MJM Guitar Effects Blues Devil Overdrive

This is an Overdrive pedal that's part of the very large TubeScreamer family. This is one of the very early builds - under 100 for the serial number and hand built. You have your three basic dials , volume-tone-gain.

This TS family member has its own unique voice. it's very clear and articulate - great blues pedal. i use it into a Super Reverb head or a Vox AC15 Heritage head out to a Lopo 2x12 closed back cab sporting a pair of WGS ET65 speakers (love'm!!!). my signal flow : guitars (SG, McCarty, Strat, Tele, Charvel So Cal) > pedalboard > amp / cab. the noise floor is low on this pedal. it's the best OD pedal in TS family i've used ... and it just got way better. in fact, that's why i'm writing this post. i replaced the stock JRC4558D op amp with the LM833N chip from my Mi Audio CrunchBox. i was out to improve the performance of the CB and thought of using the chip from the Blues Devil to make it happen - i had no intention of tinkering with the BD because i didn't like its sound. well, i got better results with the CB from the chip swap - but i gained way better performance from the Blues Devil as well placing the LM833N chip into it. that's because the BD is a much simpler circuit than the CB and the LM833N is a low noise Hi-Fi type chip (something the JRC4558D isn't - but a standard TS chip for that legendary tone). the BD has gained a much smoother quality to it with super improved clarity and dynamics - i dig it. it is now one very hip overdrive unit. the sound , the detail and dynamic improvements are something to hear.

works just fine.

I play a variety of styles but love blues/fusion , jazz/fusion type material. for the tones i like most, i have found certain Lovepedals to work best for me as well as the Zendrive. after hearing the Blues Devil with this op amp swap, it has made its way back onto my pedalboard next to the Zendrive and two Lovepedals (Golden Dragon + COT 50 Red). the Blues Devil for my taste and style of playing out performs the CrunchBox via the op amp swap - the BD got the better part of the swap. my pedalboard holds taylor made OD tones now that are rich with dynamics in equal parts. i just set the eq's different at each pedal to get some separation. for the singing sustaining leed tone a CrunchBox is known for, i have gotten a much more useful type sound combining the two Lovepedals - gone is the compression i was getting from the CrunchBox - the Lovepedals just soar with a wide open voice together. the newly improved Blues Devil serves up all my ultimate low gain tones now without any rasp ... it just has to be heard.

808 Love, is the bottom line. I hear this pedal is discontinued. No wonder, with all the gain avaiable on modern multi channel amps it's like tits on a bull, unless you want that 808 sound. I had to discipline myself to turn the gain way down on my amps (Marshall, Rivera, Fender) in order to use this pedal. It is has to compete with you amp's gain voice - OD, the result is not usual musical, like a transistor radio. WIth the gain gone, it's another thing entirely. Extremely simple to use once you set your rig to neutral. Have several hours with both SC and HBs.

Very cool vintage vibe, and remarkable different when in front of a Vox, Marshall or Fender amp. Very useable sound, as long as you don't get it in a OD battle with you amp's tubes. I suspect it would be fun in front of a solid state amp, like a JC. Musical all the way, it adds a fresh option to the OD you're usually pulling from the amp. And I agree with the previous reviewer, great bloom on solo tones and double-stops.

I love / hate the lay-out. Love the chicken heads for a quick glance at the settings, and making small moves with your toe.Super simple and easy. Hate the lay-out, as someone else said, because every time you hit the switch you'll likely to toss your current setting by grazing the knobs. The fix seems simple, switch the level knob (& maybe the drive) for a round, perhaps mini, knob. For live playing the lay-out has some issues.

Putting aside the lay-out issue, and considering the price paid, wow. This is a alot of useable, classic OD 808 love for not a lot of money or hassle. Nice job.

Easy to use, 3 knobs, Level, Tone, Drive. No tricks, just straight up. The most difficult part about using it live is its layout. The layout is aesthetically pleasing but just not functional for live playing. It's too easy to bump the level knob (possible to bump tone knob too) and drop your volume out right when you need to bring the pedal on or if you're about to switch an adjacent pedal.

Sound quality. This is a good sounding pedal, no doubt. A little more punch/volume would be nice. It doesn't really have its own signature, very much like a sparkle drive and some other tubescream knock-offs, but it seems to be missing some guts.

Never had a problem with it.

This is a good pedal, but I'm switching back to my sparkle drive. It lacks some variance. It pretty much only has one sound, tone adjustment and volume don't seem to have a magic combination when playing in different settings (room sizes and such). I'd probably be more inclined to hang onto it if it we're for the location of the volume knob with respect to the footswitch.

The layout of the pedal is simple. I did not get a manual for it as I bought mine new/used. But you don't need a manual to get a great sound out of this pedal--there are no bad sounds! Most importantly, take tiem with the tone control (it is not a matter of going from bass to treble--there is a lot in between!)

