Maxon OD-808 Reissue

Very easy to use. The manual had some useful setting suggestions. Dials just like a TS-808.

I lost my TS-808 (if you have it give it back). I was looking for a replacement and don't really like the TS-9. The OD808 sounds a great deal like my old reliable TS-808. The tone fully counter clockwise sounds better to me on the OD808 than my TS-808 did (less muffled), fully clockwise the OD808 is a little too tinny (like tin) but dialed back slightly it sounds just like my TS-808 did fully clockwise. I'm playing a Tele Deluxe through a GK 250ML and with the OD808 settings right I can get a nice barky overdriven Champ sound (Great on a SS amp). I like it. Wet with a little reverb it is quite nice. The best part is it still sounds like a Tele Deluxe. (I was using a Rat since I lost my Tube Screamer and it makes everything sound like anything played into a Rat.) Hats off, nice replication of the TS-808 sound. Its a 10 if your goal is to have something that works like a TS-808.

Don't know yet. I'm pretty nice to my gear so it may not be a problem, but the switch is a little lightweight, and the box is thinner than the original TS-808.

Haven't needed them, but they did do nice documentatrion.

I like to play R&B and Blues. The tones I can get out of this box are a great match. I started playing 25 years ago and took a 15 year break until recently. I play a Tele Deluxe and a Strat type that I built. If it were lost or stolen I would replace it with the same. If I had my TS-808 I would sell it for many dollars and keep the OD808 as I see them as functionally equivalent. There is nothing I wish it had it is a complete functional replication to my ear (others may disagree, beware their motives. When I started playing, any guitar built in the 70s was crap and a TS-808 was a cheapy pedal, you had to get the old stuff for it to be any good, now they are all 'vintage' and collectable). . . oh wait I wish it had a slanted face and a rectangular button, it was 25 years ond and that someone would give me $500.00 for it; then it would be perfect.

Having graduated from kindergarten 14 years ago, this pedal gave me no trouble. In fact, even when I was 5 I could've figured this pedal out. If you still have trouble with finger painting or "staying within the lines", I would not recommend od-808 re.

In my quest to sound/be like Trey Anastasio, I use the following:
PRS CE22 w/ dragon 2's > morley bad horsie wah > ds-1 distortion (dont laugh. it is cheap and compliments the maxon well) > MAXON 0D-808 RE > MXR dynacomp > Boomerang > fender m80 1x12 combo mic'd to a fender acoustisonic stereo amp. Yeah sounds odd in writing, but sounds oh so good live. In fact ever since I got the pedal, I have gotten many compliments on my tone. This pedal is an instant TREY or CARLOS

Given the amount of jaws that drop on the floor when my tone shines through I would have to give it a ten. Yeah it is pricey. Hey, im poor and in collage...what's your excuse? I believe that with the Maxon od-808 re and a little boss ds-1 for lil' extra boost is great for the phish or santana stuff. Yes I would buy one again.

Three knobs: Overdrive, Balance (volume) and Tone on a puke green MXR like stomp box. It's as simple as it gets. My stock OD808 has that mysterious magical chip that seems to start that "mine is better than yours thing".
Very easy to use. Plug in and play yer geetar.

The OD808 is a mild overdrive stomp box that gives you a pleasant kick in the ass tone. I could hear all those SRV clones using this but there's more than one vibe here. If you're a Joe Walsh/Eagles fan, a Charlie Sexton, David Gilmour, Billy Gibbons or Rory Gallagher admirer, this is your pedal. Nothing will give you their exact sound, but if your phrasing is like these guys, you'll love the OD808.
Strats or Teles seem to sound best with it. My guitars identity is not colored too much. It's not entirely as "transparent" as some may say but that's a subjective view.
With my single coil guitars through my 50 watt Marshall plexi halfstack, the OD808 allows me to have the bite and tone of my guitar heroes. It sounds especially good with my Prescription Vibe Unit for that swirlly Ernie Isley "Who's that Lady" chops.

No problems.
I've only had it for a month.
Seems tough enough to step on.

Have no idea.

I've been playing for over 30 years and have heard and seen just about all of these vintage toys and remakes. The Maxon OD808 has a more defined attack and tone than my Ibanez UE400 (TS9 tube screamer) multi effects rack piece. You definately know when it's on but you can play with it on all night. Very pleasant tone. Not that ice pick or breaking glass artifical sound.
I have an early version Bixonic Expandora; MXR block letter Distortion+ (not the Dunlop one); Dano Daddy-O; Boss Blues Driver;Fulltone 69 & 70 pedals; Matchless Hot Box (THEEEEE BEST)that I use in different playing situations.
My top 3 picks in my collection are: Hot Box, Expandora and Maxon OD808. A very good choice for just a bit of extra juice.

