• macg1
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  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
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Topic: Best OD pedal for a JCM800

Greetings fellow tone hounds.  I am currently running a OCD v.4 (@18V) into my marshall JCM800 2204 (KT88 power tubes) into a 2x12 can with hellatone 60's.  The guitar I am using mostly these days is a partscaster Tele with a DiMarzio Chopper T on the bridge position.  I run the preamp on 10 and the master volume on about 5 in the low sensitivity input (i need some cleanish tones and the ability to switch on the fly between dirt and clean on the fly, and also a manageable volume). 

I do like the OCD... I like it a lot!  But it seems to be, for lack of better words, not "masculine enough".  I am thinking it may be missing a bit more gain than I want. Any suggestions for a nice OD box, maybe with a bit more gain that stays tight on the low end, is not mid-scooped... I am really into Richie Kotzen lately, especially his dirty tones from the "into the black" and "peace sign" records.

Is it maybe just and EQ thing?  The OCD just seems a bit too smooth...

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • Registered: 2010-05-21
  • Posts: 121

Re: Best OD pedal for a JCM800

Hi,

There's a million answers to your questions:-) I won't get into the use-your-ears-and-try-all-the-pedals-you-stumble-across...

I have the same OCD pedal and I sometimes push it with a JHS pedal called New morning glory in front of the OCD. That's a nice combination on my beloved Reeves amp (in my ears). You can try another OD pedal or a booster (I even use a compressor on some lead tones) in front (or after - try both). The sequence of the pedals is worth experimenting. The volume on each pedal can also change the tones, and is also worth experimenting.

I also likes the Proco Rat 2 a lot. It's a very good pedal which I use for both Gilmour stuff and also other genres.

And then you have all the fuzz pedals ..... the Muffs ..... I'll stop now ....

  • macg1
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Re: Best OD pedal for a JCM800

Well, I am not going to go on a buy-sell spree without some guidance, hence the post here... I was using a SD Tweak Fuzz, which i like, but I found it really does not play well with my wah.  Tried a HAO Rust Driver, and as much as I love that pedal it sounded awful.  The closest thing I found so far was my HBE Germania pushing the OCD, which was fine for leads, but i prefer to have that kind of tonal characteristic at a lower volume level, then follow it with a clean boost for leads.  I think I just need something similar to the OCD with more gain.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: Green Bay, WI
  • Registered: 2010-03-29
  • Posts: 49

Re: Best OD pedal for a JCM800

I'm not sure if anybody on here has the MI Audio Crunch Box or not, but I really like what I've heard from it so far.  I don't personally have the pedal, but I'm considering it.  It seems like it would fit what you're looking for.

I like the tone in this demo, especially around 1:30, right when he tests the gain range.  Oh, and it's single coils at that point too...  He does a Les Paul I think in the 2nd half.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTdoq7FmLhQ

  • macg1
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Re: Best OD pedal for a JCM800

Yeah, I owned the CB before, but that is when I was playing through Fender style amps... I am not certain that a marshall-in-a-box pedal will sound good into another marshall... the HAO Rust Driver sure didn't.  I am thinking the simple answer my be the best and just go with the tried and true BOSS DS-1.


TrueBlueDrew wrote:

I'm not sure if anybody on here has the MI Audio Crunch Box or not, but I really like what I've heard from it so far.  I don't personally have the pedal, but I'm considering it.  It seems like it would fit what you're looking for.

I like the tone in this demo, especially around 1:30, right when he tests the gain range.  Oh, and it's single coils at that point too...  He does a Les Paul I think in the 2nd half.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTdoq7FmLhQ

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: Asheville, North Carolina
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 133

Re: Best OD pedal for a JCM800

I have a 1988 JCM 800 2203. I've had it since August of 2006 and the only piece of gear that has remained constant is my TS808. I plug into the high sensitivity input. Set the gain around 5 and roll the presence all the way off. On the Tubescreamer set the Volume ~ 1 o'clock, Tone ~ 10 or 11, and the gain low, I'd say around 9 o'clock. Then roll your volume down with the Tubescreamer off for clean. Then crank the volume and kick on the Tubescreamer for the dirty stuff. That setup is the sole reason why I'll never buy a channel switching amp. Two-channels is one two many. Hope this helps.