I've been playing over 45 years as a soloist blues/blues rock player. Pedals have come and gone, many of them the top ten. But this pedal, this pedal is the ONE! It is the best sounding pedal I've ever used and it is always on my board. It is the best 808 type pedal on the market--even better than the Original 808! It is that and a lot more! Ever heard of note bloom? At higher volumes (gigging volumes) bending a note can soar and grow wings! Seriously, I can bend a note and it blooms and looms larger, then slide the note up two frets and it blooms again!! I have never had a pedal that can do this! I use the Blues Devil through my Super Reverb RI and an original 2X12 Fender Blues Deville into n SRV custom strat anda Fender Texas Special Strat (got to bring those pups down flush with the pickguard for best tone). Pedals are a digitech delay, Blues Devil, TS/9 reissue, and Vox Crybaby.

I have not had any problems with it so far. I have emailed MIchael and he is so friendly and always emails you back.

I have no problem knowing that michael would be there for you if you needed him!

I've been playing Blues and Rock/Blues, as well as Funk, Motown, etc. for 45 years. My lead work (please hear the blues devil at work at myspace.com/mikespivey) has been formed around Hendrix, SRV, Santana, MOuntain's Leslie West, Johnny Winter. I have developed my own tone and feel and I owe some of that to the Blues Devil. I would seriously miss it if it was stolen. In fact I plan on getting a new one as a back up! These pedals are not that well known at the moment. Let me make my main point: This pedal, on low volume, sounds great. However, in a home situation, at low volume, you may think it is buzzy a bit and very midrange heavy. However, it is in the band mix and on stage where this little devil will blow you and the band and the crowd away!! Note Bloom people! It grows as the night goes on and this baby warms up with your amp. I think it would sound best with a tube amp by the way. I generally set it up as follows: Volume at 3:00, Tone at 11 to 11:30. and gain at about 1:00. From gain at 10 to 12:00, sweet cleaner tone (think SRV on clean!), from 12 to 4:00, more singing gain. At higher volumes, rich overdrive, never fuzzy, clear bell-tone, blooming, singing overdrive! It will not cover your mistakes! It is not a fuzz pedal! But this little box will push your tubes into some great SRVish, Hendrix type tones! This is the only pedal that I have seriously made a central part of my sound. Again, check my myspace above for live practice sessions and live performance with the blues devil in the driver seat. I also use it to drive my ts/9 reissue when I want more drive. The blues devil pedal is like a workhorse on your pedal board and it works wonders with other pedals. I keep it on all the time and just back off with my guitar's volume control. Great note articulation and bloom while using cords, just listen to it! If you have heard SRV's El Mocambo DVD, the Blues Devil is voiced almost exactly to his tones on the DVD. But, it will display your tone and your playing, your guitar and amp. If you have bad equipment, the BD is not going to help you much. I have a Klon Centaur on order and I consider it to be a freind of my Blues Devil and I will use them together! This pedal loves other pedals! It is the top Overdrive in the TS tradition out there! Hands down! Simple, powerful, cuts through the mix, best with other pedals! Not raspy, fuzzy, just bell-like screaming tone and heavenly grown note bloom! All that and the price is less than it is worth. Really!! Try it folks!

Simplicity itself, I generally set;
the "Level" (AKA-Vol) to match the output of the amp,
the "Tone" to 3 o'clock,
the "Drive" to 1 o'clock.
I use single coils and hunbuckers, and I use the guitar's volume to overdrive the valves for solos!
It also has a "True-Bypass" footswitch, but to be honest I've never heard any benefit from a true-bypass switch over a decent non-T.BP switch! The Emperors new clothes, perhaps? I dunno!

Honestly and truthfuly, ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!

I use a 1988 Tokai Love Rock (LP.Std) through a stock 1976 Marshall 4140 4x10 combo with the amps onboard boost switched off, and my 79 Fender Strat through a Gibson GA15RV 1x12 combo. The MJM Blues Devil brings both guitars to life with a breath of pure overdriven sweetness that surpasses any other pedal I've ever used (and I've used loads), and it suits both guitars in all pickup configerations and doesn't muddy the neck PUPs! The response of this pedal through valve amps has to be heard "LIVE" to be believed, even at bedroom levels while Granny sleeps next-door!

I also have an old TS9 which the lovely and helpful Mr Robert Keeley & Co recently upgraded to 808 perfection, but it don't quite do for me what the MJM BB does!

It's built solidly by hand, but common sense says, always take a backup! I'm more worried about it being stolen at a gig by a jelous guitar player, than I am about it breaking down!

I haven't had to return to him yet except to order an MJM RM Booster, but the several emails I've sent to him were warmly welcomed and quickly replied to with commonsense and courteous responses! A nice man!

