DOD Looking Glass Overdrive

About the DOD Looking Glass Overdrive

The Looking Glass Overdrive is a collaboration between DOD and the boutique pedal company SHOE Pedals. Christopher Venter of SHOE Pedals is known for his unique circuits, colorful perspective on classic effects, and minimalist aesthetic design. The collaboration between DOD and SHOE retains all of Christopher's strengths and adds some mainstream tonal appeal at an accessible price. I was first introduced to Christopher when he participated in an online forum for an octave fuzz in 2012. I was very impressed with the build quality, tone, and feature set of that fuzz (and several others later) and knew Christopher had a good ear and great attention to detail. This attention to detail culminated in the meticulously designed Looking Glass Overdrive, creating a sweet and musical drive with a character that works well for any task – lead, rhythm, low gain, high gain, or even as a tone-shaping boost.

Designer's Note: Years ago, while living in Brooklyn, I researched to find the overdrive that would work for me. Most of them were minor variations of some classic op-amp designs that simply didn't work for me. I tried a ridiculous number of pedals and found myself not entirely satisfied with any of them. So, having originally resolved to only make weird experimental fuzz pedals, I decided to break that rule and create a really good overdrive that I actually wanted to play. After starting with a theory and refining it through extensive testing, I invented the Salvador Machine and named it after one of my favorite David Bowie songs. When DOD approached me about collaborating on a new pedal, I was given the freedom to do what I wanted (within reason). So, I first went back to my roots and designed a high-gain wild fuzz. It sounded great, but I thought to myself it would only be really useful for a few people. I wanted to make something for EVERYONE. So, I decided to revisit my basic overdrive concept and redesign it with a completely different approach. The result is the Looking Glass. A super responsive Class A FET design that I hope will give many players the satisfaction of feeling that their overdrive rewards their unique playing style. It's great for blues, of course, but it's also great for hard rock, indie, experimental music, psychedelic music, shoegaze, alternative, punk, bass, etc. -C.J.M. Ventre

Pedal Controls and Features

The DOD Looking Glass Overdrive features a user-friendly layout designed for intuitive control over your tone. The front panel includes:

Front Panel Layout: The pedal features a white finish with black text and silver knobs. From left to right, top row: LEVEL and GAIN knobs. Bottom row: BASS CUT and TREBLE knobs, a blue LED indicator, and a central footswitch. Between the top and bottom rows, the "LOOKING GLASS OVERDRIVE" logo is prominently displayed. Below the logo, "DESIGNED BY SHOE" is printed. To the left of the BASS CUT knob is a switch labeled "HIGH/LOW". To the right of the GAIN knob is a knob labeled "INPUT FILTER".

• 1. LEVEL: Sets the output volume of the effect. It is recommended to lower the volume when switching to high gain mode to avoid large volume jumps.
• 2. GAIN: Controls how easily the pedal is pushed into overdrive. As the Looking Glass rewards dynamic playing, most settings can produce a clean sound when played lightly. The maximum overdrive level increases as this knob is turned up.
• 3. BASS CUT/TREBLE: The BASS CUT knob adjusts the amount of low-end content in the signal (before overdrive). It is recommended to start by setting this control at noon and adjusting up or down to thicken or brighten the overdrive to taste. Tip: Maxed out, this control produces a very raw sound. The TREBLE knob adjusts the brightness of the pedal's overdrive sound. Tip: You may want to move this control to align approximately with the Bass Cut control for a balanced sound. Or, for less neutral sounds, set the two indicators differently from each other to create the drive sound that works best for you.
• 4. INPUT FILTER: This is a variable filter that adjusts the tone of the input signal. To help match brighter guitars and reduce the prominence of sharp pick attack, turn this control further to the left. For a brighter sound with a more prominent attack, turn this control up fully. This control will also adjust the midrange content of the signal so that the midrange becomes more prominent as the knob is turned further to the left.
• 5. HIGH/LOW: The Looking Glass offers two different overdrive modes. The Low mode is used for clean tone shaping, light compression, and lower gain overdrive. The High mode picks up approximately where the Low mode leaves off, increasing the pedal's output and allowing for low-to-high gain overdrive sounds that remain highly touch-sensitive across the entire range. Note: It is recommended that you lower the level when switching modes to avoid loud volume jumps and new noise biasing while the pedal adjusts to the new gain setting.
• 6. INPUT: Connect your instrument here.
• 7. FOOTSWITCH: Engages and disengages the effect.
• 8. LED: Illuminates when the effect is active.
• 9. OUTPUT: Connect to the input of the next pedal or to your amplifier's input.

