Really dynamic OD pedal?

[alex.s]

Simple question really. I'd like to build a very dynamic OD pedal, that I can set to a fair amoung of gain but still allows me to dial the volume back or simply soften my strum to get a cleaner, glassy tone.
Thanks in advance!

Alex

[cylens]

I'm prepared for a shitstorm since it doesn't get much love here, but to me Fulltone OCD v4 is the best pedal I've used for this.

I use it on both bass and guitar (slightly modded for bass) and never switch it: I dial clean or driven tone with the attack on the strings.

easy enough to build just to check if it would suit you :)

[Chris60601]

May not be exactly what you are looking for, I myself use these three (in no certain order)

1. Timmy
2. Maxon OD808
3. TS808
4. Zendrive


Both the Maxon OD and TS have clipping options - of course, I also use the TS9 and Sparkle Drive.

[Frank_NH]

What - no love for the Klon(e)???  

OK, there are a lot of pedals out there that can fit the description of "dynamic".  A lot will depend on your rig - guitar, amp, other pedals.  I think many of the 18V pedals (like the Klon(e)) can be thought of as being more dynamic, so check some of those possibilities out.  

[rocket88]

My top 5
1. Timmy
2. BJFE honeybee
3. Fairfield barbershop
4. Throbak OD/Colorsound Overdriver/Black Arts Black Forest
5. Wampler ecstasy

I've used all on bass and guitar, and they sound great. The honeybee really has some low end loss, which is why we figured out the bbbod, but super dynamic pedal with great od. I through in the wampler, but it can get more distorted, almost fuzz like if you needed/wanted. And number 4 are all based on the same effect, the colorsound overdriver.

And nothing wrong with the fooltone is the the man behind it is just a class a d-bag, and acts like it's the most amazing effect ever. It's not that it's bad, but it's the same thing with the klon, if you know what I mean. Btw, if you go klon, try Si diodes instead of Ge. I have the EHX soul food, which is supposed to be a Klone, and it has Si diodes. It sounds great, and has more attitude and balls if you know what I mean, while the klon is more polite and gentlemanly.

[Chris60601]

LOL - I can't speak to the Klon but I will be within the next month. I have sourced the parts and that is on my build list. From the demos I have seen, I suspect I'll like this one too!

Cheers
Chris

[IvIark]

cylens wrote

I'm prepared for a shitstorm since it doesn't get much love here, but to me Fulltone OCD v4 is the best pedal I've used for this.

Burn the witch!

[rocket88]

[cylens]

i knew this!!!! i should have shut up!

[IvIark]

[Lee Oswald]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Marshall Blues Breaker V1. The layout is available here, of course.
I'd also suggest the Mad Professor Sweet Honey. Both are extremely dynamic.

The same is true for the Galaxie mod BD-2, but there isn't a layout for that one. Considering how unusual that mod is, it might well require a whole new vero layout, but I may be wrong about that.

[rocket88]

cylens wrote

i knew this!!!! i should have shut up!

Hey man, I was always told when people poke and tease you that means they really like you. I mean, you are one of us aren't you? And with that said

[induction]

Believe it or not, a decent Si Fuzzface will do just what you ask if you set it up right. Use low gain NPN's (hfe 80-100, piggyback if necessary), and bias it kind of high (6V - 7V on Q2 collector). Add small Miller caps to the transistors (47p or so), and choose input and output caps to taste. Set the fuzz control to about 90%, and add a 100K variable resistor on the input to adjust the pedal your pickups. Using your volume knob as a gain control should give you hard distortion at 8-10, overdrive at 4-8, and clean at 0-4. If your guitar has a treble bypass cap, your cleans will be sparkly, otherwise they'll be a nice compressed country-clean. I've never had a pedal that responds to dynamics as well as a Fuzzface.

Breadboard it first, of course.