Sparkle Drive vs Blues Driver

Spoto · November 16th, 2003, 01:29 PM

Anyone have any comparison thoughts on a Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive vs Boss BD-2 Blues Driver?
Is anyone using one of these with the Keeley modification?
Still looking for sweet, creamy blues sound.
Thanks

maxwidmer · November 17th, 2003, 05:44 AM

the Voodoo Lab's feature of mixing in the clean signal to the overdriven one is excellent! I use to have a TS-9 and sold it after I got the SD...

Ben Harmless · November 17th, 2003, 10:09 AM

Depends on what you want out of it. If you're looking for a totally clear clean boost, or a source of dirt, then go for the Sparkle Drive, though it's my understanding that the tone controls don't work on the clean part of the pedal. I suppose you could turn down the drive and run the whole thing clean, but I don't own one, so I'm not sure how that works.

The Blues Driver does one thing very well, and that's a massive, slightly fattened, clean boost. I've only gotten one good dirty tone out of mine, but I love the way it sounds with the drive dialed all the way down. The amount of boost available is very high, so one can really hit the front end of an amp hard. Unfortunately, that's really the only thing I'd reccomend it for. Still, I swear by mine for that purpose.

This goes for the stock version of both pedals. I've been thinking about getting the Keeley mod, as I really don't use the dirt on the BD2 anyway, so why not give it a shot?

11 Gauge · November 19th, 2003, 02:48 PM

you're going to have to try them both and see which one works for you.

the sparkle drive is unique in that you can blend in an unprocessed amount of signal.

but nothing else out there seems to sound like a blues driver either. even when chugging out the dirt it seems to have a great quality of keeping the basic sound of a Tele in tact, only overdriven.

both pedals have their own faithful legions. try both and see which faith you choose to follow. choices are great.

detuned · November 19th, 2003, 06:22 PM

I have the Keeley-modded version of this pedal, & it's good for *waaaay* more than a clean boost. It's a bit bright with single-coils (figures RK loves LP's), but still very sweet with singles.

Roll the tone control back to 9 o'clock or so, crank up the gain & use the volume control on your guitar to go from clean to scream. Very nice if your amp doesn't do that (I have a Showman...).

I can't speak to the Sparkle Drive, but the Keeley BD-2 is WELL worth looking at, plus RK's a prince to deal with.

The Snowman · November 19th, 2003, 08:00 PM

I had both in a chain for a little while and both were Keeley modded...the BD-2 was more usefull to me so I just sold the Sparkle Drive to a guy on the FDP. It's a good pedal altho I found the tones not as sweet as the Keeley BD-2. The clean boost was worthless to me cause ya can just turn off the pedal....big woof....all in all, it's a good pedal but not my cup of tea...and for the last 3-4 months or so, I'm just using my VK so it's just the guitar, cable and amp...nuttin in the chain...and I actually prefer it that way...afterall, I do love the sound of my guitars...don

eryque · November 20th, 2003, 03:17 PM

When I was looking for an overdrive I tried the Sparkle Drive and thought it was a very cool concept, but had way too much high end, even for my humbucker guitars. Maybe most of the folks that dig 'em have spent too many hours bombarding their ears with loud guitars and can't hear the highs anymore? :-)

I also tried a Keely BD-2 and I dug it, but it sounded too transistor-fizzy, especially on single notes. Not bad for double-stops though, and otherwise it was a fine pedal. The Keeley mods were definitely better than the stock pedal.

I tried a Reverend Drivetrain and found that I could get really similar sounds, but it's not as transistor-fizzy/buzzy as the BD-2, so that's what I went for. I really wanted to like the BD-2, but it just wasn't doing it for me.

telepbrman · November 21st, 2003, 04:07 AM

I have had both in the stock versions, and both were tested many times back and forth...I play a pair of Pro Jr's and a dan echo in a Roy Buchanan style...and the winner was the Blues Driver. I had a bit of volume issues with the Voodoo Labs, and jump up and a bit of bite loss. I play Tele for that bite, anyhow, I dig the Blues Driver. Sidenote: I have an older Voodoo Labs Tremolo and I love it. It has no volume issues when I stomp on her....Two Pro Jr's, Dan Echo, Tremolo.

