Review – Guitar Effects World https://guitareffectsworld.com Comprehensive Guitar Effects Pedals Help Guides, Reviews, and Tutorials. Tue, 28 Mar 2023 01:16:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://guitareffectsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/intheblues_ico.ico Review – Guitar Effects World https://guitareffectsworld.com 32 32 Fulltone OCD-Ge Obsessive Compulsive Drive Pedal Review https://guitareffectsworld.com/fulltone-ocd-ge-pedal-review/ Wed, 02 Oct 2019 14:04:05 +0000 https://guitareffectsworld.com/?p=355 Read more]]> Fulltone OCD-Ge Obsessive Compulsive Drive Pedal Review

This is my full review of the Fulltone OCD-Ge dirt pedal.  This review will cover the standout benefits of the OCD-Ge and discuss the differences between this new version and the original. The original OCD is a classic and loved by many guitarists worldwide but the new OCD-Ge has some tricks up its sleeve.

Fulltone OCD Ge
Buy it on Sweetwater

New Old Stock Parts

Guitarists generally have a lust for vintage gear.  This is the case with vintage instruments or “New Old Stock” when it comes to effects. This “new” version of the OCD actually has new old stock germanium diodes.  Fulltone were lucky enough to score a cache of these old and usually expensive parts and put them to good use – in their pedals!

This new version of the OCD is a limited edition variation to the regular OCD. These hard to find Germanium diodes give the sense of a more organic tube-like feel.  Many people are commenting that the new version of the OCD feels like it has more “tube sag” than the prior version.

Another advantage of the new OCD is the enhanced single-note clarity and extended sustain.  Metallic Teal is the new white.  This limited-edition pedal features an eye-catching design that you’ll either like or won’t. I think it looks really cool.

 

Check out a video review of the Fulltone OCD-Ge

How does the OCD-Ge compare with the original Fulltone OCD?

The new OCD-Ge is loud, really loud! This will give you noticeably more volume than the original.  Another thing you might like or dislike is how it feels to play.  The consensus is, the new one feels like it has more “sag”.  This means it has a bit of a softer feel which is more reminiscent of the valve and tube amplifiers.

Many players note how the single-coil pickups interact with the pedal as having an almost octave note trailing the original note.  This effect gives your tone a very 3D effect in the live mix or when in a studio situation. This isn’t to say it’s adding a lower octave but if you’ve ever played a great amplifier, sometimes you hear a follow note on the note. If you haven’t heard this before, it’s hard to explain.

The clipping tones are noticeably softer on the OCD-Ge compared with the original.  One thing to take note of though, if you run the gain too high it will sound almost like it’s entering into fuzz territory.

 

My Review of the Fulltone OCD

Build Quality

Fulltone pedals are built like tanks.  I’ve owned and tested many Fulltone pedals over the years and none of them have experienced any issues. I gigged for a number of years with their Plimsoul pedal and it never had any issues.  The Fulltone OCD-Ge is also built extremely well.

 

A Buffer is a Good Thing

One of the most overlooked things in a signal chain is usually a signal buffer.  What this buffer does is bring back your top end that is lost with complex or long cable chains. The OCD-Ge includes a buffered bypass signal which allows no signal loss and increased sustain.

Many guitarists opt for a “true bypass” signal chain but blind tests have proved that buffered bypass signals are usually preferred to the listener.

 

Enhanced Dynamic Range

Another major update with the new Fulltone OCD is the JFET input section.  The Fulltone OCD-GE has loaded with a Class A discrete 2N5457 JFET input signal. The prior version of the OCD was rated at 330K and this new one is rated at 1 meg ohm. This upgrade will make a noticeable difference to the dynamic range and how the guitar feels and interacts with the pedal and amplifier.

 

Fulltone OCC-Ge Information

  • Limited Edition guitar overdrive pedal
  • Vintage-style germanium diodes and hard-clipping MOSFETs
  • A huge palette of available sounds
  • Switchable hi- and lo-peak gain settings
  • Redesigned output buffer that resists loading caused by pedals further in your chain
  • Updated Class A-configured JFET input section with higher input impedance for better dynamic response
  • Switchable Enhanced Bypass or True Bypass switching modes, with no pops or clicks in either mode

Tech Specs

  • Pedal Type: Overdrive
  • Analog/Digital: Analog
  • Inputs: 1 x 1/4″ (instrument)
  • Outputs: 1 x 1/4″
  • Power Source: 9-18V DC power supply (sold separately)
  • Manufacturer Part Number: CS-OCD-Ge

My Final Thoughts and Review of the Fulltone OCD-Ge Drive Pedal

There’s much to like about this new “old” version of the Fulltone OCD.  If you already have an OCD and it’s your main pedal it might be worth considering.  If you enjoy your original OCD and it’s not quite right, then I would give this new one a miss.  Lastly, if you don’t yet own an OCD and wondering if you should get this new one over the old one my answer is – Go for it!

