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OCD mod
Jun 4, 2006 20:28:36 GMT -7
Post by dei305 on Jun 4, 2006 20:28:36 GMT -7
I read about an OCD mod on H-C (Adam Miller at 04/28/2006) www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Data/Fulltone/OCD-1.html that Don Butler, the tone man, www.tone-man.com/ had performed on Adams OCD. I called Don about the mod and he said he changed the volume pot from the stock 100K linear pot to a 500K Audio taper. This achieves better mids. I like an Audio taper better than a linear. I am sure you taken the 4 screws off and looked at the electronics on the inside. Mike Fuller clearly goops the components and makes working on this pedal a true nightmare ( I can't say I blame him). BTW, Don only charges $20.00 including shipping back to you for his work. I emailed Mike Fuller about this mod and he said Fulltone doesn't do the mod. So, having done business with Don in the past (The man is awesome, period!), I shipped off my OCD to him and now, work completed, it's on the way back to me. I'll give you a heads up on the results of the surgery. I should have my Maz 18/Jr verb G-12H by the time the OCD arrives. I will also check it out through my Maz Invasion with V-30/12H. I have been very happy with my Xotic BB and RC. I guess somewhere in the mix I hear cries of a Zen Drive? Rick.
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OCD mod
Jun 4, 2006 20:49:25 GMT -7
Post by LeftyLang on Jun 4, 2006 20:49:25 GMT -7
Rick...let us know if there is a big difference with the OCD mod. I may send mine off as well???
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OCD mod
Jun 4, 2006 20:58:55 GMT -7
Post by dei305 on Jun 4, 2006 20:58:55 GMT -7
Lefty, I sure will. Rick
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Post by dei305 on Jun 5, 2006 9:42:40 GMT -7
Hey Lefty, I received the OCD today. Hows that for service? I will say the OCD has improved in all modes. The additional mid range is not over bearing by any means. In fact, the overall tone is richer. I like the analog pots' feel and adjustability versus the stock linear pot. I tried the pedal with my 74 strat with Bill Lawrence pups, MAZ Invasion, recently redone by the good Doctor, and Bill Lawrence cable. Overall response is cleaner, less "fizzy", richer, with more "singing" quality. Single coils sound wonderful. I tried out my 52 RI tele, also with BL's pups. Again, plenty of versatility for extra crunch or a sweet singing quality. On to humbucker land; I tried out my 76 Les Paul with Fralins and wow! I also used the same stuff with my Fender '72 Twin all blackfaced. Same results with Fender tone. You still have a great volume-tonal control simply by backing off the guitars volume control too. You don't lose anything.
The OCD controls interact well with each other. I was able to maintain an excellent balance between volume, drive, and tone controls in both the HP and LP modes. It seems the pedal has broader fexiblilty.
Speaking of the HP and LP modes, I emailed Mike Fuller about changing the LP-HP switch to a pot. Clearly, different parameters and relationships in the LP mode and HP mode. I thought it would be cool to dial in something in between the LP-HP setting. Mike was very pleasant and timely in responding to my request. Mike said he wasn't making any changes to the OCD any time soon. I asked Don Butler about it and he said there just isn't enough room for another pot in that space.
When I first got the OCD last year I used it sparingly. My go to pedal at that time was my FDII with every mod (done by Mike Fuller) including the new "clipper" circuit available on the new custom shop 10th anniversary FDII. With Butlers mod, I anticipate using the OCD a lot more. It sounds pretty amazing and usable with my Z amps. Very interesting how the Z's handle a pedal versus Fender. I am also using Xotic BB,RC,as well as a Tim. I guess I just need a Zen Drive now. Anyway, I would certainly recommend sending your OCD to The Tone Man. I sure like what I am hearing. Thanks! Rick
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OCD mod
Jun 5, 2006 19:38:00 GMT -7
Post by chilicat on Jun 5, 2006 19:38:00 GMT -7
How long did it take to get your pedal back? That sounds like great customer service. Was your OCD an earlier model? Mine is #232 I believe. I wonder if there is any difference in the sound as I have read that the later models had slightly less harsh high's. By the way the Zen drive OCD stacked combo is a thing of beauty! I'm going to contact tone-man soon. Thanks for the info.---Chili Cat
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OCD mod
Jun 5, 2006 19:50:14 GMT -7
Post by dei305 on Jun 5, 2006 19:50:14 GMT -7
Hey Chili Cat, Welcome to the Z forum. It took about 2-3 days turnaround time. My OCD serial number is 01246. Best thing to do is call Don for details. He will let you what will work best. Thanks for the heads ups on the Zen Drive. Good luck, Rick
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OCD mod
Jun 8, 2006 19:20:56 GMT -7
Post by martymcfly on Jun 8, 2006 19:20:56 GMT -7
I have similarly good things to say about the OCD upgrade. I also sent it to Don Butler, who did a great job on it. It took mike a bit longer to return (about a week and a half), but I believe it was because Don was gone for several days in the middle.
I previously ran it in HP mode, but now I love it in LP mode. It has replaced my FD2 on my board.
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Post by cheycaster on Jun 9, 2006 4:51:22 GMT -7
I now have the BB and RC pedals , but a friend of mine loaned me his new OCD last night and I like it with my Maz Junior and Strat. I'm even thinking of getting one myself. There has been alot of pluses and minuses about the OCD it seems. I'm glad to know that there is mods for this as I think I'm gonna get one maybe!! thanks for the info. Cheycaster
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OCD mod
Jun 10, 2006 13:01:09 GMT -7
Post by Telemanic on Jun 10, 2006 13:01:09 GMT -7
I'm kind of curious, i think i recall hearing that fullers earlier OCD's had a different pot than he is using in the current production models. My recollection was that he did this to increase the mids a bit. You can see references to the different pots on harmony central. So i guess my question is, is the butler mod an "additional" change to the value of the pot, or is he simply doing the mod to earlier versions, of which fuller has now incorporated into the current ones ?? ( Now that i'm recalling this, i believe it was a change from 100k to 500k that Fuller made, is it possible that the Butler mod ALSO has the taper change, and thats what is causing an additional improvement ??) Could just the change from linear to audio affect the mid responce ?
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OCD mod
Jun 11, 2006 17:43:15 GMT -7
Post by dei305 on Jun 11, 2006 17:43:15 GMT -7
telemanic, The taper of the Audio pot, IMHO, gives you more flexiblity and much better "dialing in" than a linear pot. Apparently, according to Don Butler (and my ears too), the 500K seems to bring out more mid range frequency. You can get the same mid range enhancement with a 500K linear pot as well. Thanks. Rick
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OCD mod
Jun 13, 2006 4:58:26 GMT -7
Post by cheycaster on Jun 13, 2006 4:58:26 GMT -7
Well I got to put the OCD to the real test this weekend. I am using it as a lead boost in between my Xotic BB up front and the RC booster at the end. I set it to the LP spot and use the BB as the initial tone and the RC on too is at the very end of the chain. I used this with my PRS Custom 22 and all these pedals work great together with very little noise at all. It gives me that great sweet feedback on solo's and is great at being a "mid gain" tone. Funny as it seems also, it works great with my little Roland Jazz Chorus 77 amp in the living room.It gives y Strat a good feel and tone for a solid state amp. Dont laugh now!! Cheycaster
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