but it took me 15 years to finally get around to getting one. I've gone through roughly 20 or so drive pedals (if not more) in that time, constantly trying to find something I love that I could say is MY tone. I have that with my Battlehammer (look in my gear for that) but i had to have a BD2 because i could never escape its allure. I love stacking it with the Bad Monkey as it makes it sustain for days. I use this as my primary drive when im doing covers, the BH is for the heavier stuff. I use it a lot and dialled back a bit when writing for passages that i want a lighter drive running as i feel it sounds better dialled back than the likes of the Hotwax (I think the HW is better dimed for that amp like crunch)
I have always adored this pedal, I would think with other effects that its due to the history I had with it while learning how to play and trying to find my own sound all those years ago but i think the BD 2 speaks for itself. Its infamously fantastic and I think its a pedal all other ODs should be compared to for how versatile they are. Easily in my top 3 effects units I've ever tried!
165
I can't fault it
And I don't know what else to say. It's all I need on a pedal like this one. It seasons the sound with a blues like vibe I can't quite explain. It also boosts the sound and helps my amp distort when i need it to do so without having to go to the amp controls. Well. it's a Drive pedal, it's boss so you know it will (probably) last forever and it sounds amazing. If your music styles include Jazz, Blues, 50's 60's rock and such, this pedal is one to consider
382
The Juice
My always on pedal. I keep the gain very low or sometimes dialed all the way back and it just adds so much flavor. I’ll never replace or part ways with it. I even sleep with it at times and tuck it in good night. After a bedtime story and goodnight kiss of course..
Artist usage
Add artist
In this photo, a Boss Blues Driver can be seen on Kevin Parker's pedalboard.
From Billie Joe's guitar tech speaking about his pedals, "Blues Driver, and that's it. I'll just kind of, depending upon the song, manipulate it to get feedback or gain or whatever."
"There was some stuff where to get a really big tone, we’d just plug a guitar through a Boss Blues Driver and mess around with different echoes and delays." - Guitar Player.
In this video you can see a glimpse of his board. The colouration and shape of the end pedal appears to be that of a Boss Blues Driver.
In this interview from the April 2000 issue of Guitar World magazine, Robert explains his pedalboard circa the recording of the album Bloodflowers.
In this Instagram post from May of 2021, you can see a Boss Blues Driver on the floor infront of Mike, right next to the EHX Pitchfork. The white text on the switch indicates it may be the Waza Craft version.
In this pic of Prince's pedalboard you can see the blues driver on the left of the mic-stand.
At 8:40, Frank says "currently for my main tone...it is a Orange Thunderverb 200 watt, which I overdrive with a Blues Driver."
Boss Blues Driver can be seen here
Andy Timmons' guitar tech points out his Boss BD-2 at 10:23 in this video.
At second 0:13 of this video you can see Tash's pedalboard with the Boss BD-2 blue pedal.
In 2015 Premier Guitar interview, a Boss BD-2 is listed among Courtney Barnett's gear. The pedal is also present in 2018 Guitar Center interview, and 2018 Noisegate interview.
Album Usage
The Boss BD-2 Blues Driver has been featured on the following albums:
Wrongderful
mcbaise (2025)
Kahırlı Merdiven
Adamlar (2024)
El Caserito, Vol. 17 (En Vivo)
Kidchen (2024)
Quejas Innecesarias
Kidchen (2023)
Just For You (triple j Like A Version)
Kim Churchill (2023)
TUBES
mcbaise (2021)
You Misread Me
Portland (2020)
MR MAJESTIC
Donna Grantis (2019)
DIAMONDS & DYNAMITE
Donna Grantis (2019)
Ever Be
Strawberry Lace (2019)
Take That Man
IV of Spades (2018)
Mundo
IV of Spades (2018)
Red Trees and White Trashes
Jesse Welles (2018)
Spotify Singles
Jesse Welles (2018)
Rock N Roll
Jesse Welles (2018)
Seventeen
Jesse Welles (2018)
Monnos
Conan (2016)
States
The Paper Kites (2013)
Lonerism
Tame Impala & Kevin Parker (2012)
InnerSpeaker
Tame Impala & Kevin Parker (2010)
The Fall
Norah Jones (2009)
Frances the Mute
The Mars Volta (2005)
Snailking
Ufomammut (2004)
Bloodflowers
The Cure (2000)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Boss BD-2 Blues Driver, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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Community setups
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Similar
Add recommendation21 alternative and related items for Boss BD-2 Blues Driver, curated by the Equipboard community.
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A great budget BD-2 clone with a two band EQ. Not unlike the legendary Bad Monkey.
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Formerly known as the Muse Driver, the MK3 is Keeley's most evolved take on the Blues Driver circuit.
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A combination of the stock BD-2 and the JHS Angry Charlie, the JB-2 allows you to stack these independently or run them in parallel.
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Allows for the pedal to be used as a clean boost with no clipping and tames the 'ice pick' many players complain about.
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Produced by Keeley after the closing of their mod shop. Effectively the same as their Blues Driver mod.
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