What sounds like a Maxon OD-808 but is more reliable?

[Geetar_Will]

TS-10? Something another builder makes?

 

[walterw]

in what way is a maxon od-808 not "reliable"?

 

[Jack DeVille]

Genuine curiosity evoked.

 

[Geetar_Will]

I guess you could say I've had the fear of analogman put in me... And I've had some switch issues on mine. Here's a quote from his site...

"We have worked on the Maxon OD-808 and now offer our 808/SILVER mod for it. The Maxon OD-808 is actually a TS-10 circuit (uses TS9/TS10 output section) so it takes some serious work. The circuit boards are not holding up well to electronic rework, so we have to be very careful so as not to damage them. We also include TRUE BYPASS on these mods because Maxon uses a normal size stomp switch which we can easily change to a 3PDT switch for true bypass. We do not sell these pedals new or recommend that you buy one, due to the poor construction. The pots are cheap ones soldered to the circuit board and they tend to break and cannot be replaced easily. Now that the Maxon OD9 is out, there is no need for the OD-808 as the OD9 already has true bypass and has the actual ts808 / TS9 circuit board, and hand wired pots and jacks so they can be kept running forever."

 

[Geetar_Will]

I've played various incarnations of stock TS, most of AM mods, various eternity pedals and plenty of other TS style pedals... The OD-808 is what my ear likes. I've also compared it to a real 80s TS-808 - very close it was. Thus I'm doing some research to see if anyone (anywhere) has updated/upgraded the thing.

 

[gmann]

I guess you could say I've had the fear of analogman put in me... And I've had some switch issues on mine. Here's a quote from his site...

"We have worked on the Maxon OD-808 and now offer our 808/SILVER mod for it. The Maxon OD-808 is actually a TS-10 circuit (uses TS9/TS10 output section) so it takes some serious work. The circuit boards are not holding up well to electronic rework, so we have to be very careful so as not to damage them. We also include TRUE BYPASS on these mods because Maxon uses a normal size stomp switch which we can easily change to a 3PDT switch for true bypass. We do not sell these pedals new or recommend that you buy one, due to the poor construction. The pots are cheap ones soldered to the circuit board and they tend to break and cannot be replaced easily. Now that the Maxon OD9 is out, there is no need for the OD-808 as the OD9 already has true bypass and has the actual ts808 / TS9 circuit board, and hand wired pots and jacks so they can be kept running forever."

So many questions about Tube Screamers as to which is better, what's the difference etc....I had finally decided on the Maxon OD-808 but after reading the Analogman thing on their site I decided against it. I mean they won't ever sell it that think that poorly about it. I'll probably end up gettin'g the Maxon OD9.

 

[vintage66]

If you like the sound, I'd get the switch replaced with the same one or a true bypass one (AM says it's an easy mod). I have one and like it too-no problems with mine and I bought it used several years ago. I haven't tried anything that sounds like it, including the Od9. I can't agree that there's no need for the Od808 just because the Od9 came out. They both sound great but do sound different.

I wonder if the pots are breaking as he's trying to mod them or do they break from use? I also wonder if they can be replaced or are they just difficult? That seems to be the biggest concern if you're leaving it stock, which I plan to do. I haven't heard anything else about problems-I was surprised to read that on his site. I'm surprised that Maxon would put out anything that was sub-par.

ps, I don't think an old Ts-10 would be any more realiable. I know their switches aren't great and I've read that they sound a little different.

 

[walterw]

OK, a dodgy switch and board-mounted pots would be less than ideal.

 

[SKWIRE #1]

Get a Joyo Vintage Overdrive, save about $60.00 and move on. Already has a nice 3pdt switch inside.

 

[5150user]

Or the Delta Lab Tube Overdrive.....

 

[Jack DeVille]

If it ain't broke, fix it till it is.

 

[StratStringSlinger]

1) Has anyone actually experienced reliability problems with the Maxon OD-808 in real use?

2) Could it be that the Maxon OD-808 is so darn good sounding and pretty much the real deal sound of a 808 that it doesn't need to be modded?

3) Does Analogman have a horse in the race? (I am happy that the company is around for many of their great products and services, I've used them but come on, they have a stake in this too.)