My Blues Devil was won at auction on Ebay, but he was happy to tell me exactly all I needed to know about the pedal; when it was made and what State in the USA it was sent to etc, but NOT the customer's name or address! I didn't ask, and he didn't offer!

I'm a Blues player, I'm now 53 and I've been playing since I first heard Clapton and Mayall's Beano Album when I was about 12 years old!
If some Bstd stole it, I'd have to replace it, nothing else does for me what the MJM Blues Devil does!
I love the look of the thing, and I rely on the sound of the thing! It does what I want it to: it makes me sound like a better player, which in turn pleases my audience and therefore pleases me!
Get one!
Try it!
If it don't do it for you, auction it on Ebay .... I could do with a standby!

It's cheaper by far than many other pedals that claim to do the same thing!

see my original submission..I'm just adding more to it...08/31/2005

see my original submission..I'm just adding more to it...08/31/2005

see my original submission..I'm just adding more to it...08/31/2005

see my original submission..I'm just adding more to it...08/31/2005

The true test of a pedal is what it does in different situations with different guitars and amps. I have played numerous gigs with this pedal since 08/31/2005(the date of my first submission) and have used it with all of my guitars (stock and modded strats and tele's and stock les pauls and PRS). This pedal made my rig come alive and stand out. I'd gotten a call to do 5 shows over St. Patricks weekend and these shows involved me doing covers from nickleback to stevie wonder to santana to keith urban and if I wanted a different tone all I had to do was give the guitar volume a little twist and it would clean up or slap it to the bridge and open the guitars volume. If you need or want a versitile pedal, this is the one for you. If you wanna have some fun, slap a fuzz face or any good fuzz pedal in with it and watch the smile spread across your face. Mike, you made an amazing pedal, keep it up!

Easy to get a good sound out of, since its touch sensitive with only 3 knobs being level, gain, and tone.

Use it on a mesa boogie stiletto and a tryanor. Not noisy. Sound is very very similar to a ts - 9 reissue but it has true bypass so when i hook it up with a ts 808 less sound is leached. Emulating my fav SRV.

Hasnt crapped out yet.

Dunno

Overall its a ts 9 clone but with tighter bass response and true bypass. Its a good pedal. Not very keen on having the stickers made by brother p touch to put on it but its whats in the box i guess. Has the jrc chip that the original tube screamer 808 has which is a bonus.

Tone, Level and Drive controls. Easy to find the sweet spots and the Tone control has enough range to add a bit of bite. Slightly strange layout though, which leaves the controls a little too close to the footswitch for my liking.

Run through a Traynor YCV40WR with a stock Highway 1 strat. Sounds wonderful. VERY touch responsive and really retains all the nuances of your playing. Sounds particularly tasty with the bridge pickup. Have also tried with Humbuckers and got equally impressive results.

You can dial in anything from light breakup to a really nice and full overdrive sound. The timbre and 'feel' of the distortion is lovely. Also sounds amazing infront of my Germanium Fuzz.

Looks very sturdy and well made. Never had any problems with it.

Michael is very helpful indeed and was more than prepared to answer a couple of questions I had.

I play mainly blues in the vein of SRV, B.B.King, Hendrix, Cream, Peter Green, Buddy Guy et al. and this is perfect. It really allows you to find your own unqiue tone rather than simply trying to emulate someone elses. Id have no worries recommending it to anyone with similar musical tastes. Possibly not enough gain for more rocky stuff, but thats not what this is intended for.

Id definatley order another if it was stolen/lost.

3 knobs and a switch...easy

Just for my test I used my "main" guitar at the moment, an early Relc strat, 60's model that has got some dimarzio's in it(heavy blues neck, chopper bridge). I ran it straight into the clean channel of a Marshall TSL-602 and honestly, I've always had a hard time getting a good "blues" sound out of that Marshall but I'm tellin ya...This pedal kicks some ass. Alot of other reviewers have said you have to tweak it to get a good sound but honestly I had the sound I wanted in about 30 seconds. I taste compared it with a Fulldrive2 that I had to use at a show last night. The fulldrive was alright but got really muddy in the low end. This pedal is leaps and bounds better than the fulldrive...my old TS-9 and pretty much any other 'drive' pedal I've used.

I havent used it on a show...but it seems pretty sturdy...I'll find out soon.

Michael seemed cool. He got back to me rather quickly and was pollite so...whatelse do ya need?

Now I know alot of musicians on here start this off with, "...I've been playing for a while now..." But I have...haha. My guitar and gear is how I pay my rent and eat. Everything I do is supported by music so, I'd like to atleast say that I go out there and give it my best with the best I've got. I was a bit worried when I looked at the pedal itself and saw that the writing on it was actually computer printed out stickers. Thats fine though cause this book could be pink with ponies on it and I'll still say it sounds great...haha. As I said before, it out did the fulldrive2 and my TS-9 that unfortunatly died just recently and if I had a gripe about it?...I'd say I wish it had a little bit more drive to it. Now I havent used it in a live situation yet...where levels are much higher but at the moment, that would be my only thing. I definately think this pedal is great and if you want a tone thats more yours, this'll get you closer..if not nail it.

