NPD: Boss ODB-3 Overdrive

[bassist_lewis]

I bought this pedal for £25 from a friend who doesn't play much bass anymore, and honestly wasn't expecting much (I have some prejudices against the mass produced pedals). BUT I plugged it in this evening and holy s**t, this overdrive sounds so good! Its got basic bass/treble EQ, mix, level and gain. With everything at 12 it's a bit aggressive but a very useable starting point. I found trimming the top end and putting the mix at 3 o'clock (towards dry) gave me a nice bit of grind while still feeling the sound of my bass.

I'd honestly put this up there with the Xotic BB Preamp and JHS Morning Glory as pretty transparent overdrive. I regret anything bad I ever thought or said about Boss.

[Doddy]

I get the prejudice against Boss. I felt like that for a while until I realised that a few of my favourite pedals are made by them. It's easy to get caught in the boutique pedal world, but Boss make quality pedals (and they are bomb proof). I love 'em.

[dudewheresmybass]

Boss certainly have their place. 

They have tried to be innovative, yet reliable and dependable.

I have quite a few Boss pedals that I love. I also have some that I honestly have a love / hate relationship with as well.

 

[paul_5]

I don’t really rate them for modulation effects, there are MUCH better phasers and choruses out there for similar money, but for guitar overdrives and distortions they’re exceptional for the money, and virtually indestructible.

[Doddy]

32 minutes ago, paul_5 said:

I don’t really rate them for modulation effects, there are MUCH better phasers and choruses out there for similar money, but for guitar overdrives and distortions they’re exceptional for the money, and virtually indestructible.

I don't mind their modulation pedals- I especially love the old BF-2 Flanger. 

[Lozz196]

5 minutes ago, Doddy said:

I don't mind their modulation pedals- I especially love the old BF-2 Flanger. 

A true classic

[Thunderbird]

I like boss pedals the only one I use now is the lmb-3 as an always on pedal 

I had the boss bass chorus pedal for a while but it didn't really work for me had the obd3 also and enjoyed that pedal 

[dudewheresmybass]

bf2, and ce5 are never far away along with the tu2 and oc2

[fretmeister]

Their BC-1X compressor is so good I sold my Cali76.

 

I've never tried that drive pedal though.

[garyt]

You can’t really go wrong with Boss gear, and £25 is exceptional value.   Darkglass Alpha Omicron and Duality eventually kicked my ODB-3 off my board, but it served me well for years, and I sold it for more than I paid for it.  

[MacDaddy]

I wonder how accurate Boss pedals on Boss multi fx are? I mean is the circuitry for the ODB-3 on my ME-50B exactly what's in the ODB-3 pedal?