favorite OD pedals

[snake eyes]

What are some great OD Pedals for Strat blues thru a DRRI?

[1bmf]

I play through a Twin reverb so it won't sound the exact same, but I've tried a Maxon od808, Fulltone OCD, Fulltone FD2, and a Analogman Tubescreamer. The TS9 is by far my favorite with the FD2 running a close second.

Matt

[TommyJ]

I like the Jekyll&Hyde...

[SabuJSE]

Fulltone OCD. Also try a Keeley Fuzz Head.

[Fendercrazy]

Maxon VOP9

[dirtdog]

+1 on the Fulltone OCD. Got one, play with my Strat and DRRI. Love it.

Also, the Voodoo Lab SparkleDrive - TS808 circuit plus clean boost.


Very Nice.



DD

[snake eyes]

I would like to keep it under $100.

[dirtdog]

You can get a used SparkleDrive for under a hundred.

You could probably get a used Fulltone OCD (v.1) for close to a hundred. They're only $159 new for the v.2.

Great OD and under a hundred (new) is a rare combination.

DD

[elicross]

If you're handy with a soldering iron, you can get a complete kit for a Tube Screamer clone from buildyourownclone.com for $85. It comes with a bunch of extra parts so you can build it to "vintage" TS-808 specs, or TS-9 specs, or do a lot of the most popular mods people do to their Tube Screamers.

I built mine to the TS808 spec and I've found it to be a great, classic-sounding OD. I usually run it into a very clean Twin Reverb model on my amp modeler, and the results are excellent.

[hudpucker]

You could probably get a used Fulltone OCD (v.1) for close to a hundred. They're only $159 new for the v.2.

Uh....there are three versions of the OCD:

http://www.elisanet.fi/flaser_phanger/ocd.htm

[elicross]

How similar is the OCD to the TS808, circuit- and component-wise? Is it a variation on the old Tube Screamer like some other popular ODs, or is it very different?

[dirtdog]

How similar is the OCD to the TS808, circuit- and component-wise? Is it a variation on the old Tube Screamer like some other popular ODs, or is it very different?

Not sure what the circuitry differences are, but they are miles apart (in terms of tone to my ears with my setup - YMMV and all that).

The SparkleDrive gets you to that SRV/JLV place very nicely while the OCD is more along the lines of Billy Gibbons' creamy grind.

DD

[dirtdog]

Uh....there are three versions of the OCD:

http://www.elisanet.fi/flaser_phanger/ocd.htm

hey thanks hudpucker - good to know...

there's some audio clips on that site for anyone wanting to hear the OCD in action....

DD

[studio1087]

The Digitech Bad Monkey sounds a lot like a TS-9 but the Monkey costs $39.00. The Monkey has slightly more gain than the TS-9.

The Digitech Screaming Blues has a bit more gain than the Bad Monkey. I have them both and they're warm and harmonic. The Screaming Blues pedal costs $49.00.

Available everywhere...try them before you spend $150.

[jjthinline]

The Bad Monkey seems to be a players choice around here. Does it really sound exactly like a ts9?

[snake eyes]

How bout Rocktron Austin Gold?

[Rickenjangle]

The Digitech Bad Monkey sounds a lot like a TS-9 but the Monkey costs $39.00. The Monkey has slightly more gain than the TS-9.

jjt, sounds like studio1087 has done a comparison...

[pseudocat]

I keep a Bad Monkey in the chain for high-gain stuff. It's great. For warm, just-broken-up vibe, though, it's not my favorite. For that kind of tone, I haven't really found any pedals I really love yet...

[hudpucker]

Bad Monkey for high gain....??


Just goes to show that it's all subjective.

[jjankosky]

Another vote for "try a bad monkey", it may work for you and I found mine used for $24. Dead quiet, nice range, and the dual tone knobs let you tweak out the mid-hump if its not your thing.

[ronworld]

How bout Rocktron Austin Gold?

I use one with my les paul but it isnt really suited to strat imho.

[snake eyes]

Damn, Man! So many pedals......so little Time! I went ahead a snatched a Boss OD3 off Ebay. Good reviews and not too expensive. Anybody here got one???

[pseudocat]

Bad Monkey for high gain....??


Just goes to show that it's all subjective.

Maybe my "high gain" is your low to medium?

[snake eyes]

OD-3 going back. Not enough grit! Any suggestions? Blues Driver-2

[Offshore Angler]

If the OD-3 isn't cutting it, you probably want a disortion pedal instead of an overdrive. I have a TS-9 I did the Keeley mods to, and it gathers dust since I got my OD-3 in front of my DRRI. For me, the sound of an OD-3 in front of a DRRI is almost magical. When I hit it it's almost transparent and simply adds grind. Just for grins, what are the settings on your DRRI?

