The Bishop is an overdrive pedal from Oddfellow Effects, designed in collaboration with Scotty Smith of ProAnalog Devices. Pedal of the Day describes it as a more basic, stripped-down overdrive than the company's Caveman Drive, but one with "a ton of punch and kick to get your amp sounding incredible"1. Premier Guitar, reviewing it as part of a dirt pedal roundup, described it as "an overdrive that specializes in the subtleties, softer glow, and patina of Peter Green's tone palette," at a street price of $1652.
What it does and how it is controlled
The Bishop keeps its control layout simple: Volume, Gain and Treb (Tone) controls, set up like a lot of overdrive pedals1. Pedal of the Day found a range of uses across that layout, saying you can use it as a slightly gritty boost, a nice, light first-stage drive or a more powerful, grungier-sounding effect to push your amp1.
Premier Guitar's reviewer came away with a mixed but mostly positive view of how the controls behave together2:
"Nuanced gain control. Airy and detailed at higher tone settings. Nice interactivity between controls. Great with toppy single coils and hot humbuckers."2
The same review noted a drawback at the other end of the control range: it can sound comparatively boxy at mellower tone settings2.
Power and bypass
The Bishop runs on 9V to 18V, with 9V battery or AC adapter compatibility using a DC, center negative connector1. That 9V to 18V range gives some headroom if your supply offers higher voltage, though the pedal works at standard 9V.
Bypass is switchable between buffered bypass and true bypass by way of an internal switch. Pedal of the Day notes that inside, "you'll find you can flick a switch to go between buffered and true bypass"1. Premier Guitar's reviewer appreciated the placement, saying "you don't have to hunt for the very practical true bypass/buffer switch"2. There is also room for a 9V battery just adjacent to the board-mounted footswitch2.
How it compares to the Caveman
Within Oddfellow's own range, the Bishop sits below the Caveman Drive. Pedal of the Day puts the difference plainly: "While the Caveman is a dual-channel drive, The Bishop is a more basic, stripped-down overdrive"1. Players who want one channel and a short control panel get it here; players who want two channels look to the Caveman. For where the Bishop sits among drive pedals generally, see Overdrive Pedals, or the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison for two of the circuits it sits alongside.
Videos
Premier Guitar
oddfellowfx
Shawn Tubbs
Questions
Is the Oddfellow Bishop true bypass?
It can be either. The Bishop has an internal switch that lets you choose between buffered bypass and true bypass, so you can set it to suit the rest of your board. Premier Guitar's reviewer called it a practical feature you don't have to hunt for, since it is placed near the board-mounted footswitch.
Does the Oddfellow Bishop take a battery?
Yes. The Bishop accepts a 9V battery or an AC adapter with a DC, center negative connector. Premier Guitar's review notes there is room for a 9V battery just adjacent to the board-mounted footswitch, so a battery fits inside the enclosure without difficulty.
How is the Bishop different from the Oddfellow Caveman?
Pedal of the Day describes the Caveman as a dual-channel drive, while the Bishop is a more basic, stripped-down overdrive with just Volume, Gain and Treb controls. The Caveman line also runs at higher power in its V2 form. The Bishop is the simpler pedal of the two.
Where is the Oddfellow Bishop made?
Pedal of the Day lists the Bishop as made in CA, USA, in a durable powder coat finish enclosure.
Sources (2)
- Oddfellow Effects The Bishop Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2016-06-15
- Ringside at the OD Rodeo: 5 Dirt Pedal Reviews, Premier Guitar, 2016-05-31
