The Harley Benton Custom Line OD-5 is a compact overdrive pedal. Harley Benton describes it as "an overdrive pedal packed with gorgeous Screamer-esque tones", covering everything from "a light, airy crunch" upward, and calls its character "classic warm boutique-style overdrive"1. It sits in the overdrive family, the drive type usually used to push an amp or add grit to a clean tone, and Harley Benton says it offers "great sound diversity from vintage overdrive to modern high gain"1.
Controls and connections
The OD-5 has four knobs plus a footswitch. Harley Benton's page gives the control set as Gain, Clean, Tone and Level1. Gain adjusts the drive amount, Level sets the output, and Tone shapes the treble, the usual arrangement on a three-knob overdrive with an extra voicing control in the Clean knob. A single footswitch turns the effect on and off, with an LED showing the status1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of overdrive1 |
| Clean | Voicing control that blends in clean signal1 |
| Tone | Shapes the treble1 |
| Level | Sets the output volume1 |
| Footswitch | Turns the effect on and off, with an LED showing status1 |
Connections are simple: a 6.3 mm jack input and a 6.3 mm jack output1.
Power
The pedal runs on a 9V battery or a 9V power adapter. Harley Benton notes the adapter is not included and gives its own adapter (article nr #409939#) as an example1.
No power adapter comes in the box. If you plan to run the OD-5 on a pedalboard supply, you will need a 9V adapter of your own, or you can use a 9V battery1.
Build and size
Harley Benton describes the housing as "heavy duty" and suitable for stage applications1.
"heavy duty"
The pedal measures 120 x 56 x 95 mm (width x height x depth, measured with the controllers) and weighs 0.350 kg1, so it takes up little room on a board.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W x H x D, with controllers) | 120 x 56 x 95 mm1 |
| Weight | 0.350 kg1 |
| Bypass | True bypass1 |
| Input | 6.3 mm jack1 |
| Output | 6.3 mm jack1 |
| Power | 9V battery or 9V power adapter (not included)1 |
Where it sits in Harley Benton's range
The Custom Line OD-5 is one of several drives Harley Benton sells. The company's smaller MiniStomp line includes the MiniStomp Green Tint and MiniStomp The Heat, while the full-size range includes the Green Tint, True Grit, Ultimate Drive and American TrueTone. For a comparison of the classic circuit the OD-5's maker says it evokes, see Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer1.
Videos
Harley Benton
EytschPi42
SRGuitar
Questions
Does the Harley Benton OD-5 take a 9V battery?
Yes. Harley Benton's product page lists operation via a 9V battery or a 9V power adapter. The adapter is not included with the pedal, and the page points to a separate adapter article as an example of what to use.
Is the Harley Benton OD-5 true bypass?
Yes. Harley Benton lists the OD-5 as true bypass, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the overdrive circuit loading it.
Does the Harley Benton OD-5 come with a power adapter?
No. Harley Benton states the pedal runs on a 9V battery or a 9V power adapter, and that the adapter is not included. The company's page names a separate adapter article as an example.
How big is the Harley Benton Custom Line OD-5?
Harley Benton gives the dimensions, with the controls included, as 120 x 56 x 95 mm (width x height x depth), and the weight as 0.350 kg.
Sources (1)
- Custom Line OD-5 Overdrive, Harley Benton (harleybenton.com)
