The DigiTech Badder Monkey is an overdrive pedal that revives the circuit of the DigiTech Bad Monkey, a simple overdrive in the Tube Screamer vein made in the early 2000s by DOD's sister brand DigiTech12. The Badder Monkey keeps that original circuit but adds more ways to shape the drive, with Bad mode offering the original classic Bad Monkey overdrive circuit1. It was announced on December 9, 2025 and shown at NAMM 202613.
Guitar World's Alex Lynham reviewed it as an overdrive, and MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen noted that "the pedal has the sound of the original Bad Monkey at its heart, with the same overdrive circuit, gain rang[e] and EQ frequencies"45.
An overdrive built on the Bad Monkey circuit
The original Bad Monkey was, in Guitar.com's Richard Purvis's words, "a simple overdrive in the Tube Screamer vein," made in the early 2000s by DOD's sister brand DigiTech2. DigiTech's own product page says the pedal "was discontinued in 2016" and "has developed a BIG cult following"6; MusicRadar dates the discontinuation to 20155.
The Badder Monkey is an enhanced reissue of that pedal2. Gearnews describes it as "an updated version of the Bad Monkey overdrive pedal" that "offers the original Bad Monkey circuit, but adds even more ways to play with it"8. Guitar World's news editor Matt reported that DigiTech/DOD "have returned with the Badder Monkey, a new-and-improved overdrive" that "keeps the original Bad Monkey circuit"1.
The pedal's place in the Bad Monkey story follows renewed interest in the original. The Badder Monkey is an updated version of the Bad Monkey overdrive pedal, a simple overdrive in the Tube Screamer vein made in the early 2000s by DOD's sister brand DigiTech13. While the pedal has the sound of the original Bad Monkey at its heart, with the same overdrive circuit, gain range and EQ frequencies, Bad mode offers the original classic Bad Monkey overdrive circuit16.
Behaved, Badder and the parallel blend
The Badder Monkey carries three drive circuits, and its controls are named to match the monkey theme. MusicRadar lists them as957:
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Bananas | Gain |
| Curiosity | Level |
| Barrel | Blend |
| Grunt | Low EQ |
| Screech | Mid/High EQ |
| Blend Mode | Toggle switch |
The three circuits work like this:
- Bad offers the original classic Bad Monkey overdrive circuit8.
- Behaved offers smooth drive1. Guitar World's Alex Lynham describes it as "sort of like a Tube Screamer set up as a boost, that is, with the gain down and level up"4.
- Badder is the second added circuit, selectable alongside the other two1.
The patent-pending Barrel blend control mixes the added circuits in parallel with the original1. At NAMM 2026, DigiTech showed it as a 360-degree blend knob with a phase/troop toggle3. Guitar.com's Cillian Breathnach explains the toggle: "just use the middle toggle switch to select 'troop' mode, which engages all three circuits in parallel," or sets the blend to be out of phase7. Delicious Audio describes troop mode as "engaging all three circuits simultaneously for maximum complexity"9.
In Guitar.com's April 2026 buying guide of new dirt pedals, Richard Purvis named the DOD Badder Monkey the best Tube Screamer alternative in that guide2.
The StagePlate base
The Badder Monkey's base carries a two-sided reversible panel DigiTech calls the StagePlate. One side is a rubber skid pad for floor use; the other has a pre-installed hook pad for hook and loop fastenings on pedalboards1. Guitar World's reviewer puts it practically: "It ships with a non-slip rubber pad on the base as standard, but take it off and flip it, and you'll find built in hook-and-loop fastening"4. At NAMM 2026, DigiTech said the reversible, patent-pending StagePlate will ship on every DOD pedal going forward3.
Price and availability
Guitar World reported the Badder Monkey available now for $159 on its December 2025 announcement1. At NAMM 2026 in January, DigiTech gave the price as $149 MAP3, and Guitar.com's March 2026 review listed $1497. Gearnews listed it at $145/£132/€1498, while Guitar World's review gave $159/£129/€1494 and Guitar.com gave $149/£1297. Gearnews also reported the pedal available at Thomann8.
Who makes it
The Badder Monkey comes from the DigiTech/DOD brands1. Guitar.com's Cillian Breathnach calls it "a DOD reissue of a DigiTech pedal"7. The pedal was presented at NAMM 2026 in Premier Guitar's demo video3.
Videos
DigiTech
DigiTech
Questions
What is the difference between the Bad Monkey and the Badder Monkey?
The Badder Monkey keeps the original Bad Monkey overdrive circuit, with the same gain range and EQ frequencies, but adds two more circuits called Behaved and Badder. These can be mixed in parallel with the original circuit through a patent-pending Barrel blend control, and a troop mode engages all three at once. The original Bad Monkey was discontinued in the mid 2010s.
What are the Behaved and Badder modes?
Behaved is described by Guitar World's reviewer as being like a Tube Screamer set up as a boost, with the gain down and the level up, and DigiTech describes it as smooth drive. Badder is the second added circuit. Both sit alongside the original Bad Monkey circuit, and the Barrel control blends them in parallel, with a middle toggle switch able to engage all three circuits at once in troop mode.
What is the StagePlate on the Badder Monkey?
The StagePlate is a reversible two-sided panel on the base of the pedal. One side is a rubber skid pad for floor use, and the other is a pre-installed hook pad for hook and loop fastenings on a pedalboard. You take the plate off and flip it to switch between the two, and DigiTech says the StagePlate will ship on every DOD pedal going forward.
How much does the DigiTech Badder Monkey cost?
Guitar World reported the Badder Monkey available now at $159 in December 2025. At NAMM in January 2026, DigiTech gave the price as $149 MAP, and Guitar.com's March 2026 review listed it at $149. UK pricing has been listed at £129 and £132 by different outlets.
Who makes the DigiTech Badder Monkey now?
The Badder Monkey comes from the DigiTech and DOD brands, which were revived under Cor-Tek, the company that acquired them and announced the acquisition formally in 2023. DigiTech was previously a division of Harman Music Corp. The pedal is presented as a DOD reissue of a DigiTech pedal.
Sources (9)
- The DigiTech Bad Monkey is back and badder than ever, Guitar World, 2025-12-09
- Alternative rockers: 10 cool new dirt pedals you need in 2026, Guitar.com, 2026-04-22
- DigiTech DOD Badder Monkey, Premier Guitar, 2026-01-23
- DOD Badder Monkey review, Guitar World, 2025-12-14
- JHS Pedals 424 Gain Stage review, MusicRadar, 2026-05-03
- Vintage Product Spotlight: DigiTech Bad Monkey, DigiTech, 2025-08-20
- DOD Badder Monkey review: a bananas reissue, Guitar.com, 2026-03-02
- DOD Badder Monkey: More Mayhem with 3 Drive Modes, gearnews.com, 2025-12-09
- DOD Badder Monkey Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2026-07-06
