I bought my Power Driver from a bassist I met in Highschool. He played it with an Ibanez 6 string bass and an Ampeg. I used it to do grunge and punk covers like Bush and Dead Kennedys. Its a wall of sound. My first gig ever was a Budweisser Fest running the PW-2 into a Peavey VT-Classic. The Bush tones were spot on.
Boss is also my favorite pedal company. I'm trying for a full Boss compact pedal collection someday, just picked up an FZ-2 HYPER Fuzz recently, ir is brutal!
both of these pedals (and the FZ2) are on my board since they were introduced, IIRC, the PW2 is supposed to be like a muff in a driven marshall, really made for a clean channel or even an fx return like the MT2
Happy to know that I was completely unaware of so much stuff I could have spent my money on in the 90s. I was obsessed with pickups and amps as a new guitarist, though not any good amps. Didn’t get into pedals until early 2000s when Boss was taboo and everything had to be hand wired analog true bypass
I've owned a PW-2 Power Driver since I bought one new as a teenager, finally got an XT-2 Xtortion recently. I used the XT-2 on my 7 string Schecter to record some guitar for a friend, she absolutely loved the tone.
Original Xtortion owner here. Been thinking of selling it for literal decades. But every time i plug it in it sounds way better than i remember it. And more versatile. I just wish i knew what yhe controls actually did!
While I knew about these pedals, I didn’t know how rare they were. Especially the Power Driver, as it lasted only a year on the market. So thanks for bringing us up to speed on then, Robert 🤘
Hello Robert. Great to see another video from you. I still have the purple Boss Flanger I bought in the early 80’s. It’s a fun pedal. I don’t remember ever seeing those two pedal before. 🎸👍
The PW-2 was my first pedal. I was 11 at the time - still have it and it was collecting dust until recently. Cool know it's kind of a collectors item now.
I've got the XT-2 like 12 years ago in a music store I used to go for... I don't know, but it was really little money for a Boss pedal, it was used but by the looks of it it sat in a closet for years, still looks new and it had (has) the box and manual, they had one new pricing like the Metal Zone but I didn't buy it (last time I checked a few years ago it was still there all discolored by sunlight, so mine still looks better, haha) and still pricing like the MT-2, and as fun as the XT-2 is, it's not for everyone, it can take you days to get a sound you like out of it, or even many sounds you like and just choose one, just as - depending on your taste - it may never sound like something you would use. Now it's in my pedalboard but I still haven't got to work on its settings so I don't know if it will stay there or go to some other pedal chain. Never used a Power Driver, though I was aware of its existence. I love the tone you've got from the XT-2, but it is worth mentioning that this pedal is INCREDIBLY amp dependant, the variation from amp to amp is massive (except maybe the fixed wah setting, which gives you a pretty zakkwyldish tone no matter where you plug it into, it's a suggested setting in the manual). Nice review, all in all. Regards.
You just had to do a video on these two pedals right now when they're seriously what I'm trying to get next. I've read somewhere if you invert or set the levels opposite on the XT-2 it gets interesting.
The EQ controls on both of these pedals are pretty strange. They’re not your basic treble and midrange controls. The frequency being affected shifts when you turn the control knobs, so there’s definitely some weirdo noises in there. LOL
I've heard according to some sources (which means internet hearsay, not particularly reputable, and Josh Scott, who's quite a bit more reputable) that the power driver was an attempt by Boss to copy or iterate on the Big Muff style circuit. I'm not really sure I entirely agree with that sentiment but it is pretty fuzzy. Sounds more like a cross between power amp distortion and an overdrive pedal to me.
Just grabbed a brand new PW2 in the box for 60 euros a couple of day ago XD And as it turns out, it's not really close to a muff, but it is really cool. Kind of a drive with some fuzzyness to it. the EQ make it close to a HM2, only dirtier. It's currently replacing a Rat on my board, and it loves to be stacked with an Orange's dirty chanel.
It’s a unique pedal. Though I’ve never quite understood why so many people insist that it was Boss’s answer to a Big Muff, because that’s not what it is at all. Regardless, I’m sorry to hear that it kicked a Rat off of your board (I also love Rat pedals), but I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
Robert, i could buy them at the time they came out. But i didn't 🤷 i own also 36 compact Boss pedals (and several twin pedals, also DD-500, 3 multi effects, tuners,.... To mutch to name it). I'm also a huge Boss fan. They where there when i started with music late 1980's..... The first one was a made in Japan GE-7 that i used at first on vocals. 😉 Keep up the good work!
I can totally see these being for the 'grunge era'. That XT2 is full on Mudhoney fuzz. But since the hot music became tight super rectifier nu metal and alternative, these fuzzy sludgy pedals had to go out to pasture.