Nothing difficult about three knobs: Overdrive, Tone and Balance. Maxon's manual provides five suggested settings and thoroughly explains the pedal's features. That said, a manual is not actually necessary. Bonus point for lack of stilted, sometimes bemusing but always amusing "Japlish" often found in other Japanese-made pedal manuals.

I use these pedals with Killer KG-Prime guitars, vintage Marshall and Park amps, Mesa Recto 4x12s, Lee Jackson preamps and a variety of rack processors.

I actually have two OD808RIs - the Japanese domestic version and the American export version which chronologically followed later. Inspection of the circuit board reveals notable differences: Four capacitors are changed in value, one capacitor and one resistor are eliminated on the American version. The Japanese version utilizes a JRC1458D chip while the American version packs the mystical-voodoo JRC4558D chip under its hood.

Resistors are tiny eighth-watt carbon film types and capacitors are equally small metal films or electrolytics depending on capcitance value. One tone cap is a tantalum cap.

It would seem that Maxon changed the circuit to respond to demands from the American market. This reflects what I believe is an essential difference as to what the average Japanese and American guitarist expects from an overdrive pedal. In Japan, Hard Rock and Metal still have large followings. The Japanese version has a tight focused tone with a slight mid-boost around 900Hz or so and a slight bass roll-off. I find the Japanese version extremely useful for a bright, yet smooth lead tone that really cuts through. It would seem that the Japanese version's intention is to compliment and punch up an already-overdriven HR/HM rhythm tone.

American guitarists by contrast, seem to prefer a pedal with a complete lack of coloration and it certainly seems that Maxon has addressed this issue well. The American version is the finest exponent of a non-coloring overdrive pedal I've had the opportunity to play. It happily passes up my benchmark overdrive pedal, a very sweet-sounding '83 TS9 with the TS808 mod.

I tend to use these pedals to give me a slight lead boost - neither pedal has its OVERDRIVE control turned past 1:00. Both pedals dish up extraordinarily smooth and responsive lead tones with out reducing pick attack to mush. Dynamics are preserved well. Very natural-sounding. Neither feature that harsh mid spike that mars the TS9.

Switching is accomplished by a MXR-style stompswitch. Some criticism has been leveled that the OD808 uses a SPDT switch. However, this switch does not mechanically switch the signal input like say, old E-H pedals, but instead switches FET switching ala the TS9. Anyone familiar with the fragile computer-type switches on 9-series Ibanez pedals going south on ya should actually appreciate a sturdy stompswitch for FET switching.

Coloration from FETs? Not enough for me to notice and not really a consideration anyway: Both pedals are mounted on a sliding rack shelf and controlled and switched in and out of the audio path with a Rocktron Patchmate - hence true bypass.

As an aside, I've tried varying the supply voltage from an ADA Batt-Man - rotating the voltage from 5.5 to 9.2 volts reveals very little of a difference, but to be fair, neither do any of my other overdrives and distortions sound much different either. Not worth bothering with, IMHO.

Reliability? Some might be concerned about the stompswitch, that's understandable. Still seems pretty solid. As I've mentioned, they're mounted in a rack, so they won't go under the boot and the conditions you subject the pedal to may be very different.

Wave-soldering of components and hand soldering of wires are both employed in the manufacture of the pedal. It would seem sufficient solder has been deposited to the AC input to withstand mechanical stress - always a problem with pedals that have a very thin coat of solder from the wave-soldering process.

Customer support is A+++. I've had some questions concerning Maxon products, emailed the company in Japan and received very prompt, friendly and informative replies in fluent English. These guys want your business and treat everyone like a rock star.

I've been playing for over twenty years and I find both pedals eminently suitable to the styles of music I play - anything from Vinnie Moore sweeps to Trower-ish heavy blues-rock to prog metal to even stuff like Southern Rock.

As I've mentioned, my previous benchmark pedal - an '83 TS9 w/TS808 mod has been surpassed by the OD808 American version. Quite an accomplishment when I consider that TS9RIs w/TS808 mod never sounded quite as good as the '83. Why the difference? Component aging? Different manufacture of resistors and capacitors? Who knows?

All I know is that Maxon has pulled it off. This is what I was looking for.

A first glance, the price of the OD808 might seem a little high - one online retailer lists it for $134.95. When compared to the Ibanez TS9RI that can be found new some places for $99.00, it might not seem like such a bargain until one considers the cost of modifying a TS9RI and all the attendant hassles of shipping, etc. The OD808 American version comes right out of the box with the JRC4558D chip and is ready to blast.

