Boss SD-1

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ChadVanHalen

ChadVanHalen

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So normally I'm a tube screamer plugged into something super gainy goodness like a Marshall/Splawn/EVH but lately I've been playing and listening to some stuff by players who use different equipment and play a little different and I'm having trouble figuring out how to describe it... Most of these tones are classic "Orange" tones, slightly crunchy but still being higher gain, sounds a little fuzzy almost, and up until I recently got a Micro Dark from Orange I was trying to get something near that tone and I was able to get it pretty close with the Boss SD-1

What is it about the SD-1 over say a TS that gives it that sorta sound? And what other pedals give off that sorta drive as opposed to what I'm used to in the TS?
 
I might be wrong here, but is:
Maxon/Ibanez 808: symmetrical clipping
Boss SD1: asymmetrical clipping

Or do I have the backwards? Or did i just make that up, lol?
 
Yup. What they said. There's a way to mod either circuit to have both in the same pedal. Pretty simple to do, I butchered an SD1 a long time ago and it works pretty well. 1.50 in parts, soldering iron and drill a small hole for the switch and you're there. Google it if interested....
 
That's why a bunch of modern TS type pedals have the switch to go from Symmetrical to Asymmetrical clipping.
 
Reb Beach preferd the Boss SD-1 for the tapping thing he does (although I think he uses something different now). Tons of pro players used the SD-1 at one time...EVH, Zakk, Vai, Lynch, Di Martini, etc...
 
The MXR GT-OD is a nice pedal that kinda falls in between an SD-1 and a TS too! :)
 
I was just thinking about how differently the two pedals react. I was boosting my new Rev F recto with the SD-1 and it just KILLS the bass response. I know it's supposed to, so that it tightens things up, but man it just seems to do it a lot more than a TS.

My SD-1 sounds better than the TS with some amps, just depends...
 
The OD1X keeps the low end intact, while giving some of the mid flavor of the SD1.
 
I had a vintage OD-1 (MIJ, had the preferred opamp). I A/B'd it with my buddy's stock 2000's TS9. The Tubescreamer sounded better, fuller, more balls. Now I've got a Maxon OD808X - it's a step up from the TS9 in terms of even more hair/gain/balls/cut. This is my favorite OD so far in my very limited OD/pedal experiences.
 
RedPlated":3d6ok4ip said:
I was just thinking about how differently the two pedals react. I was boosting my new Rev F recto with the SD-1 and it just KILLS the bass response. I know it's supposed to, so that it tightens things up, but man it just seems to do it a lot more than a TS.

My SD-1 sounds better than the TS with some amps, just depends...
Click to expand...

I use a Timmy pedal with my Rev F dual and triple. It lets you adjust the bottom end and treble. With no mid bump. :thumbsup:
 
I have a Keeley "Frampton" modded TS9 and an old Boss Super Overdrive. These days the SD-1 sees more use. Just a smoother OD that pleases my ears more these days.
 
psychodave":ueiwmsae said:
RedPlated":ueiwmsae said:
I was just thinking about how differently the two pedals react. I was boosting my new Rev F recto with the SD-1 and it just KILLS the bass response. I know it's supposed to, so that it tightens things up, but man it just seems to do it a lot more than a TS.

My SD-1 sounds better than the TS with some amps, just depends...
Click to expand...

I use a Timmy pedal with my Rev F dual and triple. It lets you adjust the bottom end and treble. With no mid bump. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Hmmmm... Keep hearing about The Timmy. May have to try one.
 
RedPlated":17czfvgg said:
I was just thinking about how differently the two pedals react. I was boosting my new Rev F recto with the SD-1 and it just KILLS the bass response. I know it's supposed to, so that it tightens things up, but man it just seems to do it a lot more than a TS.

My SD-1 sounds better than the TS with some amps, just depends...
Click to expand...

I have both to boost My Rectoverb, you're right it kills the bass more than the TS. For my part, the OD choice depends on what guitar I used.
 
I find the SD-1 works best with older Marshalls ;) Turns your JB pickup into a laser beam and squishes it up nicely with enhanced harmonic content.

These days I use the MXR Custom Modified Bad Ass Overdrive. Gives me a similar sound with bass/treble controls to recover the bass, and also switchable mid-hump.
 
Love the SD-1!!! I used one all the time back in the early to mid 80's. I now have a MIT and MIJ one and they are still pretty cool to use in front of my modded Marshall JCM 800 2203 in lower gain mode.
 
Many of these pedals are cheap enough used to justify owning a few for different flavors in front of different amps. Modding an amp without the mod lol....
 
so I have a kinda funny story - I had been really into Tubescreamers - I always thought they sounded better and I had an SD-1 in my fx case that I used as a tilt for my combo amp. Somehow I ended up at a gig with no tubescreamer and plugged in the SD-1 - sounded fantastic! started a/b ing the SD-1 with my tubescreamer with my 1987 nmv amp and was just loving the SD-1. Got a new SD-1 to put on my board - but it didn't sound as good! looked at the old one and new one, both made in Taiwan. Opened up the old one... aha! I had put a germanium diode in D6. Now that made it way less high endy and buzzy. so I did that to several SD-1's I had lying around but left a couple stock as well. Got curious this morning - put a jumper on D6 bypassing it - there is another awesome tone!!! so with D6 as germanium gives the most rounded sound, jumping D6 does warm up the pedal, takes away some fizz but keeps more of the SD-1 "feel", then you have stock which I'm sure has it's applications too. fun stuff for just pennies!!!

edit - the SD-1 I used as an amp tilt looks like hell now and is all scratched up from years as being a tilt lol
 
I have been using a Keely Baked mod TS9 to dirty up the clean channel on my DSL 100h. Gives me Skynyrd/ZZ Top type tones. Last gig the on/off switch wasnt working. Threw an SD-1 on my board at practice Monday and it sounded really good. Less compressed. More open.

Im sure ill fix the TS9 switch. And gonna buy a Keeyey Red Dirt this week. But wont get rid of the SD-1.
 
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