School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
- Thread starter Aceman
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Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
Hah! I actually have a bunch of the old DOD pedals around for giggles still. I dont know about the original FX56 american metal mine is the FX56B Super American metal its fairly different from the HM2 the HM2 can be kinda fuzzy where the FX56B is chunkier. To me its the best of the older boss and dod distortion pedals.
I also have the FX59 which is similar to the HM2 also but has more zing in the highs which can turn into mosquitoes humping if you run the presence up much past 1 o'clock. Its a bit tighter when doing palm mutes but has less overall bass.
I also have a FX55B Supra distortion. Not even really worth commenting on I keep it around as low bench mark. Its fuzzy and raspy as you play the only thing that changes is pitch it cant handle more than 3 note chords and playing fast it wont track for crap.
I have a FX58 too its a bright yellow "Metal Maniac" It actually sounds really similar to the FX59 but with less over all gain. Which helps it with single not lines not mushing out but it doesnt palm mute chunk as good.
Though my favorite by far of the 80's DOD line up was the FX52 Classic Fuzz. Its actually a pretty cool fuzz tone. Real similar to a Big muff but i think its more dynamic than a muff and can do soft fuzz tones better and easier.
I know I have a couple other DOD pedals that I'm forgetting in high school I literally had a guy sell me a 5 gallon bucket full of them for 100 bucks. Ive kept them around for giggles I didnt even use them then but once in awhile they are lots of fun to pull out and see what you can do with them.
Hah! I actually have a bunch of the old DOD pedals around for giggles still. I dont know about the original FX56 american metal mine is the FX56B Super American metal its fairly different from the HM2 the HM2 can be kinda fuzzy where the FX56B is chunkier. To me its the best of the older boss and dod distortion pedals.
I also have the FX59 which is similar to the HM2 also but has more zing in the highs which can turn into mosquitoes humping if you run the presence up much past 1 o'clock. Its a bit tighter when doing palm mutes but has less overall bass.
I also have a FX55B Supra distortion. Not even really worth commenting on I keep it around as low bench mark. Its fuzzy and raspy as you play the only thing that changes is pitch it cant handle more than 3 note chords and playing fast it wont track for crap.
I have a FX58 too its a bright yellow "Metal Maniac" It actually sounds really similar to the FX59 but with less over all gain. Which helps it with single not lines not mushing out but it doesnt palm mute chunk as good.
Though my favorite by far of the 80's DOD line up was the FX52 Classic Fuzz. Its actually a pretty cool fuzz tone. Real similar to a Big muff but i think its more dynamic than a muff and can do soft fuzz tones better and easier.
I know I have a couple other DOD pedals that I'm forgetting in high school I literally had a guy sell me a 5 gallon bucket full of them for 100 bucks. Ive kept them around for giggles I didnt even use them then but once in awhile they are lots of fun to pull out and see what you can do with them.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
I have the Metal X, Grunge & Death Metal pedals. Love the metal X, noisy but has that classic 80's sound & a wicked grind to it. The grunge is a noisy, chaotic fizz-fest...lol, but sounds good going into a darker voiced amp.
Despite all the hate, the DM is an awesome pedal for metal...(probably my favourite metal rhythm pedal ever) ...it sounds ****ing evil & the chunky low end is unreal
I have the Metal X, Grunge & Death Metal pedals. Love the metal X, noisy but has that classic 80's sound & a wicked grind to it. The grunge is a noisy, chaotic fizz-fest...lol, but sounds good going into a darker voiced amp.
Despite all the hate, the DM is an awesome pedal for metal...(probably my favourite metal rhythm pedal ever) ...it sounds ****ing evil & the chunky low end is unreal
xxxplorer
Well-known member
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
^ There is an older style Death Metal on my local CL for $25... I may go snag it for fun lol. I've been slowly 'collecting' cheaper dod and digitech stuff without trying... I got a PDS550 I think it's called for 25 bucks a while back. It looks cool lol... That's about it!
^ There is an older style Death Metal on my local CL for $25... I may go snag it for fun lol. I've been slowly 'collecting' cheaper dod and digitech stuff without trying... I got a PDS550 I think it's called for 25 bucks a while back. It looks cool lol... That's about it!
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
I wouldn't consider any of them that great, I have a few for nostalgia. In 8th grade I got the yellow Overdrive Plus, recently I found one cheap at a GC. But I've noticed people trying to eBay them for a lot more. No one should fall for that. They are just not that good sounding.
I have a Supra Distortion which sounds as Edgecrusher suggests. I modded it and it is at least usable for a "weird" distortion now.
I found a killer old "Super Distortion" also, which sounds different and more usable than the Supra although they were supposed to be the same pedal. Apparently the Super Distortion is rare because (you guessed it) Dimarzio sent a cease and desist on the name, and it was changed to Supra.
I found a Classic Tube for way cheap and it's okay, not great.
