Finally picked up an OCD.. my review

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Kapo_Polenton

Kapo_Polenton

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So I thought I would spend some christmas fun money on an OCD pedal. You know how it is, you like your OD`s but still you think there might be something better out there. So i went out and tried the OCD against the AC booster through an OD100. Set it roughly the same way i would my JCM800. In the store, I liked it. Nice and crunchy. Def a lot nicer than the AC booster to my ear. At home though... not so convinced. First hour or so on the LP and then kicking it up to HP. (preferred LP) , yep digging it. Then for fun I decided to kick in my go to`s... would you believe my number go to is a 50$ Digitech bad monkey. Anyway, crack that back on and there it is! I guess `my tone` is just that, cheapo OD`s getting the job done while the amp provides 80% of the grind. My number two is a ZW-44. I like that one better too for certain applications. So unless this thing will do the trick with plexi`s that run a little less hot, I think i might try and trade it for a carbon copy and give that a whirl. Overall a fine pedal, but it is a tad noisier than the monkey I find and not as smooth on the lead tones. I know a ton of people are a fan of these so I thought I would try one (Lugo sings it`s praises) . I guess I am just ok with cheap drives! As for down tuned heavy riffing, again no contest, monkey won for me as a boost. I think I hear what a lot of people have said about the OCD, boosts lows and highs and missing some in the mids.

Anyway short review for me, if you are a Marshall guy, sometimes the grass is not greener on the other side! (other side of 100$ that is!!)
 
I see a lot of people like the bad monkey over more expensive units
 
OCD's a nice pedal but I can imagine it not necessarily bonding well with the JCM800, I tried a whole bunch out on my 2204 BB preamp , MXR Custom modified and the fabled SD-1 (which had a certain grind which really wasn't bad) but i settled finally on a maxon od808 (balance on full, with a bit of drive), just seemed to do the trick , i'll be trying a clean mosfet style booster next to see, but the Amp set to a crunch , clean up with volume knob and the Maxon for more gain is just right

at least now you know =)
 
If you like the bad monkey/808, check the Rodenberg 728, similar voicing but sounding nicer, clearer, deeper, more expensive also extremely superior/cool boost on board.

I came to a similar conclusion checking the OCD, Xotic RC, AC, Analogman KOT, Suhr Koko, Boss Ds1, SD1, Blues Driver, Leehan Labs, Mxr Micro, CAE, Zvex BOR, Super Duper with my Marshall.

The OCD is cool in front of Marshall but lacks mid-range, and has a little brittleness, but also cool......The King of Tone has more dynamics (imho not that important in front of a singing marshall) than the Rodenberg, but the voicing does not make me happy in front of my JMP, does not fit.
 
hellaboogie":1n8cb8cg said:
I see a lot of people like the bad monkey over more expensive units
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Another reason why name and price does not always equate to being the best. Tone can be very subjective and many people have found enjoyable tones using cheaper pedals. FWIW, we all know that there have been many songs recorded with a JCM800 and an SD-1.
 
I have an OCD v4 and like it, used as a boost in front of my Marshall's with a healthy amount of preamp gain dialed in it's a bit much so I prefer other pedals for that purpose.

The OCD sounds better when the amp's gain contribution is very light or even set clean (again just imo :lol: :LOL: ), at least with my Marshall's YMMV.

Having said that I've heard some killer clips using the OCD as a boost which is why I bought it in the first place. :lol: :LOL:
 
I have a OCD v.4 and like it for leads but not for any kind of rythym or chord work. It thins out the sound too much for that but adds a nice bit of sustain, cut and gain for leads. Playing through a Marshall DSL15 head into a JCM800 4x12.
 
I didn't care for it either with my stock 2204....nor the BB Preamp or Rocket Fuel.

My fave boosters with that amp were the ProCo Whiteface Rat Reissue and MXR GT-OD. The stock SD-1 was a distant runner up.
 
