Anyone switch from an OD808 to a Fortin 33?

[PhloridaMan]

Curious how different the pedals really are? The demo videos I have found, it sounds like it really tightens up and focuses the bottom end more than an OD808 but it's obviously tough to tell the truth through a video. I am also looking at it because I really like the latched output feature for channel switching.

Appreciate any insight... Back to searching!

 

[fearhk213]

They are VERY different sounding pedals. Your assessment is correct about the 33 in comparison.

 

[PhloridaMan]

They are VERY different sounding pedals. Your assessment is correct about the 33 in comparison.

Just hard to justify spending $225 in the event that I just don't like it.

I enjoy my OD808, just always looking at other options. I am doing the same with noise gates to be honest right now. I have Zuul but it doesn't completely do it for me.

I've had a precision drive but it didn't push the amp as hard as I wanted. I have a 6505 so I have plenty of gain available, but I like clarity so I run my gain at about noon and boost it. I also play in Drop A# and play stuff in the style of Bury Your Dead and OLD Acacia Strain. SO hard to tell from videos what the 33 would do to get that clear punchy single note stuff and still chug tight and hard.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I have an 808x and a Grind
Not exactly the same as the question but close

Grind sort of does a similar thing but it's more extreme. 808x is more useful for different guitars/amps/tunings but when the Grind is in the right chain it is HOT awesome. 808x is super too, but Grind brings the modern hi gain pain like no other.

 

[napalmdeath]

They are VERY different sounding pedals. Your assessment is correct about the 33 in comparison.

Just hard to justify spending $225 in the event that I just don't like it.

I enjoy my OD808, just always looking at other options. I am doing the same with noise gates to be honest right now. I have Zuul but it doesn't completely do it for me.

I've had a precision drive but it didn't push the amp as hard as I wanted. I have a 6505 so I have plenty of gain available, but I like clarity so I run my gain at about noon and boost it. I also play in Drop A# and play stuff in the style of Bury Your Dead and OLD Acacia Strain. SO hard to tell from videos what the 33 would do to get that clear punchy single note stuff and still chug tight and hard.

Try the Cusack Screamer V2. It smokes the OD808 in clarity, and tightens very nicely. More aggressive too. I love it.

My other suggestion would be the Airis Savage Drive.

 

[errrrrl]

I also play in Drop A# and play stuff in the style of Bury Your Dead and OLD Acacia Strain. SO hard to tell from videos what the 33 would do to get that clear punchy single note stuff and still chug tight and hard.

For me the 33/Grind shine best on low tunings and good for modern stuff so it might be up your alley. I don't like them at all on Marshall type amps though wayyy too metalic clanky sounding... they sound great on amps with lots of low end

 

[skullfxr]

I realize that this is a little OT, but I stopped hunting down OD's when I got my fulltone fd-2 MOSFET and cmatmods super signa drive. From orange to mesa, they kick all kinds of ass for me. I got rid of my OD808.

BUT... I have not tried the fortin.

 

[Jeremy]

I went from an OD808 to the 33. I use it in front of my Rivera KR100. I was pretty hesitant to try at first as well because of cost but I pulled the trigger regardless as I could've sold it locally with ease. I did get to try the Grind (thanks to a buddy) prior to which also helped.

They are pretty different animals. The 33 pushes the front end very hard to get that focused bottom end. To me the feel was so much different.... Gave me that Scott Ian type punch which legit made me man-giggle. Everything seems to really jump out when I play now, it's pretty awesome. The high end wasn't negatively effected I thought. The 33 really does keep the amps's sound. Just like when I added the OD808 years ago I had to tweak my amp settings VERY slightly to compliment the 33. Brought my presence down on the amp a bit and brought up the lows a tiny bit so it wasn't so "clanky" as mentioned before. I find it compliments my Rivera VERY nicely. Really excels with lower tunings but I'll be honest that I don't mind it with standard tuning either. I run my 33 around the 2 o'clock mark which just seems to be the sweet spot.

 

[cardinal]

I've used an OD808 a lot and now am most often using a 33.

The OD808 is kinda an industry standard boost pedal for high gain rock/metal. It boosts a lot of mid range. It does cut some bass, but not as much as some others (like the SD-1 IMHO) so gives a pretty thick sound.

The 33 dumps a lot of low end. A LOT. Somehow it still chugs on the palm mutes, but if you A/B the 33 and the OD808, the 33 will sound thin by comparison, at least to me. But guitar isn't all about that low end. The voicing of the 33 is great. It sounds really mean and cuts. And like I said manages to chug despite the massive bass cut.

It took me a few goes with it to really adjust to the 33, but now I really love it. I use 8-strings a lot, and the OD808/SD-1/etc. are just too bloated and slow to track the 8-string well. The 33 just nails it and sounds good on the top strings too.