Also worth mentioning is a Digitech programmable Distortion from that era which sounds so bad I can't even use it to sound "bad". Someday I'll rip it apart and attempt to replace the drive circuits with something good sounding, at which time I'll have a programmable boutique box!
Never owned the three Metal/Thrash ones you mentioned but they can get pretty good "radial arm saw" shred.
The original Grunge was good, made in the USA. shortly after their exodus to China began and they were not the same at all.
I wouldn't consider any of them that great, I have a few for nostalgia. In 8th grade I got the yellow Overdrive Plus, recently I found one cheap at a GC. But I've noticed people trying to eBay them for a lot more. No one should fall for that. They are just not that good sounding.
I have a Supra Distortion which sounds as Edgecrusher suggests. I modded it and it is at least usable for a "weird" distortion now.
I found a killer old "Super Distortion" also, which sounds different and more usable than the Supra although they were supposed to be the same pedal. Apparently the Super Distortion is rare because (you guessed it) Dimarzio sent a cease and desist on the name, and it was changed to Supra.
I found a Classic Tube for way cheap and it's okay, not great.
Also worth mentioning is a Digitech programmable Distortion from that era which sounds so bad I can't even use it to sound "bad". Someday I'll rip it apart and attempt to replace the drive circuits with something good sounding, at which time I'll have a programmable boutique box!
Never owned the three Metal/Thrash ones you mentioned but they can get pretty good "radial arm saw" shred.
The original Grunge was good, made in the USA. shortly after their exodus to China began and they were not the same at all.
xxxplorer
Well-known member
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
^ the programable distortion is what I have lol... The overdrive side isn't TOO bad at boosting my Marshall, but it really is a bad pedal lol. The parametric eq on it is hard to even make sound good and the pedal is noisey... The distortion side is very very compressed and sounds like I'm playing an intro to a butt rock song.
^ the programable distortion is what I have lol... The overdrive side isn't TOO bad at boosting my Marshall, but it really is a bad pedal lol. The parametric eq on it is hard to even make sound good and the pedal is noisey... The distortion side is very very compressed and sounds like I'm playing an intro to a butt rock song.
xxxplorer
Well-known member
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
DOD did make my favorite envelope filter though! The FX25. That thing is so nasty and strange! I have that and the fx25B and they are pretty different.
The fx65 stereo chorus is actually nice imho. I like the one I have quite a bit and it has a little flange in there at times. Works great for chunky stuff or clean and isn't too sterile sounding.
My old band mate swore by the supra distortion... He was a punk power chord guy... I hated that pedal.
DOD was fun... Yeah a lot of it was questionable but those adds and descriptions were fun to read and I liked how it wasn't to be taken too seriously back then. Playing was almost more fun then with cheap gear and funny label descriptions!
DOD did make my favorite envelope filter though! The FX25. That thing is so nasty and strange! I have that and the fx25B and they are pretty different.
The fx65 stereo chorus is actually nice imho. I like the one I have quite a bit and it has a little flange in there at times. Works great for chunky stuff or clean and isn't too sterile sounding.
My old band mate swore by the supra distortion... He was a punk power chord guy... I hated that pedal.
DOD was fun... Yeah a lot of it was questionable but those adds and descriptions were fun to read and I liked how it wasn't to be taken too seriously back then. Playing was almost more fun then with cheap gear and funny label descriptions!
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
I loved the Thrash Master back in the day, been looking for another one for years.
The DM is perfect, as long as you're quick on the switch, it squeals like a pig. Soooo evil.
The American Metal is HM-2 straight up, just with a single tone control vs the HM-2 two band. I still have one of these and an HM-2, they sound different, but not very.
I loved the Thrash Master back in the day, been looking for another one for years.
The DM is perfect, as long as you're quick on the switch, it squeals like a pig. Soooo evil.
The American Metal is HM-2 straight up, just with a single tone control vs the HM-2 two band. I still have one of these and an HM-2, they sound different, but not very.
AudioWonderland
New member
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
The Yellow FX50B overdrive worked real well with an old Crate G60 I used to have. I always liked the Classic tube as well. I never cared for the higher gain models. Just sounded like pissed off Bees to me
The Yellow FX50B overdrive worked real well with an old Crate G60 I used to have. I always liked the Classic tube as well. I never cared for the higher gain models. Just sounded like pissed off Bees to me
T
TheProphet
Guest
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
The Thrash Master was great for weird noise and other the top distortion. Not really something that I would use as my main distortion pedal though.
I could get old Star Trek sounds out of it. Gotta love the colour as well.
The Thrash Master was great for weird noise and other the top distortion. Not really something that I would use as my main distortion pedal though.
I could get old Star Trek sounds out of it. Gotta love the colour as well.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
I had an American Metal as my first distortion pedal. As I gained experience and my ear for things improved, I realized it made more noise than necessary. My wife got me a used Supra Distortion but it too was a noise bucket so I returned it for something else.