I did try others in my endless pursuit of the ultimate overdrive including those that make as their claim, "has the TS808 circuit in it!" So why not go right to the source?

Also, when compared to boutique pedals offered by lone-man operations assembling TS808 clones in basements and garages and asking $200, $300 and even more for handpainted pedals with Radio Shack parts, the OD808 is a downright bargain. Hey, Maxon ARE the guys that came up with the TS808! And while Maxon's name might not yet have the cachet of some of the Emperor's New Clothes glitterati pedals out there, listen with your ears and your wallet. I was very pleasantly surprised and I think you will be too.

As has been said before, this is pretty easy to use (intuitive)...The footswitch is easier to nail on the fly than the TS-9's, I think. It doesn't take long to find a setting I like.

Having A-B'd this pedal against numerous distortion/overdrives, it won me over. I couldn't try it one-on-one with an original 808, but against much of the competition ( such as Hot Cake, Jekyll and Hyde, etc.) it was clearly more subtle, and thus more usable as an overdrive. I pair it up with a ProCo Rat if I want to go high-gain. This pedal has transparency, and also that wet character. The edges are rounded off (I agree that the tone knob needs to be tweaked somewhat to get this), and the other pedals I tried against this one seemd too gaudy. This one seems natural, like you're just cranking it!

The footswitch is pretty positive, although in truth, the old MXR pedals had better ones along the same lines. Maxon should look into this. The metal casing has the same feel as old MXR pedals - really good!

Haven't had to deal with them yet...Being as they are in Japan, I'm really hoping their distributor is around if I need them.

My signal chain is as follows: '72 Fender Strat>Budda Wah>Maxon OD808 reissue>ProCo Vintage Rat>EH Deluxe Memory Man Reissue>'62 Fender Bandmaster with 2X12 JBL's. My main sound is just the OD808 and the Memory Man delayed for some slapback. This gives me a very authentic blues tone, sort of Peter Green-like, sort of ballsy. Try this pedal out...definitely!

Just like the Ibanez tube screamers, the same three knobs, tone, overdrive, volume. Manual comes with it buts its written in Japanese. Its easy to get a good sound if you have good ears.

It sound like any other maxon made tube screamer, remember maxon makes Ibanez's tubescreamers. But on this one, there is one thing different. The tone know has a different output than all the other tubescreamers. Its set by the factory to have more treble than normal. So, when I a/b them with my tubescreamers, I came up with the conclusion that the OD808 reissue tone knob needs to be at the 8 oclock position to sound like a TS808(tone knob at 12 oclock). Thats the only big difference. More treble control on the OD808. I used a 1960 strat with fender vintage amps. And it sound alright. But I am spoiled with either a original OD808 or TS808. I just know that the OD808 is a good overdrive pedal and it will never beat the original. The original sounds gooooood! These vintage TS808s and OD808s have a special wetness to its tone and quality that I could not find in any new pedal. And I don't think I will ever find a pedal that will beat it. There is a reason why TS and OD808s are going for $400. They sound better than any overdrive in the world period. Maybe in 20years this new OD808 reissue might get a decent sound or magic from the ageing process. Who knows?

built real nice. aluminuim box, light weight MXR box which is cool.

Maxon has there own web page. So its cool

I wouldn't buy another if it was stolen because I love my original Od808 and TS808s.

Three knobs=Overdrive,Tone&Balance. Couldn't get easier!

I'm using Custom Fender Strat into Vox Wah=Maxon OD808=Boss DS-1=Dunlop Univibe=Boss RRV 10 into a Pignose G-40v (ohhh,what a thick tone !) I can nail SRV to Hendriex&Trower with this set up.

Maxon pedals are the worlds best(they made pedals for Ibanez for years) Will last a life time.

Maxon has been great to me,answered all my questions&been very helpfull to me. Only problem is there in Japan only!

Ibanez has reissued the TS-808 it's called the Maxon OD808 Reissue.The only difference is that the JRC chip is the JRC I4580(Instead of the JRC 4558) It blows away the Ibanez TS-9 Reissue(crappy ass Toshiba chip) Screw all those $50 808 Mod to your TS-9,TS-10&TS-5! Get the real deal. By the way I've had all the DEALERS E-mailing wanting info on these Maxon OD808 wanting info !!!!Screw You Money Hungry Assholes!!!! (there only sold in Japan) If somebody wants ONE I'll hook you up. Watch out for those damn greedy DEALERS!!!!!!!(Dealers don't E-mail me)Fuck off!