In 2019, Josh stumbled across a DOD Overdrive / Preamp that predated the "Gray Box" 250 pedals but which in fact, according to an interview he had with David himself a year later, turned out to be the 75th DOD pedal ever made and one of the first ten DOD Overdrive / Preamps (250) ever sold. It was like uncovering the Dead Sea Scrolls! The internals featured the same DOD 250 circuit but with a few changes. The internal parts dated as early as 1972 and, according to David, were harvested from old radios and electronics he scavenged when he started building his first effects.
The JHS Overdrive Preamp is a faithful replication of this unobtainable V1 of DOD’s most loved pedal. The controls are simple. The Level control adjusts the overall output of the circuit and lets you cut or boost the signal, this control has been corrected to give much more volume on tap. The Gain control adjusts the amount of gain inside the overdrive circuit, turning it up creates more clipping. An added slider switch offers another completely different clipping arrangement found in a second early big-box unit which Josh acquired.
This "Big Box V1" DOD 250 circuit definitely feels like a 250, but with a few changes: more gain/grit overall and more unique low/mids.
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