MJM Guitar Effects Blues Devil Overdrive

Three knobs: Level, Drive, Tone.

The tone knob doesn't get as bright as I would like, but it's not too bad, the pedal still sounds amazing.

Strats-->Teese PW-->Bad Bob-->Chicago Iron Octavian-->MJM BD (2 channel)-->Clone Chorus--->Peterson Strobostomp-->Vibroverb

The blues devil sounds very good with my setup. I go for an SRV tone and it achieves his OD tone in spades, very nice.

There is still a midhump in this thing, most people think that a boutique TS clone is not going to color your original tone, well, they ALL do. That's what a TS does, it cuts bass and highs. It sounds great for the applications I use it on..

MIke is a good guy. He's always very helpful..

Kick ass.

three knobs level-tone-drive. Very easy, just like a TubeScreamer. its true-bypass with led.

This is the sound I was hoping to hear when I first bought a tubescreamer years ago.

If you have a Strat, you will love this box. Haven't tried it with humbuckers, but I heard its just as good.

I use a maple neck Custom Shop Strat, through various fender and vox amps. I've tried many overdrives including tubescreamers, TS9,TS10,TS7, Jekyll&Hyde,FD2,Boss OD3,SD1...MJM BluesDevil sounds the best if you're looking for that tubescreamer sound. It sounds more clear, transparent, and WARM. I believe this is the perfect tubescreamer clone.
I also have a Fulltone FD2, but I don't use it eversince I bought my BluesDevil. FD2 is a good pedal and it's versatile but sounded thin with single coils compared to the Blues DEvil.

Keep the drive low, and tone up, and instantly get great SRV tones on neck and neck/mid pu's. Just turn up the drive knob for more agressive od, the notes remain perfectly clear. great dynamics.
this pedal probably wouldnt sound bad even if you turn all three knobs all the way up! I also have the MJM London Fuzz(I highly recommend). I use BluesDevil together with London F. the only sound I need with a touch of reverb.

I've been using it for gigs, and had no problems. Its reliable.

Michael always responded my emails the same day. That's great customer support. He's been very helpful.

I play blues/rock. This is perfect for what I do. Great tone, true-bypass. I would definitely get another one if it was stolen. I couldn't live without it. If you have a strat, you need MJM Blues Devil.

Very easy to use! 3 knobs!

I play all strats through fender super reverbs and deluxe reverbs. This box sounds really great! I play blues! This is a bluesmans dream box! I have used many other boxes and this one does the trick for me!

Built like a brick sh1t house!

I don't know, I never needed customer service from MJM

I have used the clea boosts such as klon, super hard ons and etc.. I have also used many different OD's such as mesa, hot chilie tubesters, and many ts-9's and ts808 clones.. I wouldn't call this a 808 clone as it has a different voice.. It's midrangy but not muddy like a 808.. I have been playing for 30 years and I am a blues purist.. I use only this MJM and a teese wah.. With the MJM you really don't need a clean boost pedal..

Selfexplaining

I use it mainly into bf/sf Fender amps with 1974 telecaster custom. EEffects: Vox 847 (modified) > Fulltone Soul-Bender > Blues Devil > Fulltone Fat-Boost (old model).
Great sound, feels great, very dynamic and pick-sensitive; definately better then my Keeley-modded Sparkle Drive (great pedal, but not as good as blues devil), less compression too without sounding harsh in the highs; very, very good!. Lows are preserved as good as a TS-clone can; which is very good. There is more than enough range of both tone-knoob and drive-knob. Output is enough but not whalopping as the sparkle drive, but i don't need too much output; its more than enough for normal use. Much better dynamics than the TS9/808 I owned but sold.
It sounds very good with humbuckers too, while most TS (-clones) get muddy, this one stays articulate!

Very sturdy construction, high quality components used; i trust it. However, the internal guts are a mess!!! Even I can do it better much. I can't say how it affects reliability, but some components are touching the lid and there is not enough space for the battery; pieces of glue everywhere etc, etc. So be it; i don't open it; it is the sound that counts, but with a little effort it can be made accepable, so why doesn't MJM take the trouble doing so????

