Fulltone OCD-Ge Germanium Obsessive Compulsive Drive Pedal Demo

[@anonymousguy7723]

This dude gives the best demos. Don Carr is an actual guitar player. He plays the guitar more than he talks. And he explains it with his actual playing. I’m getting this pedal just because of this video.

[@6StringBuckeye917]

Yep. Don Carr and Pete Thorn are the best gear reviewers on the internet in my opinion. I've bought two pedals so far, because of these guys.

[@nathanjmartin19]

Did you get it?

[@jamesdenney9653]

When I was a kid back in the 70's, I used to screw around building different effects pedals from magazine articles. One of my departures was an experiment with germanium diodes. First stage was boost. Second stage I split the signal into three channels, one clean, one conventional distortion circuit clipped with silicon diodes, and one with germanium diodes (which clip at about half the voltage of silicon). Third stage was a mixer that recombined the three channels. I had a friend who was actually making money at gigs and he begged me to sell him that pedal, he said the germanium diodes added a more "organic" feel to the distortion. I wasn't quite sure what he meant at the time, but I can definitely hear it in this pedal now.

[@shield400]

The Ge reminds me a lot of the older OCD version which is awesome. My Ge is scheduled for delivery on Monday, I can't wait!

[@mabbatic]

I got mine yesterday. I have owned versions 1.4, 1.7 and 2.0. This is the first version I like in HP mode. All the others sounded a little too sharp in that mode. So far I am very impressed with this pedal.

[@pitchoun7385]

Hello yes i have one OCD 1.4 Version really Good for me! I understand 😉👍

[@cchavez248]

Didn't expect to do so, but I liked the GE version better!

[@ViddyWellBrother]

Got mine last week and I love it! Much more open and warmer than the V2. This pedal has found a new home on my board replacing the two older models I own. Fulltone does it again! 😊

[@nicholastotoro7721]

Really digging with the Ge diodes do for the OCD. Really seems to warm it up without clouding it, really works will with single-coils, it seems. Love to try it with humbuckers.

[@Bobby_Digital37]

Well I don’t like the regular OCD, but the Ge version is sounding very interesting!!!

[@dostacos1]

Charles T. Same

[@duffman18]

Be careful with this thing though, germanium is temperamental, the weather and heat changes how they sound. Maybe people should start making pedal boards with a sort of roof above the pedals, to solve this problem from hot stage lights and the sun at outdoor gigs.

[@duffman18]

@@randomstranger2472 ah so this doesn't use the same things as the classic Germaniam fuzz pedals of the past (and current)? You're probably right. All I know is the germaniam fizzes I have will sound good on a Wednesday when I'm just practicing and sound shite on a Friday when I wanna record or am doing a gig. They're gorgeous when they work

[@TheJofrica]

@@duffman18 What if you keep it in an Igloo cooler the entire time while you play jk

[@stevepierce5472]

The drive tones are incredible, mine was one of the first 100 :)

[@jimmoulton9878]

Now I know what OCD stands for: Obsessive Compulsive Drive, sounds great!

[@kushleaguer7405]

sounds pretty good. Like it better than my old OCD based on these clips.

[@dougjarvis3970]

That tele is gorgeous.

[@ernestfoss1968]

You turn the knobs anyway you want, you can't get a bad sound out of it. The drive control is usable through all the knob's sweep. I played this for a a couple of seconds "This is a Keeper"

[@backlom]

Great review. Great pedal! Well done Fulltone Team!

[@RockHardRiffs]

My strymon Sunset has a germanium mode. Absolutely love it

[@Mr.Steve-O]

The Sunset is a hell of a pedal for sure

[@ДмитрийДианов-б2с]

As to my mind OSD Ge pedal is one of the best pedals espesially for guitars with classic single coils and vintage humbuckers. Less tight and biting then the standard one but more round and full sounding. It`s interesting: how does the OSD Ge take booster pedals in front of it when we need to encrease the gain (for esample when we play classic single coil guitars)?

[@LeviBulger]

Germanium guts always sound so good with single coils.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Why you no listen?! Germanium diodes, not transistors, dude ... it still uses MOSFET transistors, like the regular version ...

[@LeviBulger]

@@kierenmoore3236 My bad. Well it sounds good.

[@gmmakesmehurl]

@@kierenmoore3236 Whoa. Not everyone is an electrical engineer. Calm down.

