Boss ODB-3 made in Japan

ModulusMK · #1 10-30-2008, 07:43 AM

Does anyone have a Japanese or USA made version of Boss ODB-3?
I have the Taiwan version and it's not like the other two, it is the same pedal but it's not sounding the same. It has VERY high gain that can't be reduced with the pots and I don't get an overdrive, only distortion. With Dry-Od pot I only get the volume down of the distortion, not the drive so I can't get a normal overdrive.

If any anyone has an Japan or USA version, would he like to send me a clear closeup pic of the inside of the pedal from both sides of pcb, so I can make the corrections to lower the internal fixed gain.
Obviously the boards are not 100% the same, I've opened a DS-1 Japan and Taiwan version and they had differences, the Japan version also had one part more! I have Boss ODB-3 Taiwan version but don't have the Japan or USA, so I'm asking can someone send me a closeup pic from the inside. Thank you in advance

bongomania · #2 10-30-2008, 08:58 AM

The ODB-3, from every origin, is famous for never ever producing "overdrive", only distortion.

ModulusMK · #3 10-30-2008, 09:48 AM

When I heard both DS-1 Made in Japan and DS-1 Made in Taiwan at my home on the same amp with same guitar, there was VERY noticeable difference in tone they produce. Also there was a difference in the electronics inside, Japan version had one part more and at least 40% of the parts had a different values, and where that leads to? Of course to sound change and gain response.

Therefore the minimum gain in the Taiwan version was at least 5-10 times higher than in the Japan, you could only take down the volume of the distortion in the Taiwan version and in the Japan version you could clearly hear that you are taking down the gain.

So I'm pretty sure that this is the point where I should look for to correct the internal fixed high gain.

I've heard the USA and Japan version only in live and studio recordings and I couldn't get the same drive, what I got is only loads of distortion. If I turn the pot towards DRY on my Taiwan version I'm only getting volume down for the distortion, not lowering the gain of the drive to get more clear sound. And the gain dedicated knob is another thing, not so important now because it is dedicated as a gain to volume not to the drive.

So I'm still asking if someone wants to send me closeup pics of the electronics of Japan or USA version

JanusZarate · #4 10-30-2008, 12:17 PM

There isn't a Japanese or American-made ODB-3. It's only been around since 1994, and always made in Taiwan. Boss stopped making all of their pedals in Japan before that, IIRC. And there was never an American-made Boss pedal, AFAIK.

Now, regarding the gain - have you considered the output of your bass yet? The output of a bass will have an impact on that minimum gain.

Chances are, what you heard in studios was with different settings, a different bass, a different amp, a different playing style by the bassist than how you play, and who knows what kinds of recording techniques (like parallel signal blending, compression, post-production effects, etc.).

BTW, got any links to samples or videos of what you're talking about? I'd be curious to see what examples inspired you to buy an ODB-3; it might help us guide you in getting your desired results.

ModulusMK · #5 10-30-2008, 03:38 PM

I think that there is an Japanese version of that pedal, I'm sure in that.

Regarding the output on my bass, it is medium-high output, I also tried with volume down, almost to minimum and the result is not much better. No one bass has that low output at it's max as volume knob turned at 8 o'clock. It's only 20% of total output.

The samples I've heard are by Flea, and everywhere is talking that he is using ODB-3, also I saw a pic of his pedal board, ODB-3 was the only drive there. You can hear good samples on Throw Away your Television from By The Way, Instrumental #2 (Californication B-side), Around The World (at verse part) also the drive is used on RHCP's first DVD - Of The Map, nice heard on Right On Time etc. His bass has low output yes and that results to low gain, I've tried with volume down on mine, but with this Taiwan version it doesn't work.

As refers to studio recordings, I don't think you can turn down the high distortion without affecting the bass tone alone if it is recorded with overdrive. Of course there are many effects added in the studio, but the drive sounds in normal overdrive way at live performance, not only distortion. Flea sure doesn't have the Taiwan version. And maybe he had mods on his pedal to sound like that.

Anyway thanks for helping, I appreciate that.

JanusZarate · #6 10-30-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModulusMK

I think that there is an Japanese version of that pedal, I'm sure in that.

Boss shifted production of all of their pedals to Taiwan between 1988 and 1992. AFAIK, nothing was made in Japan after that. For the most part, the MIJ era ended with the 1980s.

You can check the records on any of their compact pedals on www.bossarea.com - I couldn't find any made in Japan around 1994.

He could have a modded ODB-3, but it's never been mentioned AFAIK.

I'll have to look up those songs and a few videos again (I haven't listened to RHCP in a while), but it could simply be the way the tone (and not just the output) of his bass and the settings on his amp interact with the character of the ODB-3.

It could also be the way you've EQ'd it. The ODB-3 is a very bright-sounding pedal.

bongomania · #7 10-30-2008, 04:11 PM

Flea has a crew of engineers who get paid a lot of money to make his tone sound good. There is a vast difference between the tone of a professionally produced record or PA mix versus one person playing at home through their practice amp. IOW just because Flea sounds good, and happens to use an ODB3, is no indication that an ODB3 is what helps him sound good.

Here's how a performer like him typically has their rig set up, whether live or in studio: After the pedalboard, his signal goes to a stage amp with a big speaker cab, which is miked- and that mic signal goes to the mixer. The pedalboard signal typically also goes through a DI, which goes to a second channel on the mixer. The two mixer channels are then blended; EQ and compression is added, either to each channel individually or to the blended pair.

Done right, that results in a sound which is much nicer, bigger, fatter than the sound straight out of the pedalboard into a modest-sized amp.

ModulusMK · #8 10-31-2008, 05:56 AM

Well, thank you for the explanation, in any case I'll, try to mod my ODB-3 with my experience of electronics, just to take down the very high gain, I might get something better from the pedal, a least to get overdrive not distortion.

Of course Flea hes it's own crew that makes him sound most of the top, and the rest with the channels and blending and compressions...

Inspiration to mod the pedal came mostly from Throw Away Your Television and Instrumental #2 from RHCP, where in some article Flea stated that he used only ODB-3 and ODB-3 and compression for Instrumental #2 for the recordings. I couldn't get that sound with my pedal with any adjustments or EQ.