November 16th, 2003, 01:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Spoto Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 261	Sparkle Drive vs Blues Driver Anyone have any comparison thoughts on a Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive vs Boss BD-2 Blues Driver? Is anyone using one of these with the Keeley modification? Still looking for sweet, creamy blues sound. Thanks

November 17th, 2003, 05:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
maxwidmer Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: None of your Business Posts: 287	No keely mod but the Voodoo Lab's feature of mixing in the clean signal to the overdriven one is excellent! I use to have a TS-9 and sold it after I got the SD... __________________ "Excuse me while I kiss the sky"

November 17th, 2003, 10:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 3,283 6 Photos	Depends on what you want out of it. If you're looking for a totally clear clean boost, or a source of dirt, then go for the Sparkle Drive, though it's my understanding that the tone controls don't work on the clean part of the pedal. I suppose you could turn down the drive and run the whole thing clean, but I don't own one, so I'm not sure how that works. The Blues Driver does one thing very well, and that's a massive, slightly fattened, clean boost. I've only gotten one good dirty tone out of mine, but I love the way it sounds with the drive dialed all the way down. The amount of boost available is very high, so one can really hit the front end of an amp hard. Unfortunately, that's really the only thing I'd reccomend it for. Still, I swear by mine for that purpose. This goes for the stock version of both pedals. I've been thinking about getting the Keeley mod, as I really don't use the dirt on the BD2 anyway, so why not give it a shot? __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson

November 19th, 2003, 02:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
11 Gauge Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The East Coast Posts: 3,015 10 Photos	2 totally different animals you're going to have to try them both and see which one works for you. the sparkle drive is unique in that you can blend in an unprocessed amount of signal. but nothing else out there seems to sound like a blues driver either. even when chugging out the dirt it seems to have a great quality of keeping the basic sound of a Tele in tact, only overdriven. both pedals have their own faithful legions. try both and see which faith you choose to follow. choices are great. __________________

November 19th, 2003, 06:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
detuned Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Halloweentown, MA Posts: 438	Keeley mods I have the Keeley-modded version of this pedal, & it's good for waaaay more than a clean boost. It's a bit bright with single-coils (figures RK loves LP's), but still very sweet with singles. Roll the tone control back to 9 o'clock or so, crank up the gain & use the volume control on your guitar to go from clean to scream. Very nice if your amp doesn't do that (I have a Showman...). I can't speak to the Sparkle Drive, but the Keeley BD-2 is WELL worth looking at, plus RK's a prince to deal with. __________________ Master of Disaster on the Stratocaster

November 19th, 2003, 08:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
The Snowman Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philly Pa Posts: 763	Had both... I had both in a chain for a little while and both were Keeley modded...the BD-2 was more usefull to me so I just sold the Sparkle Drive to a guy on the FDP. It's a good pedal altho I found the tones not as sweet as the Keeley BD-2. The clean boost was worthless to me cause ya can just turn off the pedal....big woof....all in all, it's a good pedal but not my cup of tea...and for the last 3-4 months or so, I'm just using my VK so it's just the guitar, cable and amp...nuttin in the chain...and I actually prefer it that way...afterall, I do love the sound of my guitars...don __________________ it ain't nuttin but the bluez....

November 20th, 2003, 03:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,126 44 Photos	When I was looking for an overdrive I tried the Sparkle Drive and thought it was a very cool concept, but had way too much high end, even for my humbucker guitars. Maybe most of the folks that dig 'em have spent too many hours bombarding their ears with loud guitars and can't hear the highs anymore? :-) I also tried a Keely BD-2 and I dug it, but it sounded too transistor-fizzy, especially on single notes. Not bad for double-stops though, and otherwise it was a fine pedal. The Keeley mods were definitely better than the stock pedal. I tried a Reverend Drivetrain and found that I could get really similar sounds, but it's not as transistor-fizzy/buzzy as the BD-2, so that's what I went for. I really wanted to like the BD-2, but it just wasn't doing it for me.

November 21st, 2003, 04:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
telepbrman TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 65	Drive with the Blues Driver... I have had both in the stock versions, and both were tested many times back and forth...I play a pair of Pro Jr's and a dan echo in a Roy Buchanan style...and the winner was the Blues Driver. I had a bit of volume issues with the Voodoo Labs, and jump up and a bit of bite loss. I play Tele for that bite, anyhow, I dig the Blues Driver. Sidenote: I have an older Voodoo Labs Tremolo and I love it. It has no volume issues when I stomp on her....Two Pro Jr's, Dan Echo, Tremolo.