[@kierenmoore3236]

@@gmmakesmehurl - Lol, I'm calm. You must be reading in 'tone' that isn't there ... I find it more amusing than anything that people don't read/listen properly, or subjectively misperceive things . It's just a human psychological phenomena ... :P

[@gmmakesmehurl]

@@kierenmoore3236 I have a pretty good grasp on the English language. Still - the point is that perhaps both of us were errant in even replying at all.

[@jasong546]

Nice job explaining and playing it Don!

[@ArielsSmartyPants]

The best od. Just got better 😁

[@mrscott99]

best demo thus far

[@tomclarkmusic9009]

That neck pickup on the Tele though! 🫠🫠🫠🤤🤤🤤

[@johns1139]

That Tele sounds amazing!

[@777Yoni]

Damn great tones and playing. Kudos.

[@Bliggick]

I gigged with this pedal recently along with a Bad Monkey (Tube Screamer clone) after it and I was getting this great thick, creamy tone. The only weird thing about it was the low notes would kind of crap out.

[@johnroberts838]

Excellent Demo👍👍👍. I Absolutely Love my OCD Pedal, and I am really Loving the Germanium Version, I will definitely be getting one of these Bad boys! I have put my deposit down, Sold out Australia wide! Take care, Melbourne, Australia.

[@GabrielVelasco]

Fantastic sounding OD.

[@unfinishedworship3173]

I can’t imagine a pedal replacing my OCD v1.2 but if any can do it, it’s this! Will be getting mine on Saturday!

[@Jallatt]

Got mine in the mail today!! Woooooooo!!!!!

[@marksanders1962]

interesting, a germanium version of the OCD...for more information regarding this product contact your Sweetwater sales engineer....

[@rocktopher101]

It really sounds great!

[@humbuckercafe]

Great video and nice idea to compare the two 🎸 Thanks!

[@tannerblades9049]

Sounds absolutely amazing! (1st too lol) definitely gonna look into contacting my rep about purchasing one!

[@DSilvergun]

You have a rep?

[@rickystokes891]

I've got a first gen OCD but now want this one also

[@elvis_chen]

The 9th version of OCD!

[@jmacc9876]

Nice pedal. That Telecaster is beautiful also.

[@jasong546]

Sounds great!

[@GuitarDoog]

Great demo, Don! Your videos are always very helpful.

[@davidcastellanos881]

Even the clones of this pedal are awesome, I have one of those copies, jeje.

[@RamonZarete]

Great demo - thanks!!

[@george.kollaros]

It has a nice drive and character with single coils. With humbuckers it's muddy and notes have no separation...

[@nicolasdelcastillo6497]

You should state that the "standard" OCD you compare it with is a discontinued 1.7 and not the current production v2. Judging by the video, the OCD-Ge sounds like a 1.7 with a little more bass (which you don't want in a mix anyway) so essentially what this is a 1.7 OCD at a premium.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I have the coveted 1.7 and it's . . . "All-That" with my rig. I love it. I encourage people to: Lower the Drive and Tone Knob - Great Tones to be had.

[@paulcowart3174]

Really liking this new pedal I had an original version and it didn't play well with my other pedals But they both sound but maybe liking the Get better I'm actually running a Ge/sili drive pedal right now as well

[@BluesBrogio]

"enhanced by-pass". lol! why do guitar players seem to dread the word buffer? it IS necessary

[@duffman18]

They've been trained by over-priced boutique pedal companies into thinking buffers are a bad thing. Though now there's finally a bit of a comeback for the buffer, as people are realising that having very long signal chains with true bypass all through it actually sucks away your tone, and so it's a good idea to have a buffer in there somewhere to boost the tone back to what it should be. This pedal has both, it's got an internal switch so people can choose whether they want true bypass or a good buffer, which I think is a good way to make a pedal. Let people choose what they want, if they want signal sucking true bypass then they have the option to have that

[@Dan_is_a_liar]

Because when I put in boss pedals into my effects loop, it sounds like total ass.

