Blues Booster

Often-modded blues overdrive

 

 

The Blues Booster overdrive rack effect module compares to the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver.  Clean to gritty overdrive tones, often considered a bit on the bright side.  Lots of options for customizations include some that will fatten up and smooth the tone.

 

Description

The Boss BD-2 Blues Driver is a surprisingly complex circuit for producing a clean, low-gain overdrive.  It has been popular for many years, partially due to the number of good mods for the circuit.  The Blues Booster is designed for many of the popular mods.

 

Configuration

  • Blues Booster - compares to Boss BD-2 Blues Driver

 

Options

Several options impact the clipping diode configurations and may conflict with each other.  At most, there can be only two clipping diode configurations.

  • Hi-Fi Mod - By default we include part of the Hi-Fi mod in our selection of resistor and capacitor types.  This mod changes the input capacitor value to allow a thicker tone, and switches the clipping diode configuration to be like those seen in Keeley, Wampler, and other Hi-Fi mods of the original circuit
  • Hi-Fi Switch - Same as the Hi-Fi Mod, but the input capacitor and clipping diode configuration are switched between the original and Hi-Fi values.
  • Custom Clipping - You specify a custom clipping diode configuration.
  • Clipping Switch - This allows you to switch between the original or Hi-Fi diode configuration and a diode configuration of your choice.  Does not switch the input capacitor like the Hi-Fi mod, but otherwise could be similar depending on your diode selection.
  • Fat Mod - Tweak the tone stack so that the Tone is always a bit fatter.
  • Fat Mod Switch - Same as the Fat Mod, but allows switching between the original and fatter tone stack.
  • Pre-Clipping Tone Controls - This option adds controls for Bass, Mids, and Treble before the clipping.  The original circuit has fixed values for Bass, Mids, and Treble before the clipping.  The original values are within the range of the new controls.  Changing the tone before the clipping can have a significant impact on the overall distortion and tone of the circuit.  The post-clipping Tone control will still be there, too.
  • Brent Mason Mod - Compares to the Wampler Brent Mason Mod for the BD-2.  This option changes several components and the clipping diodes.  It cannot be switched and does not work with the Tweed Mod.
  • Tweed Mod - Another mod that gives a flavor of an old Fender Tweed amp to the tone.  This option changes several components and the clipping diodes.  It cannot be switched and does not work with the Brent Mason Mod.
  • Voltage - The standard circuit runs at 9V.  It can be changed to 12V or 15V if you prefer a bit less distortion and more clean headroom.
  • Custom Components - We use metal film resistors and a selection of capacitors that provide good tone and low noise. 

 

Front Panel

  • On/Off indicator LED
  • Volume
  • Tone
  • Gain
  • (optional) Hi Fi switch
  • (optional) Clipping switch
  • (optional) Fat switch
  • (optional) Bass, Mids, Treble controls

 

Rear Panel

  • Audio In
  • Audio Out
  • On/Off Footswitch
  • On/Off Override
  • DC Power
  • DC Power LED

 

Module Width

  • 1.5" standard
  • 2" with options
  • 2" left wing module and 1.5" right wing modules are available for 3-4 control configurations

 

Power Consumption (aprox)

20 - 26mA

 

Base Configurations

Part # Description List Price
MOD-BLBSTR Blues Booster module $235

 

Options

Part # Description List Price
MOPT-BLBSTR-HIFI Hi-Fi Mod $0
MOPT-BLBSTR-SWHIFI Hi-Fi Switch $19 - TBD
MOPT-BLBSTR-CLIP Custom Clipping $0 - TBD
MOPT-BLBSTR-SWCLIP Clipping Switch $19 - TBD 
MOPT-BLBSTR-FAT Fat Mod $0
MOPT-BLBSTR-SWFAT Fat Mod Switch $19
MOPT-BLBSTR-TONE Pre-Clipping Tone Controls $49
MOPT-BLBSTR-MASON Brent Mason Mod $0
MOPT-BLBSTR-TWEED Tweed Mod $19
MOPT-BLBSTR-VOLTS Change Voltage $0
MOPT-BLBSTR-CC Custom Components $0 - TBD