Very simple to use. No bad sound

I waited awhile to submit this rewiew. I wanted to try it with both
guitars and with all 4 amplifiers. This is the best sounding Pedel
Overdrive I have ever used. It sounds like another gain channel on the
Amp. My equipment is a 1972 SG Standard, Deluxe Strat, Badcat Hotcat,
Badcat Mini with new Tonetubby speaker (excellent), Tweed Blues Jr.,
1980 Fender Twin Reverb.

It seems very well build. No problems.

No contact with MJM but GuitarX has been great.

I play blues, rock, country rock, some country. Played over 30 years.
My other Overdrive pedals. Ibanez 808 Keeley, Sparkledrive, Jacques
Tube Blower, Kindrick Buffelo Phuz.

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.

This is a Ibanez TS-808 clone. It has volume, tone and gain knobs and is laid out just like all Tubescreamers.

My effects are: MJM Ulysses wah, London Fuzz, Sixties-Vibe, Fulldrive 2, Octafuzz and a Fat Boost. This is the perfect TS-808 clone with true-bypass and even a bit more available gain. It is has a wonderful bass response as well as bit more tranparency with the classic Tubescreamer midrange character to cut through. You gotta love this thing!! I can get all kinds of great tones from the unit and for Blues, it is does the job in spades. If you are looking for a great overdriven tone, the Blues Devil is the one without question! Michael uses the JRC4558 chip that does sound best in Tubesreamers/clones. It has a nice smooth creamy tone with a bit of grit!! I play mostly Strats through Fender amps and it sounds great. I even tried this through some Marshalls and it was equally impressive. The tone is clean and clear with a perfect amount of gain and responds to my picking dynamics with flying colors!!!

This unit is built very tough and can stand abuse without any problems. I've had the Blues Devil for a while and it has traveled with me all over the place. I gig with it all the time and still is ticking without any problems. Any problems? Call or e-mail Michael and he will make sure it's taken care of without any fuss.

Michael Milcetic is the best in the business my friends. You will never find anyone better if you tried! He replies to all e-mails and is a joy to talk with on the phone. He is proud of his products and makes sure that you are. There is no issues with this man, he is as straight forward as they come and will go leaps and bounds to make you one satisfied customer. I know I am!!! He is extremely knowledgeable and will try his best to answer any of your questions without any BS. IMHO he is #1, a true class act. There is no one who can touch this man and his products.

I play Blues and Hendrix type stuff. The Blues Devil fits like a glove in all styles. It is an all around winner. I've been playing for 23 years and being a Tubescreamer man, the Blues Devil was very welcomed addition to my collection and setup.

My Blues Devil Mine is in a Gold "Hammerite" Hammond case. What a looker!! If it were lost or stolen I would die. I would immediately have Michael make me another. All you you can do is just imagine a TS-808 with more "mojo". The Blues Devil is superb!! It helps me to kick it up a notch when soloing. This is my favorite Tubescreamer/clone period. It does it all and more. Great tone!!!!!!!!!!!! Go buy one, even sight unseen and it will still blow you away. This is the one!!!

Laid out just like the Tube Screamer it mimics: volume, tone and gain knobs. They behave just like a Tube Screamer's too: the tone knob is very gradual as you turn it up then all of a sudden you get a big treble boost at the very end. What's up with that? I've found that to be the case on every Tube Screamer and TS clone I've tried.

True bypass switching. Mine is in a silver "Hammerite" Hammond-style case. Lettering is from one of those do-it-yourself label makers. Kinda cheep I guess but I like the basic look of these boutique pedals. Wiring inside is neat and tidy.

I didn't much feel inspired to write a review of this pedal cuz I'm not gung-ho about it but I thought it might be nice to toss a little cold water on all the hype this pedal gets.

It's a very nice, hand-built TS-808 with true bypass. And that's all it is. For the price, it's worth it, IMO. People pay about the same for an 808-modded TS-9 so the MJM isn't overpriced if you ask me.

I am not a fan of the midrangy, compressed, smooth tone that TS pedals put out. Some folks -- heck, most folks -- seem to love it. I've tried to love it. I've owned several TS clones over the last few years. I keep trying to like them but they're just not my thing. The pedal loves my little 6v6-powered Magnatone but doesn't work as well with my EL34-based amps and really doesn't like my EL84-based amp. I guess Tube Screamers prefer Fender amps and you could probably say the same thing about the Blues Devil.

Again, it's just not my thing. My ears prefer a more transparent, slightly grittier, chunckier tone. But that's me. This pedal is NOT transparent. I'm so sick of reading that about overdrive pedals. It definately adds some mids and compresses and smooths out your tone. You can't set it as just a clean boost. It changes your tone too much. Phew, okay, I've typed enough now.