Never dealt with them

This is a keeper (you see them second hand so I'm right!!!). I play anything but a lot of blues/rock. I'm playing for more than 25 years. It wiorks very well with my Fat-Boost; I can addd a little body to the Blues Devil at non-saturating amp settings.
In conclusion, it just enhances the pleasure of playing when I turn it on; I forget I'm playing a pedal; that's how an overdrive should be! I don't like giving a '10' but 'no opinion' doesn't justify the Blues Devil

It has simple, full-range controls. Nothing "jumps" at any point. They are fully usable.

Using w/Carr Rambler and Strat; or w/335 and PR w/12" Weber Cali. The Blue Devil is along the lines of a TS-808, but better bass response, better balance & clarity, and more gain. The low-end isn't rolled-off. Instead it's preserved and tightened-up. Chords ring out and cut through the mix with out being harsh - even at higher volumes. Harmonics and touch-sensitivity are unbelievable! Works better w/my Clyde Wah than any other pedal I've ever used (quite a few!)Retains high-end sparkle. Enough transparancy to retain picking nuances. There is a really nice "bloom" to the notes that you have to experience to know what I mean.

Excellent build quality, but I have only owned it for 1 month.

It doesn't get any better than Michael's. He is a total pro, and truly cares about his products.

I have been playing professionally for 30 years. Mostly Blues-based stuff. It makes my job a lot easier. I used it out 5 or 6 times (3 diff. clubs) in the past month since I got it. TOTALLY delivered every time. I just sold 2 other boutique OD's I've had for a while.
I know it's once again; all "10's" here on a HC review. But, if you've tried the Silver-mod, tried diff. OD's in-front-of and after your Klon, tried the low-wattage amp w/no pedals, clean boosts only, speakers that distort more, worn batt's in your fuzz face, ect, ect...you owe it to yourself to try this pedal. Better yet... try it before you spend all the time and $ messing with stuff. But seriously, if I hadn't tried so many other set-ups, I probably wouldn't appreciate this pedal as much as I do. I look forward to using it out again.

As easy to use a a Tubescreamer. works well with my other pedals, which is very important!

I have a modded TS9/808, and this one is clearly head and shoulders above the standard. Absolutely silent in operation, and more articulate , with less bass loss than the TS. I use a Strat, to a MJM London Fuzz, to a Vox wah, to the BJ, TS, CE2, Echo, Super Reverb.
As you can see,, tone is important to me!!

Absolutely no backup should be needed, as the build quality is top shelf.

The customer support, for a one man operation is the best that I`ve encountered for some time. Michael is the best.

I`m 48, been playin` forever,,blues mostly, blues/rock, etc. I know what I like, I know what works, and I llike simlicity. That has proven to be the best formula for just about everything in my experience, and this unit delivers the goods in spades. For the attention to detail, even down to custom-ordering the colour, and quility of the components, this is the best, hends down!!

Level, drive, tone,very easy to manipulate, tone knob is very subtle, easy to dial in a good sound. No manual. The pedal is just like every other 3 knob overdrive out there.

I am using an SRV Strat to a vox wah,two TS9/808 tubescreamers by keely, to the blues devil, and then a BF Super Reverb. Unbelievable sound. When I used the Blues Devil by itself it was almost totally transparent. You can always tell there is a pedal there, but that's expected, but, it sounded like my amp was cranked, and then some! I was very impressed. No bass loss. I turned the drive all the way down and the level all the way up with my amp at about 3 (not very loud) and the blues devil worked great. It's a pretty good clean boost. It made my setup sound BIGGER, the highs stood out more, and the bass was more BONGY, that's the only way I know how to describe it.

I reveived this pedal and the switch was broken. I sent it back to Mike and he promptly packed up a brand new one and sent it to me. I am not sure how this one will hold up. Give me a while to see how it does :)

The switch problem was handled with ease, and very promptly. I was very pleased with the customer service that Michael Milcetic gives. Thank you Mike.

I am very pleased with this. I am almost thinking of getting rid of the TS9/808s but I like the dual set up to much to get rid of them. I have a TS808, Cold Fusion, and a Klon on the way right now, so I am pretty pumped. But, I am not sure how anything could out do the blues devil. Very useful pedal.

