Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II main image

Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II

$34.86 Price Tier: Budget

4.0 (44)

2 Critic Reviews

3 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II

4 community setups

8 wishlisted

104 saved

Page last updated Jul 04, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated July 4, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (19)

$34.86 22 available Used

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Average Price: $35

Budget/Beginner

$50

$176+

Price Tier

In the Overdrive Effects Pedals category, Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II is priced in the Budget/Beginner range. This is great gear to get started with or for creators on a budget.

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High-end

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Description

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Introducing the Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II, an evolution of the classic Bluesbreaker pedal with added versatility. This pedal offers two switchable modes, allowing you to seamlessly transition between a standard clean boost and a vintage harmonic saturation. In 'Boost' mode, you can gently push your tube amp without drastically altering its sound. Switch to 'Blues' mode, and immerse yourself in the rich, harmonically saturated tones reminiscent of non-Master Volume Marshalls. Perfect for the nomadic musician, the BB-2 is encased in a robust metal housing, capable of withstanding the rigors of constant gigging.

Key Features:

Two switchable modes: 'Boost' for clean amplification and 'Blues' for harmonic saturation
Sturdy solid metal casing for increased durability
Designed for easy integration with tube amps
Ideal for gigging musicians due to its robust construction
Inspired by vintage non-Master Volume Marshalls
Provides a wide range of tonal options

Owner's manual

Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II User Manual

Product specs

Brand	Marshall
Model	BB-2 Bluesbreaker II Overdrive Pedal
Finish	Silver
Year	2010s
Made In	China
Categories	Overdrive and Boost Pedals

FAQs

What kind of tones can I expect from the Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II for blues music?: The Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II delivers a warm, vintage-style overdrive that is ideal for blues. It provides a smooth, creamy tone with plenty of sustain, capturing the classic blues sound reminiscent of vintage tube amplifiers.
Does the Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II work well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?: Yes, the Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II is designed to complement both single-coil and humbucker pickups, offering versatile overdrive tones that enhance the natural characteristics of each pickup type.
What is the difference between the overdrive and boost modes on the Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II?: The overdrive mode on the BB-2 provides classic bluesy overdrive tones, while the boost mode offers a clean volume boost to push your amp harder without altering your tone, making it ideal for solos or dynamic changes.
How does the Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II compare to other overdrive pedals?: The BB-2 Bluesbreaker II is known for its transparent overdrive and dynamic response, making it a favorite for players seeking a natural-sounding boost. It differs from other pedals by maintaining clarity and note definition, even at higher gain settings.
Is the Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II suitable for beginners?: Yes, the Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II is user-friendly and suitable for beginners. Its straightforward controls make it easy to dial in great tones, while its robust construction ensures durability during practice and performance.

Videos

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Portal Gitarowy

Marshall Bluesbreaker II (BB-2) - demo, reamping test

Portal Gitarowy

Marshall Blues Breaker BB-2 Overdrive Pedal

intheblues

Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II Pedal | Product Demo | Marshall

Marshall Amplification

Marshall BB2-Bluesbreaker II - How does it sound?

Audiofanzine in English

Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II Overdrive Pedal

Roman Gostylo

AS GOOD AS THE BAD MONKEY?! - [Budget Overdrive Pedal] Marshall BluesBreaker BB2

Pat Posse

Reviews

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PROS

Produces classic rock-style tone with low gain overdrive
Functions well as both clean boost and overdrive without assistance
Offers good tone and sensitivity combination
Durable, heavy construction
Dynamic range with smooth feel and minimal tone cut
Compatible with tone shaping pedals
Low noise floor even at high gain settings
Versatile, suitable for rock to metal genres
More gain and slightly darker than the original Bluesbreaker
Provides noticeable volume boost for solos

CONS

Not as impressive with single coil pickups
In overdrive mode, could offer more volume

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II.

