The Maxon OD808 is a Maxon overdrive pedal, currently around $118.63. Close alternatives include the Klon KTR and the Bixonic Expandora. It pairs well with the Marshall Super Bass and the Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head.
Maxon OD808
Maxon · pedal
The Maxon OD808 is the original overdrive designed by Susumu Tamura in 1979, effectively the same circuit as the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer, which was built as its export-market twin under a different badge. Its diode sits in the negative feedback loop of the amplifier stage rather than in a separate clipping stage, producing a smoother, milder, more natural-sounding overdrive than harder-clipping circuits, closer to the character of a driven tube amp than a distortion pedal. Compared to the later TS9, it sounds a touch softer and clearer, with a less pronounced midrange hump. It responds strongly to picking dynamics and guitar volume, cleaning up naturally as you back off. It suits blues, classic rock, and any style built around a smooth, amp-like overdriven tone.
- overdrive
- distortion
- boost
- metal
- blues
- touch
- midrange
- warm
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Maxon OD808 is commonly used in
- Metal
- Classic Rock
- Blues
- Rock
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Maxon OD808
Marshall Super Bass
Marshall
31% matchInto Maxon OD808, Marshall Super Bass is right at home: it's built around Marshall-style amps
Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head
Orange
30% matchOrange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head is voiced for Marshall-style amps — Maxon OD808 gives it exactly that
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman BE-Mini Head stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Warp 7 stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head
Peavey
tonal matchPeavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone 2202H stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
ENGL Marty Friedman Inferno E766
Engl
tonal matchENGL Marty Friedman Inferno E766 layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Pedals that stack with the Maxon OD808
Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz
Wren And Cuff
23% matchWren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Fjord Fuzz Berserk
Fjord Fuzz
22% matchPut Fjord Fuzz Berserk in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
pedal
15% matchKeep Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble after Maxon OD808 in the signal chain, clear of Maxon OD808's own gain stage
Wren and Cuff Gold Comp
Wren And Cuff
12% matchWren and Cuff Gold Comp's own germanium character is the real reason this is worth trying
Alexander Pedals SpaceXpander
Alexander Pedals
9% matchKeep Alexander Pedals SpaceXpander after Maxon OD808 in the signal chain, clear of Maxon OD808's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Fjord Fuzz Mime
Fjord Fuzz
8% matchFjord Fuzz Mime's dark voice goes after Maxon OD808 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Maxon OD808's own dynamic character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz
Black Arts Toneworks
tonal matchMaxon OD808 leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz wants
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchElectro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Maxon OD808 delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
JHS 3 Series Distortion
JHS Pedals
75% similarityShared character: dark, smooth, hard_rock
NuX NOD-3 Morning Star Overdrive
Nux
74% similarityShared character: pedalboard, dark, true_bypass
Tone City TC-T38 Metal Storm classic British-style high
Tone City
73% similarityShared character: true_bypass, hard_rock, response
MXR Super Badass Distortion
MXR
73% similarityShared character: boost, middle, crunch
Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
Boss
97% similaritysimilar tone character
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Klon Centaur
Klon
74% similarityShared character: boost, touch, guitar
Boss OD-1 Overdrive
Boss
74% similarityShared character: smooth, hard_rock, guitar
ThorpyFX Peacekeeper V2 Low-Gain Overdrive
ThorpyFX
73% similarityShared character: smooth, guitar, middle
Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
Dallas
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Boss JB-2
Boss
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Analog Man King of Tone
Analog Man
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Klon KTR
Klon
75% similarityShared character: style, true_bypass, boost
Bixonic Expandora
Bixonic
75% similarityShared character: dark, pedalboard, smooth
Black Country Customs Monolith
Black Country Customs
75% similarityShared character: pedal, smooth, hard_rock
Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer
Ibanez
75% similarityShared character: power_tubes, boost, smooth
Univox UD-50 Uni-Drive
pedal
74% similarityShared character: hard_rock, true_bypass, boost
Amptweaker AT Fatrock
Amptweaker
74% similarityShared character: dark, hard_rock, pedal
See all alternatives to the Maxon OD808 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Maxon OD808?+
The closest matches in character are the Klon KTR, the Bixonic Expandora, the Black Country Customs Monolith. Budget picks: JHS 3 Series Distortion, NuX NOD-3 Morning Star Overdrive, Tone City TC-T38 Metal Storm classic British-style high. Boutique upgrades: Klon Centaur, Boss OD-1 Overdrive, ThorpyFX Peacekeeper V2 Low-Gain Overdrive.
What pairs well with the Maxon OD808?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Super Bass, Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head, Synergy SL2 Module — Into Maxon OD808, Marshall Super Bass is right at home: it's built around Marshall-style amps.
How much does the Maxon OD808 cost?+
Around $118.63 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).