“A bit of EQ tweaking with the Bad setting will get it…

“A bit of EQ tweaking with the Bad setting will get it sounding like a viable substitute for a Klon... there’s a world of drive to be explored”: DOD Badder Monkey review

What is it?

DigiTech/DOD discontinued its always affordably priced Bad Monkey drive pedal back in 2015.

But renewed interest in it grew after Josh Scott of JHS Pedals posted a video in 2023 suggesting that the Bad Monkey could ape the sounds of both the Ibanez TS-10 Tube Screamer and the Klon Centaur.

Now, there’s a revamped version, the Badder Monkey, that may just take the edge off that increased demand for vintage units.

Specs

PRICE: $149 | £129 | €149
ORIGIN: Indonesia
TYPE: Overdrive pedal
FEATURES: True bypass, reversible StagePlate
CONTROLS: Bananas (Gain), Curiosity (level), Barrel (Blend), Grunt (Low EQ), Screech (Mid/High EQ), Blend Mode toggle switch, Bypass footswitch
CONNECTIONS: Standard input, standard output
POWER: 9V battery or 9V DC adaptor (not supplied) 25mA
DIMENSIONS: 70 (w) x 118 (d) x 55mm (h)
CONTACT: DigiTech

Usability and sounds

While the pedal has the sound of the original Bad Monkey at its heart – with the same overdrive circuit, gain range and EQ frequencies – it also adds two new overdrive signal paths: one more extreme (Badder) and one more subtle (Behaved).

The really clever thing about the pedal, though, is how these three can be used singly or combined.

A continuously variable Barrel knob has three notched detent points (Behaved, Bad and Badder) that select the individual sounds of each circuit, but positions between these detent markers allow blends of any two circuits.

The really clever thing about the pedal, though, is how these three can be used singly or combined

A three-way toggle switch lets you do this, blending with the Bad circuit either in phase or out of phase with the other two circuits, while its third position brings in Troop mode, bypassing the Barrel knob and giving you the three parallel overdrive circuits at the same time, blended evenly together.

Verdict

Verdict: ★★★★½

The Bad Monkey features a useful StagePlate that can be reversed to utilise a pre-installed hook-and-loop pad. The pedal also ships with stickers, picks and a barrel keychain/pick holder containing mini monkeys. (Image credit: Matt Lincoln / Future)

DOD probably could have simply reissued the original pedal and satisfied demand, but this reimagining is by far a better proposition.

.MusicRadar verdict: Because of the many more options onboard than your standard drive pedal, there is a learning curve, but what you’re getting is a versatile workhorse that can be finely dialled in to cover a myriad of needs.