Boss OD-2 Modding An Awesome Underrated Overdrive! - Great Pedal With Tons Of Potential [Schematic]
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- Опубліковано 8 лип 2024
- Follow up shootout: • Modded Boss OD-2 Shoot...
A deep dive into a simple mod for a great overdrive that is often overlooked! Last year I uploaded a video about my modded OD-2, and since then, received many comments asking if I could detail the mods. At the time, I had done the mods through many revisions over several months, without keeping any specific notes. As a result, wasn't sure of what I had done. But, I finally went back to trace the circuit and uncover my own mods!
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The OD-2 is a really unique overdrive in Boss history that it is most likely the first pedal to incorporate the discrete op amp layout. Something that would go on to be used in many future Boss pedals. But, it is also unique in that it has two distinctively different overdrive circuits in one pedal. One being a soft clipping feedback diode overdrive, and the other a JFET only overdrive with no clipping diodes whatsoever. And because of this you are able to enjoy two very different overdrive tones in one pedal.
With the mod, I wanted to make the overall tone slightly more "open, airy and clear" while adding more bass and treble. With the turbo on mode, I specifically lowered the gain and compression a little so note definition is improved.
Hope you enjoy the video and please share your thoughts in the comment section!
Chapter links:
0:00 Intro
2:46 Looking at the schematic
3:37 Overview of the circuit design
7:09 The turbo OFF circuit
9:45 The turbo ON circuit
16:25 Basic comparison of the two pedals
17:50 Gain knob on the stock pedal
18:39 Tone knob on the stock pedal
20:09 Level knob on the stock pedal
22:01 Gain knob on the modded pedal
23:26 Tone knob on the modded pedal
24:49 Level knob on the modded pedal
26:10 A quick direct comparison
28:04 Turbo OFF shootout with loops
32:00 Turbo ON shootout with loops
35:25 High gain comparison intro
36:14 High gain turbo OFF shootout
39:19 High gain turbo ON shootout
The signal chain: 1983 Fender Japan Squier Stratocaster - Boss OD-2 mod/stock - 70's Japanese "BF Princeton inspired" tube amp - analog cab sim - computer
#aritone #boss #od2 #overdrive #guitar #pedal #tone
The pedal in this video has sold, but please check my Reverb shop for pedals currently available: reverb.com/shop/aritone-mods-and-gear
Cool, thanks a lot!!
Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoyed the video and the mod!
I've been playing my Turbo again because of your videos, and I really think all it needs for me to be happy is more output...
Thanks! Yes, the output level issue can definitely be an issue when you want to use it as a boost.
it gets more wild coollll~
Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoyed the video!
finally!!!!! yes arigato gosaimas!!!! thank you for taking up my request
You're very welcome, thank you!! Sorry it took me so long to put this video together!
@@arito i had mine heavily mudded too. in the power section i took out the Zener diode that drops the voltage to around 5.6 volts. etc....i guess the boss designer had in mind in the turbo section as a starve plate tube distortion like. hence the use of lower voltages...super saturation.... i had the od2 also analyzed at one of the forums, yes indeed its a discrete version of an op-amp using jfets. the non turbo section is similarly voiced to a tubescreamer especially the filters. good thing about this pedal, some section of it were used in the boss BD-2. Gain recovery in the bd2 was implemented using op-amp IC to maintain or boost signal levels.....IMHO this pedal is the only one that uses no IC to implement overdrive/distortion/fuzz in the entire boss dirt pedal line. i plan to have mine to run in 18volts to have a higher headroom and perhaps better distortion or overdrive character.
@@d3n1fx Thanks for sharing your experiences! Running it at 18V sounds like a great idea, let me know how it goes! l believe the DS-2, which is like a twin brother to the OD-2, is also a full discrete design, and another interesting pedal!
@@arito True, the DS-2 and OD-2 are just the ones implemented by BOSS not using any IC opamp and they sound great once dialed in properly
@@d3n1fx Yes, I've never owned a DS-2, it would be really interesting to compare the two!
I like the mods and your style.
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your kind words and compliments!
The OD-2 is an amp channel rather than an overdrive, in my opinion. Stock, it’s best into a mid heavy clean.
Thanks for watching! And thank you for sharing your thoughts on the OD-2!