4) How many great and reliable pedals out there in everyday use have board mounted pots and jacks? Mad Professor CB line, new Klon, and I hear even some Analogman pedals have this type of construction)

5) the hard to repair crap doesn't phase me at all. I got my Maxon OD-808 for $80.00 used. If you're worried buy two. Why pay $50 min bench charge plus shipping to send a pedal to be fixed. Have you seen how much them modded tube screamers cost!? For the same price I can buy 2 to 3 Maxons.

6) I'll repeat it one more time in this thread. Maxon IS the company that made all the vintage era tube screamers for Ibanez. There is no shortage or stop in production of 4558 chips.

 

[Coldacre]

I The circuit boards are not holding up well to electronic rework, so we have to be very careful so as not to damage them.

so what they're saying is when you pull them apart and modify them they don't hold up very well. presuming you don't do that they will hold up fine. I haven't heard any bad stories from users, (and if one of two now pop up in this thread, take it with a large grain of salt.)

 

[Hector Arcadius]

Gearmanndude Luther Drive

 

[mangoman]

Vfe the scream

 

[Gas-man]

Planning on taking this pedal on some world tours with nightly shows?

Chances of anything going wrong with your Maxon are very low.

The amount of over-engineered (and therefore unnecessarily high priced) music gear is staggering.

 

[aussiemeats]

G'Day,

I have a Maxon OD-808 and I LOVE mine. Absolutely NO PROBLEMS with it, and I play thru it EVERYDAY

I have had it easily over a year. It's a GREAT OD and you can't beat the price, I got mine

with a GC discount for $135.00 US....It's got the JRC chip in it as well.

Can say enough GOOD things about it...

Mod it? WHY?

It doesnt need to be modded.

I suggest you get one and try it before you get
all worried about whether or not you're going to like it or not
most places will give you 30 days to try it out and then return it
if you don't like it.

Cheers!

 

[Lukeling]

If it ain't broke, fix it till it is.

Awesome !

 

[vanguard]

this is a perfect example of a TGP meme. no, not the misnamed, stupid internet pics; the actual definition of a meme.

i really like some of analogman's stuff, but it's horse **** like this that really pisses me off and causes me to sell my KOT's (x2) and various fuzzes and compressors.

i don't buy modded pedals anymore because some no-it-all has been futzing around in there desolding and rewiring when they aren't meant to be re-built. a quick look at the soldering on my old SD-1 silver was the last straw; it was not pretty and the board was burned is several places.

once again, i've had the TS808HW, analogman OD9 silver, SD-1 sliver, Klon, regular OD9, 2 KOT's, and on and on. why do i still have an OD808 10 years going? because it's the simplest, cleanest, finest example of a live-use tube screamer there is. it already has the "right" chip and, more importantly, the impossible-to-find MA150 diodes that only maxon and analogman seem to have access to. it's already built to perfect 808 specs.

here's an idea, if you don't want to f*** it up, don't rip it apart and stick a damn soldering iron in it!

and my favorite part? in the time i've owned and tossed around my perfectly functioning OD808, i've had two analogman sunfaces break on me! they were handled with kid gloves because they were my special pedals too. the switch went out on one and, on the other, the germ. transistor wasn't soldered properly on one lead resulting in an open circuit half the time. so tell me again, whose pedals are unreliable?

stop listening to boutique shellers' memes and hype and ask around. know anyone with a busted OD808? i don't. and if you have a problem, it will be the switch (which will break randomly on ANY pedal - particularly those ****** blue TB switches all the boutique guys use).

oh yeah those KOT's i had? the pots and switches were soldered directly to the board (the pot and the kettle come to mind)

analogman makes some killer pedals (the KOT is amazing!), but he owes the majority of his business (certainly its origins) to maxon's invention, the 808. talk about biting the hand that feeds you. i really wish he'd show some grace in the matter and delete that bit off his site; it's petty, misinformed, and just below-the-belt. he should be above the behavior of lesser builders who trash talk everybody else to try and get a stake in the dirt.

 

[burns]

I've had an OD-808 since they were first reissued (10-15 years?) and it's been gigged heavily. It's probably seen more beer than an 18 year old at a frat party - zero issues. I don't think I'll be modding it soon.