Robert, Robert, Robert, another great episode, I give 2 thumbs up on this one, I thought the pedals sounded pretty damn good especially the Xtorsion pedal, I thought you sounded like Zakk on the No More Tears album, not 100% but close.(what is that Charvel? or the 2nd guitar you played) ya know I was a staunch Boss guy and had the DS-1?(orange distortion pedal) but had the same issue thousands of other guys had, there was little distortion to be had out of the DS-1 then I saw your episode on DS-1 and learned I was using wrong(stupid of me to use as a distortion pedal) when it's really just an overdrive, so I went MXR, but Boss is my 2nd favorite, especially the old purple Flanger, and the fancier of the 2 loopers, I preferred the Analog of the MXR pedals over the Digital of the Boss pedals, but irregardless you made both sound really good ! I really enjoy your vids keep up the good work, thanks Robert .
I have a grey Skatecaster. Its my fav guitar hands down out of the 18 I own. I want yours BADDDDLY, lol. Which exact model/version is yours? Its gorgeous
I've never heard of them. But they sound like they were built for the Grunge - Nu-metal era. Kinda sounds like some of the early Creed and Staind stuff. Just my 5 cents...
I like the Digital Metalizer. The only ones I ever find are way overpriced and/or completely trashed. I don’t mind a few scratches and scuffs, especially on a Boss pedal, but I want a clean one for what they’re selling for nowadays.
Hey Robert, first of all, great video. You always make my gear nerdness happy. Secondly, was there ever a Boss pedal that you were looking forward to but ended up being underwhelming or even disappointing? For me, it was the Power Stack. I never traded a Boss pedal so quickly. It's all subjective but I'd love to hear your thoughts. Oh, and do you know whatever happened to Fernandes guitars? When I was in high school in the early 2000's I wanted a Monterey Deluxe and a Native. Now you can barely find them on the used market. Thanks Robert, I sincerely enjoy your view points and opinions on all this stuff.
I've got a Power Stack. Not a bad pedal but it sucks batteries dry in no time. So I've put mine on a power brick. It sounds better with a big amp too. Little practice amps don't cut it.
@@wernervanderwalt8541 Valid point that I'll concede to because when I had it I was in a dorm room in college with a Crate GX15 and bought the Power Stack with the hopes of getting those big loud stack tones but all I got was thin fizzle. If I come across one, I might give it another chance.
@@vorpalblades I've seen a few of the Natives pop up used from time to time but rarely see the Monterey Deluxe which is a holy grail guitar for me. Have you had any quality issues with your Fernandes' or anything I should look out for if I find one? Thanks bud.
Check out the Marshall-In-A-Box shootout video that I posted earlier this week. The Power Stack is featured in that video, and a lot of people commented that they liked the sound of it quite a bit compared to the others.
Wow didn't know the Pw2 was rare I got both myself and let's just say I only bust these out when I'm angry 😁 I just use the good old fashioned St2 instead of the Pw2 awesome demo/video You keep rocking man 😎🎸🤘
@@phillramirez8323 do Americans not know what rare means? It's a very easy word to understand- rare- seldom occurring or found. So yea again these.pdals are by definition NOT rare 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Is it easy to blow up a Boss pedal with a non Boss power supply even though it's the proper voltage? Had a standard Distortion pedal that suddenly only got one sound. So it was off to my brother along with half my Joyo's. Xtortion sounded best. Though as I point out the signal has been stepped on so much by the time it hits my Roku and home theater it's hard to tell exactly what everything sounds like.
As long as the pedal is also getting enough current, you should be fine. In other words, even if the voltage is correct, if a pedal needs 100mA of current, don’t feed it 50mA and expect it to sound okay. LOL
@@RobertWJackson I will double check on that although it did the same with a 9v battery. I am thinking about the dedicated power supply for my DD20 that has that warning label although I haven't smoked anything else with my multi power supply block. Plus, I forgot to make my crack "yeah but when are the WAZA versions of those pedals coming out!?"
Anybody use a BF2 as a mid-boost? Tried it, liked it. Another great pedal by another maker is the Ibanez CP10, Compressor/Sustainer. Underrated and competes with the best compressors. I love the sustain ability of it though. These two in your video are good as well.
That one was intentionally a limited run. Boss told us that when they announced it, which is why they sold out like wildfire and are now reselling for 4-5 times their new price.
thanks robert, now these are gonna be selling for almost $1000 each now LMAO jk! i remember hearing about them when they were released. now i know what make the power driver different and it wasn't because of paul orndorff LOL!
