Fulltone OCD vs. MXR Zakk OD

NJ-Nick

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OCD Compare

Rig Set Up :
ULX Wireless==>Boss Tuner==>Fulltone Clyde==>Fulltone DejaMiniVibe==>EVH Phase 90==>Zakk MXR OverDrive==>MXR Stereo Chorus=====One channel to JCM800 with 2X1936....other channel JCM800ZW to 1960A
Stereo BBE 481 linked to effects loop of both JCM's
THD HotPlates to calm the beasts down

Guitars Used
PRS CU24
American Deluxe Strat S-1 Switching

Switched out Zakk Overdrive with OCD

Think of Zakk or Randy sound with the OD on and a Slash type tone with no OD

The Zakk overdive :
I love the way that the Zakk pedal just adds so much quality tone to my Marshalls without changing the tone we all love. I love my straight up Marshall tones from the JCM's but when you kick this pedal in and have it setup correctly it just totally opens the sound of the JCM's to new heights. With my PRS I get a sound you can expect with my setup. The problems begin when I kick in the DejaVide or Clyde with the Zakk OD on. Instant muddier sound ( unless you fiddle with the Zakk gain control). In short the Zakk seems to be more reluctant to play with others. (modulation type effects) It works fine with the chorus though. Hook in the Strat and your in trouble !!!! Real Mud without major tweaking of all of your effects. Big trouble if you are switching between a Strat and Humbucker at a gig. Being old and cant see close (add a dark stage) thats just asking for trouble. The Zakk OD nicely cleans up when you roll down the volume.

OCD:
More of the same....opens the marshalls right up, this pedal seems to allow for a much finer set of gain. The Zakk seems to crank and crank more. The OCD adds gain bit by bit...much more control over the gain. In fact at full tilt boogie the OCD seems to have more gain at crank than the Zakk. Where the OCD starts rising to the top is the tone control. At middle the tone control absolutley is neutral. It adds nothing or takes away nothing from the tone, this is what makes it work well with both single and humbucker guitars. Leaving the tone control neutral (12:00) let me switch between the strat and the PRS without going crazy resetting effects. I got a screaming tone from both guitars. Where the OCD also gets A+ is when you turn on the dejavibe and use the wah. It gives you that nice swelling sound without being overly muddy. It even make the MXR chours sound better (cleaner overdrive/distortion) if that makes sense. Cleans up nice when you roll the guitar volume down

Conclusion
Zakk OD - One trick pony when used with Zakks setup... killer sound
OCD - Amazing all around pedal.....amazing by itself....works extreamley well with other pedals and guitar types.

The OCD has been deemed "velcro worthy" and has replaced the Zakk OD on my pedal board.
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. MXR Zakk OD

Nice review. I have the Zakk OD myself and love it. I don't experience muddiness with my Strat though. Things stay fairly tight and it plays well with my Wah and Phase 90 with no problems.
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. MXR Zakk OD

Great review. I have kind of fallen out of favor with my ZW-44 since I got it, I might have to go back to it next band practice and give it a go. I've been looking into the OCD, I might have to give that pedal a try to.
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. MXR Zakk OD

ErikH said:
Nice review. I have the Zakk OD myself and love it. I don't experience muddiness with my Strat though. Things stay fairly tight and it plays well with my Wah and Phase 90 with no problems.
,
I didnt mean to imply it wouldn't work with my strat. It sounds awsome, but, you need to make major adjustments to the set up. This makes changing guitars back and forth more difficult. The OCD seems to handle both guitars with no adjustments.
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. MXR Zakk OD

I have a similar set up Nick with JCM800 2203 and love the ZW OD. But like most ODs when kicked on it thins the open sound. Not thin as in treble but with a mid eq bump and thicker but less open. Is the OCD same?
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. MXR Zakk OD

,
I didnt mean to imply it wouldn't work with my strat. It sounds awsome, but, you need to make major adjustments to the set up. This makes changing guitars back and forth more difficult. The OCD seems to handle both guitars with no adjustments.

Is this Strat SSS or HSS or what? I assume it must be HSS if it has S-1 switching.
 
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