Friedman BE-OD

^# 37

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$169.99 to $199.99 Price Tier: Standard

5.0 (42)

2 Critic Reviews

4 Reviews

All time low price

Find out who is using Friedman BE-OD

14 community setups

40 wishlisted

136 saved

Page last updated Jul 04, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated July 3, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (121)

$199.99 $169.99 $30.00 · All time low

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4.5 (41)

$169.99

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4.5 (181)

$169.99

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5.0 (113)

$169.99 41 available New

$89.00 43 available Used

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5.0 (6)

$169.99

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5.0 (9)

$199.99

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4.7 (229)

$185.00 $183.00 $2.00 · All time low

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£175.00

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Average Price: $165

Standard/Professional

$50

$176+

Price Tier

In the Overdrive Effects Pedals category, Friedman BE-OD is priced in the upper end of the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Friedman BE-OD". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

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Get a taste of iconic British tone with the Friedman BE-OD Overdrive Pedal. This compact, pedalboard-friendly device delivers the sought-after sound of the legendary BE-100 amplifier, giving you access to a wide array of tones - from a subtle, tube-like breakup to aggressive, saturated overdrive.

The BE-OD Overdrive Pedal is equipped with six responsive knobs - Volume, Gain, Tight, Bass, Treble, and Presence - for extensive tonal control. From a hint of tube-like grit to a saturated lead tone, the Gain knob has got you covered. The Tight control allows you to tweak the low-end response, offering a range from a focused, articulate sound to a loose, vintage vibe. The active Bass, Treble, and Presence knobs provide precise EQ shaping to match your guitar and amp.

This overdrive pedal is not just about the tone but also about feeling. Its fully analog circuit uses high-quality components to emulate the natural sag, bloom, and three-dimensional quality of an all-tube signal path. This makes the BE-OD Overdrive respond dynamically to your playing, delivering a fluid, expressive tone that inspires creativity.

Built in the USA, it features a rugged, powder-coated enclosure designed to withstand years of performance use. Its premium footswitches and jacks attest to Friedman's commitment to no-compromise tone and construction.

Key Features: - Authentic Friedman tube amplifier sound - Controls: Volume, Gain, Tight, Bass, Treble and Presence - True Bypass - Can be powered between 9-18VDC (power supply not included) - Made in the USA - Responsive and extensive tonal control - Delivers a wide range of overdrive tones - Rugged, durable construction suitable for performance use

Product specs

Pedal Type	Overdrive
Analog/Digital	Analog
Inputs	1 x 1/4"
Outputs	1 x 1/4"
True Bypass	Yes
Power Source	9-18V DC power supply required (sold separately)
Power Usage	7mA
Height	2.25" with knobs
Width	2.5"
Depth	4.75"

FAQs

What type of power supply does the Friedman BE-OD require?: The Friedman BE-OD requires a 9-18V DC power supply, which is sold separately, and has a power usage of 7mA.
Is the Friedman BE-OD suitable for high-gain tones?: Yes, the Friedman BE-OD is designed to deliver a wide-ranging, British-flavored overdrive that can be pushed into high-gain territory, emulating the tone of the Friedman BE100 amplifier.
Can the Friedman BE-OD be used as a preamp?: Yes, the Friedman BE-OD can be used as a preamp pedal, providing versatile tonal shaping capabilities for your guitar rig.
Does the Friedman BE-OD feature true bypass?: Yes, the Friedman BE-OD is equipped with true bypass, ensuring your guitar's signal remains unaffected when the pedal is not in use.
What are the input and output options on the Friedman BE-OD?: The Friedman BE-OD has a single 1/4" input and a single 1/4" output, making it easy to integrate into your existing pedalboard setup.

Videos

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Pete Thorn

FRIEDMAN BE-OD OVERDRIVE demo by Pete Thorn

Pete Thorn

Friedman BE-OD Overdrive Pedal Demo

Sweetwater

Friedman BE-OD - Killer Overdrive Pedal Alert - From Van Halen To Hendrix This One Does It All

Brett Papa

Friedman BE-OD Pedal Demo - Sammy Boller

Sammy Boller

Friedman BE OD Overdrive Pedal - does the Gain Trim pot make a difference?

John Nathan Cordy

Friedman BE-OD (Tons of Gain And Tone)

Elmo Karjalainen

The best overdrive/distortion pedal?? Friedman BE-OD

Jordan Brewer

Reviews

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PROS

Mimics high-gain Marshall sound effectively
Improves sound quality significantly, even on older amps
Versatile, offering everything from blues to heavy metal tones
Presence and tight control for shaping tone
Can operate on 9V to 18V for flexibility
Generates natural and organic distortion
Responsive knobs for easy sound adjustments
Internal trim knob allows gain customization
Compact, durable, and high-quality build

CONS

Generates noticeable noise at high gain settings
Lacks built-in noise gate
Some find it less drive-heavy than expected
Can sound muddy on some amp settings
High maintenance and sensitive to electrical interference
Volume mismatch with other pedals when turned up
Access to internal trim knob is not easy for on-the-fly adjustments

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Friedman BE-OD.

