BossAreaForum

So last night I pulled a slightly hesitant trigger on a BC-2 Combo Drive. Such an odd BOSS that like many seems to have been withdrawn relatively quickly and is thus a bit of a sleeper or become difficult to find (similar to the FB-2).

When it was released they were all over the place in Japan but it seems not so much elsewhere. Yet of course now scouting for one they are all on reverb.com or ebay from Japanese based sellers for a pretty penny! So after a bit of negotiating I sourced one online here that looks in reasonable condition which should be around 8000 yen postage included.

Looking forward to it not least because recently I have been recording with my AC15 and Gibson SG, and very much enjoying the crisp mild breakup of that combo. Checking a few online demos the BC-2 seems to capture that tone quite well.

Who owns one and what are your thoughts?

I thought I would snap it up since few are about and we all know what its like to miss out on something that suddenly becomes unobtanium! (I'm looking at you again FB-2!). I'm hoping the chap may have the box and bits if I am lucky.

I used to own one. Couldn't find a use for it, but my rig is wildly different to yours

I think it will be something you will enjoy. at least for a while.

BC-2 and FB-2, those are the ones that got away from me as well. I haven't tried either of them. My "AC-30 in a box"-pedal is the KORG ToneWorks 105od. It's a '90s digital pedal, but a great one. When I turn it on, my Marshall tube amp sounds completely different, not like with a common overdrive. I wonder if the BC-2 can sound similar and maybe even with 100% clean sound (which the 105od doesn't provide).

I always thought it odd that Boss - part of the Korg empire, which also owns Vox - didn't dress up the BC-2 cosmetically to reference the AC30 in some way. Apart from the nice brown case, which kind of ties in with the vintage grille cloth colour, it just looked like another Boss drive pedal.
They could have mimic'ed the Vox logo/ typeface, or the diamond grille pattern graphics, in some way very easily.
They 'Fender-ised' the FBM-1 Bassman, FDR-1 Deluxe Reverb and FRV-1 Reverb pedals, and very nice they looked too. Maybe that was at the insistence of Fender...?

BOSS is a division of Roland in Hamamatsu. VOX is owned by KORG in Tokio. I have never heard that Roland and KORG are linked in any way.

Yes being a different concern they merely hinted at the connection with the "Combo Drive" reference.

Apaprently have a "tatty box" inc. in the sale. lol.

Pepe wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 01, 2023 7:19 am

BOSS is a division of Roland in Hamamatsu. VOX is owned by KORG in Tokio. I have never heard that Roland and KORG are linked in any way.

Did a little digging and came up with the same answer. I don't think they are related...

Pepe wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 01, 2023 7:19 am

BOSS is a division of Roland in Hamamatsu. VOX is owned by KORG in Tokio. I have never heard that Roland and KORG are linked in any way.

I stand corrected! Thank you for the explanation.

laurie wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 01, 2023 1:19 pm

Pepe wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 01, 2023 7:19 am

BOSS is a division of Roland in Hamamatsu. VOX is owned by KORG in Tokio. I have never heard that Roland and KORG are linked in any way.

Did a little digging and came up with the same answer. I don't think they are related...

Indeed. I must have had my wires crossed, folks... if you'll pardon the term on a forum about electronic devices