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Ludwik Jahn « The best Boss OD, rehabilitated. »
Published on 08/05/14 at 12:09I will not get into a description of the pedal itself, which is known, but only describe the mod. The Boss OD-2 is often considered one of the greatest achievements of the brand, because of its grain. Unlike the SD-1, it is not equipped with an Op Amp Type JRC, but three transistors. The grain of this pedal is sublime, very organic. The problem is a very significant loss of volume loss that occurs mainly in 'Turbo' which is nevertheless one of the strengths of this pedal. For this reason, despite its qualities, the OD-2 is of little use live unless push the bottom level and again.
This mod, William of MSM journal specifically for my application, proposes to overcome the loss of volume in Turbo mode, component replacement by other better to reduce background noise and add the size and low sound. Icing on the cake, the yellow LED is now (it seems the usual blue).
UTILIZATION
The pedal is easy to use at the base. Three knobs (Level, Tone, Drive) and mode (normal or turbo). You can not switcher mode to another on foot as the OD-2r. We must therefore see these two modes as independent sounds, even if the grain base of each mode is the same. It is not an overdrive / distortion as the SD-2, for example, but in a continuous range that goes from a slight boost to a very very fat overdrive marshalienne in mind. The model was designed so that the pedal is used in 'Turbo' mainly so the question of the switch does not arise for me.
SOUND QUALITY
I use this pedal with my Gibson SG Faded and my Fender Lead II on a Fender Blues Jr. I tested on a JCM 900 in the studio as well as a Blackstar.
Overall, the sound is excellent and qualities already present in the original are here transceendés. Big surprise: if indeed the main structure of the model is the Turbo mode, I must say that there is also a huge improvement over the normal mode. It does not strike me at home at low volumes but the studio on the JCM 900, the normal channel is already super powerful. I play with the level in half and I do not feel the loss of potato that I had before, there is also more bass, the sound is fuller. This should explain it.
But of course, the most impressive fashion, the Turbo mode. There, it is downright amazing. I put the level at 11 hours, and I already get a substantial boost in volume. Even with low drive (9-10 hours), it's really a full overdrive, juicy, one of the best I've ever tested. I think even she is above the Box of Rock Zvex reproductive Marshall. I tried to compare the saturated channel JCM 900 and the pedal. Well, I must say that the resemblance is astounding in terms of grain and dynamics. Certainly, the OD-2 compresses a bit more, but its grain is also endearing. As acute neck pickup on my Fender Lead II (fitted with DiMarzio Fast Track and Chopper), the sound is powerful, full, leave alone riffs, chords slam. My favorite so far setting is Level to 11 hours in the middle and Tone Drive at 9 am in Turbo mode. With this setting, the dynamics is such that playing weaker or lowering a little volume knob, I can go from a clean sound has a powerful crunch AC / DC way. I often play with the tone knob between 6 and 7 of this guitar and the sound is brilliant as it should, not too dark. Solo, there is a lot of harmonics in the sound. I boost with a Boss DS-1 (also moddée by MSM) upstream. It sings, it had to sustain, nothing to say. When I boost volume with a Spark mini booster TC Electronic, breath remains limited even though the boost in volume is very high.
I also tried the pedal on the other amp studio, Blackstar, I'm less excited, but in fact, I hate these amps, so it does not surprise me. They are dull, lifeless, with tons of bass and even lowering them there is nothing to do. The OD-2 warms a bit it's there, but it can not work miracles either. This pedal will be at top on an amp that is already appreciated in the clear. On my Fender Blues Jr, it sounds great but for now, I could not test that reduced volume.
OVERALL OPINION
I recently moddée in this form, but it's been over two years since I bought the OD-2 used and have used it on several occasions on stage or recording. With this mod, this pedal can finally find a permanent place on my pedalboard. It is exceptional from the perspective of the grain dynamics and spectrum it covers (the boost to a chubby flirting with overdrive distortion). I played on a very large number of overdrive before, shop or not (Maxon, Ibanez, Boss, Death by Audio, Zvex Barber Tech 21) and I can say that this one is among the best. Knowing that the pedal is used for 50 euros and the mod costs as much, so you can have a unique overdrive quality 'boutique' for a price of 100 euros. This is an unbeatable deal.