[@luckylicks3497]

It might become necessary if you're using more than five to six pedals. But for a few good pedals, good cables are usually enough. If every pedal had a built in buffer, you couldn't play with more than two at a time. The sound soon becomes very sterile and feels like you're hitting a hard brick wall. A good amp is responsive and the sound feels elastic. Pedals that are built properly maintain the integrity of your signal, that way you can blend in a little bit of the effect and that can be enough, although not too apparent. Good musicianship is built around the concept of actually knowing how to use the hands to articulate and control the phrasing, not relying one something external to do the job for you. Tone that may sound good may still feel sterile - overriding the dynamic dictations of the hand everything from micro nyances to hard playing, not giving room to your own musical thought. There are good buffers and lots of bad buffers that become an issue whenever you start stacking another buffer along with it into the chain. An amazing non-tube buffer would be from Analogman. A good tube buffer would be the Black Box from Sarno, and the tube buffer by Fuchs. People like true bypass pedals, because they choose which buffers they want to use and the place on the pedalboard they are best utilized. Good tone has to be felt just as much as it needs to be heard, and the more abilities the musician has, the more important this becomes for them. They know their guitars and how they're supposed to sound when they are at their best - having it setup perfectly, which affects the tone, and by having the right set of strings matched with its qualities (this might be a tedious project, but well worth in the end). If a guitar is truly well-built, it will have no areas that eat away resonances. Things are expected from a high quality product to have all barriers removed so musicianship may flow unhindered. The electric guitar is still, to many people, a toy, but for others, a serious instrument that is being improved constantly to the needs and desires of the players who are carrying the flag and torch. Kindly remember that a ten grand guitar seems expensive for us, but you couldn't get a professional violin bow for that price.

[@rogerio_guitarist]

"Enhanced bypass" and "sales engineer". Being a salesman shouldn't be reason for shame.

[@heycaptjack]

OCD 2.0 vs. OCD Ge now that would’ve been more relevant in my opinion. Sounds good though. Sold my 2.0 as I thought it was a flop compared to my 1.4. It’s hopeful that the Germanium version will be promising.

[@paradox7743]

The original OCD always sounded great with my Strat-But really did nothing for me on my main Guitars-Gibson SG'S-LP-ES-339.I need to try the new blue GE to see the chemistry and reaction to the humbuckers.Good demo-would have like to see & hear a lil more on the LP...

[@rselp]

Sounds crunchy on its own... but I wonder if there is enough mid punch to cut through a loud band mix?

[@sweetwater]

Hey, rselp. Thanks for your inquiry! To my ears, the Ge is a bit more open in top end in the demo compared to the OG OCD. Whether it cuts through in your particular playing situation is way too subjective for me to answer without knowing the contents of your rig and hearing in context of how you perceive "punch". There's also the option of running the pedal in 18v mode, which generally lends to more headroom and "clarity". Since we have a 30-day evaluation period, you have the ability to test it and let your ears be the judge. Please contact me direct if I didn't answer your question fully or you have others. Robert Williams, Senior Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 2371, [e-mail]

[@rogertommie1665]

To me this is the best sounding version of the OCD I think it sounds more like an actual amp now what's strange and I'm shocked nobody's really talking about this with full tone going out of business these pedals are becoming extremely hard to find and they charge a mint for them on the secondary market I saw the lowest I saw was $330 that's crazy there's one website that selling this pedal I thought it was a misprint or something for $90 and I want this thing I wish I could get it for $90 that's just a steal that's like almost half off but yeah to me this is way better than a normal OCD it just sounds way more warm and way more like an actual amp

[@jubyerhashin8214]

Does it work well with a wah?

[@jessebeauchamp1484]

Nice work Tech. What are the germanium clippers?

[@richinmusic]

That bend ont he lower strings at about 2:40. Awesome

[@stevefarrell7632]

I’m not digging it. The original OCD was my first boutique pedal. Then the Fulldrive and then the anniversary MOSFET and then the next iteration of the OCD. I since sold the Fulldrives which were great pedals. I still own the two OCDs but I haven’t used either for some time. Not because I don’t like them. I have incurable GAS and over the years I keep buying and selling. But I just bought the new Fulldrive One. It sounds great!! I definitely intend to bring out the OCDs again. I recall I really liked the original. But listening to this demo of the new GE version isn’t doing it for me. So the Fulldrive One is sharing space with my Analogman KOT. But soon the Ethos TWE-1 shall arrive at my doorstep! I’m still drooling after listening to Pete Thorn’s demo. Then probably the Unity 67. Yikes!! It never ends. But why should it? I applaud all the pedal makers! Mike Fuller was my first boutique entry and I will be checking out his new tremolo pedal right now.

[@renthal971]

The best hair in the biz

[@blizzbee]

Meet Robert Baker. kzbin.info/door/feviwU6C7kEjpOK4C6myuQ

[@hchoe741]

I do like some hair to my drive tones

[@soundknight]

Bit more greasy, THWACK! sound. The most musical version so far.