Bottom line: if you like the tone of the TS808 this is a great pedal. True bypass, built like a tank and the guy behind MJM is supposedly super great when you need service. As for me, my quest for the perfect OD pedal continues...

No manual included--no manual needed

The Blues Devil has very articulated, transparent tonality. If you are tired of overdrive pedals that lose their punch or wash out when you kick them on, this is for you. I play Melancon custom electric guitars through a twin reverb (not vintage), Roland JC 55, a Line 6 POD or a Musicman powered Cordovox Leslie or a combination of these & I get NOTHING BUT TONE! IMHO I like it better than the TS-808 & it has somewhat wider parameter to dial in to your liking. Best I've heard--hands down! This pedal also has true bypass. I've been searching for years for a pedal like this.

It is all handmade, heavy duty steel case with chicken head knobs so you know right where it's set at a quick glance. I've had it a little over a month so I can't offer a valid reliability report.

Suppoer is in the form of email--usually within a few hours. Ive contacted Mike, the owner/builder several times prior to purchase. Haven't needed any customer support.

I play blues, jazz & a little rock. Been playing for @ 14 years. For blues & rock, I use no other effects--just the blues devil. I would buy another in a flash if lost or stolen. Check it out for yourself at <a href="http://w4.ca/v03v/mysitebyname.asp?username=mjmguitarfx"> MJM FX <a/>

Very easy to get a good sound out of. Drive, Tone, and Level controls. Battery opperated or DC. There is no manual,no need for one. If you do need one to figure this pedal out, I'd be happy to hit you over the head with a tack-hammer.

This is where things get fun. If you've ever been a huge fan of Stevie Ray Vaughan, when you plug this pedal in, you'll know what it's all about. It's got the exact circuit that a TS-808 Tubescreamer has except probably some nicer parts in fact...and it's all handwired. I currently have a Blues Pearl Bluesmaster but will be selling that amp next summer and plan on getting a Komet 60W head(the holy grail of guitar amps). The Bluesmaster is a killer boutique amp though and it sounds great with the Blues Devil. I also use a strat with Seymour Duncan antiquity's. I sold a fulldrive II to get this baby and I'm glad I did. The fulldrive was supposed to be very transparent, but I find the Blues Devil to really retain the characteristics of your pickup better. You can hear those inbetween positions well and it's very distinctive which is a big difference between this and the fulldrive. Not to mention that the tone in this pedal is just all around better. It's grittier but can get very smooth. If you turn the level up, it's got that ability to make it so you can hear every note in the chord your playing. The tone control is effective, it can get very bright when turned up all the way but I like to keep it around 12 o clock. The drive sounds good anywhere in my opinion. If you want more of a "texas flood" tone, just turn the drive down, if you want more of the Pride and Joy tones stick it around 11 o clock or 12. If you want tightrope, turn it up a little more to about 1 o clock. When playing single notes, it just makes your guitar sound like it's really smokin and on fire like stevie ray's guitar sounded. Of course I'm not stevie ray but you get the picture. Like in the description, there is a subtle swell to the notes when you strike them and thats very evident. Some people feel like the pedal takes away some bass, I disagree though, just adjust your amp and turn the tone down a tad and your just fine. There are too many unique tonal characteristics with this overdrive to downgrade it just for that. Overall, this is better than any other overdrive I've played or heard. It's pure texas tone in a tiny metal box. Tones of cutting power with it too. Brings your signal to life.

You can definently depend on this pedal. It's built very strong in a small little box. Doesn't take up any space really either. The switch is heavy duty true bypass switch. The Pot's in the pedal are massive and high quality. The jacks are nice. I'd gig without a backup anyday.

This is where people can't complain. Mike Milcetic probably is the best guy when dealing with customers. You won't find a nicer guy. I've delt with him previosly and bought a london fuzz from him and he was just so helpful. He'll give you tone tips, and talk guitars with you and he knows his stuff. He's not one of those people thats in a hurry to get off the line with you and get back to work or waits days to answer e-mails. He is very quick and thorough in his e-mail responses. As well as the tone and build quality of his effects, his customer service is top notch. More so than anyone else I know of. This Mike knows how to take care of his customers rather than the other Mike(yeah you all know who im talking about) but he really takes care of his customers when duty calls.

I'm a blues player. I dig everything about the pedal. Nothing more that I wish it had. Any questions about the pedal? E-mail me, I'll be sure to get back to you fast so I can brag about how I have one and you don't until you have yours. It's the greatest overdrive in the world though for that pure, fat, sizzling texas tone.

Easy to Use. Just like a tube screamer, accept a little more versatile since all three knobs sweep greater than a tube screamer (that's a good thing).