The OCD is more like a main pedal for rhythm or straight-up lead guitar parts. It won’t work great as a clean boost in my experience.  If you want a transparent overdrive, check out my article for the best Klon Centaur pedals. The Klon will give a better clean boost than the OCD Ge. The OCD Ge, however, will sound way better as an always-on pedal.

For the best deal on the OCD Ge, check out Sweetwater. These won’t last long, given they are limited edition pedals only!

]]> Are Caline Effects Pedals Worth It? https://guitareffectsworld.com/are-caline-effects-pedals-worth-it/ Fri, 17 May 2019 12:12:52 +0000 https://guitareffectsworld.com/?p=178 Read more]]> How Good are Caline Pedals REALLY?

Caline effects are a budget pedal company out of Shenzen, China. These pedals have positioned themselves alongside companies like Joyo and Tone City. These are great for beginners and gigging musicians. I am a gigging musician and have used their pedals live without issues.

Inexpensive Does Not Mean Poor Quality

Sure, there’s a lot of cheap crap still out there, but there are also a lot of great pedals. Caline makes an effort to improve too continually. I have been testing and reviewing their products for years now. Each new range of pedals is generally better than the last.

When I First Tried Caline Effects

Not every pedal in the range is a winner, but the overall push to improve is rare and appreciated. The first pedal range I had my hands on was in 2014; these pedals are still available today. Instead of discontinuing an entire line when a new one comes out, Caline adds to it.

My favorite Pedals from the Original Range of Caline Effects

Caline Pure Sky

The Pure Sky is based on the Timmy Pedal. It is very similar tone-wise, but it is not a straight-up clone. One difference is that tone control operates the “regular” way. This is a very transparent overdrive making it great for rhythm guitar tones.

Caline Orange Burst

The Caline Orange Burst is one of the best inexpensive overdrives ever. Based on the tones of the Xotic pedals, it’s great for rhythm or lead tones. In addition, the Orange burst has more gain than the Pure Sky.

Caline Blue Ocean Delay

A nice-sounding digital delay pedal. It will sound great going into the FX loop of your amplifier or even straight into the front end. This is a very simple delay pedal without a tap tempo. You just set it up, then forget about it.

Caline 10 Band EQ

Arguably the best value-for-money EQ pedal on the market. Sure, some are cheaper, but not with the Caline build quality. I had a chance to test this out several times, and it was a very popular pedal for guitarists on a budget. There aren’t many ten-band EQ pedals in this price range.

Are Caline Pedals Worth it?

Compared with other effects, pedals are around the same price! I believe that Caline makes more robust pedals than Electro-Harmonix.

My Current Range Favorites

Caline Pegasus

The Pegasus is based on the Klon Centaur overdrive pedal. This is built well, and I would take it over many other, more expensive Klon clones. I wrote about this in detail in a post about Klon Clones.

Caline Ghost Rain

You’ll love the Ghost Rain if you are a fan of Analog delay pedals. The tones are awesome, and I also love the graphics on the pedal. Pair this up with the Pegasus, and you have a formidable tone.

Caline Midlander

The Caline Midlander is a Tubescreamer clone. It sounds as good as the Joyo Vintage Overdrive or the Ibanez Tubescreamer. The Caline Midlander is not covering any new ground, but it sounds great. Everyone needs a good mid-bump overdrive in their arsenal.

Which Caline Pedals to Avoid

It’s not all rainbows and Unicorns. Caline did make a few pedals I suggest you avoid. Here is my guide to make it easy to determine which ones suck. If there’s a dial on the front that gives you seven different types of sounds, avoid it.

What about the Caline Multi-effects Pedals

Caline C-300 Multi-effects Pedal

Caline makes a fairly wide range of multi-effects pedals as well. My favorite is the Caline C-300 6 in 1 multi-effects unit. The Caline C-300 has just about everything any guitarist would need on a pedalboard, including:

  • Tuner
  • Overdrive
  • Boost
  • Distortion
  • Delay
  • Reverb

Caline Scuru S6 3 in 1

Buy it on Amazon

The Scuru 6, aka: “Back to the Wild” pedal, is pretty good for a 3 in 1. It’s not quite the powerhouse of a pedal that the C-300 is, but it will be perfect for those who don’t need all the effects in the larger pedal.