Hi Arito .. Innnteresting ;) I kept Q5 as a plain supply filter (without zener etc) to get a shade under 8v - and you're right, it was an (ill-considered?) design decision to use a 'starved' stage
My project stalled, as once I removed the diodes from the non-turbo stage, I liked the discrete OPA dist so much, I couldn't make up my mind what to try next ;) A lot of people bring the q5 voltage up, only you've also started to deal with peoples complaint about the pedal - that the overall output levels a bit low
As a bass-person I went crazy bringing low-octave back into my OS-2 with many increased C's, which I liked, a *lot* - now you're doing the same to an OD-2, I'm going to 'borrow' a few of your ideas (I've already got some schem's of my own for this, honest ;) )
.. Looking away from the screen I def prefer your modded sound - its more subtle on Turbo mode (feel free to go a little crazier?) Wonder if I dare do a vid of mine? It wont be very subtle, but seeing as you removed the interstage voicing components with good effect, its long overdue I tried it, (the OS2 has something similar) so thanks for sharing!
Much though I dig my HX stomp, it's 'real' pedal time ;)
Hey Pete! Thanks for sharing your mod experiences! I kept the diodes in the turbo-off circuit, so I could enjoy two "flavors" of overdrive, but I bet a single discrete op amp clipping without diodes sounds great!
Absolutely no worries at all for implementing some of my stuff in your mod! I think we all learn and borrow from each other :) I'm sure you'd make a mean overdrive/distortion for bass! Would love to hear how it sounds, you definitely need to make a video when it's finished!
Yes! None of that high-tech digital multi-FX stuff, it's all about the old school, tactile, analog fun around here!
@@arito I did the OS2 mod quite some time ago, not sure I still have 'before and after' audio, but I'm not above trying to get some clicks out of it ;) after the Mega-Eviction, you may recall I built a lil podcasting studio for a local politico who didn't pay, and you know what they say 'success is the best revenge' !
Got the OD2 unboxed and spread out now...
@@petegaslondon I have an OS-2 that I bought at a "junk sale" quite a while ago, which I am yet to mod. It works fine except for some noise issues. I am rooting for your success and looking forward to your OD-2 video!
Excellent video! Really great information explained clearly. I was looking at removing D6/D7 diodes on a OD3 to give a cleaner boost like feel, have you heard of this MOD before? I’m just starting in modding and thought it was a perfect start.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words. Removing the two diodes in the OD-3 should clean up that JFET stage, since the diodes act as feedback clipping diodes, similar to a Big Muff.
But, two things might happen as a result: 1. The JFET itself will clip, which might sound a little harsh. 2. The op amp section after it will start clipping, since the incoming signal will be much stronger. I don't own an OD-3 and have never tried the mod, so can't say from experience... But, definitely give it a try and see how it sounds!
If you want a cleaner signal, you could jump the signal from after C23(0.056uF) to before R25(47k). That would bypass the JFET stage completely and give you a boost from the op amp. You could even change R15(6.8k) to a larger value if you wanted more boost, although you might clip the op amp. Hope this helps, have fun!
@@arito wow thanks for the intel! I will look into your advice.
@@The_Invisible_Man Glad I could help! Hope things work out, and let me know how it goes!
At first, why not try removing d10 . 11 ? But I see what youre getting at, if you pull D6 , 7 you;ll get a higher overall level - it might clip the following (in-discreet) opamps when at full blast, but just try it
You only have to lift one leg of each diode, you can leave them hanging, so it only takes a moment to put back, and you cant really hurt anything...
Hello,Mr.arito , Q12 and Q13 wire to resistance 4.3k
Is this a current mirror circuit?thx, already subscribed you
Hi, thanks for watching! I'm not quite sure what part you are referring to, since Q12 and Q13 are far apart, and there is no 4.3k resistor. But, I'm guessing that you are thinking of the 2 JFET pair. That is not a current mirror, but a differential amplifier. Hope this helps!
Mz-2 also used this jfet topology I think
Hi Phil, thanks for watching and thanks for the info! I'm familiar with most of Boss' overdrives, but don't know much about their metal/distortion range, so it's great to learn!
Boss video (pardon the pun). Nice way to spend my day off. Thanks for the brake-down with the schematic. Your video contains important elements others do not. I would like to hear even faster switching, some artificial harmonics, some chugging etc. to get an idea of response, but hey, who complaining! Sustaining a note and pushing both buttons at the same time to switch would also help...
Personally, I use overdrives to push the front end of my amps, unlike a distortion pedal. It's free compression and EQ, and when you use a drive like this you can control transients, and push the front end of the amp harder without pumping artifacts. I am interested in increasing the output level first and foremost. I love the dual flavour of this pedal, and would like to decompress and fatten the turbo side a bit. I'm going to be doing a lot of thinking this week.
Thanks for posting.
Thanks so much! Great to hear you enjoyed the video! I also like to use a boost to push the front end of my tube amps, but unfortunately, this pedal does not have much output level to be used as a boost. It's famous for having to crank the level knob to get unity volume, and my mod has improved that a bit, but there is only so much that can be done.
The Turbo side is a little more complex as a circuit, and thus has plenty of room for all kinds of mods. You can definitely decompress and fatten it and tailor to your tastes!