If I Don't Like my OCD v1.4, what Marshall-in-a-Box Pedal Would I like?

[5150user]

If I Don't Like my OCD v1.4, what Marshall-in-a-Box Pedal Would I like?

I'm talking about a Standalone Gain Pedal in front of a Clean Tube amp set just the least bit crunchy. Either with or without an EQ pedal in between it and the amp. I'm all ears. Hopefully $150 or less. Sounds great at bedroom volumes, and also sounds great at "the neighbors just called the law" volumes. A relatively low noise high gain pedal.

I already have a Modified Marshall Guvnor Plus that is great at lower volume stuff, but when I turn the amp up and really start moving some air, you can tell it's not just right.

Standalone, the OCD didn't even come close with my 5150 or my Valve Jr. Not even 50% of the way to getting it right. I tried LP and HP settings. I tried the full range of the knobs. I tried it with an EQ and without an EQ between it and the amp. Maybe I should try the EQ before the OCD? I know it's an Overdrive, and it's not necessarily marketed as a standalone distortion pedal, but it's a high gain Overdrive in front of a tube amp. The youtube videos sound great. What gives?

I really thought the OCD would be the end to my search. I can see it possibly being used as a solo boost after my other gain pedals.

 

[tim boehlert]

I've used Keeley Modded DS-1 (Seeing Eye mods), Kaden Brown Creeper, CMat Mods Brownie, Catalinbread DLS - all different flavors, and all seem to work well at any volume gets me into BROWN territory using either an S2 modded Blues Jr., or my Mesa Mk1 RI... My goto pedal has been the Keeley throughout... and definitely digging into the Catalinbread now, for a different but similar second feel on the pedalboard.

 

[incidentslip]

Wow, your post really surprised me, I've had mine for about a year, never really explored what it could really do, until a couple of days ago, i own a 30th Anniversary 100w Marshall 1/2 stack, and when I played around with the OCD, it flat out floored me, actually, dare I say, better sounding than my Marshall head. I'm using mine with a Fender Supersonic 1-12 combo on the 66 Bassman voiced mode(it seems to sound the best there), I have an attenuator on the amp, with the volume on 4, just at the point of break-up, the channel its really fat, with a slight break-up, and a slightly soft bottom end, with the tone controls set to, just past 12 o'clock on the treble, and 12 sharp on the bass. On the OCD, the level is set for unity, the tone varies between about 11 & 3 o'clock, and I've used the full range of the gain control from top to bottom, and both lp & hp. I've gotten almost every classic sound imaginable, from G'nR, ZZ Top, AC DC, Aerosmith, Stones, Mellencamp, CCR, Gary Moore, Cream, Hendrix, most country sounds, any blues sound imaginable , and a better SRV than any TS or clone I've every owned, just sooo harmonically rich. It's worked with every guitar that I own, albeit, for different tones, What guitar are you using? All mine are aimed at classic tones(Strat, LP jr., SG, Tele). That 5150 of yours is a killer amp, wish I would've grabbed the 5150 2-12 II combo when I had the chance!! Take a look the the ProGuitarShop.com vid of the 18w Marshall handwired 1974 combo, all those sounds and more are in there. Try using your dirt channel just slighty past clean, very little pre-amp, using your master to set your overall level, loosen up the bottom end with the resonance control, you wanna get those power tubes dancing, set all your tone controls at 12 o'clock, and roll off the presence knob completely. Find unity with the OCD level contol, and start with the gain and tone at 12 o'clock and the switch set to HP, as a starting point, with a guitar voiced like a vintage LP. This should be a good starting point, watch the PGS vid., it should be really close. And it interacts really well with other distortion pedals after it. Run it completely by itself when you try it. Mike Fulton designed it so that you would be able to get those cranked non-master Marshall tones(JTM45 & Plexi) when you can't run a non-master flat out. Check out his vid's for the OCD as well. Good luck!!!!

 

[Mitch T]

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret replaced my OCD...

 

[Red_Strat]

I know this is a little over budget, but a Zvex Box of Rock or Xotic BB Preamp might work for you.

 

[ianb]

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret replaced my OCD...

Same here!

 

[JeffOlson]

Nothing has yet replaced my OCD, not even the Jouster...

 

[FastRedPonyCar]

I got my OCD V4 yesterday and so far, I'm really pleased with it but I use it for more gain than a light push. I've got an eden analog austin overdrive (strikingly similar to the fulltone trower pedal) that I tried using in front of the OCD with great results both when the ocd was only providing a small amount of gain and when set to a lot of gain.

 

[big jilm]

I prefer the MI Audio Crunchbox. Used to have the OCD - didn't care for it.

 

[afterburner]

Barber Direct Drive? Ballsy Marshall crunch with nice bite and sustain. Less than $100 used and very well made.

I think it fits the bill.

 

[movingpictures]

I prefer the MI Audio Crunchbox. Used to have the OCD - didn't care for it.

+1.. the CB has way more gain/compression which sounds like what yu want?

 

[5150user]

Thanks for the replies.

I plugged it up after my other distortion/fuzz boxes and I liked it a lot better in that role. It has a transparent but slightly "British" nature that makes other dirt boxes sound better, or it works as a good lead boost for solos, etc.

I can see keeping it on my pedalboard as the last gain pedal in my signal chain. I like it much better than a TS9 or Clean Boost in this role.

 

[marvelboy_04]

radial tonebones london?

 

[Eliguitar]

radial tonebones london?

I have a Plexitube which is my favorite marshall in a pedal. Ive had the OCD, Brownie, Crunch Box, HBE Paradrive and that was the 1st one that actually sounded like an amp to me. It especially shines at gig levels.
I have a London Bones on the way for my small board which is the Plexitube's little brother and and if it sounds any close to the big brother, I'll be a happy camper.

 

[tattoedsailor]

Try some Wampler pedals also.

 

[-analog-]

Another vote for the Crunchbox
after owning 4 OCD pedals I've kept the V4 because they do sound go for Fusion & progressive sounding leads, but its not a marshall voiced pedal...

If you after JMP/JCM800 tone- Get a crunchbox, you can easily dial in those sounds.
The ZVEX Box of rock covers the entire JTM/Super lead sound- and the Additional boost is great.

I'm running a Crunchbox/Box of rock combo, boosted with a klon.
So far- its delivered just about every marshall tone minus some of the newer stuff
which doesn't neccessarily relflect classic marshall tone but its nice to be able to get
those classic marshall tones without the amp running at 135DB..

 

[5150user]

Note:

I plugged it up after my other distortion/fuzz boxes and I liked it a lot better in that role. It has a transparent but slightly "British" nature that makes other dirt boxes sound better, or it works as a good lead boost for solos, etc.

I can see keeping it on my pedalboard as the last gain pedal in my signal chain. I like it much better than a TS9 or Clean Boost in this role.

 

[Cap'nMayhem]

Depending on your Marshall flavor preference you can't beat the Menatone KOTB or WMB for Marshall amp in a box. Both of those are quite a bit more than you were hoping to spend but will do the job perfectly. For less money (still about 29 bucks more than you'd like) the Menatone Shut Up And Drive can be dialed in to approximate so many tones it boggles the mind.

 

[jakethesnake]

I love my OCD!

 

[FXMonkey]

+1 mi audio crunch box