Sound is subjective. I thought it has a little different vibe than a TS9. It uses the same chip, but since it's made by hand and point to point wired, it's a little more punchy and less compressed than a Ts9. For some that's a good thing, but some people might like the Ts9 compression. I thought sound was good over all. I had a little problem getting the right balance between the treble and the drive.
In general, if you like tube screamers, this sounds bigger and punchier, but you will lose bottom end like you would with a Ts9. Now for one of the most important apsects (for me at least)...True bypass.
Some people say it doesn't matter; well if you are running a fuzz before your overdrive type pedal-it does matter! My fuzzes hated having a TS9 after them, but they had no problem with the Blues Devil.

I had a little grounding short circuiting problem at first. Mike told me how to fix it in a jiff.

Can I give him an 11? I've dealt with sooooo many manufactures. Some good, a few bad, but most have been great. He is simply the best of the great. He will not be satisfied, until you are. He will help get your pedal sounding the way you want it to. Returns email and telephone call quickly, politely, and with great knowledge. Outstanding. It simply doesn't get better.

I've owned a ton of pedals. As far as vibe and feel goes, this pedal is very cool. It's got a slightly different feel from any other pedal I've got. Overall, it's better than the TS9s (w/analog mike mod), maxon 808s, DOD 250 (original), jeckyl & hyde (not a pro piece). My prized original 808 is still my favorite when it comes to simply sitting down and wripping with my guitar, but in a live situation, this thing seems kick through the mix a little better(The Blues Devil is can be a little brighter), so it's pretty darn close (and costs a whole lot less - and did I mention the True Bypass!)

Basic OD pedal with 3 knobs: level, tone, and drive. Very straight forward to use.

Guitars: '52 Telecast RI, '89 Strat Plus w/ Van Zandt Vintage/Blues PUs, '97 Les Paul Classic w/ Tom Holmes PUs.
Amps: Blues Jr. and Dr. Z Carmen Ghia.
I played my strat w/ Van Zandt PUs through the Dr. Z Carmen Ghia and I truly felt like I was finally hearing MY tone. Essentially, I feel like I'm hearing a meatier version of my guitar and amp together. I find when the volume on my amp is high, the effect is somewhat glassy -- highlighting my tone and bringing it forward. When the amp volume is low (1 1/2), the pedal seems to push the tubes -- a much creamier sound. It really brings out my Van Zandts, I'm gettin' some serious Texas tone.
All 3 knobs are fairly sensitive allowing for a variety of tones -- I'm still discovering some.
With all of my guitars, the Blues Devil serves to really bring forth the best in your guitar and amp and your own hands. The pedal can deliver some pretty heavy distortion, but in all cases, it is very, very smooth and gradual. An absolute perfect complement to your set-up if you want to add some gain, but not lose a trace of your personal sound and tone.

My pedal, 100% hand-made, is built very tough. I opened it up upon arrival and the components look very clean and tidy. The knobs are tight and sturdy. The pedal is offerd in gold or silver.

Michael Milcetic was great. He answered numerous e-mails and the pedal was promptly shipped w/ a tracking number. Package arrived from Canada packed very well.

If you're into blues, this pedal is delivers awesome and smooth overdrive. Obviously it nails SRV, but I'm finding much more than that. What amazes me is the smoothness -- changes in tone are gradual and natural. Compared to what you would spend for an original TS-808 this is a steal. And when you consider it is all hand-made, it beats the pants off a modded Tubescreamer as well. If you want smooth OD, this is it!

So eays it's insane. There's three nobs, input jack and an out put jack. Once you have figured out how to dial in your tones you're all set

This is where this thing really takes off. The tone is completly transparent so it's just your guitar and your amp. I guess some people may compare this to a "glassy" tone. I use it for my Super Reverb "blackfaced" and JCM 800 (w/6l6's) and they sound like my amp has just been turned up to 11. The Super especially takes to this really well seeing as my speakers need replacing and can't handle the amp dimed but with a turn of the knob I can get that sound at digestible amp volumes. Another great experiment is to turn the volume on 1 for super clean sound and than let the blues devil warm up the tubes. Sounds exactly like it does wide open

I have only changed the battery once and the clip was faulty and seeing as this was a mod of an old TS 9 the on/off switch is a bit dirty and has trouble making contact. Nothing contact cleaner can't handle.

Mike has been extremly great with me. He is really back logged but after I told him I needed the pedals for an upcoming tour he put in double time to get my stuff ready. I had passed on his # to friend of mine who was blown away by my pedal and has been really nice to him as well. Seeing as I also live in Montreal he told me just to bring the pedal by if something goes wrong with it. Can't go wrong with that. He also is lightning fast about returning emails and has been quite helpful explaining to me the difference between germanium and silicone

I play punk rock/hard rock as well as blues outside of my band and this pedal just nails what I want in both categories. I have been playing a long time and play a '65 Jazzmaster, '64 jazzmaster with Seymour Duncans and Les Paul w/ seymour duncans. If it were stolen I would definetly get another one.What makes this pedal so good is that it sounds like your guitar and your amp. As compared to most 808 mods offered this also gives you more gain if your want it as well as featuring the all important true bypass so I would assume it's better than an 808. Mike seemed really proud of it when he gave it to me and said "You're going to die when you hear this" and when I asked him if it sounds like an 808 he said "better" and he was right. If I thought this pedal sucked I would tell you and I am not personal friends with Mike or was offered any free stuff. This is just a really great overdrive pedal that is easy on the pocket book.

