JB-2 Angry driver

116
GUITARIST FEBRUARY 2018
Y
ou 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 multi-
faceted 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.
JB-2 Angry Driver
BOSS
Mainstream manufacturer and boutique builder collaborate
on a pedal that’s greater than the sum of its parts
Words Trevor Curwin Photography Neil Godwin
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
PEDALBOARD
MANUFACTURER
BOSS
MODEL
JB-2 ANGRY DRIVER
PRICE
£199
ROLAND UK
01792 702701 / WWW.ROLAND.CO.UK
Tech Spec
ORIGIN: Taiwan
TYPE: Dual overdrive pedal
FEATURES: Buffered
bypass, 6 modes (JHS,
Boss, JHS/Boss, J>B, B>J,
Parallel), blue/red/purple
LED for Boss/JHS/
combined
CONTROLS: Level, tone,
drive, mode switch, bypass
footswitch
CONNECTIONS: Standard
input, standard output,
remote input
POWER: 9V battery or 9V
adaptor (not supplied)
DIMENSIONS: 129(d) x
73(w) x 59mm (h)
9
VIDEO DEMO http://bit.ly/guitaristextra
GIT429.peds_boss.indd 116 15/12/2017 14:15