I had an Xtortion Pedal.. It would work perfectly fine, until you were playing live in concert - at which time it shuts down and won't re-engage unless you paypal $5K to an unknown address. I payed that money quicksmart
From a production standpoint, yes they are. These are among the fewest produced pedals that Boss has ever made, the Power Driver in particular. If you bought one for $50, then you got lucky because they don’t normally sell that cheap these days.
@@HAHb-zc2dp I never said they were hard to find. I said they were rare from the standpoint that they are one of the least produced pedals in Boss’s history.
![ไลฟ์สุ่ม iPhone 295 บาท... โกงมั้ย?[ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.97 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gdstHEE4UUE/mqdefault.jpg)
I bought my Power Driver from a bassist I met in Highschool. He played it with an Ibanez 6 string bass and an Ampeg. I used it to do grunge and punk covers like Bush and Dead Kennedys. Its a wall of sound. My first gig ever was a Budweisser Fest running the PW-2 into a Peavey VT-Classic. The Bush tones were spot on.
The Boss PW2 Power Driver has been in my setup since the mid 2000's. Love it. Nasty, Loud, and rips your face off.
Boss is also my favorite pedal company. I'm trying for a full Boss compact pedal collection someday, just picked up an FZ-2 HYPER Fuzz recently, ir is brutal!
Where is the Dad joke at the start??? Bring them back.
I agree bring the jokes back 😊
I changed all my passwords to Kenny. Now they are Kenny Logins.
Nope.
Restore the Dad joke universe.
Those were my first two pedals! I never thought I would see them on your channel! The power driver and the xtortion! Thank you.
I bought them back in 96, damn I'm getting old. 😆
@laekeepeepee I think I got my PW-2 in maybe 1997. Just got an XT-2 recently.
both of these pedals (and the FZ2) are on my board since they were introduced, IIRC, the PW2 is supposed to be like a muff in a driven marshall, really made for a clean channel or even an fx return like the MT2
I still have my PW-2 that I picked up in South Africa in 1998! Glad I've held onto it. :)
Happy to know that I was completely unaware of so much stuff I could have spent my money on in the 90s. I was obsessed with pickups and amps as a new guitarist, though not any good amps. Didn’t get into pedals until early 2000s when Boss was taboo and everything had to be hand wired analog true bypass
I've owned a PW-2 Power Driver since I bought one new as a teenager, finally got an XT-2 Xtortion recently. I used the XT-2 on my 7 string Schecter to record some guitar for a friend, she absolutely loved the tone.
Original Xtortion owner here. Been thinking of selling it for literal decades. But every time i plug it in it sounds way better than i remember it. And more versatile. I just wish i knew what yhe controls actually did!
Do not sell that pedal!!!
While I knew about these pedals, I didn’t know how rare they were. Especially the Power Driver, as it lasted only a year on the market. So thanks for bringing us up to speed on then, Robert 🤘
Hello Robert. Great to see another video from you. I still have the purple Boss Flanger I bought in the early 80’s. It’s a fun pedal. I don’t remember ever seeing those two pedal before. 🎸👍
The PW-2 was my first pedal. I was 11 at the time - still have it and it was collecting dust until recently. Cool know it's kind of a collectors item now.
Ditto!
I remember seeing both in a catalogue in 97 thinking 'what the hell does muscle do?'
I've got the XT-2 like 12 years ago in a music store I used to go for... I don't know, but it was really little money for a Boss pedal, it was used but by the looks of it it sat in a closet for years, still looks new and it had (has) the box and manual, they had one new pricing like the Metal Zone but I didn't buy it (last time I checked a few years ago it was still there all discolored by sunlight, so mine still looks better, haha) and still pricing like the MT-2, and as fun as the XT-2 is, it's not for everyone, it can take you days to get a sound you like out of it, or even many sounds you like and just choose one, just as - depending on your taste - it may never sound like something you would use. Now it's in my pedalboard but I still haven't got to work on its settings so I don't know if it will stay there or go to some other pedal chain. Never used a Power Driver, though I was aware of its existence. I love the tone you've got from the XT-2, but it is worth mentioning that this pedal is INCREDIBLY amp dependant, the variation from amp to amp is massive (except maybe the fixed wah setting, which gives you a pretty zakkwyldish tone no matter where you plug it into, it's a suggested setting in the manual). Nice review, all in all. Regards.
Thanks!
No problem!
Miss the Pedals and test drive and twisty nobb things even,
Green Theme Awesome GUITARS!
Just remember, "" GOD GAVE ROCK. & ROLL TO U """ 🤘🎸🤠
You just had to do a video on these two pedals right now when they're seriously what I'm trying to get next. I've read somewhere if you invert or set the levels opposite on the XT-2 it gets interesting.
