Alternative to TS types for a boost: OCD?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bxlxaxkxe
  • Start date Start date
Bxlxaxkxe said:
For whatever reason, I can’t get on with a klone as a boost for high gain stuff. Really liked the Decibelics to add some poke and definition to a low/mid gain sound.

I do have a Naga Viper - I’ll throw that in. Good thought thanks Sam
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Same here - I kick my klone on in any already high gain setting and it sounds atrocious.
 
Bxlxaxkxe said:
Techdeath talked me into buying an OCD when the Fulltone news broke out the other week. Been a LONG time since I’ve played one and I gotta say, it rips as a boost. I’m surprised and it’s nice to have something different from the 30 TS types I have in a drawer.

I get bored of most stuff quickly so time will tell, but aside from a TS type, my favorites are the Koko boost and OCD.

I should do a clip comparing them all. Maybe if I get some time this week. Thinking Buxom Boost, Koko, 805, OCD, Green Rhino, SD1. Have a Tim but I don’t like that as much as a boost - feel like it works better as a mild OD to give you a couple notches more gain with the same general tone you already have. Missing anything obvious that should be in there?

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That sounded killer. I’d request you throw a Nobles ODR-1 in that mix, if you can. Do you prefer the Koko to the Buxxom? If so, what do you like better? I’ve got both a Buxxom and a Nobles on my board. They’re both different enough to keep. Love both. I basically use a one channel amp. Roll back volume for clean, straight in for standard rock, Buxxom for heavier stuff, then Nobles for metal. That’s my version of “channel switching.” Lol
 
Mr. Willy said:
That sounded killer. I’d request you throw a Nobles ODR-1 in that mix, if you can. Do you prefer the Koko to the Buxxom? If so, what do you like better? I’ve got both a Buxxom and a Nobles on my board. They’re both different enough to keep. Love both. I basically use a one channel amp. Roll back volume for clean, straight in for standard rock, Buxxom for heavier stuff, then Nobles for metal. That’s my version of “channel switching.” Lol
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I do the same thing in terms of “channel switching”. Straight in for base rock tone, neck pickup dialed back for cleans. I use a timmy for a raunchier gainier rock tone, and a TS/Koko/whatever for the high gain stuff.

Between the koko and buxom, I like both but prefer the koko. Can’t even tell you why specifically as it’s been a while since I had them side by side but I will include both in the clip.

I don’t have a nobels and have never even co side red one honestly. What’s good on the cheap?
 
griff10672 said:
I don't think the Naga has a real deal Germanium transistor .... I believe it uses a 2N222A transistor ... it's silicon .
You want to try something that has a old Germanium transistor in it ....
I'm not trying to " Spam " anyone with my builds .... but I build them with old school Germanium transistors and old school Mullard Tropical Fish caps ( I source almost all my vintage parts from Smallbear so I know they are legit ) also has three different input cap values that are selectable ... takes it from stock rangemaster to what I call " Iommi mode "
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Interesting. I have a Naga Vyper and for some reason, it never scratched that itch for me. Something seems "off" compared to the sound I have in my ear which would be more Blackmore or Uli Roth. Maybe I need me some germanium in my life!
 
I might also suggest for shits n giggles, let's get a BOSS GE-7 or MXR 6 band in there to round things off.

My faves are Koko Boost v1 ( mid side) and JHS Bonsai set to the Nobles setting. But really, I can make anything work. A Guv'nor, SD-1 etc. The 2204 and 2203 are real party girls, they can take anything and anyone. Hell they can take two or more pedals at a time!!
 
Kapo_Polenton said:
Interesting. I have a Naga Vyper and for some reason, it never scratched that itch for me. Something seems "off" compared to the sound I have in my ear which would be more Blackmore or Uli Roth. Maybe I need me some germanium in my life!
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I would definitely try out a Germanium version of a treble boost ....
 
Bxlxaxkxe said:
I do the same thing in terms of “channel switching”. Straight in for base rock tone, neck pickup dialed back for cleans. I use a timmy for a raunchier gainier rock tone, and a TS/Koko/whatever for the high gain stuff.

Between the koko and buxom, I like both but prefer the koko. Can’t even tell you why specifically as it’s been a while since I had them side by side but I will include both in the clip.

I don’t have a nobels and have never even co side red one honestly. What’s good on the cheap?
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I’m not sure what the used market is, but they’re only $119 new at Sweetwater. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ODR-1--nobels-odr-1-natural-overdrive-pedal
 
Greazygeo said:
Try a Rat. DOD250 is cool too.
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Good point, DOD 250 is a sleeper and just sits so nicely on top of the core tone without pushing too much in the mids and the nasal areas. Great with single coils and Marshalls when you feel the fury and get your YJM on.
 
I think a good old EQ is first gap I need to fill.

Maybe try a Nobels after that. Haven’t heard any clips of it as a boost for high gain that I like though so not sure about that one
 
Bxlxaxkxe said:
I think a good old EQ is first gap I need to fill.

Maybe try a Nobels after that. Haven’t heard any clips of it as a boost for high gain that I like though so not sure about that one
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The nobles will excel at that..not as notched in the mids. It is a fanastic circuit. At least the one on the JHS Bonsai is. I think you will dig it.
 
Kapo_Polenton said:
Good point, DOD 250 is a sleeper and just sits so nicely on top of the core tone without pushing too much in the mids and the nasal areas. Great with single coils and Marshalls when you feel the fury and get your YJM on.
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The 250 has a nice edge that a TS or Sd doesn’t have. The Rat is also pretty cool used as a boost. Never liked them back in the day, but never tried one as a boost.
 
Greazygeo said:
The 250 has a nice edge that a TS or Sd doesn’t have. The Rat is also pretty cool used as a boost. Never liked them back in the day, but never tried one as a boost.
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Yes definitely, the 250 has some teeth. Almost like it gives you more of the amp core tone while tightening it up. Where a TS gives you a bit of smoothness , the 250 keeps more of the rawness. To my ears anyway. The RAT is also another good player. ( Nuno)

It's funny because you can line 20 pedals up and they will all sound slightly different, but all mostly "good".
 
I'm a big fan of the VFE standout. I hate that I sold mine. It was just perfect for a few amps that I had at the time.
 
ClintN667 said:
I'm a big fan of the VFE standout. I hate that I sold mine. It was just perfect for a few amps that I had at the time.
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Once I got a Furman PQ3 (and other vintage rack PQ's later that I liked even more) it was very hard for me to justify keeping the Standout, so I sold both of them and the Empress PQ I had at the time. Made them sound like toys to me comparatively
 
harddriver said:
The NAGA VIPER will give you that 80's DIO era Tony Iommi tone into your JCM800. :yes: I don't personally have one but I know guys that do and it's a killer if you like the type of tone. I think it might fit your style as well to give you a different flavor of boost.

I think the NAGA has some mods and tricks built into but I think it can do stock setting as well.

The Seymour Duncan 805 is great pedal it can be dialed as a mid boost or very neutral like an EQ pedal but it's still an offshoot of a 808/SD-1 to my knowledge.
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It’s my understanding that the Viper really has to be the last pedal in the chain that hits the amp or it won’t sound right.
 
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