Mojotone BB-OD Pedal Kit
Let’s talk about pedals! Who better to talk about than Mojotone and the new BB-OD Pedal Kit? Why is that?
Mojotone provides parts to assemble pickups and amps. And they also sell completed pickups and amps. While they have some completed pedals that they sell, you can also get the parts and build your own. Check it out:
You should be able to look at the names and get a good idea of what they goal is of each one. The BB-OD is clearly Mojotone’s take on the Bluesbreaker. But it doesn’t stop there. What is the point of building your own pedal if it doesn’t have refinements! Right?
Unboxing
The pedal arrives in a handy tray that will soon become your new preferred place for picks, batteries, spare parts, and so on:
Before getting too excited and jumping in with a smoking hot soldering iron, grab the instructions. Here is the thing. As with any project, it’s always a good idea to read the instructions at least once. Who are we kidding? LOL! We are talking about guitar players here! There should be a 2-3X minimum on reading them! HaHa!
Seriously, make certain you can spot each part by how it is described on the page. Also consider trying a test fit before the molten solder starts to flow.
Assembly
Just for giggles, here are some photos that is a bit of a walk-through of the process.
BB-OD Main Circuit Board
At this point, you might be ready to close it up. Why not? If you choose to add custom diodes to contour your own clipping options, you will need to choose the proper position for the red DIP switch.
Evaluation
The scope of control from this pedal is impressive. Most impressive.
Sure, you are going to be able to get your timeless ’60s and ’70s tones. The range of control from each pot delivers much more range that I was expecting. Smooth warmth, rich voice, and full tone that is excellent for blues. There is an edgy character that retains enough sweetness to maintain an excellent balance.
Let’s say your rig needs a clean boost. The BB-OD can do that too.
Secret Weapon
The stock clipping selections take the BB-OD to a next level. The Soft Clip is a more natural sounding response. If you need the versatility of a tighter hard-edged focus, the Hard Clip has a more modern feel.
The MOD position can serve two purposes. One is if you do not add your own custom diodes. Then it becomes and OFF position for neither Soft or Hard clipping. Of course, if you want to let your freak flag fly, experiment with different diode values to tailor your own clipping option.
Features
Diode-clipping (Hard & Soft)
Add-your-own-diode option
Diode-clipping bypass
True bypass
Small Footprint
Demo
Opportunities
The only thing that I could possibly find that might make the BB-OD even better. Power. The pedal is set up for DC power only. That’s great for a lot of players. But we are talking about guitar players. LOL! An option for battery power would put the BB-OD above reproach in my opinion. I know, I know. If you look at the photos, there is simply no room. I get that. I also know that guitar players will have a meltdown over anything they can. HaHa!
Conclusion
If you are new to modding pedals and are ready to get your feet wet, Mojotone is a great place to start. The BB-OD is a well-rounded, versatile option that delivers the goods while offering a platform to develop some modifications skills. The assembly is bulletproof and the chassis is built like a tank. And it has an appealing price point.
For reference, this Mojotone BB-OD Pedal Kit set evaluation was conducted with the following: ADA MP-1 Tube Pre-Amp loaded with Tube Amp Doctor ECC83 Premium Selected tubes, using the ADA MC-1 MIDI Controller. Fryette LX II Stereo Tube Power Amplifier. Physical cabs use are Marshall 1960B, Mojotone British, and Peavey 6505 cabs loaded with Celestion Classic Series Vintage 30s and Classic Series G12M Greenbacks.
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