Nothing wrong with digging the Bad Monkey...I think boutique overdrive pedals are one of the most over rated/over hyped pieces of gear going. Most of them seem to be based on mass-produced classics anyway and just add a few features and/or fancy paint jobs.

Several years ago I challenged a vintage snob buddy of mine to blindly choose between his beloved original TS-808 and a Vox Valve-Tone. You know where this is going...he couldn't tell the difference. In fact, when he guessed, he got it wrong.
 
Just another example of why nothing beats trying a pedal yourself and through your own rig. I have heard good things about that GT-OD..wish the other side of my ZW-44 was that but it is one of the earlier ones that didn't have the switch. Saw one a few months back for 50$ but just missed it. At this point though, not sure why i keep fighting the monkey on my board. Sure it would be cool to have a sweet looking OD there in it's place but the monkey keeps bringing the bananas over and over again! SD-1 for me was also a distant choice. Just has too much of everything. That ZW-44 was born to be placed in front of an 800. It is wicked there.
 
Nothing wrong with digging the Bad Monkey...I think boutique overdrive pedals are one of the most over rated/over hyped pieces of gear going.
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Not true! They are based on certain old design, not always 100 percent better as there cheap counterparts, but maybe 10-20 percent better. Some, like the old lush first Roland Chorus or Deluxe Memory Man cannot be beaten..... the reason many stomp builders try get something similar, in some cases the succeed.

Most of them seem to be based on mass-produced classics anyway and just add a few features and/or fancy paint jobs.
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The bad ones, yes!

Several years ago I challenged a vintage snob buddy of mine to blindly choose between his beloved original TS-808 and a Vox Valve-Tone. You know where this is going...he couldn't tell the difference. In fact, when he guessed, he got it wrong.
Click to expand...

You failed, because the Vox Valve Tone is kind of spot on emulating the Ts808, the King of Tone would have smashed the old TS in regards of dynamics, punch and bass (because it has Bluesbreaker but Ts voicing genes), the Rodenberg has also clear sounding advantages.

In former times you would have killed to get something like the Box of Rock and Plexitone, jamming at home with this sound quality with low volume.....there are many gems out there, you have to know them!

I think most multi channel amps are overrated, because they sacrifice sound and all channels sound like a compromise/often the same!

Better buy different stomp boxes!

Kai
 
I like the OCD with my Plexi type amps. I have the v1 version and like it better than any of the versions that came out later. I am "barely" using it though. Level at about 11 o'clock, Drive off or just barely cracked open and Tone at about 10-11 o'clock. Very transparent.

I have a solution for that crappy Bad Monkey of yours though. Buy an empty pedal housing. Send it to Pete Thorn's girlfriend and have her do some of her cool, custom artwork on it. Transfer the guts from the Bad Monkey into the new, custom housing and Whammo! Instant boutique pedal looks, cost, forum cred and the sound you already like. ;)
 
Chubtone":1ohtu2yp said:
I like the OCD with my Plexi type amps. I have the v1 version and like it better than any of the versions that came out later. I am "barely" using it though. Level at about 11 o'clock, Drive off or just barely cracked open and Tone at about 10-11 o'clock. Very transparent.

I have a solution for that crappy Bad Monkey of yours though. Buy an empty pedal housing. Send it to Pete Thorn's girlfriend and have her do some of her cool, custom artwork on it. Transfer the guts from the Bad Monkey into the new, custom housing and Whammo! Instant boutique pedal looks, cost, forum cred and the sound you already like. ;)
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...forum cred....

:thumbsup:

Classic :lol: :LOL:

I still have to order some of those Arcane pickups. Those seem like the shiznit...
 
I love the bad monkey been through quite a lot of overdrives. OCD, lovepedal, ibanez, BBE, Keeley, Analogman, Koko,Barber and a few others. The ones I prefer are the cheapo Bad monkey, MXR classic overdrive and the Maxon. :dunno:
 
Rash":19dw0coi said:
Nothing wrong with digging the Bad Monkey...I think boutique overdrive pedals are one of the most over rated/over hyped pieces of gear going.
Click to expand...

