I’ve always been interested in classic ’70s and ’80s guitar tones, especially AOR, West Coast rock, fusion, and early hard rock.
Back in 2019, I bought an early BOSS OD-1 Over Drive equipped with the original Raytheon RC3403ADB quad op-amp.
I compared it with my modern BOSS SD-1 and wrote a review on my Japanese guitar gear blog. Here’s an English version of my impressions.
Why I Bought the OD-1
The OD-1 was introduced in 1977 and is one of the most historically important overdrive pedals.
Its design was intended to reproduce the natural breakup of a cranked tube amplifier at manageable volume levels, rather than the aggressive, fuzzy distortion common in earlier effects.
I had heard that the early quad op-amp version was particularly desirable for classic ’70s and ’80s rock, AOR, city pop, and fusion tones.
Since those are some of my favorite genres, I couldn’t resist picking one up!
The Early Raytheon Version
My OD-1 uses a Raytheon RC3403ADB quad op-amp, rather than the dual op-amp configuration found in later versions.
Early OD-1 pedals also appeared with NEC quad op-amps, while later revisions used dual op-amps such as the JRC4558.
The early Raytheon-equipped version has become particularly collectible.
Of course, the chip alone doesn’t determine the sound. The surrounding circuit and component values matter too.
Controls and Power Supply
The OD-1 has only two controls:
Level
Over Drive
There’s no Tone knob, unlike the SD-1.
This makes it a very straightforward pedal. You set the amount of drive and output level, then use your amplifier’s EQ to shape the overall tone.
My early unit uses the old BOSS ACA power supply system, so power requirements need attention.
At the time of my original review, I was using a battery rather than risking an unsuitable adapter.
How Does It Sound?
The OD-1 has a very smooth, warm, and mellow overdrive character.
It emphasizes the midrange while reducing some of the extreme lows and highs, giving it that classic vintage overdrive sound.
The amount of gain is roughly comparable to the SD-1.
However, despite the similarities, the actual playing experience is noticeably different.
To my ears, the OD-1 sounds more open, with a stronger core to each note and better high-frequency clarity.
It’s the kind of sound that immediately makes me think of classic ’70s and ’80s AOR or fusion.
It also has a nostalgic warmth that makes it very enjoyable to play.
OD-1 vs. Modern SD-1
This was the most interesting part of my comparison.
Although the overall gain range and general mid-focused character are similar, I found some significant differences.
The OD-1 has more upper-frequency clarity and a more defined sound.
By comparison, my modern SD-1 sounds darker, more congested, and somewhat muffled.
The SD-1 reminds me more of a Tube Screamer, while the OD-1 feels more like a naturally overdriven amplifier.
I also tried turning up the SD-1’s Tone control to approximately 1 o’clock to see if I could match the OD-1.
Surprisingly, it didn’t work.
The SD-1’s Tone control seemed to emphasize a different frequency range, particularly the upper mids. Increasing it made the sound much brighter, but it also changed the midrange character in a way that moved it further away from the OD-1.
So, at least to my ears, the SD-1 isn’t simply an OD-1 with an additional Tone control.
Which One Do I Prefer?
Definitely the OD-1.
And that’s not because it’s older, rarer, or more expensive.
I genuinely prefer its sound.
It has a warm, vintage, slightly sweet character that I find more natural and enjoyable than the SD-1.
I bought it primarily to use as an overdrive into a clean amplifier, rather than simply as a boost for an already distorted amp.
For classic AOR and fusion tones, I think it’s a fantastic pedal.
Final Thoughts
The early Raytheon OD-1 is one of my favorite examples of vintage BOSS engineering.
It may look extremely simple, but its particular combination of warmth, clarity, and midrange character makes it surprisingly difficult to replace.
I suspect pedals such as the Rivera Double Shaman or Fuchs Plush Drive might appeal to players looking for a similarly vintage, amp-like overdrive character, although they aren’t direct substitutes.