This thing is incredibly easy to use. It has 3 knobs - tone, level and drive. There is no manual, but Mike, the owner of the company who hand builds these things himself, im sure would be glad to help you with any questions regaurding this pedal.

Let me start off by saying this is the best overdrive I have ever plugged in to! It is clean, but not to clean. It is smooth, but still a little gritty sounding just like the original Ibanez Tubescreamers. It is really small too, so if your using a pedal board, this will fit real easy. I am able to get the best blues tone I have ever been able to achieve before. I use a Fender Custom Shop
'60 Relic strat with Van Zandt pickups through a Rivera Quiana studio amp. My other effects consist of a Klon Centaur, Fulltone Fulldrive 2 (which is no longer my favorite pedal anymore), Dunlop Univibe and a Fulltone Clyde Wah. If your one of those many guitarists who are in the search of "that SRV tone" look no further. This is the perfect pedal for that classic TS808 tubescreamer tone. I have compared this pedal to many other overdrive pedals including a TS9, a TS9 modded to an 808, a TS808 and a Fulldrive. I never really liked the TS9's, they color your sound too much and I think at times they are very sheer. The TS9 modded to an 808 seemed to have the same problems still, except a little warmer. The TS808 is a good pedal, but why pay 400 bucks for some beat up pedal that is 20 years old? The MJM actually sounded fatter, they use higher quality pots and has the same exact chip and components as the TS808. These pedals are true bypass so they dont kill your tone when your turn them off either.
that really enhance the tone compared to all those japanese made pedals. This pedal also has more gain then the Tubescreamers, so you can really get an over the top sound. Stevie used 2 tubescreamers - TS808 and a TS9 for soloing. I can nail all the tones of my favorite guitarists - Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Chris Duarte.
This is the perfect pedal if you play Texas blues or Blues-rock.

I can depend on this pedal. I havent gigged with it yet, but I plan on bringing it to my next gig. It is very sturdy looking and it is handbuilt. What more could you ask for? I would have no problem using this pedal and not gigging with a backup.

Mike Milcetic is the coolest guy that I have ever worked with. He is always friendly and he responds to emails very fast and informative as well. If you are unhappy with your pedal, Mike will even let you return it for your money back!

I love this pedal and cant say enough good things about it. Normaly I am a lot more critical when it comes to grading pedals, but I have never come across the perfect overdrive pedal until now. Leave the 400 dollar TS808's for the collectors. This pedal is the real deal except with more gain and true bypass. The parts are all high quality and it uses the same chip as the 808 as I already stated above. This pedal is only 159 bucks too! The perfect Blues overdrive pedal!

Drive, Level, Tone. Doesn't get any simpler than that

Amazing tone. Never had a TS808, but I DO have a Fulldrive 2, TS10 (with the 808 chip -4555JC or something like that), Vox Valvetone, DS-1, TS9 Reissue. There is a "class" to this little box that is almost hard to describe. It seems less compressed than most OD boxes, retaining the natural tone of your amplifier. Sounds great with my JCM800, Mesa DC-5, Silverface Twin, Garnet Pro - but absolutely AMAZING with my 59 Bassman REissue.

Beats the TS9 re-issue hands down. Vox is thin in comparison, TS10 noisy. The only real competition in my arsenal is the Fulldrive 2.

The Fulldrive is also a killer pedal. I can't say one is better than the other - just different. Here is where personal taste comes in...
THe Blues Devil seems smoother than the Fulldrive, especially sweet with single coils - they retain their ring without buzzing or becoming annoying. The Fulldrive seems to "colour" the sound more - making it ballsier. My Bassman with the Fulldrive sounds very aggresive (awesome), more "blues balls" with the Blues Devil (also awesome). I also find the neck humbucker to be less flatulent on my Les Paul with the Blues Devil.

I find my foot reaching over more and more for the Blues Devil....

Only had it for a couple of weeks but Mike Milcetic makes these by hand using quality components. This ain't the TS9 factory in some third world slave camp.

What an absolutely great guy to deal with. Talked to him for about 1/2 hour one day. Explained everything in great detail. As a fellow Canadian, I have to raise a flag and say that I am proud that such a great product is coming out of Canada. His web site is very rudimentary by todays standards - if had sound bites he could sell truckloads of these. His web page is http://w4.ca/v03v/mysitebyname.asp?username=mjmguitarfx
email is rockcity2000_99@yahoo.com

He responds to all of my emails promptly.

