The Guyatone OD-2+ Overdrive is a compact overdrive pedal from Guyatone, built on a circuit the company traces back to the vintage Tube Screamer design. according to RockBoard's PedalPedia's product page, the OD-2's circuit is based on that design "with a few changes that offer marked improvements," and the IC used is described as "smoother and less harsh-sounding than other versions, giving the OD-2 the same warm, tube-like voice as a vintage 'screamer."1 The OD-2+ takes that base circuit and adds switching and tone options its predecessor did not have.
From the OD-2 to the OD-2+
The OD-2+ is the expanded version of the Guyatone OD-2 Overdrive. Premier Guitar's reviewer, covering Guyatone's Micro Effects series in March 2021, found that "this pedal also proves to be more versatile than its predecessor, the OD-2," crediting two additions: a three-way Overdrive Mode switch and "an upgraded Hi Cut/Hi Boost Tone control."2
The base circuit has its own history. Guyatone's page describes the OD-2 as a reworked Tube Screamer, with a smoother, less harsh IC voicing aimed at the warm, tube-like character of a vintage 'screamer.1 For players tracing the wider OD-2 name, the separate BOSS OD-2 Overdrive is a different pedal entirely: Aion FX notes that the original BOSS OD-2 uses "the 2SK117-GR JFET, a low-cutoff type similar to J201, but no longer made in through-hole format,"3 and BOSS's own OD-2 TURBO adds a second drive mode, where "switching on Turbo mode activates an independent drive circuit with higher gain and increased presence."4
Two pedals share the OD-2 name: Guyatone's OD-2 and OD-2+, and BOSS's OD-2 TURBO OverDrive. They are different circuits from different makers.
Controls and switching
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Overdrive Mode switch | Three-way switch with Shallow, Middle and Deep settings2 |
| Tone | Upgraded Hi Cut/Hi Boost control2 |
| Footswitch | True bypass switching2 |
The mode switch is the OD-2+'s main departure from the single-voiced OD-2, giving three overdrive characters in one box. The Hi Cut/Hi Boost Tone control extends the tonal shaping beyond a standard tone knob.2
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer was measured but positive: "There's no doubt that there are deeper overdrives available, but the sounds generated by the OD-2+ are respectable and worth checking out," describing the pedal as producing classic tube-like sounds.2 The same review confirmed the true bypass switching on the OD-2+ and noted the $120 MSRP.2
Players comparing Tube Screamer-style drives may also find the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison useful, and Guyatone's later ODm5 Overdrive from the 2009 Mighty Micro wave is a related compact overdrive from the same maker.
Videos
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Questions
What is the difference between the Guyatone OD-2 and OD-2+?
The OD-2+ is the more versatile version of the OD-2. Premier Guitar's reviewer found it more versatile than its predecessor, pointing to the added three-way Overdrive Mode switch with Shallow, Middle and Deep settings and an upgraded Hi Cut/Hi Boost Tone control. The underlying OD-2 circuit itself is based on the vintage Tube Screamer design with changes Guyatone says offer marked improvements.
What do the Shallow, Middle and Deep modes do?
The OD-2+ carries a three-way Overdrive Mode switch with Shallow, Middle and Deep settings, which Premier Guitar noted in its review. The switch lets a player choose among three overdrive characters rather than a single fixed voicing, which is the main way the OD-2+ broadens on the single-mode OD-2.
Is the Guyatone OD-2+ true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's review of Guyatone's Micro Effects series notes true bypass switching on several models, with the OD-2+ named among them alongside the CB-3 and HD-3.
Is the OD-2+ part of the Mighty Micro series?
The OD-2+ was reviewed as part of Guyatone's Micro Effects series, the compact line that includes the Mighty Micro pedals. Guyatone launched a third wave of Mighty Micro pedals in 2009, including the ODm5 Overdrive, a related overdrive in the same compact format.
Sources (4)
- OD-2 Overdrive by Guyatone, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Guyatone Micro Effects Series Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2008-04-09
- Aurum Amp Overdrive / BOSS® OD-2 Overdrive, Aion FX, 2021-11-23
- BOSS - PX-1 | Plugout FX, BOSS (boss.info)