[@chomp_5412]

Brian Cullen “greasy thwack” describes the sound dogs make

[@johnmorrison8618]

Tone knob past 10 oclock and it’s not unbearable? This is new territory for the OCD

[@kierenmoore3236]

NB - Germanium diodes, not Germanium transistors ... it still uses MOSFET transistors, like the regular version ...

[@mark7166]

He stated it properly.

[@kierenmoore3236]

@@mark7166 - He did. People tend to hear what they expect to hear, and not what was actually said, however ... same goes for reading, mutatis mutandis, actually ... ... ... ;)

[@narrvick]

Kieren Moore I'm ignorant on the subject as I'm new to guitar. What is the difference in the two? And how does that translate to sound differences?

[@mark7166]

@@narrvick Are you asking about the difference between transistors and diodes? Transistors are discrete amplifiers. They amplify signal voltage or current, or can be configured to act as a signal gate, so they only transmit in certain scenarios. So, in a typical overdrive pedal, for example, you will often see transistors used to amplify the signal in various places. There are other configurations they can be used for, but the general purpose is typically amplification. Diodes only transmit current in one direction, once a small threshold voltage has been reached (except for things like Zener diodes which will transmit in the opposite direction, but they're generally used in power supplies and static protection, and not in clipping stages, etc). They basically act like a gate. Diodes will generally be used for clipping. In this case, we've got germanium diodes clipping the signal. In the other OCD, it's silicon diodes. This just accounts for difference in response and tonal characteristics, but functionally they are the same. The diodes are providing the distortion (mostly... there may be other stages that are clipping as well). They will be used in parallel, with at least one diode going in one direction, and at least one in parallel going the opposite direction. This allows the signal to be clipped on both halves of the wave form, since on the positive half of the wave, the diodes in the "positive" direction will transmit, while the others will not, and then vice versa for the negative half of the wave. Hope that helps.

[@EDKguy]

Isn't Germanium where Maximus fought?

[@afterstars]

Ed Komasara Maximus as in Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife? Yes.

[@jubyerhashin8214]

Does it play well with wahs?

[@blankstaircase]

Don Carr needs to play that tele more often!

[@paulcowart3174]

Hey Don when are you going to demo the CS Ranger ? Please Thank you Sir

[@emreemre369]

Low end kind of boomy/flubby isn't it guys?... maybe less in the HP mode but still... not sure how the non-germanium OCD compares. I always wanted an OCD but I need a stacker, so too much low end is no go for me.

[@wheresallthezombies]

it's cool but i prefer the original OCD.

[@cachacinha1378]

Please make a demo with this OCD-Ge on a bass!!!

[@LesonDeson]

Idk if the comparison is very fair the standard seems to have more gain and sounds louder fuller.

[@blizzbee]

The tone-chasing journey has no end.

[@pitchoun7385]

I love my OCD 1.4 Version!

[@paul-sj1lu]

Is that a fuzz?

[@lueysixty-six7300]

Shoulda' been demo'ing with my Strat: a Lake Placid Blue/White guard 'Un. Y'know...Aqua & White...?

[@charlesdayton2099]

I love mine!

[@ed2098]

Ive had a germanium pedal that sapped out under sunlight. Do all germanium pedals change tone in high heat?

[@montag4516]

That's the norm for most germanium transistor pedals. Higher temperatures and humidity can put them out of optimal operating range. Many of these pedals, at least now, come with a bias adjust trim-pot inside to allow the user to reset for such changing conditions.

[@PGS412]

I don't think germanium diodes react to heat so drastically in pedals like germanium transistors.

[@DogDaze66]

No competition

[@starbattles1]

I like the ge

[@shannonsmith1520]

🤘😎🤘

[@azguitar]

Sounds really good, but I'm hearing some of that bass heaviness of the modern versions of the OCD. Please, Mike, give us a way to dial out some of that bass on your OCDs!

[@Caged63Man]

Pssst...got a secret to share...did you know there is a bass eq on your amp???...yeah, many don't it's there and you can remove some bass frequency...so keep this Lil secret on the downlow....

[@azguitar]

@@Caged63Man When you want your eq to stay fairly even from your clean to overdrive, it doesn't help to get a blast of bass when the OCD pedal is switched on. Too much bass is a very common complaint on the later OCD's, and bass doesn't help your solo cut through in a live situation.

