This is a quality presentation because the camera is on the effect pedal, not the player. Great job!

And that is how you demo a pedal. You run through all the permutations of settings and sounds with a consistent riff, letting everyone know how the controls affect the end result, both individually and in combination. Good job.

PERFECT pedal demo. Like many others said, you played the same riff over and over but SHOWED us how each setting changed the sound. With more people followed this format. I'm subbing to your channel.

I’m still on the fence about this one. I had it for several years, tried it as my main drive then pushed it to being a second little gain stage to push a blues driver a little harder for stuff that didn’t require use of a big muff. Later replaced both pedals with an ehx od glove, then ultimately moved onto an earthquaker plumes all these years later for my main drive. But nostalgia has me looking back into a blues driver or the os-2 to stack with the plumes

I have it and I really like it! - Level at 12, Tone at 11, Drive at 2, Blend at 10 -> Amazing for soloing over a clean channel.

I have an OS-2 for years. I bought it because it supposed to mix SD-1 with DS-1 but I found out that it doesn't do well either one. The actual SD and DS sound more "alive" and raw, with notes jump out, while OS sounds like recorded SD/DS and then played back. I finally bought an SD-1 AND a DS-1 and I'm much happier.

One of my favorite Boss pedals, and I used truckloads of Boss pedals. I never turned the Distortion up because it would get too brittle and bright. I used it to give my amp an extra push when I already had a decent amount of gain.

Great demo,,,great riff choice! 👍🏻

Ah, my very first pedal back in the late 90

I run this pedal with a mesa boogie and a Marshall stack and it sounds amazing when you put the two together with some reverb.

Love that fizzy acid distortion. Melt your brain!

totally underrated pedal ...it sounds great if you know how to use it and with the right amp/setting

Has a usable limited tone, workable in a mix! Fine demo Riff! Thanks for sharing brother! Be Well Leon!

One of my favourite riffs to jam to!

I love it. Either on its own or as a boost.

Love mine! I use it as a distortion pedal for more "metal" leanings. I also have a big muff pi for stoner/fuzz jamming.

I have had this pedal for a few years now. I have a Marshall DSL40C and mostly use the 'classic gain' channel set on 'crunch' mode. that is my main tone. I use this pedal with the 'color' set to the 10:00 O'clock position as a lead boost. This puts the sound almost into the range of the 'Ultra Gain' channel but not quite. I find it ideal for doing my solos where I need to step out in front of the band.

I think as a boost it’s very useful...good vid man

great boost for your fav amp or drive pedal

Hi Leon, I didn't mind the OD section, seemed quite compressed in full Distortion mode. Take care mate, Melbourne, Australia.

Always informative. Thxz! From Arizona!👍🏻🎸🤘🏻

I used to actually get great sounds out of one of these when I would run it through an SD-1 about 30 years ago. I have one now that I modded with a Monte Allums kit and it's a major improvement over the stock version.

I think this pedal is super underrated. I have a Stone Deaf PDF-2 running as a clean boost into this and then into an EQ and it sounds amazing.

Leon, I had a look at the schematic for it and yeah you're sort of right. Basically after an initial buffer stage, the signals split: - one side goes through an opamp, then hard clipped using a dual inverted diode clipping stage (like a proco rat) and then it looks like it's inverted to blend with the second path - second path is an opamp and asymmetrically clipped with one diode and a set of diodes in reverse on the feedback (like a tube screamer except only one two diodes back to back) The drive knob is a dual pot that controls the individual gain of both paths opamps. Once blended via the colour knob, it goes through the tone then to the level control and out. So basically it functions either like a tube screamer one way (OD), rat the other (DS). Or a combination thereof. BTW A Klon works in a similar way in that the signals are split in two: one path (like the rat), the second a clean signal and then summed before the tone control (but doesn't have a blend control).

Not a big fan of the distortion side, though I really like the overdrive side. I mainly use it as a a typical overdrive for like 70s rock. I'll then push it a bit with an SD-1 when playing a lead.

