Boss Jb-2 angry Driver

Mainstream manufacturer and boutique builder collaborate on a pedal that’s greater than the sum of its parts

You might think that mainstream manufacturers and boutique builders are worlds apart – from R&D departments in huge corporate glass-and-steel edifices to individuals beavering away in a shed at the bottom of the garden, the two never destined to meet, except on your pedalboard. Until now! Boss and boutique manufacturer JHS Pedals have collaborated on a new stompbox – the JB-2 Angry Driver – that puts a Boss BD-2 Blues Driver alongside the JHS Angry Charlie with a range of options for combining the two.

The JB-2 features dual concentric level, tone and drive knobs – the inner set for the JHS circuitry, the outer for the Boss. There are six modes – Boss or JHS singly, either one feeding the other in a serial connection or both together in parallel. There’s also a mode that lets you toggle between the two using the pedal’s bypass footswitch – for bypass in this mode you can connect a remote footswitch, which can be used to toggle between Boss and JHS in the single modes or turn one of them on and off in the combined modes.

SoundS

The two circuits are quite different, the BD side being a fairly transparent low-to-medium gain overdrive that’s great as a boost for pushing an amp. Meanwhile the AC, developed from Marshall’s classic Guv’nor pedal, offers a higher gain and more compressed overdrive/distortion sound strong in low end and mids.

Either does a great job singly, making the JB-2 a worthwhile addition, but the possibilities when combined take it to another level, as the two circuits complement each other really well. We particularly like the serial mode of the JHS aggressively pushing the Boss, adding sustain and girth while still retaining its top end clarity.

Parallel mode is pretty special too, offering a spectrum of creative options for a big multifaceted sound. Those stacking and switching possibilities, plus the fact you have a dual overdrive in a small footprint using just one power outlet, will make this a shoo-in for many players.

Verdict

A conflation of two great pedals in one extremely versatile package. Pros Two distinct sounds in one, full combination range, switching options, compact and practical Cons The Angry Charlie side is not quite as versatile as the original which has three-band EQ