My favourite 808.
I took in a Maxon OD808 (stock version) for a repair as it had been zapped with an inappropriate power supply. It was a really easy fix, but in testing the pedal prior to sending it back to the customer, I totally fell in love with it. I've owned a few TS9 units, plus modified repro units, so I wasn't planning on adding to my TS units at all.
I knew that Mr Tamura designed the 808, and that the original Ibanez units were Maxon products. The early reissue TS9 which I bought still bore a Maxon logo pcb. To be honest, I used to prefer the Ibanez TS9 until I tried the Maxon OD808. I don't like the Maxon aesthetically, but tonally it's superb. Not having the dopey TS9 foot switch is a huge plus, the OD808 has a regular DPDT.
I bought a stock OD808, plus the 40th anniversary OD808-40. The stock unit is great, but the OD808-40 is just a bit more special in my opinion. I love both units, but the stock version is 95% as great as the 808-40. With prices so ridiculously high for the early Maxon OD808s, the OD808-40 is a bargain by comparison.
I love Ibanez, but I'm definitely a Maxon convert. I'd love to buy an early 80s one, but they're too expensive to justify. This stuff is made to be played after all.
There's always a new 'must have' overdrive being hyped on YouTube and forums month after month, but the little green pedals have been 'go to' units for 40 years. They're never going to be outdated, and they're never going to need the internet hype machine.
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