I bought a OS2 today, i love the tone combined with my EMG 81 and EMG 85 guitar

This pedal is versatile depending on how you dial the knobs. It can emulate any distortion and overdrive pedals...or any amp types. The color knob is the key. You can make it sound like a booster, fuzz, crunch...and bluesy overdrive. Rectifier tone for metal?...yes! (w/ the color knob @ 3:00. The amp you use also matters with the overall sound. Great demo by the way. Thanks!

I'm debating on going with the os2 or going to my roots with the ds1. Love that goku in the background btw lol

It’s been on my board like 10 years it has a nice setting

I have the boss od and dis... I love this pedal and the combination... and what can be done on roll off (I tend to find that distortions often need a little help from OD stacked anyway).

Sounds pretty good to me with the drive set low.

I dug the UFO more than the Pedal! But there are some nice tones in there regardless...

What a great video, brother! This is EXACTLY what I want in a gear review video! I don't like gear reviews where the reviewer feels the need to flex their shredding skills, instead of focusing on the gear and what it can do. Some of these reviewers do review videos as if they're playing in front of 100,000 people, all of whom have their cigarette lighters in the air! 😣😖😭! It's like their once in a lifetime moment to shine so they go for broke! This video is great because it focuses on the on the pedal and the different functions and sounds. You demo'ed this pedal in a way that I needed to hear! I just purchased this pedal, $40 bucks, brand new as a Black Friday find, so I purchased it. I needed to get the most out of this new pedal, and your review certainly helped me out. You did a bloody fantastic job in showing how one can get the most of this thing! Thanks, mate! Super-giant thumbs up, my brother!

I've got an OS-2 and several other overdrive and distortion pedals. The OS-2 doesn't get much use because other pedals give better distortion or OD. If it fell out of the Boss lineup, I don't think too many folks would notice.

it actually blends overdrive circuitry with distortion circuitry, it’s a cool schematic to observe, and a unique circuit that no one seems to copy for some reason.

This is an underated pedal. It's finicky, and sounds best wih level cranked and tone and drive completly off, color adjust between zero and 11. Push a broke up amp and it's as good as anything out there, especiall ds/sd pedal. By itself is tricky..

Great video Leon,love how you demoed the pedal,I like boss pedals, and this one is very useable, but I'm not big on these two in one overdrive /distortion pedals, to me the overdrive never seems transparent, and the distortion seems to harsh, in other words they always seem like distortion pedals, not overdrive, same with Fulltone Plimsoul

That Drive knob might as well be an on/off switch!

Thanks!

I agree with your preferred setting. The pure DS setting sounded great straight into the FX return. (But with a decent enough amp, a guitar straight into the FX return actually sounds none-too-shabby.)

The OS-2 is a fantastic pedal! It has been my main overdrive for well over a decade. The color option makes it really versatile.

i use it with my hughes and kettner tubemeister 18.and yes,i use the color around 9 o' clock just to add agression on the high end and to compensate for the low end.cheers from montenegro.

This pedal is pretty flexible but I always preferred the OD side. I recently just found an OD1 with the original 14pin opamp in it for very cheap (I think the shop just priced it with the non original OD1s) and I have to say that it's probably the best overdrive ive ever owned. Sounds absolutely wicked into the Marshall. I love boss overdrives. Good demo on this classic!

I did love my BOSS OS-2 and had been using it constantly on my board until I switched to MFX units 8 years ago. The setting which I used for my softer driven sound (I have another dirt box for heavier tones) was always like Tone at 1.30 o'clock, Drive at 11 o'clock and the blend of OD/DS was more on the overdrive side, hm ... let say 10.30 o'clock or so :3 If I have a motivation to switch back to indiv. pedals again in the future, I will get another OS-2 or an upgraded version of it (if BOSS do) for sure! ^^

Leon...quick question. I have an ENGL Special Edition (nice bit of UFO, by the way), and a spare loop in my Boss ES-8. I'm torn between putting in either an Eventide H9 Max, to go with my other one, or a Line 6 HX Stomp. What do you reckon?

