Product: Demeter OD-1 Overdrivulator
Price Paid: USD 200
Submitted
06/11/2008
at
02:33am
by
Richard
Ease of Use
:
9
This is a new pedal from Demeter; they have a long history of making very high-quality pedals and other equipment. Very easy to use. Wide range of tones. The pedal is shockingly quiet even at very high degrees of overdrive. The tone control, unlike most, is reasonable throughout its range. There are 2 different overdrive circuits: one LED-driven for amp-like overdrive, and one that's germanium-driven (I think) for more of a fuzzy sound. Truly, between the 2 settings, it's like having a very good OD and fuzz pedal in 1 box.
Sound Quality
:
9
I'm playing electric mandolin and lap steels through a Swart Space Tone Reverb. Both at home and on gigs, this pedal has given me some of the nicest distortion tones I've been able to get. I'm pretty fussy about distortion; I've been through quite a few high-quality overdrives and fuzzes, and the only other one I own right now is a ZVEX Box of Rock. (I like the Demeter pedal better, but the Box of Rock does a overdriven Marshall imitation that's hard to let go of.) The Demeter pedal's sound is very warm and sweet, with a surprisingly big low end.
Reliability
:
10
I'll bring my Box of Rock to the gig, but I probably won't wind up using it.
Customer Support
:
8
I own a few Demeter pedals: their compressor, tremolo, and fuzz in addition to this new overdrive. I've broken one of them before, and found them reasonably quick and helpful in getting it fixed.
Overall Rating
:
9
I make blues, rock and country kinds of sounds. I find this pedal to be very, very versatile and useful. It will make barely-noticeable distortion and infinite singing overdrive. It's the first distortion pedal I've ever had that I'm reluctant to turn off, just because its tone is so pretty. I've been playing for a long time, and I'm definitely a connoisseur of good tone. I would replace it in a heartbeat. (Incidentally, I owned a Demeter Fat Overdrive before this pedal came out. This is a combination overdrive and midrange boost. Even though it made some great sounds, it felt pretty fussy, and I wound up selling it. I am much happier with this pedal.)
