Sparkle Drive and/or Blues Driver

[david eaton]

I'm considering one or both of these pedals. Any experience with either? Thoughts on tone? Would they complement each other, or pretty much do the same thing? I've listened to some demos of each so I have my own opinions, but I wanted to hear what others thought.

[Taller]

Don't know anything about the Blues Driver, but I really dig my Sparkledrive.
I use it as a gain boost for solos through my Maz Jr. which I run with a bit of natural crunch on its own. The Sparkledrive [as you probably know] has a 'Clean' control which acts as a blend pot to mix in the Sparkledrive's gain circuit with the signal going to the amp.
In most other gain/drive effects [well, ALL other effects I can think of] when you stomp on the box, you get the drive of the box exclusively, so the versatility of the Sparkledrive is readily apparant.
That said, the guitar's signal is still boosted by the Volume control on the box, regardless where the Clean control is set, which allows you to completely dial out the drive circuit and just use the SD as a clean boost.
I think it's a cool idea that is well executed and allows more of a natural tone.

As always, YMMV.
:)

[Stratmeister]

Another vote for the Sparkledrive. I find it very versitile with the ability to blend the clean tone on top of the dirt. It also makes a nice clean boost and can be very Tubescreamerish (?) meaning midrangey and fat.

I had a BD-2 as well for a while, it was OK but I'm not crazy about the buffered switching config on BOSS pedals, although I own several. I'm kinda "vintage" and still prefer true bypass wiring and a stomp switch.

No matter which you get Robert Keely can play with them to get exactly what you want, check here: http://www.robertkeeley.com/home.php

Check that out, it may help you towards one or the other. Good luck, have fun, and when in doubt buy both! :D

[Aldwyn]

Never tried a Sparkle, but I can't live without my BD2.

As it happens, I have a keeley BD2 for sale in the emporium (now on ebay).

Peace,
Aldwyn