The Fulltone OCD ("Obsessive Compulsive Overdrive") has established itself as an essential overdrive/distortion pedal for its balance between attack, sustain, and harmonic complexity. The V2 version (released in 2018) takes the concept further with improvements focused on signal consistency and dynamics, allowing it to integrate uncompromisingly into longer effects chains, loopers, and stage rigs.
The OCD V2 is aimed at guitarists seeking expressive saturation, capable of moving from a light crunch to a powerful distortion without losing definition. It excels in blues, rock, classic rock, indie, and alternative, and performs very well as an amp boost (to thicken and bring out the mids) as well as the main drive on a clean channel. In the studio, its responsiveness to playing facilitates dynamic takes; live, it remains clear in the mix and retains a sharp attack.
The OCD V2 combines a discreet Class A JFET 2N5457 input stage that increases impedance and dynamic response, with an output buffer that helps preserve tonal balance when the pedal is surrounded by other effects. An internal switch allows you to choose between True Bypass and enhanced bypass: in enhanced bypass mode, the signal remains more "alive" and consistent on a pedalboard, while true bypass prioritizes a complete circuit cut when bypassed. The result: a pedal that remains sensitive to touch, to single-coil pickups as well as humbuckers, and to guitar volume variations.
Expect a dense and open tone, with a present yet non-aggressive high end, and a firm low end if you dial in the gain. The OCD V2 stands out with a precise attack and a reserve of harmonics that adds dimension to chords as well as solo lines. It reacts quickly to the pick and right-hand nuances, and its volume knob behavior allows you to go from an almost clean sound to a singing drive without touching the settings.