Maxon OD808 Overdrive Pedal

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A reissue of a legendary pedal, the Maxon OD808 delivers smooth, natural, transparent overdrive like a full-up tube amp. Let your instrument's tone shine!

Overview

You search for the right overdrive pedal is over. Maxon has been dialing in incredibly natural-sounding, organic, tube-amp-style distortion since the 1970s, and with your Maxon OD808 overdrive pedal, your axe will never be able to thank you enough. This must-have stompbox features overdrive, balance, and tone controls; reissued circuitry identical to the original model -- boasting the JRC4558 IC chip -- and hand-assembled all-analog components for a high-integrity signal and pristine tone that's akin to tube amplifiers. Pack some serious punch into your chain and get on board with one of the boldest overdrive pedals in the game.

Straightforward, No-Nonsense Control Layout

The controls on your Maxon OD808 are laid out so you can easily shape your tone to your heart's desire. Your overdrive control lets you dial in the amount of distortion you want to have. Your balance control lets you choose the appropriate mix of your altered signal with your dry signal, and your tone control will hone in on the character of brightness or dullness you want. You'll be surprised at how much sonic reach this little baddie dishes out with just a simple turn.

Unparalleled Maxon Design

Maxon has been rocking the overdrive tone game since the '70s. You can be assured that your Maxon OD808 will follow in line because this baby is hand-assembled with top-notch components for 100% analogue configuration. The reissued OD808's circuitry is designed almost identically to the original's… read more specifications, and features the JRC4558 IC chip to deliver on all expectations built into Maxon's reputation.

Legendary 808 Tone: Natural, Transparent Overdrive

You'll know that crunchy, creamy tone the very first moment you fire your signal through your Maxon OD808 and into your amplifier. This baby features a signal-distorting diode -- Panasonic #MA150 -- situated in your pedal's amplifier stage's negative feedback loop for a mild, smooth, and all-natural breakup. Maxon's reissue OD808 series also employ different output resistors from the original to improve on performance and reduce noise related to static electricity buildup.

Lightweight Rugged Aluminum Chassis

This baby is tough and light. With the Maxon OD808, you can rest assured that repeated stomps won't slow down your direct access to serious and sought-after overdrive tone. See just how much sonic fuel you can add to your game with your ready-to-rock Maxon OD808 overdrive pedal.

Features:

- Input impedance of 500K ohms
- Output impedance of 10k ohms
- Overdrive, balance, tone controls
- Maximum amplitude of 35 dB
- Circuitry identical to original design -- features JRC4558 IC chip
- Pristine and transparent sound -- similar to tube amplifier tone
- Hand assembled 100% analogue circuitry

Specs

- Input Impedance: 500K ohms
- Input Jack: 1/4" standard phone jack
- Output Impedance: 10K ohms
- Output Jack: 1/4" standard phone jack
- Switch: Normal/Effect
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 61 x 112 x 35mm
- Output: 1
- Controls: 3
- Noise: -110 dBu
- Maximum Amplitude: 35 dB
- Current Consumption: 5 mA 9V, 6 mA 10V
- Weight: 260 g

Accessories:
- 9V Manganese dry cell battery (S-006P) x 1
- Warranty Card x 1
- User's Manual x 1

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 866-2GODLYKE

Owner's Manual

Maxon's Description

Maxon OD808 Overdrive Pedal

The quintessential overdrive pedal -- often imitated but never matched. Identical to the original circuit and featuring the JRC4558 IC chip, the OD808 reissue offers smooth, natural overdrive similar to a full-up tube amplifier. Incredibly transparent, the OD808 responds to individual playing dynamics and lets the true tone of your instrument shine through.

Maxon's Reissue Series

No matter how fast technology advances, some things just cannot be improved upon. The mark of true genius is the company that recognizes this fact and works to preserve tradition, rather than re-invent it.

Introducing Maxon Reissue Effects. Faithful reproductions of their legendary 1970s product line, the Maxon Reissue Effects offer today's musician an unparalleled sonic palette that has defined the tones of legendary Guitarists for the past 3 decades. True to the original designs, each model's circuit is 100% analog and hand-assembled by masters of the craft with over 30 years experience in the field of effect design and construction. Packaged in a time-tested chassis, only the highest quality components are used to assure a lifetime of trouble-free performance.

Forget about boutique "clones" that promise but don't deliver. Maxon did it first, they did it best, and they're doing it again. Maxon Reissue Effects: The perfect sounds of the past, available in the present. Get yours today.

About Maxon

Since their humble beginnings as a guitar pickup manufacturer in 1966, Nisshin Onpa Co., Ltd. (Maxon) has strove to supply musicians with the ultimate tools of the trade. Highly respected for their manufacturing prowess, Nisshin Onpa has designed and manufactured some of the most famous music products of its time, including many of the most sought-after guitar effects units and wireless systems from today's top suppliers. In addition, Nisshin's own brand of Maxon products has achieved a legendary status among Tone Freaks and Gearheads across the globe due to their superior quality and unsurpassed tone.

Over 30 years since their inception, Nisshin Onpa is once again offering Maxon products to the discerning musician. Their line of Reissue Series compact Guitar effects and the line of Vintage Series effects are the absolute ultimate tone machines and offer uncompromised sound and superior manufacturing quality for those who will accept nothing less than the best.

Reviews

(23 ratings)

Submitted May 8, 2011 by a customer from gmail.com

"If you want destructive punchyness and dynamic harmonics added to your already solid tube tone? The Maxon OD808 Is my go to peda"

Overall:

(see rating details)

Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

Well, I would certainly keep it long term. I do change and try other pedals, but that's consciously discovering new gear new sounds, but for my metal sound, this is certainly a sure bet solid sound.

Sound
The maxon is the go to pedal for tube powered amp players in metal, but it is absolutely versatile for hard rock or an overdriven tone. In my personal experience I use it to tighten and accentuate my head's preamp in-line to the head and it just sounds amazing with a Peavey tube head or a Mesa. Adds attack and punchy harmonics to your tube tone.

Features
The pedal is a vintage-looking pedal with very basic options but that are incredibly flexible when used in combination. Particularly the tone knob does a world of difference for the punchy-sharpness of your tone. It's all that you want in a straight forward over-drive.

Ease of Use
For me this pedal is relatively easy to use, but it takes some getting used to, you have to really try it for a long period of time to find out how it truly affects your tone, it takes a while to find that middle ground where it doesn't cover up your heads tone, but acts as an accentuation and adds to the sound rather than replaces it. But after a few hours you can get there.

Quality
Absolutely solid construction as can be expected from Maxon and their durable construction. I don't go by endorsements from artists but this pedal… read more is a staple of Adam D (Killswitch Engage/Times of Grace) and always makes his rig sound amazing and has used it without a hitch for years. Extremely durable. I've owned 2 of them already and hold great resale value.

Value
It's still pricey for a working/casual musician, at around 150$, not really a price jump from many other similar pedals in it's class, but would love to see it at around $100. Still, incredibly great value considering it's durability, resale value and awesome tone.

Manufacturer Support
Never had to deal with them, they've never broken down on me.

The Wow Factor
Simply a staple in my rigs for years now.

Musical Background:
Active Musician, Recordist

Musical Style:
Metal/Blues/Extreme Music

11 of 13 people (85%) people found this review helpful. Did you?