duhvoodooman
Addicted to solder....
As I mentioned in another thread, I had seen that Monte Allums had recently introduced another modification kit for the Boss Blues Driver BD-2, which he calls the "Blues Stack Plus". You can read about it on his website HERE and check out the video demo link there. Sounded great to me, and I wanted to give this mod a try. I already own a BD-2 modified with Allums' "H2O Plus" kit, and really love its open and transparent tone.
Anyway, I'd purchased a used BD-2 on eBay and ordered the Allums mod kit, and both arrived yesterday. I dove right in and completed the modification last night. Monte does a really nice job on the instructions, and it's a very straightforward process. Just a matter of removing the stock opamp and a few caps and diodes, and subsituting what he provides. The biggest change is the dual NE5532 opamp "stack" he uses, though there are a few cap changes to bring out more bass and a fairly large change in the clipping stage to smooth out the clipping character. Took about an hour to do, taking my time. Anybody who can follow directions and has decent soldering/desoldering skills can handle one of these mod kits.
When I was done, I ran the Blues Stack Plus (BSP, for short) modded BD-2 side-by-side with my original "H2O+" modded BD-2, and the two are quite noticeably different. The H2O+ is definitely the brighter sounding pedal, and seems to generate more signal distortion when the gain is cranked up past halfway. I would consider it slightly more transparent sounding than the BSP mod, though they are both among the most transparent OD's I've heard. (For example, both are noticeably more transparent to my ear--i.e. impart less overall tonal coloration--than the Danelectro Cool Cat Transparent Overdrive.)
The BSP version is definitely a warmer and bluesier sounding pedal, as the name would indicate it should be. The character of the distortion when the gain is cranked is also smoother--again in keeping with the "blues" theme. At the same tone pot settings, it generates very noticeably less treble end than the H2O+, and this is why I suspect it sounds a wee bit less transparent and open sounding when compared side-by-side with that version.
Bottom Line: These are both great sounding mods, though clearly going in different directions. If you prefer a somewhat warmer, smoother overdrive, you'll like the BSP version. If you want maximum clarity & treble articulation along with an edgier overdriven tone at higher gain settings, the H2O+ is the better bet. But both are wonderfully transparent overdrives, among the best I've heard. Definitely nice compliments to the more mid-heavy character of the Tube Screamer style overdrives.
Anyway, I'd purchased a used BD-2 on eBay and ordered the Allums mod kit, and both arrived yesterday. I dove right in and completed the modification last night. Monte does a really nice job on the instructions, and it's a very straightforward process. Just a matter of removing the stock opamp and a few caps and diodes, and subsituting what he provides. The biggest change is the dual NE5532 opamp "stack" he uses, though there are a few cap changes to bring out more bass and a fairly large change in the clipping stage to smooth out the clipping character. Took about an hour to do, taking my time. Anybody who can follow directions and has decent soldering/desoldering skills can handle one of these mod kits.
When I was done, I ran the Blues Stack Plus (BSP, for short) modded BD-2 side-by-side with my original "H2O+" modded BD-2, and the two are quite noticeably different. The H2O+ is definitely the brighter sounding pedal, and seems to generate more signal distortion when the gain is cranked up past halfway. I would consider it slightly more transparent sounding than the BSP mod, though they are both among the most transparent OD's I've heard. (For example, both are noticeably more transparent to my ear--i.e. impart less overall tonal coloration--than the Danelectro Cool Cat Transparent Overdrive.)
The BSP version is definitely a warmer and bluesier sounding pedal, as the name would indicate it should be. The character of the distortion when the gain is cranked is also smoother--again in keeping with the "blues" theme. At the same tone pot settings, it generates very noticeably less treble end than the H2O+, and this is why I suspect it sounds a wee bit less transparent and open sounding when compared side-by-side with that version.
Bottom Line: These are both great sounding mods, though clearly going in different directions. If you prefer a somewhat warmer, smoother overdrive, you'll like the BSP version. If you want maximum clarity & treble articulation along with an edgier overdriven tone at higher gain settings, the H2O+ is the better bet. But both are wonderfully transparent overdrives, among the best I've heard. Definitely nice compliments to the more mid-heavy character of the Tube Screamer style overdrives.
