The Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion is a Boss distortion pedal, currently around $89.47. Close alternatives include the Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal and the MXR M104 Distortion+. It pairs well with the Fender 'Black Panel' Twin Reverb (1963-1967) and the Laney Ironheart Foundry Leadtop 60W Head.

Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion

Boss · pedal

The Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion is a two-mode distortion pedal providing two distinct high-gain characters via a Turbo switch. Turbo I delivers a warmer, mellower distortion with a flat frequency response and smooth saturation. Turbo II engages a biting, midrange-boosted distortion character ideal for lead playing that cuts through a band mix. Covers the range from classic rock chords through 1980s-era distortion to heavier lead tones. Associated with the tones of Nirvana, RHCP, and Wolfmother. A significant evolution beyond the standard DS-1 in terms of voicing flexibility and gain depth.

What stands out

  • “[Pros] ✓ Versatile tones suitable for rock, grunge, punk, and more ✓ Turbo mode offers enhanced solos and heavier sound options ✓ Warm, mid-rangey distortion that's great for various music genres ✓ Mode 1 offers DS-1-like tones; Mode 2 boos…”

    — from the reviews

  • “Two-mode distortion spanning warm flat-response saturation through biting midrange-boosted lead character, with more gain range and versatility than the DS-1 it supplements”

    — from the community notes

  • “Turbo I delivers a warmer, mellower distortion with a flat frequency response and smooth saturation”

    — from the listing

  • “Turbo II engages a biting, midrange-boosted distortion character ideal for lead playing that cuts through a band mix”

    — from the listing

  • “used for rock”

    — from the community notes

  • distortion
  • lead
  • smooth
  • warm
  • saturation
  • rock
  • grunge
  • rhythm
$89.47View on Reverb

Price updated Oct 23, 2026

Genres the Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion is commonly used in

Amps that pair well with the Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion

Fender 'Black Panel' Twin Reverb (1963-1967)

Fender

58% match

“I use this on the clean channel with a Vox guitar with a boss ds-2 for higher gain”— from the fender-twin-reverb-blackface listing

Comes later in the signal chain

Laney Ironheart Foundry Leadtop 60W Head

Laney

30% match
$319.99via Reverb

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)

Laney Ironheart Foundry Leadtop 60W Head layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal

Comes later in the signal chain

Friedman Dirty Shirley

Friedman

29% match

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)

Into the Dirty Shirley's vintage, British crunch, the DS-2's warm, smooth lead saturation has a genuinely raw amp voice to push into.

Comes later in the signal chain

Bad Cat Ocelot

Bad Cat

23% match

Run Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion into that high headroom platform and it finally leans toward mid-forward

Comes later in the signal chain

Blackstar St. James 100h,

Blackstar

22% match
$497.18via Reverb

pushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)

Stack Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward

Comes later in the signal chain

ENGL E633 Fireball 25

Engl

22% match
$868.69via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)

The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion leans it toward mid-forward to fill it in

Comes later in the signal chain

Engl E 635 100 Head

Engl

22% match
$2099.99via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)

Into a transparent tone, Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing

Comes later in the signal chain

Engl E656 Steve Morse

Engl

22% match
$3087.33via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)

Into a transparent tone, Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing

Comes later in the signal chain

See all 17 amps that pair with the Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion →

Pedals that stack with the Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion

JAM Pedals Red Muck

Jam Pedals

32% match

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Feed a scooped signal into Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion and it comes out closer to mid-forward

Fjord Fuzz Odin

Fjord Fuzz

30% match
$199via Reverb

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)

Stack the Odin's weighty doom fuzz after the DS-2's biting distortion for a thicker, heavier wall of gain.

Comes later in the signal chain

Fjord Fuzz Berserk

Fjord Fuzz

28% match

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)

Run mid-forward into Fjord Fuzz Berserk for more fuzzy on top

Comes later in the signal chain

Electro-Harmonix Nano Big Muff Pi

Electro-Harmonix

28% match
$67.42via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Stack Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward

Way Huge Electronics Swollen Pickle MKII Jumbo Fuzz

Way Huge

26% match
$159.99via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion leans toward smooth, and that's a real, usable character to pair with

Comes later in the signal chain

Universal Audio Dream

Universal Audio

26% match

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward

Comes later in the signal chain

Blackstar LT Dual

Blackstar

25% match
$90.88via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion's smooth voice suits Blackstar LT Dual's own crunchy character

Wren and Cuff Foot Caprid "Ram's Head" Fuzz

Wren And Cuff

25% match
$199.99via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Stack Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward

Comes later in the signal chain

See all 19 pedals that pair with the Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion →

Cheaper alternatives

Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive

Boss

56% similarity
$59via Reverb

Shared character: classic tones, staple, noise

MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg

MXR

55% similarity
$79.99via Reverb

Shared character: high gain settings, boost, middle

Boss DS-1 Distortion

Boss

96% similarity
$62.99via Reverb

similar tone character

Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion

Behringer

95% similarity
$28.90via Reverb

similar tone character

Boutique & premium upgrades

Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft

Boss

60% similarity
$136.57via Reverb

Shared character: high gain settings, noise, mix

Dunlop MXR Dookie Drive 30th Anniversary DD30

Dunlop

58% similarity
$169.99via Reverb

Shared character: middle, alternative, gain

Boss DS-1W Waza Craft Distortion

Boss

55% similarity
$136.57via Reverb

Shared character: kurt cobain, ds 1, hard rock

Friedman BE-OD Deluxe

Friedman

55% similarity
$229.49via Reverb

Shared character: noise, wide range, hard rock

Maxon SD-9 Sonic Distortion

Maxon

55% similarity
$162.43via Reverb

Shared character: kurt cobain, fuzz, alternative

Maxon OD808

Maxon

55% similarity
$134.23via Reverb

Shared character: warm, hard rock, middle

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal

Boss

58% similarity
$95via Reverb

Shared character: noise, durable construction, mix

MXR M104 Distortion+

Dunlop

58% similarity

Shared character: classic tones, ds 1, durable construction

Ibanez TS9DX Turbo Tube Screamer

Ibanez

57% similarity

Shared character: boost, wide range, staple

ProCo RAT 2

Proco

56% similarity
$86.97via Reverb

Shared character: staple, noise, lead playing

Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70

Catalinbread

55% similarity

Shared character: warm, hard rock, fuzz

Xotic Effects SL Drive

Xotic

54% similarity

Shared character: classic tones, hard rock, middle

See all alternatives to the Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion?+

The closest matches in character are the Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal, the MXR M104 Distortion+, the Ibanez TS9DX Turbo Tube Screamer. Budget picks: Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive, MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg, Boss DS-1 Distortion. Boutique upgrades: Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft, Dunlop MXR Dookie Drive 30th Anniversary DD30, Boss DS-1W Waza Craft Distortion.

What pairs well with the Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender 'Black Panel' Twin Reverb (1963-1967), Laney Ironheart Foundry Leadtop 60W Head, Friedman Dirty Shirley — “I use this on the clean channel with a Vox guitar with a boss ds-2 for higher gain”.

How much does the Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion cost?+

Around $89.47 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).

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