The best overdrive pedal can mean different things to different people. Some may be looking for a pedal that produces a classic sound, while others may want one that offers more modern sounds. No matter the purpose, there are a lot of great options on the market. Overdrive pedals can add a lot of character and thickness to your sound, as well as boost your signal for solos. They are often used as a lead booster, as well as to give your sound more of a vintage feel. There are many types of overdrive pedals available, each with its own unique sound. From classic blues tones to modern metal sounds, you can find the perfect overdrive pedal to suit your needs.
Best Overdrive Pedals
| Rank | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
1
 |
Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive
|
9. 7
|
|
2
 |
Electro-Harmonix Soul Food
|
9. 5
|
|
3
 |
Boss SD-1 Super
|
9. 1
|
|
4
 |
TC Electronic MojoMojo
|
8. 8
|
|
5
 |
Wampler Tumnus Deluxe
|
8. 6
|
|
6
 |
J Rockett Audio Designs Archer
|
8. 2
|
|
7
 |
Maxon OD808
|
8. 0
|
|
8
 |
Fulltone Full-drive2 Mosfet Boost
|
7 .7
|
|
9
 |
MXR Custom Badass Modified O.D.
|
7. 4
|
|
10
 |
Maxon RTD800 Real Tube
|
7. 2
|
1. Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive
I recently had the pleasure of using the Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive. This is an amazing pedal that really can give you the best of both worlds – a clean and a dirty sound. I was really impressed with the amount of control you had over the sound and the amount of flexibility it had. It allowed me to get the perfect tone for my playing style. There are a lot of features that make this pedal a great buy, such as the true bypass feature and the ability to switch between a few different settings. The pedal also has a lot of range and can go from a gentle overdrive to a full-on distortion. Overall, I would highly recommend the Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive for anyone looking for a great overdrive pedal. It is well worth the money and offers a great sound for any type of musician.
- High-headroom, low-noise JFET circuit
- Switchable 9/18V operation for more headroom and clarity
- Volume, Drive, and Tone controls for a wide range of tonal possibilities
- True bypass switching for maximum signal integrity
- Hand-built in the USA with top-notch components
2. Electro-Harmonix Soul Food
I recently purchased an Electro-Harmonix Soul Food and I must say that I’m so impressed with it! The pedal is incredibly versatile and sounds great with any genre of music. It gives my guitar a fat, warm tone that has a lot of depth and clarity. I love the way the booster feature can be used to bring out more of my lead solos. I also appreciate how easy it is to adjust the knobs to dial in the perfect sound. The battery life is also great I’ve been playing for several hours without having to change it. All in all, I would highly recommend the Electro-Harmonix Soul Food to any guitarist who wants to take their sound to the next level.
- Distortion circuit designed to replicate the sound of a vintage overdrive pedal
- Highly effective three-knob control layout
- Features Boost Switch which increases gain and mid-range presence
- Tight switch for improved low-end response
- True Bypass for eliminating any signal interference when pedal is off
- High-quality components for improved sound quality
3. Boss SD-1 Super
I recently purchased a Boss SD-1 Super and it has been great. The tone is amazing – it has a sharp, high-gain sound that really cuts through the mix. The effects are smooth and responsive, and the ability to tweak the parameters is really useful. I love the fact that it has two outputs – one for clean tones and one for heavy distortion. The build quality is top notch, and the overall look of the pedal is really cool. Overall, I’m very happy with my purchase and would highly recommend this pedal to anyone looking for a great distortion pedal.
- Low noise design with true bypass switching
- Classic overdrive sound based on legendary BOSS OD-1
- Level, Tone, and Drive controls for precise shaping
- Runs on a 9-volt battery or optional AC adapter
- Small, durable design perfect for the stage or studio
4. TC Electronic MojoMojo
I recently purchased the TC Electronic MojoMojo and I’m impressed. The sound quality is great and it has plenty of power for whatever application I’m using it for. I love the adjustable gain and tone knobs that allow me to get the sound I want quickly and easily. The onboard effects are fantastic and really add another dimension to the sound. I’d highly recommend the TC Electronic MojoMojo to anyone looking for a great sounding, versatile overdrive pedal!
- True bypass for ultimate signal integrity
- Gain, Tone and Level controls for sculpting your sound
- Precision engineered footswitch for reliable performance
- High quality analog circuitry for maximum tonal flexibility
- Builtin tuner for optimal tuning of your instrument
- Compact and roadready design for easy portability
- Highperformance buffered bypass mode for improved signal preservation
- Runs on a 9 VDC battery or a power adaptor (not included)
5. Wampler Tumnus Deluxe
I recently purchased the Wampler Tumnus Deluxe pedal and I must say I am extremely impressed! The pedal offers a great range of tonal manipulation thanks to the three-band equalizer, as well as a boost switch and a mid-cut switch. This gives you a great level of control over your sound, allowing you to dial in exactly the sound you want. The build quality is excellent, with a robust metal casing and a clear, easy-to-read control layout. I was especially impressed with how the pedal responded to my playing. It seemed to react to my playing in a dynamic, musical way, giving me a great range of tones with minimal effort. All in all, I’m very happy with my purchase and I would highly recommend the Wampler Tumnus Deluxe to anyone looking for a great overdrive pedal.