This pedal features Distortion, Chorus, and Delay. This is not the pedal you want for those who prefer an all-in-one with overdrive. However, it’s a great choice if you love higher gain tones mixed with delay and chorus.

Caline Pedal Accessories

The Caline CP-04 Power Supply

My favorite pedal accessories I use daily are their pedal power supplies. Currently, I have two of them. The Caline CP-04 is my favorite small-form power supply. I have had zero issues with any noise or hum with this power supply which is why I use it. Having various power outputs is also really handy.

One downside to the CP-04 is that it requires its power supply to power the unit. The CP-08 below only requires a kettle lead. Unfortunately, the power supply’s cable length is too short, so you’ll probably need an extension cable.

The Caline CP-04 features

  • Switch for LED lights: Bright blue LED for pedal board lighting&short circuit indicating if you turn it on, all lights will go on after the power is connected
  • Short-circuit protection for stable and safe power supply and a short circuit in one channel won’t affect other channels’ function
  • 10 isolated outputs: 4 x 9V 100mA,3 x 9V 300mA,1 x 9V 500mA,1 x 12V 300mA,1 *x 18V 100mA
  • This power supply is made of high-quality aluminum alloy, with inbuilt USB charging for iPhones, iPad, mobile phones, etc.
  • Package including a Caline CP-04 power supply, an adapter, ten cables, two connecting cables, and an English user manual

The Caline CP-08 Power Supply

Caline CP-08 Power Supply
Caline CP-08 Power Supply

Buy it on Amazon

Since it arrived, I’ve used this for 100% of my YouTube pedal videos. I love the dedicated isolated outputs and various voltages. The power supply is built like an absolute tank and is connected to the wall with a replaceable kettle power cable. Not having to worry about connecting an external power supply is a huge benefit of the Caline CP-08

the Caline CP-08 features

  • Isolated protection: Separate short-circuit protection and noise reduction. A short circuit in one channel won’t affect other channels’ function
  • 10 outputs: AC 110V – 230V input, DC 9v/ 12v/ 18v 100mA/300mA outputs. Power on multiple devices at the same time
  • Power Supply Dimensions: 9.6(L)x 2.7(W) x 1.8(H) inch, Power Supply Weight: 1.5kgs
  • LED lights for lighting and indicating, when an instantaneous over-current occurs, it will flicker and act as a warning
  • Convenient and space-saving, with an aluminum alloy shell, durable and stable

Pedalboards

Caline CP-105 Pedalboard

Caline Pedalboard
Caline makes several pedalboards, but there is only one I recommend. Whether or not you are using all Caline effects or not, this is a good deal. One of the great things about this board is that you get a free carry bag, and the Pedalboard is nice and light.
The Caline CP-105 is large enough to fit 8-10 regular-sized Caline effects pedals.
Caline CP-105 Pedalboard features
  • Caline CB-105 portable aluminum alloy guitar effects pedal board with a non-woven fabric bag, lightweight and durable
  • Dimension: Pedal board: 22(L)*12(W)*2.6(H) inch, Pedal board Bag: 23.6(L)*14.2(W)* 5.3(H) inch
  • Convenient for guitarists when going out and guitar playing, safely and securely transports your pedals from gig to gig.
  • This pedal board with the hollow design this foot pedal board makes the arrangement of wires convenient, and there is a universal mounting bracket to save space.
  • The pedalboards can support about ten effects simultaneously and suit any power supply volume, which is convenient and space-saving.

Which Pedalboard to Avoid

Caline also makes a few other pedalboards that you need to assemble. The one I have tried had issues staying secure. I would highly suggest skipping CB-106 and going for this one instead.

]]> How Good is the Mod Duo Mod Devices Pedal? https://guitareffectsworld.com/mod-duo-multi-effects-pedal/ Thu, 29 Dec 2016 02:25:17 +0000 http://guitareffectsworld.com/?p=83 Read more]]> Mod Devices Mod Duo Multi-Effects Pedal Review

The Mod Devices is a brand new approach to the multi-effects unit.  Saying “multi-effects” doesn’t really do this unit justice for several reasons.  The effects of this device cover more than just guitars.  The Mod Duo can be used for Bass, Violin, Acoustic Guitar, and also with Synth instruments.

