Guitar Pedals · owner-verdict comparison

Boss BD-2 Blues Driver vs MXR Carbon Copy: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the MXR Carbon Copy: 71% of 31 owners recommend it, vs 64% of 167 for the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Boss BD-2 Blues Driver

64%of 167 owners recommend
64% recommend · 19% neutral · 17% don't
Owners praise
  • Extremely versatile, one pedal covers clean boost, gritty low-gain drive, and near-fuzz distortion depending on gain setting
  • Becomes a permanent board staple, often the owner's first pedal and stays on the board for years or decades without getting swapped out
  • Touch-sensitive and dynamic, cleaning up nicely with the guitar's volume knob
Owners complain about
  • Produces an audible crackle or fizz on the decay when the gain is set low
  • Can sound thin, shrill, or brittle in the highs, with some owners citing excess treble or an artificial mid scoop
  • Not every owner bonds with it despite the hype, some sold theirs or never warmed up to the tone even after years of trying
Full owner report →

MXR Carbon Copy

71%of 31 owners recommend
71% recommend · 13% neutral · 16% don't
Owners praise
  • Warm, natural-sounding analog delay tone that owners rank among the best analog delays available
  • Long-term reliability and loyalty, owners keep it for a decade or more, tour heavily with it, and keep returning to it after trying other delays
  • Underwhelming compared to alternatives for a minority of owners, some felt it didn't outperform other delays (like the analog settings on an FB/FB4) and ended up returning or replacing it
Owners complain about
  • Underwhelming compared to alternatives for a minority of owners, some felt it didn't outperform other delays (like the analog settings on an FB/FB4) and ended up returning or replacing it
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver if
  • ✓Blues and rock players wanting a versatile always-on drive
  • ✓Guitarists who clean up with their volume knob
  • ✓Pedal stackers using it as a boost or dirt layer
  • ✓Beginners seeking an affordable, durable first overdrive
Skip it if
  • Players bothered by crackle and fizzy decay at low gain
  • Anyone wanting a smooth, warm, mid-forward transparent tone
Get the MXR Carbon Copy if
  • ✓Players wanting warm, natural analog delay
  • ✓Guitarists after slapback and short echo settings
  • ✓Ambient players needing swells that preserve the dry signal
  • ✓Beginners who want simple, hands-on controls
Skip it if
  • Players needing versatility beyond one analog sound
  • Those wanting very long delay times

What Boss BD-2 Blues Driver owners say

“the Blues Driver beat all of them. The most organic drive I've heard in a pedal.”
— @jonny1251 on YouTube
“LOVED my bd-2 and ds-1 when i was in high school”
— @jonwanrocks on YouTube
“Mehhh. I have the Waza version, and I can hear the same fizziness - which some may like but I don't.”
— @RPSartre01 on YouTube

What MXR Carbon Copy owners say

“Easily my favourite delay pedal!”
— @thejosebatista on YouTube
“Love the CarbonCopy.”
— @northof50now on YouTube
“j'ai acheté cet effet c'est loin d'être ça !”
— @francoisb4830 on YouTube

Boss BD-2 Blues Driver vs MXR Carbon Copy: frequently asked questions

Is the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver or the MXR Carbon Copy better?

Real owners lean toward the MXR Carbon Copy: 71% of 31 owners recommend it, vs 64% of 167 for the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver.

Who should get the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver?

Owners point the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver at blues and rock players wanting a versatile always-on drive, and guitarists who clean up with their volume knob.

Who should get the MXR Carbon Copy?

Owners point the MXR Carbon Copy at players wanting warm, natural analog delay, and guitarists after slapback and short echo settings.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver is produces an audible crackle or fizz on the decay when the gain is set low. For the MXR Carbon Copy, it's underwhelming compared to alternatives for a minority of owners, some felt it didn't outperform other delays (like the analog settings on an FB/FB4) and ended up returning or replacing it.