OD855 Overdrive II
The Ibanez OD-855 Overdrive II is a legendary vintage guitar pedal manufactured in Japan by Maxon between 1977 and 1981. Highly regarded as a crucial precursor to the iconic TS808 Tube Screamer, it features the first appearance of the classic Tube Screamer tone control circuit. Despite its name, the OD-855 shares more internal DNA with the MXR Distortion+ or DOD 250, utilizing a hard-clipping diode-to-ground circuit rather than the soft-clipping approach of later models. The pedal is celebrated for its warm, organic saturation that replicates the response of a vintage tube amplifier. Its intuitive three-knob interface—Distortion, Tone, and Balance—offers a broad tonal palette ranging from transparent clean boosts to thick, fuzzy distortion. Known for its exceptional touch sensitivity, the OD-855 remains a "holy grail" for collectors, with early "script logo" versions often commanding high prices. It remains a staple for guitarists seeking authentic 1970s rock and blues tones.