- Compact Size – The Wampler Tumnus Deluxe pedal has a small footprint that can fit on most pedalboards.
- True Bypass Switching – The pedal offers true bypass switching, meaning that it won’t affect your tone when it’s turned off.
- High Quality Components – The Tumnus Deluxe is built with high-quality components, ensuring a long life and great sound.
- Versatile Tone Controls – The pedal features both a boost and a cut control, giving you a wide range of tonal options.
- Onboard Effects Loop – The onboard effects loop allows you to add your favorite effects pedals to your signal chain for even more tonal possibilities.
6. J Rockett Audio Designs Archer
I recently purchased the J Rockett Audio Designs Archer and I am so glad I did! I have been playing guitar for many years, and this pedal has made a huge difference. The tone is clear and full with plenty of headroom. The attack and sustain are both adjustable, allowing me to get the perfect sound I am looking for. The design is robust and durable, ensuring it will stand up to plenty of use. I highly recommend the J Rockett Audio Designs Archer. It’s an awesome pedal with great sound quality and great features.
- All-analog Class A preamp and power section
- Full-range tone control
- Balanced and unbalanced inputs
- High-headroom design
- High-quality components and construction
- Compact 1U design
7. Maxon OD808
The Maxon OD808 is an incredible overdrive pedal that offers a lot of versatility. It’s great for players looking to get a variety of tones, from light crunch to full-on distortion, and everything in between. The controls are intuitive and offer a good range of sounds, and the tone is surprisingly clear and full, even at higher gain settings. The build quality is solid and the pedal is durable, so it should last for years. Overall, the Maxon OD808 is a great choice for anyone looking for a powerful overdrive pedal.
- Classic overdrive/distortion pedal with iconic sound
- Offers natural-sounding overdrive with rich harmonic textures
- Level and Drive controls for precise tone shaping
- Tone control for adjusting the EQ of the distortion
- True bypass switching for no tone loss
- Robust and reliable construction
- Compact and lightweight design
8. Fulltone Full-drive2 Mosfet Boost
I recently purchased the Fulltone Full-Drive2 Mosfet Boost and I am really pleased with it. It is a great addition to my pedalboard and has allowed me to really shape my sound. The Mosfet boost is extremely transparent and really adds just a little bit of extra volume and crunch to whatever I am playing. I love the fact that the boost is adjustable and that I can dial in the exact amount of boost that I need. The build quality is excellent and I know it will last for a long time. All in all, I am very pleased with the Fulltone Full-Drive2 Mosfet Boost and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great boost pedal.
- Hand-made in the U.S.A.
- Two distinct “voices” – Boost and OD, both with independent Drive and Volume controls
- Silent switching relay bypass
- True hardwire bypass with no buffers or tone suck
- High quality components from Neutrik, Switchcraft, Wima, and Panasonic
- Unique Mosfet-based circuitry to provide a wide range of boost/overdrive sounds
- Toneful, transparent, and detailed boost/overdrive
- Driving capability to push amplifiers and other pedals for great tones
9. MXR Custom Badass Modified O.D.
I recently purchased the MXR Custom Badass Modified O.D., and I am absolutely in love with it. It’s a great pedal for guitar players of all skill levels and is perfect for adding a bit of dirt and grit to your sound. The modified overdrive is full of warmth and character, with lots of headroom and great tone. I love that you can dial in just the right amount of distortion for your playing style, and the true bypass switch ensures that your tone remains pure when the pedal is off. Overall, this is a great pedal and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great sounding overdrive pedal!
- High-gain distortion with a warm, tube-like character
- Flexible controls that let you dial in the most comfortable and satisfying tone possible
- 3-band EQ for precise tone shaping
- True bypass switching for preserving your signal when not in use
- Noiseless design for minimal hiss and hum
- Compact, durable chassis
- High-quality components for consistent tone
- Easy-to-use controls for quickly crafting great sounds
- Backed by MXR’s limited lifetime warranty
10. Maxon RTD800 Real Tube
The Maxon RTD800 Real Tube is a great piece of gear for any guitarist looking to add some extra warmth to their sound. This pedal utilizes a 12AX7 tube to provide a classic tube tone that cannot be achieved with solid state equipment. It features two knobs, one for Drive and one for Level, that allow you to easily adjust the amount of gain and output level of the pedal. It also features a switchable bypass, allowing you to switch between true bypass and buffered bypass modes. The construction of the pedal is robust and looks great. The sound of the pedal is warm and creamy with a natural tube-like overdrive that is perfect for tube-amp style tones. It also pairs great with other pedals for a wide range of sounds from blues to metal. All in all, the Maxon RTD800 Real Tube is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and great sounding tube overdrive pedal.
- Authentic tube tone, with multiple voicings and controls to shape your tone
- Integrated overdrive and distortion circuits for a wide range of sounds
- Integrated reverb with wet/dry blend, adjustable depth and decay
- Integrated chorus/vibrato with adjustable depth and rate
- 3-band equalizer, plus presence control
- High, Mid and Low Frequency controls and Gain Boost switches
- Preset memories and MIDI implementation for easy recall of settings
- Headphone/Line output jack
- Front panel auxiliary input with level control
- USB audio interface for recording and playback
