All user reviews of 4/5 for the Boss OD-3 OverDrive

The Boss OD-3 is a pretty simple pedal in that it has three dials and they speak for themselves. It comes with a Level, Tone and Drive dial as most overdrives have. The OD-3 doesn't have any fancy toggle switches, mode switches or stereo out jacks. This is as straight forward as it gets. Comes with the typical Boss construction and battery screw in the front as expected.

UTILIZATION

As said above, this is a very east pedal to use. Just set the tone, Level and drive to your liking and either you like what you hear or you don't. The manual spells it out as well and I have no issues with the utilization.

SOUND QUALITY

The OD-3 has a very open and organic tone, which I like. It is definitely not boutique quality sound like a Suhr Koko boost or even an OCD for that matter. It is the kind of pedal you could and should put in front of a non modded Marshall for pure and simple 80's metal tone. After all an overdrive should complement the original tone of the amp, not color it too much. The OD-3 does just that and does it pretty well. If you have an already hot set up, the OD-3 will give you a bit more without sending the amp into uncontrollable squeals, although with the drive maxed it is possible. The sweet spot for this pedal is in front of an old JCM 800 or JMP with the gains at about noon. This pedal will give you that 80's roar with that little bit extra.

OVERALL OPINION

I think this is a great and simple pedal, no bells and whistles. The price for the OD-3 is about $78 new but you could grab one for $50 or under on EBay. At either price, I don't think you would be disappointed. It does what an overdrive should do; boost a signal that little bit to rise above the mix. If you are looking for something to take you into super-hot territory, this is not the pedal for you. Better alternatives would be the Rocket Fuel pedal by Majik Box or the Koko boost by Suhr. Yes these are boutique and expensive but they serve a different purpose. The OD-3 is simple and works well for what it is. Classic rock players should have one of these in the arsenal for sure. Bottom line is this is a good pedal at a fair price.

The Boss OD3 is very similar to the SD1. In fact, they're more similar than a lot of people lead on to believe. However, there are some differences. I mean, if there weren't, Boss (probably) wouldn't release two different pedals with different names. The pedal has your basic level, gain and tone knob. It's a FET buffered pedal with the ability to run a 9v battery in case you don't have any way to power this thing. Aside from that, it's pretty much like your standard BOSS pedal on the outside.

UTILIZATION

The knobs are laid out nicely, just like all BOS pedals are. The things are crazy tough, too. I once saw a guy hammer some parts on his guitar with one of these because he couldn't find his hammer in his toolbox. It was scuffed up a bit, but it worked. It's surprising how much abuse these things can really take. As long as you don't spill anything on them, they're pretty solid. Setting it up is simple, and there's no need for a manual for these things. Want gain? Crank it. Want more level? Turn the knob. Want a brighter or fatter tone? There's your tone knob.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound, as mentioned before, is very similar to the SD1. However, this pedal is a bit more on the vintage side of things. Where as the SD1 is a very strong boost that pushes amps into overdrive, this is a bit warmer and fatter sounding. It almost reminds me of a BD2 at times, but it's a bit different from that. It works great if you need to add some warm sounding overdrive to an amp, but I wouldn't use it as a primary distortion pedal as it won't have enough gain, most likely. It really depends on what kind of music you're going for.

OVERALL OPINION

If you're looking for a warmer sounding overdrive, check these out. They're really cool sounding pedals that are a bit different from the SD1 that everybody seems to run today. It's like BOSS's version of a tubescreamer, I guess. Then again, I guess the SD1, BD2 and countless other pedals they have are the same way...

It pedals of a Over Drive, Boss (Roland), 3 rotary potentiomtres (Level, Tone, Drive), an LED, it's easy to use, a jack between one another exit, you walk on it and works. Ha, if the color yellow ...

UTILIZATION

To use it you plug trs trs simple, it triggers and these are the rglages are really simple to understand is the solid hardware, we are not afraid to break by giving unfortunate kick! the problem is on battery power, it takes a while but the time must still small, so we must think to have a spare battery o run on AC adapter, which is really not the 'IDAL on scne!

SOUND QUALITY

The sound is not bad, but not great transcendent pedals makes this a lack of personal one can be too clean my taste, but I prfre has something that sounds too dirty as one can cardboard (the grunge of the same brand for example), you do not lose in acute, severe and "puff" not all other frquences, however it comes on the knob " tone ", which allows the rgler frequencies. But even by varying the rglages this level, the pedals s'apperoit lack of personality makes it a basic filter plutt vritable eq. So I use the pedals on the guitar rarely, it is well on keyboards and effect in a mix occasionally, because the sound is clean and not too typical as possible . Otherwise not too much background noise.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for about 6 months, I like the clean cot but I suporte not the power supply (puts a lot of cables around dj there as a lot and live parasites) otherwise put a hand I'm happy plutt! For the seeker of an Over drive pedals requires the SSAI, it goes everywhere, which is an advantage when more practical style of music, the report quality price plutt correct.
It suits me well even though I rarely use, but it may not suit the blues (too much effect), and at least EnCorr mtaleux base (we too recognize the release notes)

View Previous notice. Level, Tone, Drive. It's simple.

UTILIZATION

Easy and robust.
Food batteries. You really need an external power supply. In any case, never leave a jack on the branch between the battery ca bouffe.
The level knob brings a lot of gain.

SOUND QUALITY

Ring of the knob allows fine variations of the knob Drive.
I find this really sche overdrive on a guitar.
With a low per cons, I love!
The sound is guturale takes throat, aggressive, sometimes rsons or dirty, at least raw and powerful.
I complte with the Boss CE-5 chorus.

OVERALL OPINION

Buy the hand like me.
No need to take a expr pedals for bass.
For guitar pedals to prfrez a warmer sound (lamp?).
Effective bass.

I am a big fan of the Boss OD-2. I have always liked the turbo switch on the pedal. It mixed very well with a Marshall JMP and using the jumper cable. I wold get some great classic rock tones with that setup. This one is the newest revision to the overdrive Boss OD pedals. This one removed the turbo switch and went with only three control knobs like many of their other pedals. This one however has a lot more gain on tap compared to the old Boss OD-2. So therefore the turbo switch is within the sweeping control of the gain so you will be able to dial that turbo in with the gain control knob.

UTILIZATION

Specifications

Controls: Level, Tone, Drive
Connectors: Input, Output, AC Adaptor
Current Draw: 9 mA (DC 9V)
Recommended AC Adaptor: PSA Series

Details
Type Overdrive
Inputs 1 x Instrument
Outputs 1 x 1/4"
Power Supply Included No
Batteries 1 x 9V
Height 2.4"
Depth 5.1"
Width 2.9"
Weight 1 lbs.

SOUND QUALITY

This is a great pedal to thrown in front of a high gain amp. You will get a similar response to the Boss SD-1 where the tone just jumps out in the mix a lot better. Those two pedals are very different voiced pedals but the reaction from the amp will be very similar. So if you like the way the Boss SD-1 sounds and reacts to your Marshall amp or whatever, you might like how this one does the same thing.

This pedal has a good sweeping tone that you can dial this thing into a good booster pedal by lowering the gain and boosting the volume or level. This will be good driving the front of your already overdriven amp. Or you can run the gain all the way up and get that pedal in front of a Fender Hot Rod amp and you will get some great rock tones.

OVERALL OPINION

At new these pedals come in right at around $80. which is a great deal on a very good sounding pedal. This is a good pedal for a budgeted consumer who needs to push his or her amp into overdriven territory. I would recommend this pedal to anyone who9 has a Marshall amp and wants to get a higher gain tone out of it. This is a great pedal for that.