The OKKO FX Diablo GH Signature is a 2-in-1 overdrive and clean boost pedal from German maker OKKO FX, built in collaboration with blues guitarist Gregor Hilden. OKKO FX describes it as a "super-dynamic overdrive and clean boost" that offers "exceptional dynamic qualities and super-clear, warm tone in a precisely adjustable 2-in-1 Overdrive"1. The GH model is based on the classic Diablo but comes with a few tweaks and a set of new controls that affect the "feel" of the pedal1, and it carries a list price of €209,24 excluding shipping1.
The GH model is based on the classic Diablo but comes with a few tweaks and a set of new controls that affect the "feel" of the pedal1. Unlike many other overdrives, OKKO FX says it works perfectly with clean amps1, which suits players who take their drive from the pedal rather than a cranked amplifier.
A 2-in-1 overdrive and clean boost
The pedal has two footswitchable sections. The drive side is a versatile low to medium gain overdrive with an exceptionally dynamic response that preserves the character of your instruments and is very sensitive to your playing technique, as an independent technical analysis of the Diablo circuit put it3. The second section is an independent footswitchable clean boost with its own tone control, positioned post-overdrive4. MusicRadar's Michael Astley-Brown called it a "clean boost for tone connoisseurs"4.
"The BOOST section is a completely independent circuit and is located AFTER the DRIVE."
Because the boost sits after the drive, it pushes the already-overdriven signal rather than feeding more signal into the overdrive itself. Gearnews described the pedal as quite complex for an overdrive pedal, with an added boost as well2.
The controls
The Diablo GH carries the regular Gain and Volume controls2, plus the feel controls that set it apart from the standard Diablo.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain / Volume | The regular drive and output level controls2 |
| FEED | Controls low frequencies in the input signal, allowing tight and transparent sounds even with the fattest sounding neck pickups1 |
| BODY | A bit different from the regular Diablo: adds low mids in the first gain stage for thick, singing lead sounds1 |
| MIDS | Changes frequencies in the tone control, for matching pedal and amp tone1 |
| DYN | Sets headroom; increasing it results in less compression, tighter bass and more punch1 |
| INPUT mini-switch | A 3-position switch that sets the sensitivity of the input gain stage for best interaction with your guitars1 |
| BOOST knob | The master volume of the boost section, whose gain is set fixed1 |
| TONE (boost) | Controls treble content of the boosted signal; dial back for sweet boosted lead sounds1 |
MusicRadar also noted the input and mids mini-switches and the Feed control for adjusting lower frequencies at launch4.
A Diablo with new feel controls
The standard Diablo already had more than the usual Gain, Tone and Level knobs, with FEED, BODY and a headroom switch among its controls3. On the original, the BODY control takes effect on mids and compression3, while on the GH the BODY control adds low mids in the first gain stage for thick, singing lead sounds1. The Diablo also came in two versions: the regular one and the Diablo Gain+ with two footswitchable gain settings3.
The DYN control is the clearest "feel" addition on the GH. OKKO FX explains that increasing the headroom results in less compression, tighter bass and more punch1, so you can set how open or squashed the pedal feels against your picking dynamics. The INPUT 3-position mini-switch sets the sensitivity of the input gain stage for best interaction with your guitars1, which lets one pedal sit well with a range of pickups and output levels.
Gregor Hilden and the signature model
Gregor Hilden is a German guitar collector and blues guitarist who collaborated with OKKO FX to create the Diablo GH4. He was one of the first players to buy an Okko Diablo back when the company started out more than ten years earlier, according to Gearnews2, and he kept the Diablo as his main overdrive ever since, playing it in hundreds of shows and in the numerous guitar demo videos on his GregsGuitars YouTube channel1. Gearnews notes he is famous for continually using the pedal on his YouTube channel to demonstrate vintage guitars2.
"High time to say THANK YOU with this signature model."
The signature model was made as a thank you to Hilden for those years of use1. Hilden was one of the first players to buy an Okko Diablo back when they started out some 10 plus years ago24, and the GH Signature was created in collaboration between him and OKKO FX4.
Videos
GregsGuitars - Gregor Hilden
GregsGuitars - Gregor Hilden
HaarGuitars
Questions
What is the difference between the OKKO FX Diablo GH Signature and the standard Diablo?
The GH model is based on the classic Diablo but adds a few tweaks and a set of new controls that affect the feel of the pedal. The BODY control is different from the regular Diablo, adding low mids in the first gain stage for thick, singing lead sounds, and the boost section has its own tone control.
What does the DYN control do on the Diablo GH?
DYN adjusts the headroom of the circuit. Increasing the headroom results in less compression, tighter bass and more punch, so you can set how squashed or open the overdrive feels against your picking dynamics.
Is the boost on the Diablo GH after the overdrive?
Yes. The boost section is a completely independent circuit and is located after the drive section, so it pushes the already-overdriven signal rather than feeding the overdrive itself. Its gain is set fixed, and the BOOST knob acts as the master volume.
Does the Diablo GH work with clean amps?
Yes. OKKO FX states that, unlike many other overdrives, the Diablo GH works perfectly with clean amps, which suits players who get their drive from the pedal rather than a cranked amplifier.
Who is Gregor Hilden?
Gregor Hilden is a German guitar collector and blues guitarist who has used the Diablo as his main overdrive for over ten years, playing it in hundreds of shows and in the demo videos on his GregsGuitars YouTube channel. The signature model was made as a thank you to him.
Sources (4)
- DIABLO GH Signature, OKKO FX
- Okko FX Gregor Hilden Diablo Signature Overdrive, gearnews.com, 2017-04-21
- Guitar FX Layouts: OKKO Diablo, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2012-09-14
- Okko unleashes Diablo GH Gregor Hilden Signature Overdrive pedal, MusicRadar, 2017-04-20
