Ibanez OD880 built & link...

[MartyMart]

http://eu11.stripper.jp/pulcino/blog/archives/cat_maxon_od880.html#16
scroll down for pics of the original Maxon enclosure ....

I can't seem to find out much about this circuit, perhaps it was a "Japanese only" release ?

Seems to be like the Vintage re-issues, but this would date from late 70's/early 80's

Looks a little like a Dist+ , but with buffer/gain stage front and back, using three 741's, I only
had two, so my buffer ( first opamp ) uses a TL071.

It has a really nice warm tone to it, quite "amp-like" in a way and does clean to mild OD very nicely
indeed

Changes :
TL071 for first opamp
Reverse 500k log gain pot
2x 1N4148's in series for one diode - assymetrical clipping

Just wanted all to know that it's a good "working" schem, well worth a build for mild and warm OD tones

MM.

[Torchy]

Thanks Marty - when you say this is good for mild OD, how does it compare the Mark's Crank ?
I know that's described as a non-clean boost, but I get a really nice low level OD out of mine ...

[Toney]

Looks good MM.
I've wondered about that one too.

[MartyMart]

Sounds to me quite like a couple of the low voltage "tube" pedals .. !!

I know..... I know ( don't even go there) but it does have that very warm and mild tube sound
to it, it's nothing like any other opmp OD/Dist that I have.

It doesn't have that kind of "farty" diode breakup that most have, where you can hear as the overdrive
dies away, small "cut outs" in the sound .... make sense ??

Looking over the circuit, I can't see why, other than perhaps the diodes dont get hit very hard ?
It also doesn't produce a ton of volume, plenty, but not quite enough to push a tube amp very hard
even at max volume.
Hard to describe ( words/opinions ) but I loved it as soon as I played through it into my little Matamp.
Soft, not harsh at all and not too much low or high end going on....

A WINNER 

MM.

[markm]

MartyMart,
Do you have a layout available for this one???
 

[MartyMart]

Just posted it up mate !!

MM

[markm]

I just saw that after I pulled the trigger on this post.......
VERY Cool
Thank you my friend!!

[Phorhas]

I tried this design some time ago and wasn't ver impressed. it's nice sounding, for sure - but nothing special to actually have me put it in a box...

Two mods are pretty easily made to both rais the saturation and output volmue:
1. take out the R3 resistor (10k going to ground) - that will give you some more clipping
2. Using a switch to parallel a small resistor (10k-22k) with the 68k resistor at the ouput (R13). that will boost the output volume plenty! (you could always take it out but the volum differance will be quite substantial)

Have fun