The Mod Devices Mod Duo is a stereo and stereo out unit which can also be used in mono without any issues.  Not only does it have lots of great effects built in it can also be used as a loop station and a recording device.  For the home studio user, the device features amplifier emulation so tracking guitars with different parts and sounds has never been easier.mod-devices-mod-duo

Effects Quality

One thing for sure is the effects sound legit.  I did a blind test at home and I couldn’t tell the difference between an all-analog Maxon OD808 and the same overdrive effect within the Mod Duo.

Not only do the effects sound great on their own but they also sound great stacked together which is generally the Achilles heel of digital effects.

Computer Interface

The computer interface couldn’t be easier.  Just hook the Mod Duo to your computer via USB and all you have to do is load up any browser of your choice and enter a local IP address for the pedal and you’re in. (See the video below for more details of the user interface).

How the Mod Duo Works

As soon as you drag and drop in your favorite effects to the board you’re good to go.  They kept things simple by making this a dual (duo) pedal. You can have as many effects going at once as you like but you can only turn two on and off at a time via the buttons on the front of the Mod Duo.  This means you can essentially have any combination of effects you like with the ability to turn only a couple off.  This is perfect for people who don’t want a million buttons to click on (i.e Line 6).  The big difference between the Mod Duo and a lot of other “digital pedals” is the fact this actually sounds and feels great to play.  Once it is set up for your sound it’s literally set and forget.  This type of simplicity is often overlooked in a lot of digital effects units.

One more great thing to point out is that you can also tweak the pedal settings via the two round controls/buttons on the top of the unit.  If you want more drive or volume for example – a few clicks and you’re good to go.

The menu within the pedal took some time to get a handle on, it didn’t feel 100% intuitive compared with what I was expecting so for best results hook it up to your PC or MAC (or Linux) for the best results.

Do You Need Drivers?

You don’t need to download any drivers or software to make this work either.  The pedal is very much like a computer as you can store as many settings as you like and I believe it also has its own CPU to speed up the process of saving and modifying items in preview mode.

With all this in mind, you can also take the pedal online to download even more patches and software.  There are way more patches than I showed in this video available online so if this type of pedal is up your alley be sure to check it out.

Overall

The concept of the Mod Duo is really quite great.  Having open-source software allows it to be added to by a wider community in the future.  Functionality-wise, this will never replace a row of actual effects on the floor.  Like many digital products, what it does – it does pretty well.

]]> Greenchild G777 Dual Channel Overdrive Pedal Review https://guitareffectsworld.com/greenchild-g777-dual-channel-overdrive-pedal-review/ Thu, 20 Oct 2016 00:41:05 +0000 http://guitareffectsworld.com/?p=74 Read more]]> Greenchild G777 Dual Channel Overdrive Pedal Review

The G777 dual overdrive pedal is the latest offering from Mason from Greenchild.  This pedal is made in the USA and features two music channels that can be used on their own or together for extra drive, sustain, and gain.

Features

  • Two mechanically isolated channels
  • Transparent buffered input/output
  • Boosted power supply with 30 volts of dynamic headroom (+/- 15V)
  • Symmetrical soft clipping
  • Versatile tone stack
  • Unique gain and EQ topologies
  • Boost (Channel #2 ) with up to 18dB of non-distorted, post signal volume control

 

How does it Sound?

To my ear, the left side of the pedal sounds very Vox like in tonality.  It definitely has a class A sounding tone.  It’s not based precisely on a Vox by any means, but that’s the closest approximation of sound I can compare it with.  The right side is more of a boost/low gain overdrive that can pretty much do anything you like in terms of EQ thanks to the Mid control.  You can scoop out the mids or add them in for a fatter sound.  The Tilt control adds more or less top end, so, between the Tilt and Mid control, good things can happen.  The right side of the pedal is also pretty low gain in terms of dirt too, but it packs a punch.

The video above is a very detailed video of the pedal and how it sounds in all positions on the controls. The video below shows how simple it is to get a very usable sound with very little to no tweaking.

Who is this pedal for?

Players who are looking for a 2 in 1 that is different will appreciate this effects pedal. The Greenchild G777 is best suited to folks playing rock and roll or classic rock.  The reason why its best suited to those styles is the voicing of the left (red) channel.  Being it’s also very class A, it would also work great for country pickers who are looking for that class A sound matched with a Telecaster.  It will, of course, do blues, but I feel it would be more of a classic rock and country style pedal.

Being that the left side of the pedal has a lot of clarity means it will work great for both humbucker pickups as well as single coils.  This pedal is an excellent addition to the Greenchild line up, and it’s also made it into my top 5 pedals of 2016.  Great job, Greenchild!

