Video by Wampler Pedals via YouTube
Source
https://www.guitarpedalcourse.com/courses/complete-beginner-s-guide-how-to-design-your-own-guitar-pedal-circuits?coupon=yt25
👉 Check it out for a step-by-step course on how to design, tweak, and create your own pedals—even if you have ZERO electronics experience!
đź’Ą LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Get 25% OFF by clicking link below đź’Ą
👉 https://www.guitarpedalcourse.com/courses/complete-beginner-s-guide-how-to-design-your-own-guitar-pedal-circuits?coupon=yt25
__________________________________________________
In this video we’ll break down the Fulltone OCD guitar pedal circuit and show you exactly how it works. We’ll tackle that age-old debate – you know, how people either absolutely love or completely hate this pedal, with seemingly no middle ground.
We’ll start by looking at its history, including those early internet arguments about whether it was based on a Klon or Tube Screamer (spoiler: it’s neither). I’ll also share the story behind its name – how Mike Fuller spent years obsessing over getting this circuit just right.
Then we’ll get hands-on. I’ll show you:
The actual circuit on a breadboard
How to understand the circuit using my simple "Lego block" approach (making complex electronics easy to grasp)
The basic building blocks: op amps, diodes, and tone controls
The fun really starts when we begin modifying the circuit. I’ll demonstrate:
What happens when we swap out different types of diodes
How moving components around changes the sound
Ways to add more gain stages
How to adjust the EQ
The difference between hard and soft clipping
For each modification, I’ll play the pedal so you can hear exactly how these changes affect the tone. My goal is to show you that understanding and modifying pedal circuits isn’t rocket science – it’s more like playing with building blocks. Once you understand the basics, you can create entirely new sounds just by rearranging and tweaking components.
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 – Love it or hate it? The Fulltone OCD debate
00:27 – Is it a Klon, a Tube Screamer, or something else?
00:57 – The story behind the OCD circuit
01:26 – Breaking down the stock circuit on a breadboard
02:17 – What happens when you tweak the gain?
03:17 – How the HP switch affects the tone
03:47 – Understanding the schematic (simplified!)
06:39 – How to modify the OCD circuit for different sounds
07:57 – Changing diode placement = new tones!
08:53 – Adding more gain stages = even more tonal options
10:21 – How to add an EQ stage for even more customization
12:10 – The Lego Block Method: How circuits really work