Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

Chuck_Norris

Chuck_Norris

New member
Hi everyone

I want to buy my first overdrive pedal :) Never cared about those things before but since I've bought my Tokai, I'm playing a lot more blues and classic rock. My amp's an ENGL Powerball and it's crunch channel really sucks. It might be good for some AC DC stuff but I need a warmer sound out of it with a sweeter breakup and really soft, thick gain.

With this guitar I'll mostly play stuff like Peter Green, ZZ Top, Bluesbreakers but also some heavier stuff like Guns 'n' Roses, Airbourne and Danko Jones.

The sound I'm looking for is somewhere between an old JTM45 and a JCM800. Basically, I love the old Plexi tones but I'd like to have some additional gain on tap (I don't need too much) for heavier sounds and leads.

The guitar I'll use is a Tokai LS-85 FLD with Leosounds Vintage Player PAF pickups custom-wound for me (I'll make a review of them in a few days) :)

I've done some research and narrowed the possible options down to the Wampler Plexidrive and the Fulltone OCD. (I didn't like the clips of the Plextortion I've heard so far. It seemed too muddy and lacked sweetness for leads.)

Which one should I get and why?
Please comment only on these 2 (or 3) models unless you're certain that some other pedal will take me where I want and leave me 100% happy.

Here are some clips I've found on the web:

Fulltone OCD:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl4Eu9qp5eM

Wampler Plexidrive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHUTTv_cwVg

Thanks for your comments!
 
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Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

Hey maN,

Never tried the Wampler, but highly recommend the OCD.

I would try to get my hands on the OCD, ZVEX box of rock and a MXR ZW-44 (zakk wylde od).

The OCD is one of the best stand alone OD's I played. Works well over a clean amp, works even better to push an amp thats on the edge of break up slightly over. Nice full crunchy sound.

ZVEX gives a nice Marshall crunch. Can get close to the OCD (but tonewise I like the OCD better). Nice thing with the Zvex is that it has a seperate, dedicated clean boost.

A clean boost in itself is exactly what you might need. Lower the gain, bring up the prescence, crank some mids, and clean boost your amp. It may be enough to give off the sound your looking for.

ZW-44 wylde od is a sweet pedal, way too thin on its own (clean amp) however it shines when your amp has gain engaged (from full on to edge of breaking up).


Just some suggestions. Sorry I really didnt answer your questions, just tried to give you some other avenues. The OCD is a great pedal though.
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

Do you own any pedals at the moment and if so, what? You might be able to achieve your desired tone with what you already have. I'm sure dialed in nice, the ENGL will provide you with what you need. If you must have a separate option, then once again, go with the OCD. Also suggest picking up some sort of dedicated clean boost. It really helps to thicken, add girth, singing sustain, slight volume, overall nice tone to whatever you're playing.
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

Dude, the powerball is a great amp!
Click to expand...
It's one of the best out there for metal!

I'm sure dialed in nice, the ENGL will provide you with what you need.
Click to expand...
If you switch to channel 4, reduce the gain and volume a lot and add some mids, it starts going in that direction but it's still not quite the same so I thought a decent pedal might do the trick here.

Do you own any pedals at the moment and if so, what?
Click to expand...
The only thing I use between my guitar and amp is a wah. Actually, I'm not much of a pedal user since the ENGL gives me all I need for metal. But for blues/hard rock I need a pedal.

Fulltone OCD seems popular here
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

No opinions on the Plexidrive? My main concern about it is that it might have too little gain on tap for what I need.
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

Chuck_Norris said:
No opinions on the Plexidrive? My main concern about it is that it might have too little gain on tap for what I need.
Click to expand...

Go for the Pinnacle instead, a little warmer and gainier!
 
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Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

Truth be told, you may have to go to a store that hopefully carries an Engl similar to yours and try different pedals out. I know my VHT is finicky and very picky with some pedals. For instance,

Keeley DS1 and a Tube Screamer (not engaged together) sound phenominal on my old Marshall DSL, where as the same two pedals no matter of they are tweaked and how my VHT is dialed in, they always end up sounding like @$$.

Maybe try a Marshall Blues Breaker or Keeley modded Blues Driver.

I firmly believe a solid OD with the addition of a good CLEAN BOOST will do wonders to achieve your ideal tone.
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

Hey Chuck, I know this suggestion is a bit off topic. But have you considered any of the Radial Eng. pedals? Like the PLexi-Tube or the ToneBone. They might be what you're looking for, just a suggestion.

Good Lucl,

Alleecat
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

The Plexitube sounds awesome! It also has tons of gain on tap so it's more a distortion pedal than an overdrive. I'm a little concerned about all that gain since I'll be playing with unpotted PAF-type pickups. I'm sure it would rock for Guns 'n' Roses and everything with more gain but is it really capable of producing sweet blues tones?
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

Chuck_Norris said:
The Plexitube sounds awesome! It also has tons of gain on tap so it's more a distortion pedal than an overdrive. I'm a little concerned about all that gain since I'll be playing with unpotted PAF-type pickups. I'm sure it would rock for Guns 'n' Roses and everything with more gain but is it really capable of producing sweet blues tones?
Click to expand...

Get the PLexitone AND the OCD, problem solved.

Why get one pedal that can do both styles average, why not buy 2 that can both cover one style perfectly?
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

The main restriction here is the size of my wallet. Nevertheless, I'd like to thank you for your opinions. I think I'll get the Fulltone OCD first since it's way cheaper.
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

Before you blow over $100, check Guitar Center and see if they still have the green or cream MXR Classic OD's for $30 - $40.

I wouldn't recommend them if they sucked or were just OK. They're actually really good, and the cheap price is a bonus. If you're looking to add balls and gain to your ENGL, get an MXR Classic OD. If you don't like it, you can return it, or sell it at a profit if it happens to be the cream colored one.
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

I've had the OCD v3. While it has plenty of gain on tap, I thought it was a bit hollow and lacked some body, to be honest.
 
Re: Fulltone OCD vs. Wampler Plexidrive opinions?

That thing sounds awesome and comes pretty close to Eddie's sound. But can it really do blues as good as the Fulltone? And will uncontrolled feedback be an issue with it (my pickups are unpotted)?
Click to expand...
I have a Pinnacle and love it but it doesn't do low gain that well kinda loses some power if you turn the gain control down (cleans up alright though). Love the plexidrive clips though
 
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