Just an example of customer service:

I am also trying out another pedal of his called Sixties Vibe. Didn't sound quite right to me. Get this - he offers to send me another one WHILE I STILL HAVE THE CURRENT ONE - so I can test them side by side - just to determine whether or not the pedal I currently have is defective or not. If I don't like either, he will refund my money. No BS, no bad attitude - genuine concern. It's nice to see a guy who is smart enough to realize a happy customer is his best advertisement.

Anybody looking for old TS808's, or any other OD - should check this unit out. Wow is the only word to describe. You really feel like you are graduating from kid's gear when you use products of this caliber.

Top notch guy, top notch product, top notch support.

WELL...IT IS VERY SIMPLE TO USE..WITH A LITTLE TWEAKING YOU CAN FASHION THE SOUND YOU LIKE...3 CONTROLS FOR VOLUME,TONE AND DRIVE.
RUNS ON A STANDARD 9 VOLT BATTERY. IT IS AN OVERDRIVE UNIT DESIGNED TO EMULATE A TS-808 OR AT BEST A VERY GOOD TS-9.
FASHION YOUR SOUND TO YOUR LIKING...3 CONTROLS..VOLUME,DRIVE AND TONE.

I USE EITHER ENGLISH OR AMERICAN AMPS..(FENDER,MARSHALL,SELMER)
THROUGH A LES PAUL STANDARD OR A TELECASTER.I AM MINIMAL WHEN IT COMES TO EFFECTS(ALTHOUGH I ENJOY HAVING QUITE A FEW FOR RECORDING
PURPOSES.) I USE A VERY OLD VOX WAH-WAH.A VERY OLD VALVE ECHOPLEX
AND A ROTOVERB(VERY ANCIENT LESLIE SIMULATOR). THIS IS A WONDERFUL LITTLE BOX..IT NAILS THE TS-808 DOWN TO A LINE..I SAY THIS BECAUSE ME
AND A COUPLE OF FRIENDS DID TEST COMPARISONS WITH AN OLD TS-808,A
A TS-9 AND EVEN A TS-10(A FAVORITE OF MINE)..AND THIS IS NO HYPE..THIS LITTLE BOX NAILED ALL 3 OF THEM.I EVEN LIKED THE BLUES DEVIL A BIT BETTER THAN THE TS-808..IT COMPRESSES MORE NATURALLY WHICH
I LIKE..ALSO IT HAS A BIT MORE GAIN THAN THE TS-808..THUS NAILING A VERY GOOD SOUNDING TS-10. THIS IS A HANDMADE UNIT..VERY COMPACT AND
VERY COOL LOOKING.VERY USEABLE AND VERY MUSICAL.

WHEN I FIRST GOT IT..I HAD TO TWEAK THE INPUT JACK A BIT, IT WAS A BIT LOOSE..OTHER THAN THAT IT WAS PRESTO.I USE THIS A LOT NOW IN MY LIVE SETTING. IT ADDS A SPARK OF OVERDRIVE TO ANY AMP..AND IT WORKS GREAT WITH AMERICAN AND ENGLISH AMPS. NO NEED TO SPEND 500 DOLLARS ON A TS-808....NOT FOR ME, I KNOW A GOOD OVERDRIVE WHEN I HEAR ONE..AND MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE ALWAYS PREFFERED THE NATURAL SOUND OF A VALVE AMP BEING PUSHED...BUT THIS LITTLE DEVIL IS A SWEET LITTLE GADGET.

MICHAEL MILCETIC IS A GREAT GUY,VERY HELPFUL AND VERY KNOWLEDGABLE OF HIS CRAFT..HE IS CANADIAN AND HE IS GETTING STARTED IN THE PEDAL MAKING BUSINESS...IN MY OPINION HE IS VERY GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES. AND THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE HE LOVES MUSIC AND THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SOUND. MY BEST OF LUCK TO HIM,I THINK HE WILL DO VERY WELL.

FOR THAT BLUES SOUND AND EVEN ROCK,THE BLUES DEVIL IS ABOUT ONE OF THE BEST OVERDRIVE UNITS OUT THERE. I AM VERY SURE OF THAT.WHY SPEND
$500 DOLLARS ON A TS-808,WHEN YOU CAN SPEND ONE THIRD AND EVEN GET A MORE USEABLE SOUND.THAT IS JUST MY OPINION.I HAVE HEARD MANY OVERDRIVES AND I KNOW THE ONES THAT ARE USEABLE AND THE ONES THAT ARE
NOT...WELL,THIS IS USEABLE..IT IS A PLAYERS TOOL NOT A COLLECTORS PIECE. THE BEST 808 CLONE OUT THERE AND MORE. PERIOD.