The Mr Black OD-503 is a mini stompbox overdrive, announced in November 2019 as the builder's latest mini pedal. It is a low-gain overdrive in the transparent mold: rather than reshaping your tone, it is purpose built to give you more of your instrument and amp, enhancing the drive and natural harmonic content of what is already there1. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described it as "a low gain overdrive that does what all the best overdrives are supposed to do: enhance the natural harmonic content" of the instrument1. If you are new to the category, see our page on overdrive for how these pedals work.
What it does to your sound
Because the gain staging is low, the OD-503 keeps compression to a minimum. Guitar.com's Cillian Breathnach put it plainly: "The nature of a low-gain overdrive like this means minimal compression, great for guitarists who want an extra bit of saturation and bite" without giving up dynamics3. In practice that suits players who want their guitar and amp to sound like more of themselves: more bite, more harmonic detail, more push into an already breaking-up amp, rather than a new character layered on top.
What the pedal offers, as reported at launch:
- Low-gain, dynamic amplification style overdrive that enhances natural harmonic content1
- Minimal compression, so picking dynamics and volume-knob response stay intact3
- Three simple controls1
- True-bypass switching with matched impedances1
- Industry standard 9VDC power that is daisy-chain friendly1
Size, jacks and board fit
The OD-503 is a mini pedal, and the small enclosure is why its input and output jacks sit offset from the corners3. Guitar.com noted that this layout means it "should slot right into your board without too much hassle"3. For anyone squeezing one more drive onto a crowded pedalboard, that is the practical appeal of the format.
The price was reported differently at launch. Gearnews listed the usual price as $129.95, with the pedal on sale at announcement for $99.952; a separate listing gave the RRP as USD 99.952.
What reviewers said
Coverage at launch was favorable on both build and intent. Gearnews' reviewer, writing as Jef, said: "I think this could be a great addition to many player's boards as judging by the demo sounds it can add some nice sonic enhancement" without complication2.
"I think this could be a great addition to many player's boards as judging by the demo sounds it can add some nice sonic enhancement"
Delicious Audio highlighted the build approach, noting that mini pedals are not necessarily made overseas with cheap components, and that the OD-503 is handmade in Portland with premium parts1.
Videos
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Guitar Pedal Demos
Guitar Pedal Demos
Questions
Is the Mr Black OD-503 true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio's product page for the OD-503 lists true-bypass switching alongside matched impedances and daisy-chain friendly industry standard 9VDC power. That means the pedal is out of your signal path entirely when switched off, and it can share a power supply with other standard 9V pedals on your board.
Where is the Mr Black OD-503 made?
In Portland, Oregon. According to Delicious Audio, every OD-503 is entirely handmade and built to last by real people right there in Portland, using premium components. That places it among the smaller US builders whose pedals are assembled in-house rather than mass produced overseas.
Why are the OD-503's jacks offset?
Because the enclosure is small. Guitar.com notes that the OD-503's enclosure is small enough to require offset input and output jacks. The upside for players is that the pedal takes up little room and should slot onto a pedalboard without much reshuffling of what is already there.
Sources (3)
- Mr Black OD-503 Dynamic Amplifier Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2019-11-07
- Mr Black OD-503 mini pedal: A subtle drive designed to make your guitar rig 'sing', gearnews.com, 2019-11-08
- Mr Black Pedals launches the OD-503, Guitar.com, 2019-11-07
