Leyland Pedals Enhances and Evolves Boss's Discontinued DF-2 Super Feedbacker & Distortion
So Boss’s DF-2 Super Feedbacker & Distortion (1984-1993) is a secret weapon for many a player and band - including Hum and Swervedriver - a somewhat thicker and more textured derivation of the DS-1 with additional Feedback Function.
Leyland Pedals’ Caleb Holmes has long been a fan of the DF-2 and this was the first pedal he properly got his hands on and modified - both tackling a couple of the original pedal’s weaknesses, as well as adding new features.
This is actually the first of my FX Expo collaborations - where readers should recall that I dropped off my recently acquired DF-2 for Cale to apply his Leyland full mods to - which are 4-fold :
- 12V to 9V Power Supply Conversion
- Swervedriver Siren Feedback Mod on Red Toggle Switch - sounds like a UK Ambulance Siren!
- Volume 4 x Boost - Limiter removed from Level control for massive output boost
- Added Footswitch - Latching Feedback Footswitch - vs Momentary on main stomp
As I mentioned at the time - I had been hunting for a pristine DF-2 for a while, and when prepping my initial FX Expo promo article, I was encouraged to seek it out again - for Cale to do the mods. This time around I lucked out and found a near pristine example for sale on Reverb.com - situated in the Netherlands - and I paid near enough £200 including delivery - which seems to be about the going price these days. The full mods were £50 - had I not wanted the second footswitch - they would have been £40 - so my DF-2 cost me around £250 - which for me is well worth it considering how great it sounds.
The modded version is a significantly improved DF-2 in my opinion - where all those mods are really worthwhile. The Swervedriver Siren Mod sort of fades in as he feedback resolves when you stop playing - so there’s a small learning curve their to get the most out of that. All-round these mods make the DF-2 much more fun to deploy - and more powerful too. If Boss were ever to reissue - this fully-loaded version should be the new template!
Modded DF-2 Demos and References
Hum Along Distortion - £135
Such was Cale's devotion to Champaign, Illinois band HUM - fronted by Matt Talbot - who used the DF-2 extensively in their core sound - that he was determined to revive the DF-2 in some fashion.
Hence the Hum Along Distortion pedal, whose name is derived from Cale's favourite band, and is Cale's exacting reconstruction of the Distortion part of the DF-2 - encompassing the fist 3 controls, but omitting the feedback portion.
The Hum Along accurately captures that core tonality - while it's not nearly as loud as the modded DF-2. It's profile seems just a touch more modern too as to my ears the output is slightly tighter on the Hum Along - compared to the slightly more vintage style of the Boss - but very subtle really.
As mentioned - my DF-2 cost £250 all-in - and the Hum Along is considerably more accessible at just £135 - available of course direct from the Leyland Pedals Webstore.
The Hum Along sounds every bit as good as the DF-2 really, while the Modded DF-2 has significantly more output along with the various Feedback functions - so you will need to decide how much you want or will use those. For me it's worth owning both - while for others I would assume it would be more of an either / or decision.
If you're fans of Hum or Swervedriver then both these options should see you good - of course you will need the Modded DF-2 to get that unique Swervedriver Siren sound.
Who among you are fans of the DF-2 - for me it's something of an unsung classic - which I included in my Unsung Boss Overdrives and Distortions article a while back!
In terms of my own personal preference settings - I have the DF-2 set to Level @ 1 o'c, Tone @ 11:30 o'c, Distortion @ 3 o'c and Overtone / Feedback at Max. For the Hum Along I have Volume @ 3:30 o'c, Treble @ 1 o'c, and Gain at 3 o'c.
Hum Along Demos
12 Degrees of Saturation 2023 Compact Edition