The EQ controls on both of these pedals are pretty strange. They’re not your basic treble and midrange controls. The frequency being affected shifts when you turn the control knobs, so there’s definitely some weirdo noises in there. LOL
I've heard according to some sources (which means internet hearsay, not particularly reputable, and Josh Scott, who's quite a bit more reputable) that the power driver was an attempt by Boss to copy or iterate on the Big Muff style circuit.
I'm not really sure I entirely agree with that sentiment but it is pretty fuzzy. Sounds more like a cross between power amp distortion and an overdrive pedal to me.
One the best boss pedal is the OD-20. Thanks for sharing!
Check out the OD-200 that replaced it. 😉
Just grabbed a brand new PW2 in the box for 60 euros a couple of day ago XD And as it turns out, it's not really close to a muff, but it is really cool. Kind of a drive with some fuzzyness to it. the EQ make it close to a HM2, only dirtier. It's currently replacing a Rat on my board, and it loves to be stacked with an Orange's dirty chanel.
It’s a unique pedal. Though I’ve never quite understood why so many people insist that it was Boss’s answer to a Big Muff, because that’s not what it is at all. Regardless, I’m sorry to hear that it kicked a Rat off of your board (I also love Rat pedals), but I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
@@RobertWJackson I'm keeping the rat don't worry ^^ it's just taking some time off!
Robert, i could buy them at the time they came out. But i didn't 🤷 i own also 36 compact Boss pedals (and several twin pedals, also DD-500, 3 multi effects, tuners,.... To mutch to name it). I'm also a huge Boss fan. They where there when i started with music late 1980's..... The first one was a made in Japan GE-7 that i used at first on vocals. 😉 Keep up the good work!
I can totally see these being for the 'grunge era'. That XT2 is full on Mudhoney fuzz. But since the hot music became tight super rectifier nu metal and alternative, these fuzzy sludgy pedals had to go out to pasture.
I had a boss hyper metal that as much as it sounded like the hm2 it also and a fuzzy quality to it also
Robert, Robert, Robert, another great episode, I give 2 thumbs up on this one, I thought the pedals sounded pretty damn good especially the Xtorsion pedal, I thought you sounded like Zakk on the No More Tears album, not 100% but close.(what is that Charvel? or the 2nd guitar you played)
ya know I was a staunch Boss guy and had the DS-1?(orange distortion pedal) but had the same issue thousands of other guys had, there was little distortion to be had out of the DS-1 then I saw your episode on DS-1 and learned I was using wrong(stupid of me to use as a distortion pedal) when it's really just an overdrive, so I went MXR, but Boss is my 2nd favorite, especially the old purple Flanger, and the fancier of the 2 loopers, I preferred the Analog of the MXR pedals over the Digital of the Boss pedals, but irregardless you made both sound really good ! I really enjoy your vids keep up the good work, thanks Robert .
I have a grey Skatecaster. Its my fav guitar hands down out of the 18 I own. I want yours BADDDDLY, lol. Which exact model/version is yours? Its gorgeous
SK1-ST
I had a super distortion feedbacker, I should’ve never sold that thing 🤬
Yea...those are pretty rare too!
I have one of those! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
Lol that xtortion sounds like an old sick person coughing during the mix. Sounded a lot better when you were tinkering around with it though.
The xt2 when you dig deeper into it the sound of has dire straits and first 3 albums of motley crue to it
I've never heard of them. But they sound like they were built for the Grunge - Nu-metal era. Kinda sounds like some of the early Creed and Staind stuff. Just my 5 cents...
Interesting 1 of my local stores has a Xtortion rite now.
Boss needs to bring back the PQ-4 parametric EQ.
Agreed!
Cool sounding!
I used to have the xtortion and the digital metalizer I wish I still had them.
I like the Digital Metalizer. The only ones I ever find are way overpriced and/or completely trashed. I don’t mind a few scratches and scuffs, especially on a Boss pedal, but I want a clean one for what they’re selling for nowadays.
I like them both. The x-distortion wins for me.
that charvel is gorgeous
Hey Robert, first of all, great video. You always make my gear nerdness happy. Secondly, was there ever a Boss pedal that you were looking forward to but ended up being underwhelming or even disappointing? For me, it was the Power Stack. I never traded a Boss pedal so quickly. It's all subjective but I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Oh, and do you know whatever happened to Fernandes guitars? When I was in high school in the early 2000's I wanted a Monterey Deluxe and a Native. Now you can barely find them on the used market. Thanks Robert, I sincerely enjoy your view points and opinions on all this stuff.