Features and functionality

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The BE-OD Deluxe's tight switch offers quick tonal adjustments; users prefer it over the regular version's pot for faster setup.
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Users suggest turning down both treble and bass to 9 o'clock to help the BE-OD cut through a live mix by emphasizing mids.
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Dime the Tight control to simulate stacking with an overdrive for a thicker, screeching high-gain tone ideal for metal and industrial music.
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Setup and maintenance

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Users find the internal trim pot crucial for managing high gain, suggesting adjustments to suit different amps and playing styles.
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Comparisons

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Compared to a Strymon Riverside, the BE-OD is favored for its authentic hot-rodded Marshall tone, especially for thrash metal styles.
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The JHS Angry Charlie and MI Audio Crunch Box are suggested as alternatives that might maintain clarity and presence in high-gain live settings.
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Users note the Revv G3/G4 pedals offer similar high-gain characteristics suitable for similar musical styles.
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Use cases and applications

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Ideal for achieving vintage thrash metal tones, reminiscent of early Metallica and Megadeth, when paired with a Marshall Origin amp.
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The BE-OD can struggle in live settings against other instruments without adjustments, indicating its natural EQ curve may lack midrange presence.
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Tosin Abasi reportedly used an Empress EQ pedal post-BE-OD to enhance low mids for better mix penetration, showing a practical application for live tone tweaks.
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Perfect for emulating heavy tones from bands like Rammstein and Static-X, but less suited for softer genres like Jimmy Eat World.
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The BE-OD is primarily designed for high gain to higher gain, making it less ideal for smoother, classic rock tones.
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Mods and upgrades

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Running the pedal at different voltages (9V, 12V, 18V) significantly alters its headroom and distortion characteristics, with mixed preferences among users.
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Stacking the BE-OD with a Klon-type pedal, like the Tumnus, before it can help enhance midrange presence without losing BE-OD's tonal character.
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User experience

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The presence control is essential for tone shaping, though its smaller size makes adjustments challenging during performance.
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Value and pricing

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Some users suggest trying cheap clones like the Joyo Uzi as an affordable alternative to test the BE-OD sound.
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Critic Reviews

Pedal Review of the Month #1: Friedman BE-OD – A Study in Audiosynthesis

wordpress.com

The Friedman BE-OD Overdrive Pedal shines with its capacity to deliver transparent high-gain tones, ideal for modern Prog Metal enthusiasts. Its ability to maintain the character of any guitar, even under intense gain, sets it apart from typical distortion pedals that color the sound. The tight knob is a standout feature, enhancing tonal clarity by trimming the low end. Although primarily a high-gain pedal, its internal gain trim pot allows for some versatility, potentially catering to lower gain needs. Its versatility across various voltage levels is commendable. However, its niche as a high-gain pedal might limit its appeal for those seeking a broader tonal range. Overall, the BE-OD is a powerhouse for those dedicated to high-gain soundscapes.

positive

Full Review

Friedman BE-OD Overdrive Pedal Review: A Guitarists View - Metal Guitar Gear

metalguitargear.com

The Friedman BE-OD Overdrive Pedal delivers gritty, authentic British amp tones in a compact form, perfect for metal enthusiasts. With versatile control knobs, this pedal offers nuanced overdrive from subtle to roaring. Its sturdy build ensures durability, and true bypass preserves signal integrity. However, the absence of battery operation and its potent gain might overwhelm newcomers. Despite these minor drawbacks, the BE-OD shines for those seeking a specific high-gain sound, making it a worthy addition to any metal guitarist's setup.

positive

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 4 Reviews and 42 Ratings

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gearguy99

173

over 1 year ago

Marshall in a box

Great pedal, the eq controls are nice as I find a lot of overdrives don’t have as much eq options. (used on “Not so Kino”)

Roles:

Guitarist

Genres:

Rock Pop Garage rock

mx1810

340

over 7 years ago

Fantastic distortion!

Although it's often sold as an overdrive, the BE-OD's range goes from a subtle-yet-present overdrive to a high-gain organic distortion. Not only its knobs allow you to find that sweet spot that you have in your head, but it's inside knob controls the overall amount of gain, giving you extra possibilities to play with. In the beginning I found it a little noisy (hizz), and it was actually frustrating to see (home) videos and (amateur) demos on Youtube without that annoying noise, but once I reduced the drive with the inner knob, everything went terrific! I really like its Tight knob. It compresses even more your signal if needed, giving you that punch you want for rhythm guitar. It's my weapon of choice for the solos. The only thing I'd change is the accessibility to that inner knob: you have to unscrew and take off the back cover in order to access to it, so you cannot turn it in the middle of a song, but not a big issue, actually.

iamdylantaylor

488

over 8 years ago

wtf friedman...how...

i didnt know tone like this was possible from a pedal. sounds better than most tube amps ive played, maybe even better than the marshall jvm and the mesa mark v...my mind is a bit blown right now