[tubaman5150]

I'm partial to the MI Audio Tube Zone.

http://www.miaudio.com/TZ1.htm

[snake eyes]

I dialed it in evey-witch-away but not enough dirt.

[concert410]

Not enough dirt?? Try a Vintage Rat

[elicross]

This graphic on the Boss web site gives an interesting view of where they place each of their overdrive and distortion stomps on a scale of clean and smooth to gritty and rough.



Even though it's limited to Boss products, it shows how the OD3 sits firmly in the "Smooth & Natural" corner -- and that there are a ton of pedals that would give more "grit."

[Yankeehotelfoxtrot]

My favorite...not an OD...but oh well.

[Dale]

I like Keeley Fuzz Head and Ducan Twin Tube.

[kcwm]

I have a BD-2 with monte allums H20 mod. Not nearly enough gain, but great for adding a boost or that "just breaking up" sound.

I actually have a Boss OD-20. It was 100 bucks at a pawnshop but has a ton of pedals. Not all of them sound good, but it's definitely flexible. I think it pulls off the BD-2 thing (a little rougher than mine) and the Tubescreamer thing really well.

[ronworld]

My ancient SD1 is still doing good service here. Even though I recently bought a Full Tone 2 which is wonderfull, I cant get too far away from my old Super Overdrive.

[kcwm]

I still have the aforementioned modded blues driver. It looks like the mod was some built in compression. It gets a great creamy sound until the knob gets past 2:00 or so.

I traded the OD-20 for an old Ross Phase R1 (MXR Phase 45 clone). It might model many different pedals, but from what I've learned...those models aren't really all that great.

I picked up a DS-1 that was supposedly made in japan, but after taking it apart and finding the primary chip, it appears it's made in Taiwan, unless the MIJ pedals used the same chip towards the end.

As I mentioned in another thread, I bought a ZVex box of rock. I haven't received it yet, but I really like what I was hearing on sound and video clips. I plan on posting my experience with it once I have time to sit down with it.

[jerryjg]

well, maybe a Bad Bob, OCD,or a Exotic Effects RC booster.
Dont try to Tube scream it or use a lot of effects designed for mid/high gain amps .
Am i going nuts or did 71818 say somplace
he used a RAT with a Fender?

[delae30]

The Zvex Box of Rock is the last OD/Distortion box you will ever need. Will make your amp sound HUGE. The boost switch is really the best feature. It just make your guitar sound huge, glassy, and drives the amp nicely while creating an adjustable volume boost. This pedal is very loud, but it sounds best that way. The distortion sounds as close to a Marshall as an pedal can. Its really great because its like having a three channel amp. I have an old champ 12 and just leave the volume on ten for my clean tone, click the boost and you have instant boost in drive and a boost in volume for nice solos with lots of sustain. The volume for the distortion switch is independent of the boost so you can essentially have three volume levels from one pedal. So you can play with just the boost engaged, just the distortion engaged, or boost +distortion which seems to overwhelm my amp. I have to admit this pedal is really surprising, and one of the guys I play with has a Marshall DSL-401 (40 watt tube, 12 in speaker) and we have compared the tones between the pedal vs. amp and it is amazingly similar. Like most modern Marshalls, the amp is capable of producing higher gain tones than the pedal can which is modeled after a JTM 45 non master (I think). I know someone will argue that this pedal is expensive, but get the Vexter model which is not hand painted but identical in construction to the more expensive model.

Basically you get a hand built boost+distortion pedal for 200 dollars. I have to say that is the nicest sounding pedal I have heard yet.

[Raven]

Xotic BB preamp into the clean channel on my Stiletto Deuce Stage II. Just a lovely sound.

[mmcquain]

I currently own/use all of these in various configurations on my different pedalboards.
Each has its own unique sound and which is "best" depends on the music I'm playing...

[Totally bored]

I feel I can Nail every tone imaginable with these:

[kcwm]

I currently have the aforementioned DS-1, the Box of Rock, and I recently purchased a Bad Monkey.

The poster that said the BoR was loud was not kidding. I play in an apartment, so I have to keep the volume low...which is too bad because the pedal sounds best when turned up. The BoR does not have all of the gain I need, and the DS-1, at least unmodded, sounds too harsh to my ears. I need a good distortion pedal, but after trying multiple boss and mxr pedals, it looks like I might be stuck dropping a fair amount for a good distortion pedal.

I wonder if the Ibanez Turbo Tubescreamer would fit that bill.