I had an American Metal as my first distortion pedal. As I gained experience and my ear for things improved, I realized it made more noise than necessary. My wife got me a used Supra Distortion but it too was a noise bucket so I returned it for something else.
G
guitarrob
Guest
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
I used to have a DOD Death Metal years ago but not really into that type of sound anymore. Building a tube based high voltage distortion unit for some cool tones.
I used to have a DOD Death Metal years ago but not really into that type of sound anymore. Building a tube based high voltage distortion unit for some cool tones.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
I owned one of the original Overdrive 250s back in the day, but that and the matching chorus in that series were stolen. I hate thieves.
I replaced them with the new Series of FX pedals--the yellow Overdrive, the light blue Stereo Chorus and the black FX10 Preamp. I also have my Series 250 power supply! I was still using my old SUNN Solos II 212 combo back then and they gave me what I needed.
I still use the FX10 Preamp as an "always on" boost. I took off the Overdrive and Chorus. With my switch to Mesa amps, I was only using the OD for one song anyway. I replaced the Chorus with a Boss CE-3, but I think I'm going back to the DOD. Or, I might try the Hardwire Chorus. I like the DOD better than the Boss. I can't really put my finger on why; they're both good, just different.
For me, the biggest downfall with the DOD Overdrive was that it would sound SO different through different amps. Loved it through my SUNN; it was okay with a Fender or Mesa amp; and I absolutely HATED it through my JCM 800! Like fingernails on a blackboard. Shrill and tinny doesn't even come close--it was simply awful.
BTW, I never cared for the DOD phasors. The Boss, Mutron and MXR phasors were the class of this group. Wish I had my old Mutron back, but I don't miss that big clunky box.
I also had one of the original American Metal pedals back in the day. I didn't keep it long though. As I recall, it had a big bass boost. Would have probably been fine, but for what I was doing back then it was too much.
Bill
I owned one of the original Overdrive 250s back in the day, but that and the matching chorus in that series were stolen. I hate thieves.
I replaced them with the new Series of FX pedals--the yellow Overdrive, the light blue Stereo Chorus and the black FX10 Preamp. I also have my Series 250 power supply! I was still using my old SUNN Solos II 212 combo back then and they gave me what I needed.
I still use the FX10 Preamp as an "always on" boost. I took off the Overdrive and Chorus. With my switch to Mesa amps, I was only using the OD for one song anyway. I replaced the Chorus with a Boss CE-3, but I think I'm going back to the DOD. Or, I might try the Hardwire Chorus. I like the DOD better than the Boss. I can't really put my finger on why; they're both good, just different.
For me, the biggest downfall with the DOD Overdrive was that it would sound SO different through different amps. Loved it through my SUNN; it was okay with a Fender or Mesa amp; and I absolutely HATED it through my JCM 800! Like fingernails on a blackboard. Shrill and tinny doesn't even come close--it was simply awful.
BTW, I never cared for the DOD phasors. The Boss, Mutron and MXR phasors were the class of this group. Wish I had my old Mutron back, but I don't miss that big clunky box.
I also had one of the original American Metal pedals back in the day. I didn't keep it long though. As I recall, it had a big bass boost. Would have probably been fine, but for what I was doing back then it was too much.
Bill
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
There is only ONE classic DOD dirt box...DOD 250
There is only ONE classic DOD dirt box...DOD 250
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
I call them all Donny Osmond Distortion - DOD.
For cheap stand alone distortion pedals, look at used Boss Power Stack or Marshall Gov'nor II.
I call them all Donny Osmond Distortion - DOD.
For cheap stand alone distortion pedals, look at used Boss Power Stack or Marshall Gov'nor II.
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
Absolutely. The FX50 I've got is the next "yellow" box they made and has none of the magic of the 250's in any color. Let's be clear, all those late 80's DOD's are Twinkies. Nothing but empty calories. There's always a better alternative.
Absolutely. The FX50 I've got is the next "yellow" box they made and has none of the magic of the 250's in any color. Let's be clear, all those late 80's DOD's are Twinkies. Nothing but empty calories. There's always a better alternative.
G
guitarrob
Guest
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
Yes, they are a common project for peopel getting into building pedals as they are very simple to build.
James Rock
Active member
Re: School me on Classic DOD dirt boxes.
Only experience I have is with the USA DOD Death Metal and the Hard Rock Distortion (the one with a short delay). The latter was not so useful but like said above the DM was evil my tele through my pro junior was sudden metal and better then a load of tones I hear metallers come up with (especially with overgained modelling setups).
Only experience I have is with the USA DOD Death Metal and the Hard Rock Distortion (the one with a short delay). The latter was not so useful but like said above the DM was evil my tele through my pro junior was sudden metal and better then a load of tones I hear metallers come up with (especially with overgained modelling setups).
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