Digitech bad monkey tube overdrive or boss blues driver?

DiRtyFranK38

what do you suggest?

or should i just suck up and dish out some extra cash for a tube screamer?

xtremehardy388

Blues Driver takes a bit of work but it's good. It's also good enough for Mike McCready. My friend had a Bad Monkey and it was okay I guess, but it was NOT a Tube screamer. The tube screamer is a one of a kind!

armanHammer

xtremehardy388 wrote:

Blues Driver takes a bit of work but it's good. It's also good enough for Mike McCready. My friend had a Bad Monkey and it was okay I guess, but it was NOT a Tube screamer. The tube screamer is a one of a kind!

Mike's BD is keeley modded. I didn't like the BD stock.

ianvomsaal

Each has their own good/bad points.
The Bad Monkey does have more EQ options than say the BD2 or TS9.
Again - take your own equipment into the store, listen to them all with your own set up, then make a decision (what works for one person might not work for another).
I personally like the Blues Driver (BD2) best - to me it has a richer fuller ballsier more amp like OD sound (I like my TS9, but it sounds thin in comparison to the BD2).

Cheers . . .

- Ian C.T. vom Saal

Novawind

I have a TS9dx (the 4 knob one) and it has the 3 normal knobs (tone, drive, level) that a normal TS9 does, and then one that has mode, TS9 mode, + mode, hot mode and turbo mode. The modes basically mess with the EQ and give it more/less treble, mids and bass, with TS9 -> turbo being increasing "ballsiness" as it were. I like it.

I tried out a BD-2 a while back and I agree with arman, not really what I was looking for, at least not stock. Never tried a Keeley one but that will no doubt be out of your price range ($160+). So I'd say just go for a tube screamer (sounds pretty good stock) and if you want later, you can get it Keeley modded when you have the cash, and then it will sound great, so you get good sound now AND later.

xtremehardy388

armanHammer wrote:

Mike's BD is keeley modded. I didn't like the BD stock.

Yeah, that's very true. I'm earning money to get ine moded too.

xtremehardy388

armanHammer wrote:

Mike's BD is keeley modded. I didn't like the BD stock.

Yeah, that's very true. I'm earning money to get ine moded too.

samquigley

Simply put, if your amp is a little on the bright side, get a Tubescreamer. If it's a little dark, get a Blues Driver.

DiRtyFranK38

i think i'm going to get a tube screamer..then over time i'll pick up a blues driver too..
is there a need to have both though?

thanks for the help everyone

ianvomsaal

DiRtyFranK38 wrote:

i think i'm going to get a tube screamer..then over time i'll pick up a blues driver too..
is there a need to have both though?

Yes - they have different characteristics, and sound completely different.
I like the TS9 for thinner OD sounds, and the Blues Driver for richer fuller OD sounds.
McCready seems to agree (he has both pedals on his board).
If you're only gonna get one pedal to start with I'd suggest taking your guitar down to the local music store and A/B(ing) the two pedals.
This way you can see which one fits your style best, (and more importantly) sounds best to you.
Don't take our word for it - listen to them yourself - make your decision based on what sounds best to you.

Cheers . . .

- Ian C.T. vom Saal