50 Overdrive Preamp

I always hate the first question can i get the sound of my favorite artist? That is a stupid question the last thing that I want to do is copy everyone else. My setup goes a cheap Lotus strat copy(slightly modified read my review of it to find out how)---->to this pedal----> to a DOD fx57 hard rock distortion (slightly modified read my review of it to find out how.) ----> to a dod Flashback Fuzz----> to a Morley PWA power wah (mine has Red lettering if that makes any difference)-----> to a DOD FX 20 phaser-----> eventually my FX90 delay will go here when it gets fixed-----> to my Laney GC50A amp (great acoustic and electric amp you have to try one out.)      This pedal sounds awesome by itself perfect for single note funk rythms should I choose to overdrive them. My only problem is deciding wether this pedal or the amps overdrive should be used they both sound great. The only difference is I set the amps overdrive at 4 and this pedal the OD/dist. knob is at about 3 o'clock (maybe an 8.) One is for blues and one is for funk/rock and sometimes it is hard to choose. Combined with the fx57 they make the best hard rock or in my case Hard Funk Rock sound ever. The FX57 sounds like crap if you turn the distortion up to much (forgot to mention this in my review of it though). So I just have the FX57 set with the distortion way low (like not even 5) and the FX50 before it and the od/dist. knob on the FX50 set at 3o'clock it is perfect. I am not going to sound like Dimebag or anything (and I wouldn't want to), but it is perfect for having a hard sound with still being able to hear every note in a funky 6th9th chord.

I don't know why DOD gets such a bad rap. So the switches go out. Just order them for $.35 off the website and you only have to make two solder joint to install them. Not even a 5 minute fix. Piece of cake. Your minimum order at DOD is $5 so just order a whole crap load at a time to have as spares (you never know they might quit selling them.) i have had this pedal for at least 5 years with no problems It was also used. I think that it is from the early 80's still no problems.

Two knobs it isn't exactly rocket science. Everything sounds good.

I have asked them several questions and they are always helpful. They even emailed me shematics before. That's better than paying $10 for one off of that Schematic Connection website. After I first got it I asked them for some info. They said the FX50 was supposed to replace the 250. It is basically the same thing as the 250(yellow 250), but with the different casing style and switch.

If you are very unsatisfied with your amps distotion get this pedal or a 250, but if you see one of these (FX 50) on eBay or somewhere else it will probably be a better deal. I see them go for only $15-$20 all the time. The 250 can go for $50 for a yellow or $300+ for a grey one. You take your pick. Well anyway all of these pedals are great for an overdrive that sounds like it is a natural amps overdrive, but better in alot of cases (especially if you have a cheap practice amp.) I got this pedal at a pawn shop for only $15 it was covered in stickers. I didn't even get to try it out I just bought it because it was DOD and it was only $15. DOD's sound alot better than most people claim. This pedal is just awesome for any kind of rock. It also sounds great in conjunction with other overdrives. Boss sucks except for the DS1 and DS2 and Robert Keeley Modded pedals. All modulation and pitchshift Boss pedals especially suck major portions of ass their sound just hurts my ears. Well anyway if this pedal was lost or stolen I would probably look for another one on eBay or a 250. For as cheap as they are you can't beat them.

I recently pulled this pedal out from storage and am using it to overdrive my new Crate V-58 class A five watt tube amp!  I was using the Banzai Cold Fusion as my main overdrive, but Ive packed the Banzai away as the DOD does pretty much the same thing- provides transparent gain without added compression.  I am off today to try to find a new DOD Malmsteen pedal in the music stores (wish me luck!), which I believe is a recreation of my old DOD pedal.

They really built shit well twenty years ago!  Ive gigged with this pedal decades and its still in perfect condition- sure theres probably some dust in the pots that is causing a bit of noise when I turn the knobs, but its minimal.

This is the FX-50 Overdrive Preamp with two knobs for volume and distortion.  Very easy to use.  Mine is an original vintage model from the very early 1980's.  Made in America!

Later for the new DOD company.  They sold out and are the worst, though I want the new Malmsteen pedal. I use the DOD pedal in my new band.

Forget about those boutique pedals that cost $200.  They are for suckers!  I paid $30 for my yellow DOD twemty years ago (the ones with the large black plastic switch) and it sounds better than most of the new stuff thats around these days.  Other pedals I use are the Maxon OD-808 tubescreamer, and the Austone Millenium Overdrive.