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DigiTech Bad Monkey Tube Overdrive Pedal

The Bad Monkey Tube Overdrive gives your guitar amp a boost just when you need it. Learn More...

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Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Individual User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
standard gain and volume. The two band EQ is a very good feature which adds tons of versalitlity. I set my Low to 1 oclock to get a little more thump out of the amp and highs to 3:00 and it pushes the amp nicely. Knobs seem to lock in place (don't know if this is designed) after set which makes keeping settings easy.

Quality:
Seems really solid. Not quite like a rat but solid. More solid than pedals of like design.

Value:
Really great tone for a reasonable price. I remember when most pedals were 40-50$ This was a nice suprise.

Desirability:
This pedal (I hope) will be a classic like the TS. I say i hope because it is a really great tone in an un-assuming package.

Sound:
This is a clean boost to your signal. I have had TONS of overdrives/distortions TS from the eighties, TS9, OD-1 Rat, etc. This is one of the best sounding and most responsive to playing I have tried. I use it with my strat and my Peavey valveking on the OD channel just a little dirty (4-6). With this pedal boosting the signal I can get tones from blues overdrive to early Metallica with the volume knob even santana type tones in the neck Pup. Very Musical but with a agressive bite. Really good tone and versitile. Very good with a tube amp. Preserves the tone of the guitar and the amp. I've got "my tone" with this OD and my amp.

Ease of Use:
Very easy to get a good tone from slight overdrive to all out mayhem with a tube amp slightly driven.

Overall:
I may try to put the turbo rat I have in front of it for more singing sustain. I am happy with it. I would instantly replace it if lost.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
Rotaries are basic but get the job done. Two outputs is good to have, which most boxes seem to provide these days. (Hint: experiment with BOTH output jacks to your amp .... you may like the sound going through the "mixer" jack too, which can mellow the sound.) It would be nice to have an additional contouring knob of some kind ... but i guess that'd jack-up the price, so .... forget it.

Quality:
Seems well-made.

Value:
$40 for an OD box is good .... getting the Monkey's quality sound WITH it, puts this baby over the top. (Line6 ... you'd better go back to the drawing board and re-think your TS re-issue !)

Desirability:
Definitely...i own it. I wanted an OD that would compliment my guitars, not re-configure them.

Sound:
A nice little OD box. Allows you to add soft-to-strong drive into your mix, and maintain the character of your guitar. The drive is smooth, not blurred or "muddy". My Strat still SOUNDS like a Strat with it. Accommodates differing picking styles. Overall, the tone is great.

Ease of Use:
Nothing need be said here....typical stompbox layout.

Support:
??

Overall:
Easy to own it at $40. Worth every penny considering that you may never want for another smooth OD device again.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
i was playing with a nine volt in it and it didn't drain the battery. I was glad of that because i was screwing around for a while and the sound did not change. I also liked the high and low knobs. It's very easy to get a good sound with those. I just wish it had a deluxe model with a mid knob.

Quality:
For the price it's great. I just got a Peavy halfstack. It sounds great but somthings missing. It's solid state but i'm still buying the bad mokey for leads. It just sounds that good on tube amps.

Value:
Best for the value. It's great. This thing kicks.

Desirability:
This is my next pedal. I need it.

Sound:
I've Played one at the local music store on a newer amp and then a tube amp. Let's just say play it on a tube amp. It sounds way better and it dosn't sound pushed like on a newer non-tube amp. Over-all it's great. you can get so many sounds like all the greats. at some point I had it sounding like Clapton on sunshine of your love. It's great on either amp but it's still better with an old fender twin amp.

Ease of Use:
You cannot just pull it out of the box and screw around. you have to read the manuel, then experiment to find your sound. you really have to get your groove on with the tonal knobs. Or Else.

Support:
i'll just say ten because i have never dealt with the company but if they make a pedal this good, they can't be hard to deal with.

