BOSS Od-3 Overdrive Pedal

Product Information

I've tried dozens of other pedals while the OD-3 was just floating out there. I assumed there was nothing special about it, and figured it was just an SD-1 with a new model number and darker color yellow. While the symmetrical clipping forms odd harmonics, the asymmetrical clipping produces odd and even harmonics. One downside of the Boss SD-1 Overdrive is that you may experience some signal loss in the upper frequencies, but that is expected with a pedal without a true bypass. However, there are no harsh artifacts or gouging of various frequencies. The fuzziness and thinness reported with DS-1 can be eliminated by using the Boss SD-1 Overdrive by keeping its pedal on always. This way, you get a smooth tube crunch sound with a pleasant effect overall.

Several guitar overdrives are available in the market. However, all of them do not work for all the models. Different overdrives come with different features and so are compatible with a particular number of guitars. The Boss OD-3 worked out excellently for the guitarists, as even the conservative players who would not switch their BD-2 Blues Driver found the Boss OD-3 as a good alternative. Carbon-zinc battery (9 V, 6F22) Options (sold separately) AC adaptor: PSA series Size and Weight Width 73 mm For the born again tone junkie, this might get you out of some of the many online support groups in your chase for a dynamic, natural sounding overdrive that has more transparency than it does color. The tone achievable with the three simple knobs, sans diode switches or vintage/modern modes is fantastic and rivals many of the independent offerings we have all spent hard earned money on for that Holy Grail end all pedal, only to still be left asking…"did I get a lemon?"With the active TREBLE control, I didn't need the passive TONE control any more, so that got tossed overboard. You may get the largest amount of saturation at the lower and bottom halves’ mid. This is a standard level for the overdrive pedals, so it is nothing new. This level is needed to generate the traditional crunch associated with drives.

One other comment re: the difference between the OD-3 & the BD-2. I consider the BD-2 to be more of a clean boost because it only sounds good (to me) when it's running clean. The OD-3 is definitely an overdive in my book because it sounds good running dirty. What’s more, as testament to how confident they are in this pedal’s build quality, Boss offer a five-year warranty. Nice to see 1MegaOhm input and great quality buffer at this price point, also nice that it only draws 10mA, so a 9V battery lasts at least 80+ hours in continuous use, as long as you don't forget to unplug the input when not using. Suprisingly quiet unit, up there with the boutique manufacters such as Wampler, Earthquaker, etc.The OD-3 fits perfectly in any amp character: It supports its tone and doesn't change it too much. It always adds smoothness and bass to it, but if you have a Marshall, it will still sound like Marshall. The best thing is the OD-3's dynamic: You can turn the drive poti completely up, but you'll still be able to control the drive from clean to completely overdriven just by using your guitar's volume poti. This means the fundamental characteristics of the Boss SD-1 Overdrive are slightly different than the typical overdrive pedals. The OD-3 can be a great source of overdrive on its own, paired with a clean amplifier. You won’t quite get full-on distortion from it, but it gets pretty heavy. If you mostly play clean, but need a bit of drive for a chorus or some lead parts, the OD-3 will do the job. Furthermore, it will clean up very nicely, as you lower the output volume on your guitar, similar to a cranked valve amp. Its tough and rugged metal chassis can be relied on so you can be confident when taking this pedal on the road with you.

Similarly, it can also boost an already distorted or overdriven sound when it is run through the other pedal. The Boss OD-3 and SD-1 are two excellent models with the right features. While the Boss SD-1 sounds best when used with another pedal or a tube amp, the Boss OD-3 works better on its own as it produces a warm, rich tone. The Boss OD-3 takes a normal guitar signal and amplifies it to the clipping point, and then clips this signal even further with its diodes (depending on the playing dynamics and gain setting). Knowing what machinal devices work best for your guitar, including an amplifier, tuner, and overdrive, is essential. You cannot play a pleasant tune until your guitar, and all its components are in full sync. Nominal Input Level -20 dBu Input Impedance 1 M ohm Nominal Output Level -20 dBu Output Impedance 1 k ohm Recommended Load Impedance 10 k ohms or greater Bypass Buffered bypass Controls DRIVE knobThe original pedal has two input buffers to support the buffered bypass soft switching. One is enough with true-bypass, so I ditched one of the buffers and configured the remaining one to have the correct freq response and input impedance. Numerous users are always on the lookout for a detailed Boss OD-3 review and are often seen with searches around the topic Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive vs. OD-3 Overdrive. The Boss OD-3, short for overdrive 3, is an overdrive known for its almost characteristic natural sound with an endless sustain. It is built keeping in mind the traditional Boss overdrives, so it has most of the classic features. Dual-Stage Overdrive Circuit offers a level of sustain and compression unmatched by any overdrive pedal

Overall, the Boss OD-3 has a wide range of frequencies despite its somewhat simple and common design and features. Moreover, it also allows the user to set the response they want and adjust the guitar’s darkness and brightness. Boss SD-1 Overdrive If you rather use the Boss OD-3 conservatively and use your guitar’s volume controls instead for a brighter, cleaner tone, this overdrive will work well. Another term that you may come across is fuzz, a special type of distortion consisting of harmonic tones that dominate the overall sound.Therefore, you will notice that most overdrives produce a ‘pushed’ sound that is well in tune, clean, and capable of being stretched to the crunch. The main use of pedals like the Boss OD-3 is to either produce a natural overdrive sound at sensible volumes, clip the amp, or be the overdrive sound and run it with plenty of headroom with a clean amp. By turning down the drive knob and cranking up the volume you can use the OD-3 as booster and sustainer too add a creamy component to your amps overdrive. I use it with volume at 10, drive at 2.5 and tone at 4: With a clean amp sound I get a nice blues tone, with my amp distorted the Boss is a booster for my solo sound. It was initially planned to be the successor of BD-2 Blues Driver unveiled in 1995, but some clipping changes and refinements formed its own unique path instead of being a mere replacement. After 40 years of live playing and studio experience, in the final analysis, my pedalboards OD/DIST fx requirements have boiled down to the AnalogMan King of Tone followed by two OD-3's, one set to Drive=0 for boost and the other Drive set between 10 and 3 depending upon the venue and amp system I'm using. I will occasionally add to that for special OD/DIST fx, but KOT/OD-3 is a constant in my rig.