DOD 280 Electro Optical Compressor

£99.99

Also available on — Andertons, Amazon, eBay & Reverb

Fresh on the menu for 2026 are the DOD Guitar Pedals, freshly added and carefully selected. These New units are available to order online with fast, secure delivery from trusted UK retailers. Read on for full details, specifications, demos, videos, reviews, and the best places to buy the DOD Guitar Pedals today.


Description

Fresh on the menu for 2026 are the DOD Guitar Pedals, freshly added and carefully selected. These New units are available to order online with fast, secure delivery from trusted UK retailers. Read on for full details, specifications, demos, videos, reviews, and the best places to buy the DOD Guitar Pedals today.

When building your pedalboard you might not think about a compressor but trust us it is probably one of the most important pedals you can buy. Why? Because you can do so much with it that will take your guitar tone from good to great.

The original DOD 280 compressor was loved for its warm analogue tone and ease of use. Now DOD have brought it back delivering the same gorgeous tones that the classic produced.

Simple Controls

Most people will buy a compressor for different reasons. Some will want a nice fast attack for funk play while others will want longer sustains on their solos. Some other people will just want to even out their guitars sound in a way that removes the sharp peaks for a much fuller tone.

This one pedal can do all of those things with just two controls. You have your compressor which sets how much compression is applied to your signal and an output level. This pedal can run hot when you turn up the output so consider it to be a small boost as well if you want.

Modern Updates

The original DOD 280 was an amazing compressor and is still highly desired even today. Sadly it doesn’t have all of the modern features that you would want to put it on your pedalboard…This reissue does have all of those modern features however.

Not only does this pedal have true bypass to keep your signal clear when bypassed but it now runs on a standard 9v power supply so you can easily get this connected to your pedalboard.

Here’s what DOD say about the 280 Electro Optical Compressor

Fresh squeezed. We proudly present the DOD Compressor 280 (2014).  With the DOD 280, you can tame the wildest peaks and even out dynamics between single notes and chords. Deftly tear your way through licks that blend fretted notes and open strings without dramatic changes in volume. Whether you’re goin’ deep country with spankin’ clean tone or rattling teeth with staccato-driven riffs, the DOD 280 will add finesse to your picking attack for consistent performances.

The DOD Compressor 280 will help you manage the dynamic range of the input signal from your instrument. Compressing your dynamic range will make notes sustain longer, the sound seem tighter and help you avoid clipping the signal going into other effects or your amplifier.

Like its predecessor, the DOD Compressor 280 (2014) offers independent Compression and Output controls. However, there are some improvements over the original design. The DOD 280 (2014) features true bypass which allows your guitar tone to remain pristine even when the DOD 280 is off. This is a big difference from the original, which would color your bypassed tone. Also, the new DOD 280 features a modern 9V DC power supply input that makes it more pedalboard friendly.

The Compressor 280 employs an electro-optical circuit that varies the amount of the pedal’s dynamic compression using a light-dependent resistor and internal LED. At lower settings the “Comp” knob adds a subtle volume-leveling effect that adds a touch of evenness to the guitar’s signal, bringing up the level of low-volume playing and limiting the maximum volume of harder-hit single-note passages and chords. At higher settings the Comp knob “squashes” the initial attack and raises the level of notes and chords as they decay. The “Output” knob controls the overall volume of the effected signal and can act as a volume boost if desired.

Specifications

  • Dimensions:  4.68″ x 2.63″x 2.25″ (L x W x H)
  • Weight:  ~0.62 lbs. / 0.281 kgs.
  • Input:  (1) 1/4″ Instrument
  • Input Impedance:  470k Ohm
  • Output:  (1) 1/4″ Instrument
  • Chassis:  All Metal
  • Power Supply:  9V Alkaline Dry Battery

Additional information

Weight 1 kg

Brand

DOD

DOD, or Digitech/DOD Electronics, is a renowned brand in the world of audio electronics, particularly known for its effects pedals for guitars and basses. The company was founded in 1973 by David Oreste Di Francesco and John Johnson, hence the acronym DOD. Initially focusing on guitar effects pedals, DOD gained prominence with its innovative designs and affordable yet high-quality products.

Throughout its history, DOD has produced a wide range of effects pedals, including overdrive/distortion pedals, delay units, chorus and flanger pedals, and more. Their pedals often feature robust construction, simple yet effective controls, and distinctive sound characteristics. Classics like the DOD Overdrive/Preamp 250 and the DOD Stereo Chorus have become staples on pedalboards of musicians across various genres.

In 1984, DOD was acquired by Harman International Industries, which also owned other prominent audio brands like AKG, JBL, and Lexicon. Under Harman’s ownership, DOD continued to innovate and release new pedals while maintaining its reputation for providing high-quality effects at accessible prices. Though there have been shifts in ownership and product lines over the years, DOD pedals remain highly regarded by musicians seeking reliable and versatile effects for their performances and recordings.

Category

Guitar Pedals

Tags

Boost

A boost pedal does one simple thing brilliantly — it makes your signal louder, stronger, and more alive. Whether you’re pushing a valve amp into natural breakup, lifting a solo above the band, or adding a touch more presence to your core tone, a clean boost gives you extra headroom without changing your character.

Use it at the front of your chain to drive other pedals harder, or after your gain stages to raise volume without adding distortion. Subtle or powerful, transparent or slightly coloured, a boost is one of the most useful tools on any pedalboard — small box, big difference.

Compressor

A compressor pedal evens out your dynamics, smoothing peaks and lifting quieter notes so everything feels tighter and more controlled. It adds sustain, clarity, and balance — making clean chords ring longer, country licks snap with precision, and funk rhythms pop with consistency. Subtle or pronounced, compression shapes the feel of your playing as much as the sound.

Use it at the front of your chain to tighten your core tone, add sustain to leads, or keep complex passages sitting neatly in the mix. From gentle polish to unmistakable squash, a compressor is one of those foundational tools that quietly makes everything sound more professional and dialled in.

New

This is brand new, fresh in, and a UK warranty is included. New Gear always comes from trusted UK music retailers.

Volume

Volume pedals control the output level of a guitar signal using a foot-operated treadle. They allow smooth volume swells, dynamic control during playing, and easy muting between songs. Volume pedals can be placed at different points in the signal chain to either control overall loudness or adjust gain and drive behaviour when positioned before distortion or overdrive pedals.