Overall:
oh, this will be with me till i smash it. Then i'll buy a new one.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Sound:
Its very warm, gives u low crunchy sound

Overall:
People who slag this unit off are just abit deaf? I own several overdrive/distortion pedals including the Turbo Rat and the mighty Tone Bone Classic, I don't use the bad Monkey all the time but for the price, its one of the best around, people who want a heavy sound, you best avoid this, its more of a blues pedal, warmer than the Boss Blues Driver which I also own but mine has a mod, so its in a different league from the standard Boss

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Overall:
* * * . . . . . . . 3 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

Value:
This pedal is twice as expensive as it should be, and it only delivers half the sound.

Desirability:
At first, I really wanted it. It got good reviews and it has an interesting name. Looks funky fresh.

Sound:
Okay sound. That's it!

Overall:
I don't know what everyone sees in this thing?! It's just a bland, subtle overdrive pedal. If you actually want a GOOD tube overdrive, get a Behringer one. It's way cheaper and sounds even better.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
just enough EQ

Quality:
high Quality

Value:
yes it is worth the 40 bucks

Desirability:
i would by five of them... but i only need one!

Sound:
great tone

Ease of Use:
very easy

Support:
no needed suport yet.

Overall:
overall very nice

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
Mixer out is good for home studio users. Run it straight to your mixer or soundcard and get very usuable sounds. Great for getting ideas down on disk (or tape) without going through the time to set up mic on amp and dial in tone.

Quality:
Looks solid enough.

Value:
Definitely worth fourty bucks. Just for the mixer out it is worth the price for easy practice set up or to demo some ideas to tape.

Sound:
Hard to get a bad sound out of this pedal! Does what it says..Overdrive not distortion. Gives a nice warm tube sound. From almost clean to heavy overdrive but still has good note clarity. I found that I liked the sounds better with my Les Paul than with Strat. I used the mixer out direct to soundcard and was happy with sound. Some will wish for a little more drive for a good lead tone but overall this pedal has great tones.

Overall:
Overall a great pedal that many will overlook.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
4 control knobs is enough to get you started. Highly adjustable.

Quality:
These things are solid - really heavy as far as pedals go. The weight and the rubber base make them not so easy to kick around.

Value:
I'm very happy. $40 for adjustable tube overdrive. Wow!

Desirability:
Th name is a bit quirky, but I'm a quirky guy. It appealed to me. We don't just spank the monkey, we stomp on him!

Sound:
The sound is really great. Clear, precise tones, even when you start to crank up the gain. Really gives you boost where and when you need it.

Support:
Haven't had a problem, but Digitech gives a six year warranty! :-)

Overall:
It's fantastic. Well built. Great value. It does what it says.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

Feature:
It does what it says on the box - the features are exactly as you would expect on a workhorse OD pedal, no more or no less.

Quality:
Very solid construction but less than inspired graphics. The heavy spray finish is functional rather than boutique but I wouldn't hesitate to gig with it.

Value:
Superb value

Desirability:
Solid and practical. As I said, it's no boutique. The green colour is a bit garish and overall it looks to have been designed by a teenager..

Sound:
Bought this pedal yesterday and a first extended practice session with it gave encouraging results. High points for me - yes it really does preserve most of your guitar's tone, inexpensive, it provides just enough distortion but still allows chord playing with good articulation of the individual notes & it's built like a tank (heavier than the Boss pedal casings it seems to be modelled on)It's not for hard rockers or metal heads, though I'm sure it would make a good boost pedal behind an existing distortion unit to move a crunch tone to a lead. The sound is smooth & it's actually difficult to make it sound bad. I'd particularly recommend it for anyone who has issues about preserving purity of tone. It's good on humbuckers but notably impressive on single coil p/ups - that's actually why I bought it. The electronics (not yet inspected!) provide a very clean sound with little unwanted electro chatter - I think it might even be cleaner than the modern Boss OD units. There is an unusual arrangement design for replacing the standard pp3 battery, that is both quick and tool free. At the price you can't beat it..

Support:
No comment, had no need of Digitech support as yet!

Overall:
I expect this to last me a while. My needs are not particularly extreme and this unit does the job. If it were stolen I'd replace it with the same for sure.

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