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Guyatone OD2 Over Drive
List: $99
Guyatone is the guitar effects producer of Tokyo Sound Co. Ltd., which hails from Japan. The OD2 featured here is a member of the Micro Effects series, the dimensions of which easily fits in the palm of the average player. This series of guitar effects have simple layouts & effective delivery.
Build/ features
This orange ditty here, as the name suggests, is a restrained overdrive unit much in the vein of Ibanez’s Tubescreamer (TS9). The manufacturer promises simplicity as manifested by the OD2; a pair of black, plastic Level/ Drive knobs, an out-of-the-way red LED plus a button-type metal foot switch which is ardently called an ‘electronic silent switch’. Unlike other pedals which feature such an engagement contraption, the Guyatone version is devoid of that abrupt ‘click’ noise so the vital confirmation of the effect’s status lies with the red LED. The input & output access are relegated to the top width, considering the dwarfed nature of this pedal, the layout here serves to be clutter free.
In relation to its size, the OD2 proves to be lightweight but the steel chassis here hints at durability. A quick inspection of the base reveals an absence of a battery hatch; there are no screws here either so how does one insert one’s battery? Note the black rubber base surround- this doubles as a base-plate fastener, remove this & off comes the baseplate revealing the pedal’s innards (see pic).
All in all, the unique fastening feature here is a novelty but it works well despite being a little cumbersome.
Rating: 90%
Tone
Coming back to the Tubescreamer association, it seems that Guyatone has made it a critical cause to rival that green meanie. The manufacturer goes as far as to include a rival chip for tonal assurances; introducing the JRC 9449G IC. Unlike Ibanez’s TS808 voicing, the aforementioned chip isn’t responsible for a carbon copy of a vintage Tubescreamer livery; the OD2 has a similar raspy but very inviting midrange with added bass. Again, the manufacturer has ensured a very TS-like vibe in tone, especially the creamy treble response so players new to the pedal would immediately identify with that oh, so familiar mild drive. The Guyatone chaps have decided to make this a permanent feature in their OD2 so it becomes an unadjustable preset in the circuitry, hence the elimination of a tone control knob- so you thought it was a careless omission? Not quite…
In solitary use, the pedal pairs up well with single coil pickups through the amp’s clean channel. Jazzers in need of a civic drive unit for their boosted clean comping need not look elsewhere too- the OD2 has lots of chemistry with semi/ hollow body electrics.
In an attempt to level the playing field, this reviewer has made it a point to employ the OD2 as a drive type booster & the pedal doesn’t disappoint. As an amp’s dirty channel pusher, the OD2 is perhaps the deserving counterpart of the fabled Tubescreamer. As promised by the manufacturer, at high volume (amp) levels, there is this much welcomed fatness which is absent from the TS incarnations. As an all-out high gain injector, the OD2 is also more rewarding for those who are into bottom end chugging but not exclusively. If you are a proponent of single note clarity at such intense drive settings, the OD2 promises a non-compressed delivery- a thoroughly enjoyable implement to say the least.
Tone test equipment:
Amps: Ibanez ValBee/ Peavey XXL/ VOX DA5/ Marshall MS-2 Mini Stack
Guitars: ESP Eclipse II/ Ibanez Artcore TM2/ Schecter 006 Deluxe/ Ibanez RGR321/ Gibson LP Std/ Edwards ELP-85SD/P
Pedals: EHX Nano Metal Muff/ Little Big Muff/ Carl Martin Crush Zone
Rating: 95%
Conclusion
Well, here it goes: Tubscreamer, meet your justified competitor! The OD2 would please those hunting for a Tubescreamer variant which isn’t too deviating from that hallowed mild drive. Those of us who can’t really discern slight voicing differences between the TS & this OD2 would deem this review a little too overblown. However, to the initiated ears, the OD2 is indeed a true Tubescreamer adversary waiting to be discovered. Considering that it’s a product of a relatively unknown effects manufacturer (to the majority of us), the OD2 isn’t about to fly off the dealer’s shelves any time soon. It takes a little swallowing of one’s pride to actually acknowledge this orange brilliance, especially at the list price it’s going for (about 2.5X less expensive than the TS808). On the contrary, the Tubescreamer cult followers would simply consider this as an extremely good alternative, a comprehensive replacement it is not.
Overall rating: 90% (highly recommended)
Likes:
• Price
• Tone
• Runs well on battery
• Ease of use
Dislikes:
• Lightweight (tugged easily)
• Cumbersome rubber fastener
Worthy competitors:
• Ibanez TS808
• Digitech Bad Monkey
• CMATMods Tube Slammer
• Behringer Vintage Tube Overdrive TO800
• Carl Martin Crunch Drive
Maybe I'll bring some of my "anti" tubescreamers down...