This mod, William of MSM journal specifically for my application, proposes to overcome the loss of volume in Turbo mode, component replacement by other better to reduce background noise and add the size and low sound. Icing on the cake, the yellow LED is now (it seems the usual blue).
UTILIZATION
The pedal is easy to use at the base. Three knobs (Level, Tone, Drive) and mode (normal or turbo). You can not switcher mode to another on foot as the OD-2r. We must therefore see these two modes as independent sounds, even if the grain base of each mode is the same. It is not an overdrive / distortion as the SD-2, for example, but in a continuous range that goes from a slight boost to a very very fat overdrive marshalienne in mind. The model was designed so that the pedal is used in 'Turbo' mainly so the question of the switch does not arise for me.
SOUND QUALITY
I use this pedal with my Gibson SG Faded and my Fender Lead II on a Fender Blues Jr. I tested on a JCM 900 in the studio as well as a Blackstar.
Overall, the sound is excellent and qualities already present in the original are here transceendés. Big surprise: if indeed the main structure of the model is the Turbo mode, I must say that there is also a huge improvement over the normal mode. It does not strike me at home at low volumes but the studio on the JCM 900, the normal channel is already super powerful. I play with the level in half and I do not feel the loss of potato that I had before, there is also more bass, the sound is fuller. This should explain it.
But of course, the most impressive fashion, the Turbo mode. There, it is downright amazing. I put the level at 11 hours, and I already get a substantial boost in volume. Even with low drive (9-10 hours), it's really a full overdrive, juicy, one of the best I've ever tested. I think even she is above the Box of Rock Zvex reproductive Marshall. I tried to compare the saturated channel JCM 900 and the pedal. Well, I must say that the resemblance is astounding in terms of grain and dynamics. Certainly, the OD-2 compresses a bit more, but its grain is also endearing. As acute neck pickup on my Fender Lead II (fitted with DiMarzio Fast Track and Chopper), the sound is powerful, full, leave alone riffs, chords slam. My favorite so far setting is Level to 11 hours in the middle and Tone Drive at 9 am in Turbo mode. With this setting, the dynamics is such that playing weaker or lowering a little volume knob, I can go from a clean sound has a powerful crunch AC / DC way. I often play with the tone knob between 6 and 7 of this guitar and the sound is brilliant as it should, not too dark. Solo, there is a lot of harmonics in the sound. I boost with a Boss DS-1 (also moddée by MSM) upstream. It sings, it had to sustain, nothing to say. When I boost volume with a Spark mini booster TC Electronic, breath remains limited even though the boost in volume is very high.
I also tried the pedal on the other amp studio, Blackstar, I'm less excited, but in fact, I hate these amps, so it does not surprise me. They are dull, lifeless, with tons of bass and even lowering them there is nothing to do. The OD-2 warms a bit it's there, but it can not work miracles either. This pedal will be at top on an amp that is already appreciated in the clear. On my Fender Blues Jr, it sounds great but for now, I could not test that reduced volume.
OVERALL OPINION
I recently moddée in this form, but it's been over two years since I bought the OD-2 used and have used it on several occasions on stage or recording. With this mod, this pedal can finally find a permanent place on my pedalboard. It is exceptional from the perspective of the grain dynamics and spectrum it covers (the boost to a chubby flirting with overdrive distortion). I played on a very large number of overdrive before, shop or not (Maxon, Ibanez, Boss, Death by Audio, Zvex Barber Tech 21) and I can say that this one is among the best. Knowing that the pedal is used for 50 euros and the mod costs as much, so you can have a unique overdrive quality 'boutique' for a price of 100 euros. This is an unbeatable deal.