Fulltone OCD

[collintowne]

Just wanted to give my thoughts on the Fulltone OCD. It is a fantastic pedal hands down. BUT, every pedal has to work with your set up. I have read some reviews and the guys say they hated the tone. I use a hand made amp that I made, Strat with handwound pups from Torres, a few true bypass pedals, Axcess BS2, cables that I made. That's my set up, and the OCD works awesome. It has a special characteristic though. I would not describe it as an overdrive like the FD2 or TS9. The OCD has a Marshall/Vox/Mesa gain quality to it. You can control the amount of drive so that is very useful. Just like the product description on Fulltone's website, the pedal has fantastic touch sensitivity and dynamics. The switch allows you to select between two midrange settings. I use it in the up position (HP) as the LP setting takes a little bit of the mids away, but still a pleasing sound.

If you're looking to use this pedal to get massive gain, again, it depends on your set up. People using PODs might not be able to achieve that because it gets digital processing. Amps, especially tube amps, you will get sustain and feedback if you set it up that way!

collintowne

[Wildwind]

Great post - it does answer some questions. Now I'm REALLY interested in trying one out.

I'm not sure if high-gain is what I'm after, per se. Rather I'm after that (heretofore) elusive lead tone that sings and is fat, but not fuzzy or flabby, sustains for days and maintains clarity string-to-string, and is transparent enough so I can actually tell which pickup I'm using - and my guitar still sounds the way it should.

As for doing it with a POD - I do understand. That is my main application and if it won't do it, it won't do it. Nothing else does it either, though I will say POD takes pedals pretty well and they do at least sound much the way they're supposed to. Your explanation as to how they work with the amp was outstanding.

I'll try one when I can. I've wanted one from the start. Not like I NEED more stuff - good grief!

Anyway thanks for this.

Greg

[shmerls]

I have used a Full Drive 2 for years and just bought an OCD. It's great as noted above.

I finally got some time today and wanted to compare the 2 to see if I should part with my FD2, as maybe it would be a bit redundant.

Well... I was surprised to find that with my FD2 on CompCut and Boost on, I can get a sound so close that it is pretty hard to tell the 2 a part.

The OCD is awesome, don't get me wrong, but perhaps the reviews were not in comparison to other Fulltone products. Then there's the FD Mosfet, which I have no idea how that fits into this picture, but 2 are enough for me to be concerned with

I'll probably sell my FD2 now, since the OCD is smaller, but I am wondering if anyone here has done any A/B testing and if they feel OCD renders the FD2 and Mosfet obsolete.

[collintowne]

I'll probably sell my FD2 now, since the OCD is smaller, but I am wondering if anyone here has done any A/B testing and if they feel OCD renders the FD2 and Mosfet obsolete.

I wouldn't sell it if I were you. My advice for OD pedals is that you should have at least 3 levels of tone. 4 gain stages is even better. Clean tone, mild OD, Medium OD, and High Gain OD.

The FD2 and Anniversary Mosfet have been combined into one pedal now. The FD2 is now only available in a new metallic blue color with the Mosfet option. For $161.95 on Musictoyz.com, you can't beat it!

Now that you have an OCD, with your FD2, you can set it up to have a minimum of 4 gain stages. and if you turn on the OCD at the same time as your FD2 stage one, you get another unique tone, and if you turn on the OCD and both stages of the FD2, you get massive gain!

With those 2 pedals, you have a pretty wide range of tone. And don't forget you can play with your volume and tone knobs, and these 2 pedals will get you plenty of different tones.

But if you only want one pedal, then the FD2 give you more tonal options, but the OCD is smaller.

collintowne

[shmerls]

Hi Collin,

You make great points. I wasn't thinking about combining them as I pretty much get my sound from my amp (Budda SuperDrive 30). To be honest, I'm actually pretty ignorant about OD pedals, embarrassed to say. My Budda, has a great clean and crunch sounds with a pedal. So now, I can get middle sounds and great great tones at low volumes, plus the ability to put my OCD in my pocket and go sit in somewhere and not worry about what kind of crap amp I might get stuck with

So I'll just keep both then and start playing with them. There are so many options between the two of them, whew.

I do have one rather large/minor complaint with the OCD. The LED is too damn bright! I have to cover it with my finger as it is blinding and I can't see the position of the pots. I really don't get why Mike did that.

I wonder if I can change to a lower output, it is really obnoxious. Has anyone else said this?

Thanks again for setting me straight Collin,
Steven

[collintowne]

I do have one rather large/minor complaint with the OCD. The LED is too damn bright! I have to cover it with my finger as it is blinding and I can't see the position of the pots. I really don't get why Mike did that.

I wonder if I can change to a lower output, it is really obnoxious. Has anyone else said this?

Guessing you play in dark environments. In very well lit environments, you need a good LED. Usually, guitarists know what effect is on, but you don't want to get confused cause you can't see the LED. After playing with your OCD, you'll get to a point where you will set the pots and probably leave them in place. I use mine at Volume 11 o'clock, drive 1 o'clock, tone 1 o'clock.

collintowne

[shmerls]

Guessing you play in dark environments. In very well lit environments, you need a good LED. Usually, guitarists know what effect is on, but you don't want to get confused cause you can't see the LED. After playing with your OCD, you'll get to a point where you will set the pots and probably leave them in place. I use mine at Volume 11 o'clock, drive 1 o'clock, tone 1 o'clock.

collintowne

Who gigs in very well lit environments, or rather, who wants to, it's not how well you play, it's how well you look and bright lights are too revealing

Seriously, out of 10 gigs, how many are outside daytime vs clubs or halls?

Besides, if it's well lit then you can't see the light as you point out, so it's not of any needed help visually, and when it's dark it blocks your vision and it's so bright that you need a visor like driving into the sun at sunset

I don't see any merit to it at all. No need in light, gets in the way in the dark.