Been using the OS-2 for years. It's great with Strats. Mine sounds nothing like the one in this video. Maybe it's my amps. It sounds great with AC30's.

Didn't like it on distortion side at all. However it sounded good for me before Big Muff at overdrive mode to get Gilmour lead tones from 80's

Dude! I have never in my life played Rock Bottom by UFO on a guitar until yesterday and today. And what are the odds I find this video! Freaky!

Thank you Leon, I always wondered about this pedal. I think I'm gonna stick to my SD-1 and a separate distortion pedals like Guv'nor. Great video! Subscribed.

wonder how would this sound with my ltd401 with a marshall mgd30fx

would’ve liked to hear it with the drive and tone (both) up..

There is difference between recording processed sound and processing recorded sound. The demo demonstrates the latter - which obviously is easier to make - but does NOT provide proper representation of pedal capabilities. That applies to ahy demo done the very same way.

Yeah, I think that is a combo of the SD-1 (basically an Ibanez TS circuit) and the DS-1 (a hard clipping op-amp) with the color being a blend. I remember reading there are some mods for this pedal, but they don't really work as well as the mod for each of those individual pedals alone. Apparently it's supposed to sound best with the color completely to one side or the other.

Wow.. You saved me some money. I expected much more from it. The drive could be brutal.

Good boost pedal. Not bad into the loop. Not great, but suprisingly useful. I'd like to try it with another boost and an EQ in the loop. Maybe OS2>EQ>Limiter Could do some "faux sag" cranked amp stuff. Definitely a useful tool, but not a great standalone drive/distortion.

Ahh the sound of Sublime... as read on the internet. anyone know how Bradley set his controls?

I use it for my OD sound and also stack it with my Boss MD2 (GTR->OS2->MD2->AMP) for that clear cut ear screeching noise.

The drive knob has all of its range in the first quarter turn. It sounded better into the distorted amp, but not a good tone overall.

lmao I love how you prop the pedal up with another pedal

Big BOSS fan here. Methinks their drive pedals are hit or miss though. Going to file this one under the proverbial "can of bees".

Especially compared to the SD2, this seems like garbage. However, it blows my mind how Boss has been at the forefront of pedals - blending 2 dirt sounds and double pedals seem like boutique ideas, Boss has been doing them for 20 years.

Leon, You've earned my trust thru these demos. Excellence is one of your attributes. I agree; I didn't even like it thru the clean amp.

Is it me or the drive knob doesn't chance much from mid to top position? From cero to mid position it gives the more fat sound, but then i cant tell the diference

The OS2 was my first ever guitar pedal. Bought it from a friend, but immediately knew that he sold it because he hated the tone. I dont like it either tbh. But I might keep it on my board for a while as a high gain pedal. High gain playing is not my style anyway so I guess it's not for me

OD Side okay, DIstortion side too fizzy for my taste, the yellow MXR Distortion pedal has a much better sounding distortion to my ears.

Is seems very hard to find a nice tone. Not like my Rat or OCD or LA Lady - (A modeling Distortion Pedal) or Timmy. As a only and my first pedal it got me to quickly find an alternative. From reading below I do see that some people have found it useful in certain applications. That's why I brought it out to try again. During video, On or off couldn't tell what it was doing. I tested it on my Monoprice 15 watt amp which is exactly a Laney amp not a distortion amp, it's more of like a AC15 with a gain switch. Guitar was a G&L Telecaster. Thanks everyone for the comments. Love to learn from everyone.

Great Review.

haha unity level s what, 3 o clock?! you can here the clean signal coming trough,so this kind of pedal is def more suited to a cranked amp

How can I take a David Gilmour gitar distorsion my friend?

At least for me the problem with this pedal is not the sound, that is quite good, but the one I had, had TERRIBLE bypass. Might have been a faulty unit, but the thing took all the high end of my tone when it was on the signal chain. Does that happens with yours as well Leon? Cheers mate, great video as always!

This sounded pretty bad in the video, but mine sounds fantastic out of my Orange 20RT. Cleans blues sound with the od down low and real crunchy 80's tone with the distortion at about 3:00.