Comparisons

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The BB-2 is described as having a "permanent lo-pass" quality, giving it a dirty, old sound distinct from originals or clones.
Source
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Users suggest that most Bluesbreaker clones may outperform the BB-2 in tonal quality, though preferences are subjective.
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The Wampler Pantheon is frequently mentioned as a preferred alternative to the BB-2 for its similar circuit design but more favorable tone.
Source

Features and functionality

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The BB-2 reportedly produces a fizzy tone at higher gain levels, differing from the light breakup sound expected.
Source
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It's been noted that in one mode, turning the drive all the way down stops the pedal from outputting sound, which some users find inconvenient.
Source

Use cases and applications

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The BB-2 might appeal to those seeking a vintage, lofi aesthetic in their overdrive sound.
Source

User experience

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An owner mentions pairing the BB-2 with an original Bluesbreaker, finding it capable of achieving similar sounds, with the BB-2 offering additional range.
Source

Critic Reviews

Marshall Bluesbreaker II Review

guitarmasterclass.net

The Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II pedal leaves much to be desired, especially for those looking for a reliable drive or boost solution. While its ease of use is commendable, with just a few straightforward controls, the sound quality disappoints. The pedal struggles with Marshall amps, producing unremarkable results that often border on unpleasant. The boost mode is particularly ineffective, failing to deliver the expected punch. Though built with a sturdy metal casing, the pedal's reliability is undermined by a flimsy push button. Overall, this pedal falls short of expectations and is overshadowed by more versatile alternatives from other brands.

negative

Full Review

BB-2 Bluesbreaker II Review | Marshall | Guitar Effects | Reviews @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com

ultimate-guitar.com

The Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker II is a versatile pedal that offers both a transparent boost and a warm, valve-like overdrive. Praised for its reliability and ease of use, it caters well to blues and classic rock players at an affordable price range. However, some users find the blues channel underwhelming, suggesting there are better alternatives. Overall, it's a solid choice for those seeking a budget-friendly boost with vintage overdrive flair.

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4.0 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 44 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

engels

309

over 2 years ago

The best unknown overdrive pedal

In 35+ years of playing guitar I still haven't found a better dirt pedal. I just love it. It goes from a very mild TS like overdrive to almost metal distortion, very low noise floor even maxed out and there's some sweetness in the voice that's just perfect. I play humbucker equipped Gibsons through it, with single coils it's not that impressive. Use it for rock, doom, metal, bues, whatever. The boost mode is not something I usually use but it works as it should with lower gain tube amps.

The original Marshall Bluesbreaker is also a nice pedal but it's best for blues and calm rock due to its gain limitations - or you should stack it. BB2 has way more gain and they also made in a tad darker, I beleive it's mostly because on high gain settings it gets brighter. So on lower gains BB2 sounds darker than BB1, and on high gain it's more or less the same voice, just clipped harder. There's also more fuzzy density in the sound of BB2, it sounds thicker. The amount of gain it has allows me not to stack it at all, so it's the only dirt pedal on my main board and it's sufficient even for metal if you have high output humbucker.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Rock Metal

florian_tennstedt

925

over 4 years ago

Nice Overdrive

I was looking for a more transparent Overdrive than the SD-1 and this one did the job. It's not very close to the original Bluesbreaker pedal, but it cost a fraction and does a pretty good job. In the Blues mode (overdrive) it lacks volume, where you get tons of in the boost mode. This could be balanced better, but anyway it's a nice and versatile pedal.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Clean channel: Treble 4 Mid 8.5 Bass 7 Guitar: Epiphone LP Junior '57 Reissue with P90 Signal Chain: Guitar -> Boss NS-2(send) -> Marshall BB-2 -> Boss DS-1 -> Boss ST-2 -> Boss NS-2(return/output) -> Boss CH-1 -> Marshall EH-1 -> Boss TU3 -> Fender FM 100H

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Composer

Genres:

Rock Blues garage punk blues

bluesnerd

over 9 years ago

Marshall in a box

I bought this orf the internet and wanted a versatile overdrive. This does the trick marshallsounds when properly adjusted and a neutral booster Perfect to kickt my session blues baby under the butt and get the right volume difference between rythm and solo playing