Guitars: 1974 LP Custom, 2013 R8
Amps: '88 JCM 800 w/ TV cab, Tone King Falcon
Effects: Fulltone Clyde, Monsterpiece Stud, EP Booster, Strymon El Capistan
  • macg1
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Re: Best OD pedal for a JCM800

This is a very intriguing setup... I will give it a try since I have a Luther Drive (TS clone) laying around.  Maybe even something similar with the OCD.  I will give it a shot!


GuitarSlingerofTruth wrote:

I have a 1988 JCM 800 2203. I've had it since August of 2006 and the only piece of gear that has remained constant is my TS808. I plug into the high sensitivity input. Set the gain around 5 and roll the presence all the way off. On the Tubescreamer set the Volume ~ 1 o'clock, Tone ~ 10 or 11, and the gain low, I'd say around 9 o'clock. Then roll your volume down with the Tubescreamer off for clean. Then crank the volume and kick on the Tubescreamer for the dirty stuff. That setup is the sole reason why I'll never buy a channel switching amp. Two-channels is one two many. Hope this helps.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: East Midlands, UK
  • Registered: 2008-06-30
  • Posts: 164

Re: Best OD pedal for a JCM800

not the most exciting looking pedal, but the danelectro Cool cat V1 drive is an ocd based circuit that has more gain. i've recently brought a V4 OCD, so i played it and my cool cat back to back. the ocd is smoother/rounded and the cool cat slightly brittle but more gain. the cool cat can be had cheap and might be worth a go.

i've gone with my OCD though, as i like the less gain and smoothness.

Fender 60's Strat>Fulltone OCD V4>>TC Electronics Polytune>Orange Dual Terror>Torres 2x10 Cab(with a vintage 30 and a greenback)
  • Nairbr
  • Nairbr
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  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • Registered: 2009-10-25
  • Posts: 53

Re: Best OD pedal for a JCM800

I have a T-Rex Spin Doctor, awesome dual 12AX7 pedal with 4 programable presets, best OD pedal I have used so far.
They are a bit pricey, luckily I picked up mine at one of those Saturday morning "everything must go sales" one of the local music shops had here.

Visual Sound pedals are also good, they have few versions based on a Tubescreammer.

GUITARS - Les Paul R9 VOS Cherryburst, Les Paul Traditional, Fender Rory Gallagher Tribute Strat, Fender CS 40th Anniversary Strat.
AMPS - Ceriatone 50w ODS HRM, Ceriatone 30w Stray Cat
EFFECTS - TC Electronics GMajor, T Rex Spin Doctor, Univibe
  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: Best OD pedal for a JCM800

Ocean EFX Rocking Horse sounds really good on the webpage... Ocean makes some fantastic pedals. I really liked his Texas Deuce. But thats a tubescreamer like OD.

Also I'd get on Proguitarshop.com and listen to all the demo's.  You can spend hours comparing OD's.  They are very consistant in their recording and usually use a les paul and some fender to demo. Most pedals are thru a 65 Soho or a Fender Deluxe Reverb. Excellent way to try pedals most stores dont carry.

I am with you... I love my Fulltone Fulldrive and Fatboost but the OCD did not do anything for me.

  • macg1
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Re: Best OD pedal for a JCM800

Actually that is one of the things that makes it difficult to choose a pedal... the fact that they almost always demo'd through some Fender-style or Vox-style amp on the sellers' websites.  I have watched just about every demo on youtube, including GMD and proguitarshop, but the fact that they use different amps really makes it for a tough decision.  Anyhow, I will try some things tomorrow, as work has taken up my week.  Thanks fellas.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: Montevideo, MN
  • Registered: 2010-01-06
  • Posts: 29

Re: Best OD pedal for a JCM800

Check out the Boss Power Stack. It sounds like varying overdrivin Marshall's. Maintains the amps qualities and gives you that tight, powerfull sound with some extra oomph. Check it out on YouTube.