I have one, but it makes a lot of noise, is this normal for this pedal? Any recommendations besides the noise suppressor?

This was my first distortion pedal. I generally used mine more so on the distortion side and it sounded way better than your demo. Probably just the way I set up my amp. I always used it to make more of a grunge sound and it worked well for that.

I have it for so many years, perfect to boost any preamp to add attack and brilliance, with all 4 settings to 9 o'clock. With an humbucker it adds some kind of single coil sound while keeping the humbucker sound. Color over 12 is too me not clean enough, a bit dirty..., and drive is even too much powerful then destroy the original preamp sound, so that's why I never exceed 9 ..

Half drive it sounds like a studio track

I learned from Dave Simpson that these pedals sound their best into a slightly distorted amp. Not clean or PA

Question, would the pedal work with 18 volts or 12 volts, wonder if make drive knob less extreme on the DS side.

Fender Twin Amp: Clean Agile Tele - Ceramic PU - Bridge d.c.- 8.5 OS-2 Lvl: 12:00 -1:00 Tone: 1:00 Drive: 2:00 Color: 10:30 Eddie Hazel - Maggot Brain all day, everyday.

I have the DS-1, never liked it but I have it. But this one OS-2 is gold compared to the DS-1.

I use the pedal and only this pedal ALL the time, ie always on. It just makes my guitar sound better, a lot better. Even with drive on zero it has EXTREME tone shaping. Massive treble boost with mids lowered on the DS side and thats with drive on zero. Mids come flying back just by moving the colour dial back to 3 oclock. Still on zero drive. Then the tone knob gives even more shaping, lpf i think. The DS side gives a scooped bright sound that seems to sing fender amp. You just learn how to not use this pedal for it to be ok. Eg on the DS side never go above 9 oclock with the drive. I get that i am using it mostly as a eq pedal. I still think it has a great tone and a compression or tameing of the sound that makes my amp sound like a fender delux reverb, with a vintage strat on the neck pickup, and seems to even ADD yes i said ADD clarity and articulation, so i love it. And i love no ther pedal at all. I will mary it, yes.....

As others have stated my OS-2 sounds nothing like this. I have mine in front of an Origin 20, using either a Les Paul or a BC Rich Assassin and it sounds sooo much better than what's on display here

Mine hums like crazy even when using humbuckers.

Great review. Mine OS2 is much noisier than my other Boss drive pedals. Yours too?

what song are you playing over this? is it your own? sounds very good and I would love to learn it.

Joey Santiago from The Pixies used to have one

I have one of these. I don’t use it much anymore but now I want to break it out.

Hello, can i get your opinion about how this pedal could work with active emgs pickups in hi-gain amp?? For grindcore and death metal, thx n advance

Hey! Who did that Goku painting in the BG? Its awesome! Nice video, too!

Overdrive side of it wasn’t bad.

Really nice pedal, love it

It's got some uses but lacks the liveliness of the pedals it supposedly simulates.

I use this one mostly clean to slight crunch , it does his job good but if ur looking for sd1 or ds1 sound this pedal is not for you

Try this setting at os 2: tone 11 o'clock drive 12 o'clock od/ds 9 o'clock single coil neck pick up flat clean amp And u will get Andy timmons kinda sound from eleftric gypsy 🤤

Playing the guitar and dialling the knobs!! Skills 😂😂 oj

This pedal plus a mod kit from fromel = tasty metal riffage.

Leon, i am going to buy os-2 so what should i do? Should i buy it or search for other pedal?

This pedal with a JCM 800 will get you a great Slayer tone.

not a bad pedal but a really prefer the TS

The os2 is easily my favorite boss drive pedal (I tried all boss). Mine sounds nothing like in this video though. It sounds very crisp but not as harsh as the DS-1. I use the os2 mostly for crunch. For higher gain, I have never tried a pedal that I liked as much as a tube amp drive, after 35 drive pedal test, I decided that pedals are not doing it on their own for higher gain anyway...

This was my bread and butter pedal, till l got the Fulltone OCD V2...