DOD releases limited 50th anniversary Overdrive Preamp 250

November 29, 2024 · 4 sources

DOD has released the Overdrive Preamp 250 50th Anniversary Edition, a limited run of 1,974 pedals marking 50 years since the company's founding in 1974¹²³. MusicRadar reported the launch on November 29, 2024, and described the pedal as available now at $250³. Bass Magazine also lists a retail price of $250.00². Guitar Pedal X reported a US price of $250⁴.

The pedal keeps the original two-knob layout, with Gain and Level controls¹³. Bass Magazine reports the controls use the original potentiometer values and tapers², and MusicRadar says they were tuned to replicate the same taper as the original units³. A three-way mini toggle selects the clipping mode¹⁴³:

The circuit uses the LM741 op-amp⁴²³. Guitar Pedal X and MusicRadar both report it is made or assembled in the USA with through-hole components, which MusicRadar says was done with the modding community in mind⁴³. Bass Magazine describes it as hand-built in the USA². It is true bypass with an LED indicator¹²³. The finish is metal flake gray with yellow screenprint, a callback to the 1970s original, with an etched aluminum badge².

Each pedal comes with a serial-numbered certificate of authenticity, a laser-etched pedal topper or emblem, guitar picks and stickers¹²³. Gearnews reports the run is limited to 1,974 units as a nod to DOD's founding year¹.

Guitar Pedal X's reviewer wrote that the pedal has three core voicings but no additional EQ control, and that an extra EQ control would have been welcome⁴. The standard edition remains available in its yellow housing¹.