I've got a Power Stack. Not a bad pedal but it sucks batteries dry in no time. So I've put mine on a power brick. It sounds better with a big amp too. Little practice amps don't cut it.
@@wernervanderwalt8541 Valid point that I'll concede to because when I had it I was in a dorm room in college with a Crate GX15 and bought the Power Stack with the hopes of getting those big loud stack tones but all I got was thin fizzle. If I come across one, I might give it another chance.
@@zanewalters5606Fernandes were never really popular in the U.S.
They are still available in Japan only.
Luckily I already have 2.
@@vorpalblades I've seen a few of the Natives pop up used from time to time but rarely see the Monterey Deluxe which is a holy grail guitar for me. Have you had any quality issues with your Fernandes' or anything I should look out for if I find one? Thanks bud.
Check out the Marshall-In-A-Box shootout video that I posted earlier this week. The Power Stack is featured in that video, and a lot of people commented that they liked the sound of it quite a bit compared to the others.
Wow didn't know the Pw2 was rare I got both myself and let's just say I only bust these out when I'm angry 😁 I just use the good old fashioned St2 instead of the Pw2 awesome demo/video You keep rocking man 😎🎸🤘
It's not rare there's tons for sale
@@HAHb-zc2dp I meant to say rare in year only came out for one year. Yup I know they on sale. That's why I got both. You keep rocking man 😎🤘
@@phillramirez8323 do Americans not know what rare means? It's a very easy word to understand- rare- seldom occurring or found. So yea again these.pdals are by definition NOT rare 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@HAHb-zc2dp I don't know why you're making a big old deal about a little something over. Nothing but okay
@phillramirez8323 He’s commenting all over the thread now, trying to prove his point. It’s pretty comical, really. 🤣🤣🤣
Is it easy to blow up a Boss pedal with a non Boss power supply even though it's the proper voltage? Had a standard Distortion pedal that suddenly only got one sound. So it was off to my brother along with half my Joyo's. Xtortion sounded best. Though as I point out the signal has been stepped on so much by the time it hits my Roku and home theater it's hard to tell exactly what everything sounds like.
As long as the pedal is also getting enough current, you should be fine. In other words, even if the voltage is correct, if a pedal needs 100mA of current, don’t feed it 50mA and expect it to sound okay. LOL
@@RobertWJackson I will double check on that although it did the same with a 9v battery. I am thinking about the dedicated power supply for my DD20 that has that warning label although I haven't smoked anything else with my multi power supply block. Plus, I forgot to make my crack "yeah but when are the WAZA versions of those pedals coming out!?"
pn-2 was made for 10 months in the early 90's
Yet so many are available for purchase
@@HAHb-zc2dpyou can also buy a Behringer TP300 for cheaper, it's a clone.
i love boss pedals
Me too!
Anybody use a BF2 as a mid-boost? Tried it, liked it. Another great pedal by another maker is the Ibanez CP10, Compressor/Sustainer. Underrated and competes with the best compressors. I love the sustain ability of it though. These two in your video are good as well.
Shortest run tb-2w.
That one was intentionally a limited run. Boss told us that when they announced it, which is why they sold out like wildfire and are now reselling for 4-5 times their new price.
@@RobertWJackson
Still the shortest run of any boss pedal.
Well the demo showed why these didn’t last long
The Power Drive sounded ok, not a fan of the Xtortion....
thanks robert, now these are gonna be selling for almost $1000 each now LMAO jk! i remember hearing about them when they were released. now i know what make the power driver different and it wasn't because of paul orndorff LOL!
PILEdriver. Orndorff used the PILEdriver. LOL
@@RobertWJackson typo lol
Rare because they didn't sell. And they didn't sell because the general opinion was that they suck
I had an Xtortion Pedal.. It would work perfectly fine, until you were playing live in concert - at which time it shuts down and won't re-engage unless you paypal $5K to an unknown address. I payed that money quicksmart
Produced for two years.
Less than one year. reverb.com/p/boss-pw-2-power-driver?
Not rare at all easy to find i just bought ine for $50 mint
From a production standpoint, yes they are. These are among the fewest produced pedals that Boss has ever made, the Power Driver in particular. If you bought one for $50, then you got lucky because they don’t normally sell that cheap these days.
@@RobertWJackson 21 Results for "boss power driver" yea from one website. Wow. Hard to find. Rare. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@HAHb-zc2dp I never said they were hard to find. I said they were rare from the standpoint that they are one of the least produced pedals in Boss’s history.
@@RobertWJackson you keep saying this word rare but I don't think it means what you think it means.
@@RobertWJackson rare-seldom occurring or found.