Maxon Reissue Series OD808 Overdrive

Product Information

The answer we got from the data was unequivocal: the Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9 and its mini sibling won first and second place. It comes with five different chips you can easily swap for different voicings: original JRC4558D, NE5532, TL072, TL062, LM358. The unit houses one 9-volt battery accessible by removing four screws on the base of the unit, which itself is approximately the same size as a typical MXR effect pedal. a Unique TS variant with four push buttons that allow you to mix and match LED, MOSFET, Silicon and Germanium diodes, and then alter the resulting overdrive through 5 controls, including two unusual "Bright" and "Dirty" switches placed on the back of the case.

It also features a harder clipping pattern than the standard model, creating a searing, full-bodied drive tone that helps chords ring and notes sing. The OD808X features a low-impedance buffered bypass, allowing it to drive long cable lengths or other effect units without loss of signal. I would be fine taking this pedal on the road due to its durability and high quality components it comprises of. Where performing this mod to a 9-series Ibanez pedal would involve quite a bit of work with the addition of a separate switch that would have to be drilled through the top of the chassis, the OD808 would take to the conversion very easily. However, as much as I enjoy the drive the Maxon OD-808 delivers, my favourite feature of this pedal is the way in which it compresses the low end of guitar signals.

Amazingly, the OD808X does not add much noise at high-gain levels, making it an ideal booster for heavy styles dependent on chunky stop/start power chords. Now, saying something is the ‘best’ is obviously subjective – but the eight pedals in this guide are the ones that really ‘spoke’ to us. It doesn't feature a true bypass switching (check out the Maxon OD-9 if you need one) but I personally think this whole TB discussion is way overrated.

a “Swiss Knife” angle to the format, with two gains and a three-band EQ and three toggle switch to color the sound in different ways. James also has experience working in other areas of the music trade, having briefly worked for online music distributor, RouteNote. The OD808 and the TS808 are, for that reason, identical pedals – so if you’d rather avoid having ‘mainstream’ brands on your ‘board, then a Maxon OD808 could be exactly what you need. There is an inherent tonal “bleeding” that can occur that can sound almost like a clean and overdriven guitar are playing together.The manual that accompanies the OD808 is particularly useful as it includes not only basic operational directions, but sample settings also for use with both single and humbucking-equipped guitars. We understand the importance of online privacy and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation.

In fact, Maxon was the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) for Ibanez and actually made both the Ibanez pedals as well as its own under the Maxon name. A nice chunky boost who cuts the bad, bad bass frequencies and turns my Gibson SGs into real metal machines! With symmetrical clipping settings, it has more compression and a rounder attack for more singing sustain.To those who were “in the know”, Maxon’s OD808 was identical to the famous Ibanez TS-808 Tube Screamer in nearly all but name when it was initially put on the market in the late ‘70s and early ’80s. In this guide, we're going to cover some of the best Tube Screamer clones, reproductions and adaptations on the market. That said the video convinced me to get the standard OD-9/TS-9 style overdrive with the classic mid hump. A big selling point to the OD808 is its inclusion of the famous JRC4558D chip, the chip used in the original 808 designs.

Dialing the tone control through the 10 to 1 o’clock range gave me an extra bump in the midrange, which added significant presence to the Soldano’s Fender-like scooped midrange profile. Maxon released a series of variations on the OD808, including mods from Keeley, Catalinbread and Pigtronix to celebrate the circuit’s 40th anniversary. There are two germanium diodes in the clipping section of the Sidecar which deliver a slightly softer response, keeping your dynamics and feel intact rather than slamming the signal with loads of dirt early on. for the relay switched ones, this little item to convert them to TB without drilling holes is supposed to be good. Largely based on the classic TS808, the front end of the Sidecar is designed to provide a greater low-end response, a wider range of gain and a little more headroom than a standard 808 – enabling any player to achieve some pretty impressive tone-sculpting feats.The manual includedwith the pedal is neat, and includes standard presets to get you started with the tone you are looking for.