Well, how difficult can it be? It's got three knobs: Level, Tone and Drive. But the layout is a mess! I don't know how many times I've intended to swith the effect on or off, only to find that I've accidentally kicked one of the knobs into oblivion. It's somewhat uncool to kick the pedal into zero volume at the start of a solo, or full treble, or no treble, or... You get the picture. And there is no LED indication of whether it's on or off! It's got true bypass though. I believe there is a choice to be made, either true bypass or LED but not both, since having both would require a 3PDT switch which is not avilable for this pedal.

I use this between a Strat and either a blackface Fender (Deluxe Reverb or Super Reverb) or a Tone King Comet. Sometimes I have an MXR Dyna Comp (modded by analogman to Ross-like specs) before the Blues Devil. For a Tube Screamer type sound, I have yet to find a better pedal than the MJM Blues Devil. I have owned many other pedals that aim for the same type of sound, including an original TS-808, various TS-9/808 mods and the Fulldrive 2. This pedal sounds more natural and musical, having less of an "add-on effect" character. As with any other pedal of this type, there is a loss of bass response and an increased midrange, but not as dramatic as in some other pedals. By the way, the only pedal that I know of that is in the same league is Analogman's "silver" version of the TS-9/808 mod. The difference between this "silver" mod and the MJM is very subtle, but I like the MJM a little bit better although I can't really pinpoint the actual sound difference. Maybe it's a psychological thing... I give the pedal a 9, so that I can give a "10" if I someday find a better overdrive pedal.

The switch actually failed after just a few hours of use. The Swedish distributor promptly replaced it, free of charge of course. The pedal seems to be sturdy enough and have worked without problem since I got the switch replaced two years ago.

I've only dealt with the Swedish retailer and they're great. From what I've heard, the MJM man Mike Milcetic (spelling?) is also very helpful.

This is an excellent pedal for the type of blues/rock that I play. Like I said, it's my favorite overdrive pedal, and overdrive is about the only effect I use, so I obviously love the thing. But the layout with the kickable knobs really sucks. And I do wish it had an LED!

Easy. If you can work a tubescreamer, you can work this.

I use a Gibson ES 446 hollowbody. This pedal sounds great with my guitar. It is a bit softer sounding than most TS808 clones I've used, and it has a good range of overdrive. I use it for my heavy overdrive sounds. Very good. This pedal doesn't seem to stand out in many ways. It sounds great, but it's not going to change the world. It is simply another great version of a legnedary pedal.

Never had any problems

Michael was very helpful. I recommend him highly.

Great pedal. I'm still exploring it's full potential.

Very easy to use. No manual needed. Mine's a silver hammerite colored one.

This is everything a tubescreamer should be. It sounds like a TS, but doesn't have the harshness. It's also true bypass. (mine has no LED) The tone knob is so useful...it doesn't get harsh. Sure, it can get bright with a Tele or Strat when the tone knob is turned up, but your sweet spot is easily found. Also, since it has enough useful range on the tone knob it works great with humbuckers, too. For single coils I use the tone knob at 9:00 or 12:00 depending on the song in a given set. For humbuckers I crank it up to about 2:00 and adjust the volume down a tad. This unit sounds so fat and, yet, articulate. It also has the ability to sound very round. (Since it has the tiny amount of bass loss already, like a TS, and then you turn down the tone control to round out the tone since the mids are already present.) Sweet sounding pedal at both lower and higher drive settings. Using it with an Alamo Tonemonger Strat, Teles, and Ernie Ball/Music Man EVH into mostly a Carr Slant 6V 2x12. (occasionally a Twin, Deluxe, or Maz Jr.) It works awesome when being goosed by other ODs, and vice-versa.

It's pretty well built. I don't foresee any problems.

Haven't dealt with Mike at all.

Great match for most styles. I play country, blues, rock, jazz, some funk, and western swing. I'd replace it if needed...it's worth it. I own a TS808, Red Snapper, Sparkle Drive, etc., and this is better than the 808. It's different than the SD and RS, but just as great.