Boss JB-2 Angry Driver

An anniversary collaboration that marked the BOSS Compact range

Created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of BOSS compact pedals, the JB-2 Angry Driver symbolizes a rare meeting: BOSS partners with JHS Pedals to merge two essential approaches to drive. The idea was not just to place two pedals "side by side," but to design a combined architecture offering coherent controls and musical interactions, notably through the Dual modes. The result: a pedal covering a spectrum from clear, granular boost to dense rock distortion, while maintaining the robust and familiar ergonomics of the BOSS format.

For which guitarist and styles?

The Boss JB-2 is aimed both at the beginner guitarist looking for a versatile first drive pedal and the experienced musician wanting to streamline their pedalboard without sacrificing textures. In a live context, it allows switching from a bluesy crunch to a more aggressive drive, then to a full, thick stack without multiplying boxes. In the studio, the series and parallel modes open very usable colors to double guitars, thicken a riff, or sculpt a rhythm without crushing the attack.

Style-wise, it excels in blues, rock, classic rock, indie, and alternative, and can also venture into heavier territories (hard rock) thanks to the more aggressive character of the Angry Charlie-inspired circuit. On a single-coil guitar, it adds body and great articulation; with humbuckers, it enhances presence and density, ideal for solid rhythms and leads that "cut" through the mix.

Controls, modes, and connectivity: a true "two-in-one" pedal

The JB-2 Angry Driver offers an interface designed for quick use on stage: you have three dual concentric potentiometers giving access, for each of the two circuits, to the essential settings DRIVE, TONE, and LEVEL. Practically, you can set a light drive on the Blues Driver side and a more saturated drive on the Angry Charlie side, then recall them instantly depending on the selected mode.

The six-position MODE selector is the heart of the pedal: it allows using each overdrive independently or combining them in two ways. In series, one overdrive can serve as a boost to push the other, useful for thickening a solo or increasing sustain without losing dynamics. In parallel, the two circuits interact to create more complex textures, with a response that can evolve according to your right-hand attack and your guitar's output level.

For further pedalboard configuration, the REMOTE input (6.35mm Jack) allows remote control of certain functions (modes and bypass) via a footswitch or external switching system. Finally, the multicolor LED provides instant feedback: blue for BOSS mode, red for JHS mode, purple when both circuits are combined.

Sound

The JB-2 stands out for its ability to switch from a very dynamic and touch-sensitive overdrive to a tighter saturation rich in mids. The Blues Driver-inspired side brings natural granulation, a wide low end, and a very pleasant "amp-like" feel for nuanced playing. The Angry Charlie-inspired side emphasizes impact, projection, and note sustain, perfect for making a guitar stand out in a band.

The real strength remains the combination: in series, you can get a thicker, singing drive ideal for leads; in parallel, you access more original tones capable of maintaining definition while adding grit. Whether you play with a pick or fingers, the pedal responds precisely, and the Tone controls allow quick adaptation to an already bright amp or, conversely, a darker setup.

Technical specifications

Effects	Distortion / Overdrive / Fuzz, Boost, Overdrive	Type	sector
Technology	Analog	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	White
EQ	Tone

Nominal input level	-20 dBu	Expected continuous use battery life	alkaline battery about 7 hours; carbon battery about 2.5 hours (depending on actual usage conditions)
Input impedance	1 M ohm	Width	73 mm
Nominal output level	-20 dBu	Depth	129 mm
Output impedance	1 k ohm	Height	59 mm
Recommended load impedance	10 k ohms or more	Weight (with battery)	445 g
Controls	pedal switch, MODE knob, DRIVE knob, TONE knob, LEVEL knob	Power adapter	PSA series
Indicator	CHECK light (also serves as battery check indicator)	Footswitch	FS-5L, FS-6, FS-7
Connectors	6.35mm Jack INPUT, 6.35mm Jack OUTPUT, 6.35mm Jack REMOTE, DC 9 V power adapter input	Required voltage	DC 9 V
Power supply	alkaline battery (9 V, 6LR61) or carbon-zinc battery (9 V, 6F22); power adapter (sold separately)	Current consumption	55 mA