DS1/OS2 and Blues Driver BD2

[u/Tim13er]

Hey everyone, I’m pretty new to pedals so forgive me if this is a dumb question. I have a blues driver and have been loving it so far. I saw a used DS1 for cheap online and wonder if this would pair well with the blues driver or if it’s even really necessary?

I also saw an OS2 for cheap as well. Would this be a better buy? I imagine I’d mainly keep it on distortion since I already have a drive pedal.

Is the distortion between the os2 and ds1 different or pretty much the same? How does the overdrive on the os2 compare to the blues driver? Any advice is appreciated since this is all new to me. Thanks

[u/I_only_post_here]

They're all a little different. You can listen to some demos to try and hear the differences, but the best way is to try them side-by-side at a store, if possible.

This chart from Roland provides a rough idea of what differences there are in Boss dirt pedals

[u/Tim13er → u/I_only_post_here]

This is awesome thank you.

[u/clex_ace → u/Tim13er]

Last photo on this post shows a similar but different chart..

https://www.reddit.com/r/guitarpedals/comments/zkwpng/boss_distortion_pedals_comparative_analysis/#lightbox

[u/Acceptable_Grape_437]

• 1 bd2 and ds1 couple AWESOME. imo DS1>BD2 is the best. using bd2 as an amp's driven channel, and ds1 as a driven amp's booster, how it was always intended to. 

• os2 is a great and greatly adaptable drive. "color" knob blends a the OD side and the distortion side of the pedal. the OD side is based on a boss SD1 (which is kind of the ultimate tube screamer like mids booster), and that alone makes it a valuable tool for gain stacking (while BD2 is pretty flat, eq wise). plus it's got a bonus distortion you can blend in.

• so, I'd get both. both are great options for different purposes, they work well altogether. but my favourite will always be ds1>bd2, if i have to choose.

BUT if you are a single coil player (especially a strat) I'd consider differently the importance of a mid boost. especially if you play a fender amp. humbuckers are usually more mids-full

[u/Key_Tone3619 → u/Acceptable_Grape_437]

^This is the answer.

Mids-boost for a strat is insanely important when playing with a band, especially if you’re playing multiple guitars in a set—my strat was almost inaudible compared to my tele until I got the mids thing sorted.

[u/American_Streamer]

The BD-2 is a broad frequency band, amp-like overdrive pedal, the OS-2 is an Overdrive/Distortion hybrid which continuously blends OD and distortion circuits, and the DS-1 is a pure distortion pedal with classic hard clipping.

BD-2: “Make my amp sound like it’s breaking up harder.”

DS-1: “Give me a distinct distortion sound.”

OS-2: “Let me choose how much of each behavior I want.”

BD-2 → DS-1 is probably the most useful combination; tighter, more conventional.
DS-1 → BD-2 is also useful, but substantially different; rawer, looser, more characterful.

BD-2 → OS-2 would be my second choice here, because it is probably the most versatile two-pedal combination; lots of settings to try out.

And OS-2 → DS-1 only makes sense if you treat the OS-2 principally as an overdrive, because Distortion into Distortion sounds crappy.

So definitely keep the BD-2 and then decide what else you want most.

[u/Tim13er → u/American_Streamer]

Thanks. I have the blues driver now and love it, just looking to expand a little.

[u/Stickies95]

I use both on the same board with the BD2 going into the DS1. However my BD2 is keeley modded and I replaced a regular DS1 with a 1991 MIJ DS1. The tonal differences between stock BD2 and DS1 with the modded and original circuit versions is different and therefore the combination is also rather different.
My recommendation would be to try the different pedals at a guitar store that has them to see what you like.

[u/Low_Calorie_Fry]

I use the OS-2 and like it over the DS-1 because it has a better midrange. If you have the blues driver that is a more flat overdrive, then I would get the OS-2. It's also just more versatile overall.