]]> VS Audio Royal Flush Dual Overdrive Pedal Review https://guitareffectsworld.com/vs-audio-royal-flush-dual-overdrive-pedal-review/ Wed, 05 Oct 2016 07:23:24 +0000 http://guitareffectsworld.com/?p=59 Read more]]> VS Audio Royal Flush Dual Overdrive Pedal Review

I’ve had a chance to test hundreds of overdrive pedals over the years.  I’ve also owned and tested many dual overdrive pedals but many of them fall short for several reasons.  Either they are too complicated, they feature weird and unnecessary switching, they have a noise gate that doesn’t always work, or they simply don’t sound very good stacked.  I wonder sometimes if people put enough thought and real world testing goes into these dual pedals sometimes.

Take all the issues mentioned above and reverse it.  The VS Audio Royal Flush pedal is a dream for folks like me who believe simple is better.  The pedal features two channels which are in theory very similar VS Audio Royal Flush Overdrive Pedalto each other.  The right side of the pedal is where the “off-clean” tone lives.  It reminds me somewhat of a Tubescreamer without the high end roll off but with a lot less overdrive.  The right side makes it very, very easy to get the off-clean tone that you can’t get usually without cranking your tube amp to 8.

The Right channel kind of takes off where channel one ends.  You get a very similar tonality but with more gain.  If you’re like me then you’ll probably want to start with a great clean tone and have an overdrive pedal that doesn’t re-eq your amp.  You can literally get a great off-clean tone without having to modify the settings on your amp.  This is one thing I can’t say for a lot of other pedals on the market.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvmEXHdkXf4

The left channel then kicks your tone into overdrive (literally!). You’ll get more gain, more sustain, and overall a lead tone that is perfect for blues, classic rock, and also some modern rock sounds at higher gain settings.

The tone controls are musical without being shrill or weird.  Trust me, you’ll get a killer tone with everything set to even 12 O’Clock on the Royal Flush overdrive and then you can shape your top end with the tone controls depending if you use humbuckers or single coils.

Overall

This a very easy to use, versatile, and great sounding dual overdrive pedal.  The attention to detail in the gain staging, build quality, and overall design is amazing.  This pedal is in my top 5 favorite pedals of 2016 without question.

]]> Fire-Eye Development Bright-Eye Clean Boost / Buffer Pedal Review https://guitareffectsworld.com/fire-eye-development-bright-eye-clean-boost-buffer-pedal-review/ Sun, 31 Jul 2016 23:24:54 +0000 http://guitareffectsworld.com/?p=52 Read more]]> Fire-Eye Development Bright-Eye Clean Boost / Buffer Pedal Review

Do good things come in small packages?  In this particular case, the old saying is true.  The Bright-Eye clean boost pedal from Fire-Eye Development is an essential pedal for doing any number of good things to your sound depending on your mood or requirements.  There’s a few ways you can utilise the Bright-Eye:BRIGHT-EYE CLEAN BOOST/BUFFER

  • Before another drive or fuzz pedal as a gain boost
  • After another drive or fuzz pedal as a volume boost while retaining the tone
  • The two options toggle switch can change the vibe from straight clean boost to vintage clean boost
  • The buffer will fix any top end loss by running longer cables

Features:

  • Input: high-impedance, 1 million ohms, maximum of 2 volt peak-to-peak level.
  • Low-impedance output, 600 ohms, will drive all guitar pedals and amps effectively.
  • High-Quality Switchcraft 1/4-inch input, output and power jacks.
  • Boost button with volume control and boost light.
  • A light beam and photocell control boost to eliminate all button noise and popping.
  • A Mode switch selects flat or shaped frequency response.
  • Uses standard 9-volt pedal board, Boss-style, power: (center-negative, center-ground).
  • Internal filtering to reject radio-frequency interference from neon lights and cell phones.
  • Small Size: 1.25 x 1.5 x 3.75 inches.  Weight: 6 ounces.
  • Internal filtering to reject radio-frequency interference from neon lights and cell phones.
  • Small Size: 1.25 x 1.5 x 3.75 inches.  Weight: 6 ounces.

So far, I have really only tried two volume boost pedals that I would gig with and the bright eye would be one of them.  The other volume boost pedal I really love is the Maxon Dual Boost pedal which is also a two in one clean boost.  The benefit of the Bright-Eye is the small footprint of the pedal. I could fit it on my pedalboard no problems at all and for those interested, I am running it after my overdrives for a volume kick.  This is a great pedal from Fire-Eye Development.

Buy it here on Amazon

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