Seymour Duncan 805-OD - 805 OVERDRIVE

A Modern Take on the "808-style" Overdrive

The 805 Overdrive belongs to the large family of overdrives inspired by "808-style" circuits, known for their singing grain and ability to push an amp. Where the 805 stands out is its more modern approach: an extended gain range and especially a 3-band active EQ, much more precise than a simple tone potentiometer. The result: you can keep the DNA of a classic overdrive while finely adjusting the lows, mids, and highs to your guitar, pickups, and amp.

Who Is It For, and In Which Styles?

The Seymour Duncan 805 is designed for guitarists who want a single overdrive pedal capable of covering everything : blues, classic rock, hard rock, modern metal, prog, and even more "session" contexts where you need to switch from subtle boost to denser drive. It works equally well in the studio (for cleanly stacking takes) and live, thanks to its EQ that helps instantly find the right balance in an unfamiliar PA or backline.

It suits both intermediate musicians looking for a simple yet highly adjustable pedal and advanced guitarists seeking a sculpting solution to tighten the low end, scoop mids for a metal riff, or conversely push the mids for a standout solo.

Controls, Ergonomics, and Pedalboard Integration

The interface is straightforward and effective: Level controls the output volume (perfect for boosting an amp input), Drive adjusts the saturation, and the active EQ with Bass, Middle, Treble lets you reshape the character without locking yourself into a single curve. This is precisely what makes the difference: you can refine the grain and retain body, or keep a generous drive while avoiding excessive bass.

With its True Bypass, the 805 integrates easily into an effects chain: at the start for a boost and shaping, before distortion to tighten the low end, or at the end of the drive section to finalize the tonal balance. The power supply accepting up to 18V is a real plus on a modern pedalboard: more dynamics, cleaner sound, and a feeling of an amp that breathes more.

The Sound

The 805 offers a meaty, precise, and articulated overdrive. As a clean boost, it adds punch and controllable presence, ideal for "working" a tube amp without flabbiness. In crunch, the grain remains clear and snappy, with an attack that follows palm-muted playing and fast phrasing well. Increasing the Drive yields a denser saturation, suitable for big rock and metal, especially if you use the EQ to control the lows and place the mids exactly where you want them.

The 3-band EQ is key: it allows you to shift from a warm, round bluesy tone to a more modern, sharper register without falling into harsh highs. Regarding references, the 805 has notably been spotted in setups of guitarists like Tosin Abasi, Plini, Mike Einziger, and Chris Shiflett, proof of its ability to cover very different needs, from precise modern tones to more direct rock.

Technical specifications

Effects	Distortion / Overdrive / Fuzz, Boost, Overdrive	EQ	3 channels
Technology	Analog	Settings	level, drive, treble, bass, mid
Format	Pedal	Use	guitar
Inputs	Jack	Color	Green
Outputs	Jack	Power supply	9V battery, Optional AC adapter
Switch	On/Off

Type	overdrive	Input impedance	470k ohms
Distortion circuit	glass diodes, back-to-back configuration	Output impedance	1k ohms
Input	6.35mm Jack (mono)	Dimensions (L x W x H)	121 x 66 x 35 mm
Output	6.35mm Jack (mono)	Weight	360 g
Gain range	8 dB to 36 dB	Consumption	4.5 mA
EQ center frequencies	Bass 90 Hz, Mid 750 Hz, Treble 2.1 kHz