Replacement for Maxon OD820

[UberMetalDood]

I want to get a new overdrive pedal to replace my OD820 which I have been using for a long time. What's I love about the OD820 is the warmth, smoothness, fatness, and slightly colored tone it adds to any amp. In fact, it seems to work best on a variety of amps than any other pedal I've owned. It has more overdrive and less mid hump than the OD9, and it has an internal switch to set at 9 or 18 volts.

The problem I'm running into with my OD820 is that it works just like a vintage pedal and has a few sweet spots. I also use an Xotic BB Preamp which is great too, but it's a brighter pedal, and is more transparent than my OD820. What it does better than the OD820 though is that the gain knob goes from a very clean boost to a bit more overdrive than the OD820 has.

I guess what I'm looking for is a pedal that is kind of like a cross between an OD820 and BB Preamp. I don't want a pedal that is too transparent, and I don't want another expensive boutique tube screamer or Rat clone. What pedal do you suggest?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

tried a fulldrive 2 mosfet? yeh its based on a ts - but it does so much more - and the mosfet option is really good.
Or there are always the other xotic pedals....

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

tried a fulldrive 2 mosfet? yeh its based on a ts - but it does so much more - and the mosfet option is really good.
Or there are always the other xotic pedals....

Yeah I had a Fulldrive 2 Mosfet for a while but it wasn't as warm and full as the OD820. I haven't tried any other Xotic pedals, but I have heard that their other drive pedals also have a bright edge to them.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

There are 1.74 billion pedals that fit what you asked for.

Can you be a little more specific??

Something between an OD820 and a BB but not a TS or Rat leaves a LOT of options...

Try the ZVex Box of Rock, not transparent in my mind at all since it has a HUGE low end and a very signature midrange to it and works great as an OD or a full on distortion to me...

AnalogMan King of Tone, range from less drive than a Tubescreamer to more than a DS-1 and is more "transparent" (I hate that word) than a ubescreamer but again does have a sound of it's own.

BMF Effects Purple Nurple, great pedal with a HUGE gain range and a really cool tone.

There are 3 starting points...

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

Ok well I don't want a Marshall-in-a-box and I don't want a fuzzy pedal either. What I want is something that's semi-transparent and warm like my OD820 but that doesn't make the sound too thick or takes away from the attack either. I like a pedal with at least a tone, gain and level control. Those 1 knob boutique pedals don't do it for me.

I don't know or care what the internal design of the OD820 is, but I know it's different from any Ibanez Tube Screamer, OD9 or OD808. I don't know how familiar you are with the OD820 but if you have spent a lot of time with one then you will know exactly what I mean. That should narrow down the choices considerably. The King of Tone sounds familiar so I'll look into that one. Thanks.

There are 1.74 billion pedals that fit what you asked for.

Can you be a little more specific??

Something between an OD820 and a BB but not a TS or Rat leaves a LOT of options...

Try the ZVex Box of Rock, not transparent in my mind at all since it has a HUGE low end and a very signature midrange to it and works great as an OD or a full on distortion to me...

AnalogMan King of Tone, range from less drive than a Tubescreamer to more than a DS-1 and is more "transparent" (I hate that word) than a ubescreamer but again does have a sound of it's own.

BMF Effects Purple Nurple, great pedal with a HUGE gain range and a really cool tone.

There are 3 starting points...

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

There are 1.74 billion pedals that fit what you asked for.

I don't think so. They are both great pedals and I own them both. Finding a pedal that sits between them will not be easy ...

Something between an OD820 and a BB but not a TS or Rat leaves a LOT of options...

Once again, I respectfully disagree.

Try the ZVex Box of Rock ... AnalogMan King of Tone ... BMF Effects Purple Nurple

The only pedal on that list I don't know well is the Purple Nurple, but I have been lusting after one of those for a while now.

My suggestion? The Thundertomate Phil Hilborne Fat Boost.

It's not an overdrive, but stacks beautifully with them. You can run it as a straight up transparent boost or use the dip switches to get a bewildering assortment of fat, full range, treble, and midrange boosts.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

It sounds like a neat pedal but that video didn't offer much tone samples.

 

[Brow]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

I'm very curious to try an OD820 with my Quick Rod.

I haven't added anything to the convo, just sayin'

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

I'm very curious to try an OD820 with my Quick Rod.

I haven't added anythign to the convo, just sayin'

Name dropper.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

It sounds like a neat pedal but that video didn't offer much tone samples.

Nope. You'll have to take my word for it. And the word of other ppl that own it. Since I know your other pedals well, I would hope that counts for something!

 

[vegetablejoe]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

How about a Zendrive?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

How about a Zendrive?

I have a Zendrive also. Does not fit what the OP is asking for in my opinion.

 

[crguti]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

what about the Empress Multidrive? it seems it can do everything...

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

Whoa, that thing sounds great! ^

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

Whoa, that thing sounds great! ^

Yeah, that's a good 'un!

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Replacement for Maxon OD820

on NPR yesterday
I heard a guitarist for some old band called the "stones"
going on about this one
said he made most of the "street" album with it