Internal DIP Switches: The input filter control is passive and interacts very well with your guitar's electronics when you are not using a buffer in front of the Looking Glass. When using buffered pedals before the Looking Glass, you may want to adjust the left DIP switch (1), which slightly increases the pedal's input impedance.

[Diagram Description: A small inset shows a circuit board with two DIP switches labeled "1" and "2". The switches are shown in the "ON" position.]

Using the Looking Glass

Most guitarists/bassists prefer to place the Looking Glass at the beginning of their effects chain, so start with that positioning. A typical effects signal chain will consist of Overdrive effects first, then modulation effects (Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Tremolo, etc.) next, and finally time-based effects (Delay and Reverb). Placing the Looking Glass at the front of your chain or effects will preserve the vibe, regardless of the pedal combination that follows. That said, you are always free to experiment with different effect placements.

Specifications

Safety and Compliance

This section provides important safety information regarding the use and handling of the DOD Looking Glass Overdrive.

Altitude Warning: The following is indicative of use at low altitude; do not use this product above 2,000 m (6,561 ft).

General Electrical Safety:

• Symbols like the lightning bolt in a triangle indicate dangerous voltages are present. The exclamation mark in a triangle indicates that the user should consult the owner's manual.
• There are no user-serviceable parts inside. Do not open the unit or attempt self-repair. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. Opening the chassis for any reason will void the manufacturer's warranty.
• Do not expose the unit to rain or moisture. If liquid is spilled, unplug immediately and take it to a dealer for servicing.
• Unplug the unit during thunderstorms to prevent damage.

UK Mains Plug Warning: A molded plug cut from a cord is unsafe. Dispose of the plug in an appropriate disposal location. Never insert a damaged or cut power plug into a 13 AMP power socket. Do not use the plug without the fuse cover in place. Replacement fuse covers can be obtained from your local dealer. Replacement fuses are 13 amps and must be ASTA approved to BS1362.

Disposal: Do not mix this product with general household waste. There is a separate collection system for used electronic products according to legislation requiring proper treatment, recovery, and recycling. For disposal, contact local authorities for the correct method. This ensures the product is processed for recycling, preventing potential negative effects on the environment and human health.

Important Usage Precautions:

• Read and keep these instructions.
• Heed all warnings and follow all instructions.
• Do not use this appliance near water.
• Clean only with a dry cloth.
• For indoor use only.
• Do not block any ventilation openings. Install according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Do not install near heat sources like radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appliances (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
• Use only attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
• Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods.

Power Cord and Plug Safety:

• Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades, one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding pin. The wider blade or third pin is for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit your outlet, consult an electrician to replace the obsolete outlet.
• Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, especially at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit the apparatus.
• Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, or table specified by the manufacturer or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.

Servicing: Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

Power Connection and Wiring:

• The ON/OFF switch on this equipment does NOT interrupt the connection to the mains.
• The plug must remain readily operable. For rack mounting or installation where the plug is not accessible, a multi-pole mains switch with contact separation of at least 3 mm in each pole must be incorporated into the rack or building's electrical installation.
• If connected to a 240 V supply, an appropriate power cord with CSA/UL certification for that supply should be used.
• This appliance must be connected to a mains socket outlet with protective earth connection.
• The conductors of the power cord are colored according to the following code: GREEN AND YELLOW – EARTH / BLUE – NEUTRAL / BROWN – LIVE.
• If the plug's wire colors do not match the color markings on the terminals of your plug, proceed as follows:
• The GREEN AND YELLOW colored conductor must be connected to the plug terminal marked with the letter E, or with the EARTH symbol, or colored GREEN, or GREEN AND YELLOW.
• The BLUE colored conductor must be connected to the terminal marked N or colored BLACK.
• The BROWN colored conductor must be connected to the terminal marked L or colored RED.
• This equipment may require the use of a different line cord, attachment plug, or both, depending on the available power source at the installation. If the attachment plug needs to be altered, consult qualified service personnel.
• The GREEN/YELLOW wire must be connected directly to the unit's chassis.

Grounding Warning: If the ground is bypassed, certain fault conditions in the unit or the system to which it is connected may result in full line voltage between the chassis and ground. Serious injury or death can occur if the chassis and ground are touched simultaneously.