Boss ST-2From real comments

Verdict distilled from 53 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment73%
PROS 73%
CONS 27%

Rank based on 53 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want an affordable pedal that emulates classic Marshall crunch/drive/ultra tones
  • You play through a clean amp (Fender, Vox) and want to add heavy rock/metal tones
  • You have quality pickups and want an organic, dynamic distortion that responds like a tube amp

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You're sensitive to noise/hiss and don't want to add a noise gate or isolated power supply
  • You need precise mid-range shaping or a dedicated drive knob
  • You play with cheap stock pickups and expect the same tone as premium guitars

What users complain about

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Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Mid
Boss ST-2
Authentic Marshall-style toneBest Boss distortion pedalGreat with clean ampsNoise and hiss at higher gainFeedback squeal issuesLacks dedicated mid/shaper control
Boss ST-2
Authentic Marshall-style tone
Best Boss distortion pedal
Great with clean amps
Noise and hiss at higher gain
Feedback squeal issues
Lacks dedicated mid/shaper control

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Convincing Marshall-style tone that fools even skeptics. Commenters repeatedly describe the ST-2 as capturing a wall-of-Marshalls sound, with the sound knob's Crunch, Drive and Ultra settings modeling Plexi, JCM800 and modded Marshall character. Users say it makes clean amps like Fender Deluxe Reverbs and Vox AC15s sound like cranked Marshall stacks, and many call it the best distortion pedal Boss has ever made, surpassing even the classic DS-1 in warmth and dynamics.

Noise and feedback issues plague higher gain settings. Multiple users report hiss, buzz, or uncontrollable feedback squeal once gain or the sound knob passes 12-1 o'clock, sometimes requiring a noise gate or isolated power supply to tame. One reviewer noted daisy-chaining with other pedals worsens the noise due to current draw, while others found running it alone or keeping settings moderate largely avoided the problem.

Best results depend on gear and knob restraint. Several commenters stress that the ST-2 needs quality pickups and a decent amp to sound its best, with cheap guitars sounding thin or anemic through it. Most agree the sweet spot sits around 12 o'clock on all knobs, delivering a fat, meaty tone without excess saturation, while cranking bass or gain too far risks muddiness or harsh, unpleasant distortion.

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