The BBE Gus G OG-1 is a signature overdrive pedal built for Gus G, the guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and Firewind, who teamed up with BBE to create it1. Gus worked closely with BBE designer Paul Gagon to voice the pedal, dialing in his tone1. It carries gain, level and tone controls1.
Gus G described the pedal, which he called his G Screamer, as letting him drive even more harmonics, focused where he needs them for a cleaner, tighter distortion1. That "G Screamer" name is Gus's own for the pedal, and it points back at the BBE Green Screamer it succeeded on his board. You can read more about that lineage on the BBE G Screamer page.
Controls and circuit
The OG-1 keeps it to three knobs: gain, level and tone1. Inside, BBE described the circuit as a modified classic sequential-diode distortion circuit, voiced for a focused tone1. The pedal also uses 1% metal-film resistors, which BBE specified for consistency from unit to unit1.
The input and output impedances are worth noting for anyone placing it on a board. The 1 megohm input impedance was chosen for proper pickup loading, so the pedal presents roughly the same load to your pickups as a typical amplifier input, and the 10 kilohm output impedance when engaged is low enough to drive most downstream pedals without issue1.
Where the circuit comes from
The sequential-diode overdrive design the OG-1 modifies traces back to the Boss OD-1, one of the first Boss compact pedals, released in 19772. The OD-1's original asymmetric clipping circuit generated a sound rich in even-order harmonics, and its low-impedance input let players sweep from clean to overdriven just with the guitar's volume control3. Aion FX describes the OD-1 as a precursor to the Tube Screamer4.
The OD-1 went through a notable change during its production. Early versions, identified by a long dash in the name and a clear switch, used a 14-pin RC3403 op-amp; later versions replaced that chip with dual op-amps such as the JRC4558DD5. That early RC3403 version is the one later builders kept returning to.
Boss expanded on the OD-1 design in 1981 with the Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive, adding a tone control and enhanced voicing67. The SD-1 kept the same asymmetric overdrive circuit as the OD-18, and its circuit is very similar to the Ibanez Tube Screamer, though the parts selection gives it a very different sound9. JHS puts it plainly: the SD-1 is designed in the shadow of the Tube Screamer10.
The OG-1 name has since been carried by other builders making pedals in this same lineage217:
| Pedal | Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BBE Gus G OG-1 | Modified sequential-diode circuit | Gus G signature, NAMM 20131 |
| Analog Man Colby OG-1 | Boss OD-1 | A "tribute" overdrive, true bypass switching2 |
| PastFx OG-1 Overdrive | 3403 early version OD-1 | Limited run, with a bonus SD-1 addition7 |
The PastFx version is a limited run of the early RC3403-based OD-1 with an SD-1 addition, and adds true bypass plus an internal LED brightness control7. The Analog Man OG-1 is likewise a tribute to the original Boss pedal2.
What reviewers said
Published coverage of the OG-1 came at launch. Guitar Interactive Magazine reported the release from NAMM 2013, listing the pedal's specification: the modified sequential-diode circuit, the 1 megohm input and 10 kilohm output impedances, the 1% metal-film resistors, the true hardwire bypass and the five-year warranty1.
Videos
Guitar World
Bradford DeLaura
Alex Charalampous
Questions
Is the BBE Gus G OG-1 true bypass?
BBE describes the OG-1 as having a true hardwire bypass, so the signal passes around the circuit when the pedal is off. This is the switching arrangement BBE specified when it launched the pedal at NAMM 2013. Note that hardwire bypass is not the same thing as the true bypass used in some other overdrive pedals.
What is the BBE G Screamer?
The G Screamer is the name Gus G himself used for his signature BBE overdrive. Before the OG-1, Gus's overdrive pedal of choice was BBE's Green Screamer, and the new pedal was developed with BBE designer Paul Gagon to push more harmonics into a cleaner, tighter distortion.
What is the input impedance of the BBE Gus G OG-1?
The OG-1 has a 1 megohm input impedance, which BBE specified for proper pickup loading. Its output impedance is 10 kilohms when the pedal is engaged. Both figures come from the launch coverage of the pedal at NAMM 2013.
Does the BBE Gus G OG-1 come with a warranty?
Yes. BBE launched the OG-1 with a five-year warranty, which was part of the pedal's specification when it was announced at NAMM 2013. That is a longer coverage period than the one-year warranties common on many pedals.
What kind of circuit does the Gus G OG-1 use?
The OG-1 uses what BBE described as a modified classic sequential-diode distortion circuit, built for a focused tone. The pedal also uses 1% metal-film resistors for consistency between units. It is an analog overdrive with gain, level and tone controls.
Sources (10)
- NAMM 2013: BBE Releases Gus G OG-1 Signature Overdrive, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2013-01-26
- OG-1 Manual.docx, Analog Man Guitar Effects, 2026-09
- The PX-1 Plugout FX: Timeless BOSS Pedals Reborn, BOSS (articles.boss.info), 2025-06-06
- Parhelion Vintage Overdrive / BOSS® OD-1 Overdrive, Aion FX, 2021-03-19
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- Boss SD-1 review, Guitar.com, 2025-04-29
- OG-1 Overdrive, PastFx, 2026
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- Stratus Deluxe Overdrive / BOSS® SD-1W Waza Craft, Aion FX, 2025-03-28
- BOSS SD-1 TRANS AM MOD, JHS Pedals
Gus G
