I finally snagged a Boss OD-3 OverDrive - Twin Drive Modded Edition

In my ongoing PedalQuest I now have all but 3 of Boss’s compact gain pedals - I believe the ones that I’ve still to acquire are the OD-1 (RC3403D 14-Leg Chip), OD-1X, and DN-2. Which means that 28 out of 31 are fully accounted for - where I own multiple different versions of many of those - anniversary and modded editions mainly but also the occasional duplicate.

I’ve always been fascinated by modded pedals and often acquire those by preference - as you typically get all the stock features intact with a load of extra options - more range and more versatility - as in fact is the case with this Twin Drive Modded OD-3. 

There seem to be several ’Twin Drive Mods’ editions of these across OD-3, SD-1, DS-1 and MT-2 varieties - I know Soul Power Instruments make similar mods - while I’m not sure who modded my pedal. I bought it second hand from an American - who acquired it via Japanese marketplace jp.mercari.com - where most of those modded Boss pedals seem to have come from some sort of Yahoo Auction. So my own OD-3 Twin Drive Mods pedal started its journey in Taiwan where it was originally made, it was bought, and then bought again and modded in Japan, sold most likely to another Japanese buyer first on Yahoo Auctions, then sold on via jp.mercari.com - where I then acquired it on Reverb.com from its American owner! So my particular pedal has been on something of a world tour already!

Controls - Level (Drive Level), Drive (Drive Gain), Phat Mod Switch : Stock / Phat, Tone, Compression : More / Stock / Most, Boost / Drive toggle Footswitch, Boos Gain, Boost Level.

Note that the second ’Drive’ channel here is actually an additive ’Boost’ - which cannot be deployed independently - it always adds a Boost on top of whatever the current Drive settings are - so it’s best though of as a Solo / Boost switch. That second Footswitch essentially toggles the Boost On and Off - so you flip visible between Blue and Red LED’s. I would have though it made more sense for the Red LED to light up in addition to the Blue - which would have made its function more obvious - but no the LED’s alternate depending on which mode is engaged.

The pedal is not so much related to its OD-1 and OD-2 forebears but is rather more closely related to the BD-2 Blues Driver circuit - they both have that cool guitar volume gain cleanup thing - but generally the BD-2 is slightly thicker and bassier sounding - particularly on my Freak Fuzz / Phat Modded favourite.

I’ve always said you get a very Marshally type tone and crunch out of the Blues Driver if you drive it - and the same is kind of true of the OD-3 - it has its own degree of richness and texture - while generally I’m calling it a refinement of the BD-2 soundstage overall. The difference there is more distinct than say the difference between the BD-2 Phat Mod and Keeley Super AT Mod - which I also see as something of a refinement.

The mods here turn this into more of lead style gain machine really. I like the Gain up quite high - and then I can punch in an even more saturated Boost on top of that! If you don’t set the two gain circuits diligently it can almost sound as if there is no change when you apply the boost - it typically works best with the 2 Boost controls maxed - and then your default level is set to your preferred starting settings.

There’s so many cool Modded Boss pedals out there - maybe it’s time for a Boss Custom Shop - to roll out these sorts of more specialist pedals.

I feel that for this pedal - the use of clear knobs is an inspired choice. I will probably be looking to snag a Twin Drive BD-2 next, then Twin Drive DS-1, and finally a Twin Drive MT-2 - sort of as a treat every few months or so.

I will be making a concerted effort too to roundup the remaining Boss gain pedal stragglers.

I’ve always wanted an original RC3403D 14-Leg Chip OD-1 edition - but those all tend to be going for well above $1K nowadays , and invariably tend to be horribly battered. I was considering buying in a RC3403D chip on its own and commissioning Steve Pettyjohn to do me a versions of his ODI which I have and love - but with that special chip onboard. I think it would be really cool to have an original OD-1 style circuit with premium original components - and featuring 2-Band EQ - that’s definitely on the list!

In the meantime the OD-3 is a secret weapon for many, and many players’ favourite Boss Overdrive. This certainly comes close in my affections to my Freak Fuzz BD-2 - but that one is still my all-time favourite!