The Fulltone OCD is one of the few overdrives out there to deserve the label of “evergreen classic.” The Los Angeles based company hasn’t been active with new pedals in years (they don’t need to, since this is still selling like candy) but they just released a custom Germanium version of it, the OCD-Ge.
From the presentation notes about this model, designer Mike Fulltone shared some interesting info about how he intended all along to have Germanium diodes in the original circuit, but, after a short run, decide against them because of cost-related reasons:
The earliest OCDs used 2 x Mosfets plus 1 x Germanium diode, but very quickly these diodes became harder and harder to find, and they became expensive.
Recently I stumbled across a reasonably large stash of the right kind of Germanium diodes so I ponied-up and bought all of them. So I decided to do a run of the ultimate OCD: a Custom Shop offering with a few circuit tweaks using 2 x Mosfets plus 2 x Germanium diodes
If you are wondering how it sounds, check out the Sweetwater video, below, or trust the manufacturer’s opinion:
Great definition, more tube-like feel, a bit wider dynamic range, more sustain, and a more focused single-note tone.
The OCD pedal is the only pedal that uses 2 x Mosfets configured as hard-clipping to ‘Voltage reference” instead of the usual way: to ground.” The earliest OCDs used 2 x Mosfets plus 1 x Germanium diode, but very quickly these diodes became harder and harder to find, and they became expensive.
Recently I stumbled across a reasonably large stash of the right kind of Germanium diodes so I ponied-up and bought all of them. So I decided to do a run of the ultimate OCD: a Custom Shop offering with a few circuit tweaks using 2 x Mosfets plus 2 x Germanium diodes, and one hell of a beautiful paint job… Metallic Teal with a chrome undercoat! This beauty morphs between blues and greens depending on the light and angle. And what would the ultimate OCD be without a Blue LED? The sound? Great definition, more tube-like feel, a bit wider dynamic range, more sustain, and a more focused single-note tone. And as with all Fulltone pedals… 100% Built in the USA.
