• Account
  • View Shopping Cart

Menu Search View Shopping Cart Call Us

Maxon OD-808 Pedal  From Maxon

Overdrive Pedal

Maxon Effects Pedals

Available for Special Order

See something you like? This item is gone, but not forever. It can be special ordered, and even customized!

We can get it fast!

Because of our special relationship with Maxon we can get this as fast, or faster than anyone in the industry. In some cases, we even have preferred build slots we can offer you.

Want to know when one lands?

Notify Me

Want to discuss a special order?

Manufacturer's Description from Maxon

Originally released in 1979, the OD808 was one of the first tube-amp overdrive simulators to hit the market. Its smooth, creamy crunch tone caught on quickly, and helped to launch a long line of predecessors as well as imitators. Today, the OD808 design is without a doubt the most used, most imitated and most lauded overdrive circuit of all time. The reason for this is simple ? tone. Simply put, the OD808 provides the natural, mild overdrive of a tube amp without sacrificing your guitar's original tone. In addition, it can be used as a clean booster to provide increased gain without compromising the sound of your amplifier.

The secret behind the legendary "808 tone" lies in the amplifier section of its circuit. Rather than having an amplifier stage followed by a clipping stage, the OD808 uses a signal-distorting diode (Panasonic #MA150) that is located in the amplifier stage's negative feedback loop (which also contains the JRC4558 IC chip). Therefore, the OD808 distorts signal in the amplifier circuit itself which yields a smoother, milder, more natural sounding distortion than a separate clipping stage. This is also the reason that the IC type used in the circuit has such a large impact on the unit's tone. Maxon developed this unique design more than 20 years ago, and while it is commonplace nowadays, back then it was an industry first.

It should be noted that the Reissue Series OD808 uses different output resistors than the original version. After the unit's initial release it was discovered to have a high susceptibility to noise due to static electricity buildup. To improve performance, the positions of the output resistors on the reissue OD808 were reversed and their values increased in order to reduce noise levels. This circuit change has no audible affect on the sound of the unit, save for reducing the noise levels.

Whether it's used as an overdrive or a booster, the Maxon OD808 is the closest you can get to the classic sounds of 1970's rock guitar in a compact effect pedal

Maxon Effects Pedals

About Manufacturer

Since their beginning in the late 1960s, Maxon has built their reputation on a single concept quality. Early on our engineers realized that anything could be built faster and cheaper, but to build something better was the true mark of a master. Our relentless pursuit of perfection met many obstacles over the years, but like anyone committed to a cause, Maxon kept their sights focused on the ultimate goal to build the highest quality audio products possible. Our quest led us to many firsts in the industry the first realistic tube-amp overdrive; the first compact analog delay; the first multi-effect unit; the first programmable effect the list goes on. And while many companies have "borrowed" these groundbreaking design concepts over the years, few have been able to match Maxon's ingenuity, determination and longevity on their own. Today, after nearly 25 years as an OEM supplier to some of the music industry's largest companies, Maxon is once again offering our own brand of products to the US marketplace. We've made available detailed information on Maxon's line of analog effect units including technical specs, audio demos, user comments, and design secrets that have until now remained classified. We hope you gain as much enjoyment from studying this information as we did in compiling it! Thirty years in, Maxon has their sight set on the same goal to build the finest quality audio products possible, always. Maxon still effecting generations.