BOSS Od-3 Overdrive Pedal

Product Information

The discrete opamp circuit (Q2-Q4 and associated parts) has bandwidth up into the hundreds of KHz. That's fine if you're building a radio, not so good with a guitar pedal. I added C17 to roll-off the highs above the audio range. I reduced R11, below, to 1K so I could dial-in lower gains. It works very well for guitar frequencies that the DS-1 may overlook and has two complimenting pedals. Conclusion AC adaptor (PSA series: sold separately) Current Draw 15 mA Expected battery life under continuous use Carbon: Approx. 34.5 hours Some users confuse it with distortion. However, please remember that while overdrive helps produce a clean, tuned sound, the distortion pedal gives rise to an aggressive sound which affects the tone adversely.

At first glance, the Boss OD-3 OverDrive effects unit is just one more in the company’s wide range of distortion/overdrive pedals. It’s reasonably priced, it’s got the Boss brand name, and it’s a fresh iteration on an old classic. That’s a great starting point, but it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. After all, the Boss overdrive family is so large at this point, that one has to question whether or not this pedal can really hold its own alongside its predecessors. Bear in mind that Boss’s current lineup features such classics as the Blues Driver, the Super OverDrive and, of course, the now legendary OD-1– the first-ever overdrive pedal. What Makes the OD-3 Different?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. Using the TONE knob you add that extra edge you might need to cut through any mix. Legendary Boss Pedal Build Quality 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.

A fuzzy tone usually emphasizes the upper frequencies and may even cut the middle frequencies if it is too harsh.Note that the second ’Drive’ channel here is actually an additive ’Boost’ - which cannot be deployed independently - it always adds a Boost on top of whatever the current Drive settings are - so it’s best though of as a Solo / Boost switch. That second Footswitch essentially toggles the Boost On and Off - so you flip visible between Blue and Red LED’s. I would have though it made more sense for the Red LED to light up in addition to the Blue - which would have made its function more obvious - but no the LED’s alternate depending on which mode is engaged. With the active TREBLE control, I didn't need the passive TONE control any more, so that got tossed overboard. Here's a peek at how it's wired right now. I renumbered all of the ref des. Some of my mods are about using fewer parts to accomplish the same thing. I also used different transistors throughout because I don't have any 2SK184s or 2SC1048s.

The Boss OD-3 pedal allows guitarists to significantly expand their range of overdrive tones with an improved response but still similar to the originals. Before getting into the details, it is essential to know what a guitar overdrive is. It is a machinal device that adds grit to the signal sent to the guitar, bringing about a sound similar to an amplifier at the breakup of an edge. They decided it could be used with some amps and other instruments and be the next big thing. Boss OD- The Features and Specifications The straightforward, high-quality drive, along with the various level and tone controls, make it an excellent model. The Boss OD-3 also comes with a five-year warranty.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. 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?" The Boss OD-3 was released in 1997, approximately three years after the OD-3 B was introduced worldwide. If you're currently looking for your first overdrive pedal, I would say stop here at the Boss OD-3. 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