[@Driftuner]

Personally i prefer the original one

[@fabhescher2108]

Now do something about the Comic Sans font.

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

... uhm, which is awesome. Maybe try Comic Papyrus ...

[@Rotsanjani]

I feel you! Haha! @Fab Hescher

[@fernandes5986]

Awsome sound. What's that chord progression in the beguining of the video? A song yours?

[@AllanBelt]

please neck pickup on the strat

[@BTBarnhart14]

Sounds a lot like a more focused Red Llama.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

I have Series 4 and an MXR Uni Vibe

[@ocr3012]

Which version is the standard OCD?

[@xBlackout718x]

The white one with black lettering.

[@carlosblancomusic]

v 1.7

[@Relicsun]

Not much of a difference I’ll stick to y old classic one.

[@SlickCat]

Sound the same, one is a cool color

[@dionr1168]

But does it Metal?

[@DogDaze66]

Landgraff mo -d distortion rules

[@oldmatevb]

Why do you have no white epiphone explorers in stock

[@Po1itica11yNcorrect]

Because Sweetwater only carries quality instruments. j/k

[@DiosJaguar15]

4:28 4:36

[@Cosmos_Dancer]

#Doncarrforpresident

[@atalayo3o0o]

Nah, regular, even tasteless, stale...

[@WolverineBeast86]

Mmmmmm Germanium

[@sandrabecht4489]

👍👍🇩🇪

[@benigumo2000]

I pre-ordered mine with Sweetwater and then the Dr Jekyl/Mr Hyde came out in ole fuller and I was reminded just how much I don’t need his merch

[@the5chord]

Jerry Mosier I love my Jekyll and Hyde V3!

[@benigumo2000]

Great pedal. I just got on the waiting list for a snouse to get a heavier sound. But like my pedals made one for me that’s phenomenal. It can get pretty gnarly. It’s the Veil. I Should have a video on my page of it

[@gmmakesmehurl]

Wow. Had no idea there's a V3. I loved the V2!

[@gmmakesmehurl]

@Ozlo Houser whoosh. I totally missed that.

[@benigumo2000]

Ozlo Houser no bs type of guy?? He’s an ass point blank. He’s a jerk to his customers without provocation. That’s not a no bs guy, he’s a dick. Read the reviews on him. Don’t care how long he’s been around, anyone rude and hateful to people don’t deserve business. And people like you that thinks it’s funny does so until it’s your turn to be berated by him. Kinda funny tho when you guys change your tune

[@stanesposito2664]

Too much low end.

[@MrKingtonejoe]

No clean reference tone ?!? Dude... C'mon, you know better than that.

[@vminator]

This is stupid, the OCD circuit already uses germanium diodes. You’re buying the same pedal again.

[@kyzorsosay9938]

Stacks FX nah man,they painted it,OCD too fucking transparent for me anyway,when step on the switch I want my fucking ears ringing 😜

[@jacobbrown1690]

the regular ones use silicon diodes

[@afterstars]

Are you sniffing glue again?

[@vminator]

@@jacobbrown1690 V.1-3 used an 1N34A which is a germanium diode. He basically added another one in parallel.

[@vminator]

@@afterstars no

[@jackbenson8228]

ehhhhhhh meh

[@mattymel75]

Surprised to see Sweetwater still carrying a brand that’s well known for its abysmal customer service thanks to Mike Fuller’s “hands on” approach to sometimes (or ignoring all together) answering customer emails with juvenile hissy fits. I have had personal experience with Mr Fuller and I’ll never buy another one of his pedals as a result. As to his recent rant on current events, yeah those were pretty dated and improper as well. As to the sound of this pedal. Meh. Sounds WAY too bassy and boomy. Won’t sit in a band mix AT ALL. Basically caters to the weekend warrior bedroom noodlers that obviously never get to play with a real bass player. Or are too clueless to know they’re muddying up the mix. For that matter, I found the regular OCD to suffer from similar boominess.

[@BunkMasterFlex77]

Let us know when you've come out of your safe space.

[@mikef2246]

His honest opinions hurt your feelings so much you come on here and pretend to play guitar? Lol

[@mattymel75]

@@mikef2246 first of all, is this one of Mike Fuller’s many internet (troll) alter egos? Second of all...no I’m good. Probably way better than you. Peace.

[@mikef2246]

@@mattymel75 I’m sure you are amazing! Just like your sjw skills.

[@mattymel75]

@@mikef2246 thanks for noticing. 😽👍