Not true! They are based on certain old design, not always 100 percent better as there cheap counterparts, but maybe 10-20 percent better. Some, like the old lush first Roland Chorus or Deluxe Memory Man cannot be beaten..... the reason many stomp builders try get something similar, in some cases the succeed.
Click to expand...

Interesting, what did you use to measure that 10-20%

Rash":19dw0coi said:
Several years ago I challenged a vintage snob buddy of mine to blindly choose between his beloved original TS-808 and a Vox Valve-Tone. You know where this is going...he couldn't tell the difference. In fact, when he guessed, he got it wrong.
Click to expand...

You failed, because the Vox Valve Tone is kind of spot on emulating the Ts808, the King of Tone would have smashed the old TS in regards of dynamics, punch and bass (because it has Bluesbreaker but Ts voicing genes), the Rodenberg has also clear sounding advantages.

Kai
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How exactly did I fail? I showed that they were essentially the same, and when pressed to choose, he preferred the Valve Tone...exactly what I set out to do.

Are just trying to be a dickhead or do you really take yourself seriously?
 
Seriously....I am honest and experienced, here to help you, easy!

Bad Monkey = very cool tubescreamer extra tweakable! Very good price
when it works (i.e. you like tubescreamers), then there a handful of pedals that you could try with that voicing which are better and every guy will feel and hear this playing guitar, I mentioned them, you will have no chance fooling your buddy with these....not the vox valve tone! If you expect the Rodenberg will be 100 Percent better/completely different than the Bad Monkey you will not be satisfied.

If you like ocd (completely different design/behaviour than a tubescreamer) it does not make sense to compare it with the King of Tone or Rodenberg, because it is a different beast, you could try the baldringer dual drive, which has more Gain and Headroom and is much more tweakable, but is in the same realm.

That there are no noticeable differences between some boutique pedals and cheaper basic ones....that is mostly stupid, your 808 and valvetone comparion is a bad example because replicating an old tubecreamer is very easy, you will get better improved ones for way less money, than old original ones.

Speaking about delays, you will not get better lush sounding ones than Memory Man or (Chorus) oldest Roland....you can spent double the price, my experience...try it.

Kai
 
Yeah, the OCD has a great amp-like crunch and touch response, but I don't love the actual tone of it. It's too rough and gritty for me. I've heard it sound great paired up with the right amp but there are many od/dist pedals I'd take first.
 
I find boutique boost pedals to be far superior, for the most part, to cheap boosts. Cheap boosts typically sound.......cheap.

They all have their own character and can sound quite different based on the amp they are running in to though. So one guys experience with a pedal can be quite different than the next guys.

Quality guitar into quality pedals into quality amp = quality tone. If not, user error.

Some guys are so good though that they can make cheap gear sound good, so..... :thumbsup:
 
Rash":vjir724u said:
Seriously....I am honest and experienced, here to help you, easy!

Bad Monkey = very cool tubescreamer extra tweakable! Very good price
when it works (i.e. you like tubescreamers), then there a handful of pedals that you could try with that voicing which are better and every guy will feel and hear this playing guitar, I mentioned them, you will have no chance fooling your buddy with these....not the vox valve tone! If you expect the Rodenberg will be 100 Percent better/completely different than the Bad Monkey you will not be satisfied.

If you like ocd (completely different design/behaviour than a tubescreamer) it does not make sense to compare it with the King of Tone or Rodenberg, because it is a different beast, you could try the baldringer dual drive, which has more Gain and Headroom and is much more tweakable, but is in the same realm.

That there are no noticeable differences between some boutique pedals and cheaper basic ones....that is mostly stupid, your 808 and valvetone comparion is a bad example because replicating an old tubecreamer is very easy, you will get better improved ones for way less money, than old original ones.

Speaking about delays, you will not get better lush sounding ones than Memory Man or (Chorus) oldest Roland....you can spent double the price, my experience...try it.

Kai
Click to expand...

:jerkit:
 
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