DOD FX75-B Stereo Flanger

The DOD FX75-B is a discontinued analog stereo flanger with a Delay control, released in 1987 in DOD's FX series.

What it is

The FX75-B is an analog bucket-brigade flanger made by DOD, which was later owned by Cortek, the parent company of Cort Guitars. Its sources date its introduction to 1987, and the manual excerpt says it was made until about mid-1997. It replaced the earlier FX75 in DOD's FX lineup. The main change from the original was the addition of a Delay control, which gave it a delay range of roughly 0.5 to 6 milliseconds alongside Speed, Width or Depth, and Regen. What separates it from related DOD flangers is its stereo output: it has one input and two outputs, so the flanged signal can be split between two channels or amplifiers. Sources describe the sound as smoother and more musical than some contemporary flangers, with a tremolo-like character at maximum settings. Related models that can be confused with it include the original FX75, the later FX75C, the FX72 bass version, and the FX747 Supersonic Stereo Flange. Sources conflict on some specifications, so the owner should check the physical unit before relying on any single figure.

Specifications

Introduced: 1987 (per guitar-list database and Reverb listing excerpt)
Status: Discontinued; manufactured until about mid-1997 per manual excerpt
Circuit: Analog, bucket-brigade delay using an MN3007 BBD chip
Controls: Delay (0.5 to 6 ms), Speed (0.8 to 8 Hz), Width (called Depth in some listings), Regen, footswitch
Inputs and outputs: One input, two outputs (stereo)
Input impedance: 500 kOhm
Output impedance: 1 kOhm
Bandwidth: 40 Hz to 16 kHz
Gain: 0 dB
Power: 9V DC, center negative, 10 mA (most sources); one source lists a 9V PP3 battery
Dimensions: 76 mm wide, 127 mm high
Finish: Silver (1989 listing) or gray (guitar-list); sources conflict
Country of manufacture: USA (guitar-list database)
Internal trim pots: Three; the manual advises against adjusting them

How it's used

Musicians use the FX75-B as a modulation pedal for clean, crunch and high-gain guitar rigs, placed in the effects loop or after drive pedals in a standard guitar chain. One retailer describes it as a period-correct modulation choice for boards built around DOD chorus and delay pedals of the same era. In stereo, it is used with two amplifiers for spatial effects. Video demonstrations of it on bass exist, but the FX72 is the dedicated DOD bass model.

Suggested usage

Slow, wide clean chords
A slow rate with moderate width is suggested for large, three-dimensional clean chords (retailer settings guide, not DOD).
Chorus-like arpeggios
A medium rate with low regeneration gives a chewy, chorus-like movement on arpeggios.
Big clean swirl
Rate around 10 to 11 o'clock, depth at noon, and regeneration just below self-oscillation, per the retailer's guide.
Jet sweep
Rate at 1 to 2 o'clock, depth at 2 to 3 o'clock, and regeneration higher but short of squealing, per the retailer's guide.
Keep regen moderate
A user reports harsh metallic sounds when regeneration feeds the pedal back into itself at high settings. Stereo operation may reduce harshness at higher settings, according to an Equipboard summary.
Expect limited very slow sweeps
One forum post says the lower end of the Speed range is less slow than on some other DOD flangers.

What reviewers said

Audiofanzine user reviews
Two user reviews, both translated from French, average five out of five. One praises the chorus and flange sound and rates the price-to-quality ratio as excellent.
America's Pedals
A retailer overview that calls it a strong-sounding stereo flanger that still competes with many modern designs. The retailer has a commercial interest in the product.
GearBug user reviews
Mixed. Users praise the stereo outputs and flanger sound, and report a weak footswitch, a common issue with older DOD pedals. One reviewer calls it nothing special.

What it is

Specifications

How it's used

Suggested usage

Slow, wide clean chords

Chorus-like arpeggios

Big clean swirl

Jet sweep

Keep regen moderate

Expect limited very slow sweeps

What reviewers said

Sources