Maxon OD 808 and Ibanez 808 question...

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loudgtr

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What is the difference guys?

I have both a MIJ and MIT SD-1 and can tell the slight differences that others have described. I like both; amp I use is a modded 2203 with a (slight) added tube gain mod...works great with pedals!!!!

I have tried the Ibanez 808 and thought it was pretty nice actually as a clean boost with my 800. A keeper for sure. Haven't tried the Maxon yet so...I thought I'd just ask. How's the Maxon compared to the Ibby 808?

Thanks.
 
I haven't looked at the guts of either, but I can tell you that Maxon used to make the 808's for Ibanez. They still both use the 4558 chip as well. I wonder if someone can post up some gut shots of both? FWIW I would go for the Maxon since it's cheaper and technically they were the original manufacturer of the 808.
 
they're different since the maxon OD808 is actually a TS10 circuit.

analogman has a ton of info on the various screamers here...

http://www.analogman.com/ts9.htm


i sold my maxon OD808 a few years ago and switched to an MXR GT-OD and my memory of it is a bit fuzzy on the maxon since i didn't keep it for long (which says something i guess) so i'll let others comment on the sound.

-Mike
 
As was mentioned the Maxon OD-808 is basically an Ibanez TS-10. I have used an 80's Ibanez TS-10 and really liked it.

As for the OD-808 versus the Ibanez TS-808RI, I haven't tried the Ibanez. I do have a Maxon OD-9, which is gritter, has more bass and a bit less mid boost than the OD-808. The OD-808 is smoother and I like it better as a boost for my Marshall 2553.
 
I hate to throw another name on the pile, but I spent about an hour yesterday A/B'ing my Maxon OD808 and Fulldrive 2, thinking maybe I could get some acreage back by replacing the FD2 with the 808. I could cop the 808 tones with the FD2, on its own and boosting my gain, but with far more options. The 808 is a good sounding pedal, I don't think it's a bad choice, but the FD2 is keeping its spot on my board.
 
I had a Maxon OD808 and an old Ibanez TS10. I had them both Keeley modded. They sounded nearly identical to each other before and after the mods (the mods improved them both) but the Ibanez sounded "warmer" (before and after). I prefered the Ibanez to the Maxon both stock and modded.
 
The Maxon uses the original SPDT switching circuit which bleeds a good amount in bypass. I don't consider this a 'bad' thing though some do. The Ibanez uses a BOSS style buffered bypass and cannot be easily converted to true bypass (it will look funny). Once you mod the Maxon to true bypass it is far superior IMO. It will be smoother and with less fizz. The Ibanez has the output resistors in the correct places while the Maxon uses the vintage circuit schematic which had them in the wrong orientation (that's where the warmth comes from).
 
JakeAC5253":1k6qibyt said:
The Maxon uses the original SPDT switching circuit which bleeds a good amount in bypass. I don't consider this a 'bad' thing though some do. The Ibanez uses a BOSS style buffered bypass and cannot be easily converted to true bypass (it will look funny). Once you mod the Maxon to true bypass it is far superior IMO. It will be smoother and with less fizz. The Ibanez has the output resistors in the correct places while the Maxon uses the vintage circuit schematic which had them in the wrong orientation (that's where the warmth comes from).
Click to expand...

So is the Maxon OD-808 bypass similar to the typical MXR bypass, IE no buffer and you get circuit loading? Do you know if all the Maxon pedals from the OD-808 series are this way (I have a couple of Maxon AD-9's as well)?

I have thought about converting them the Maxon OD-808 and AD-9's to true bypass, but I am not sure how easy it is. I don't notice much if any tone suck from them right now in my chain....
 
blackba":2mvaxi26 said:
JakeAC5253":2mvaxi26 said:
The Maxon uses the original SPDT switching circuit which bleeds a good amount in bypass. I don't consider this a 'bad' thing though some do. The Ibanez uses a BOSS style buffered bypass and cannot be easily converted to true bypass (it will look funny). Once you mod the Maxon to true bypass it is far superior IMO. It will be smoother and with less fizz. The Ibanez has the output resistors in the correct places while the Maxon uses the vintage circuit schematic which had them in the wrong orientation (that's where the warmth comes from).
Click to expand...

So is the Maxon OD-808 bypass similar to the typical MXR bypass, IE no buffer and you get circuit loading? Do you know if all the Maxon pedals from the OD-808 series are this way (I have a couple of Maxon AD-9's as well)?

I have thought about converting them the Maxon OD-808 and AD-9's to true bypass, but I am not sure how easy it is. I don't notice much if any tone suck from them right now in my chain....
Click to expand...

That's what it sounds like to me. There is a neat write up about them over at Maxon website.

The conversion to true bypass requires buying a 3PDT switch and adding some wires I think. Not much other than that. The bypass tone coloration is minimized if you have a buffered pedal running before it. If it is the first thing in your chain there will be plenty of coloration. Chops off some low end though, so that's why I don't really consider it a bad thing. Plugging into my MXR ten band EQ I consider to be a bad thing because it makes the bypass tone 'squishy'. I'd much rather have my bypass a little tighter than a little squishy, my opinion.

I had the resistor thing backwards, so says the website.
 
Thanks for all the info guys and gals :thumbsup: Looking forward to trying out the Maxon and doing my own a and b test, but the Ibanez 808 is really nice. warmer with a deeper bass and less of a mid push than either of my SD-1's... I still like my SD-1's though :rock:
 
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