DOD YJM-308

The DOD YJM308 is an overdrive pedal from DOD, named for the guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. Like the DOD 250 Overdrive Preamp reissue it is related to, it is a simple two-knob overdrive, and aNaLoG.MaN's Mike describes it as a great overdrive pedal in that family¹.

What it does

The YJM308 sits in the DOD 250 overdrive lineage. Where the reissue of the DOD 250 used modern op amp components and EQ tweaking to match the tone of the older 250 pedals while reducing noise, the YJM308 takes its own place in that line, and a 4558 chip is used on the 308 and the reissue 250 instead of the original 741 chip¹.

DOD engineers also added a 25pf capacitor to the YJM308 and the newer yellow 250 circuits as an apparent tweak to smooth the high end edginess of the 4558 chips. That capacitor is not part of the original gray circuit¹.

YJM308 compared with the yellow 250

Against the DOD OD-250 Yellow reissue, Mike of aNaLoG.MaN describes the difference plainly¹:

He characterizes it as having much less low end, slightly more treble, a bit thinner, and a different response feel¹. Players who want more bottom end from this circuit family may find the yellow 250 the fuller of the two, while the 308 leans brighter and more open.

The gain knob and the name

Two details round out the pedal. The GAIN knob on the reissue 250 and the 308 has a reverse log taper, as specified in the original schematic, which shapes how the gain comes in as the knob is turned¹.

The 308 number itself is a nod to Malmsteen beyond the guitar: his favorite Ferrari model was the 308, and his studio in Miami is called "Baroque and Roll Studio 308"¹. DOD had considered but never released a "Classic Grey 250 Reissue," as it was to be called, because the number 250 was already attributed to the older pedal, hence 308¹.

For more on where the YJM308 sits among its relatives, see the overdrive pedals type page.

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