Boss SD-1, any good?

[gunslingerdit]

Hi there everyone.

Somebody try to sell a packet of 3 Boss effects: RV-3 Digital Delay/Reverb, CS-2 Compressor/Sustainer and an SD-1 Super Overdrive. See, just the rare RV-3 alone makes me want to grab these three effects, the price for that bundle is on my range, so I won't hesitate to seal the deal.

The thing is, besides the RV-3, I can't find the purpose of having the other 2 pedals. After some reading, I think I can do some experiment with the CS-2 (and due this pedal is regarded as sought after, I might keep it and sell it someday when a demand is high).

But for the SD-1, I don't find it useful since I already have (and definitely falling in love) with Ibanez TS-808 (this is the tone that I use for some 4 years now).

I would love some metal type distortion, can this SD-1 produce that by chaining it with the TS-808? Or is there anything useful with it?

Thank you for any suggestions

[frakenstrat]

the sd1 is somewhat tubescreamerish in it's sound. it does have a flatter mid eq, but they are sort of in the same vein. you can however mod it, for pretty cheaply too. you might as well buy the lot and off the pedals you don't want later. if the price is right then you're good to go.

[Biz Prof]

In my practice rig, I often run the following chain:

Guitar > TS-9 (Level 11 o'clock, Tone 2 o'clock, Gain 10 o'clock) > SD-1 (Level 12 o'clock, Tone 12 o'clock, Gain 3 o'clock) > amp

I adjust each control slightly based upon the amp I'm using (anything from a Fender Frontman 25r to a Marshall 1987 four-input half stack). The TS-9 gives me some subtle grit, while the SD-1 is a more full-on Billy Gibbons overdrive. The two combined provides a surprisingly accurate '80s tone.

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by gunslingerdit

I would love some metal type distortion, can this SD-1 produce that by chaining it with the TS-808?

The SD-1 can actually modded to get it within spitting distance of metal, depending on your definition of the genre. If you mean classic stuff with a median gain level, no sucked mids, and not an overtly gargantuan bottom end, it can be done.

...But if you're looking for recto type tones, I wouldn't even consider a DS-1 (orange box). I can just about get that up to some Adam Jones tones on Undertow, but that was the pre-recto and pre-Diezel days. For the chunka chunka stuff, you're going to want a MT-2 or some other variation that Boss made.

So like Maiden, Sabbath and similar are just within reach. Hitting it with an 808 will probably not help much - too much mids.

[gunslingerdit]

hmm, okay i got it. just looked at some demo of the sd-1, and i think this is more of the same as the TS-808. If I want to keep it, i guess i could mod it into some distortion pedal, but d you know which mod can fulfill this? I tried googling it, and much the mod that i founded was to make the sd-1 more like the 808, which is of course not what i'm looking for now.

[schenkadere]

It really is more of the same...but it's well built and sounds great out of the box...less mid heavy than a TS808...I prefer it. Doesn't need any mods for me...and it boosts other pedals rather nice...makes a heavier overdrive a little beefier.

[SackvilleDan]

SD-1 with a hot humbucker will give you convincing AC/DC crunch! At least it does for me ;)

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by gunslingerdit

If I want to keep it, i guess i could mod it into some distortion pedal, but d you know which mod can fulfill this?

Here's a "three part series" about converting an SD-1 into an OCD:

Part 1 (initial mod designed)

Part 2 (mod refined, including a "minimal" mod)

Part 3 (illustrated tutorial of the above mods)

...Now I know what some of you might be saying. An OCD isn't really a distortion pedal. Maybe not, but it's certainly on the cusp, and it's probably about as close as this circuit foundation will get you. But IMO, the OCD sounds best in conjunction with another pedal for higher gain sounds, anyway.

For all of you SD-1 junkies who don't already know, there's a bunch of SD-1 mods over at the Burnt Fingers forum, here.

[Webfoot]

Whats a good pedal for thick dirt into a fender like scooped 6V6 amp?

[gunslingerdit]

okay, just got the SD-1 las night, been playing with it for several minutes, my first impression was that it sounded close to 808, only with a rougher edge. I guess this is a sound that I expect from an overdrive pedal. My only complaint is that when the drive setting pushed to the max, the overdrive gets screwed up big time, don't like it. I played it with my les paul, which as i see in a demo video, is giving a rougher distortion. I probably should try it with my tele, see if it fits.

I haven't played it as a booster after my 808, but it might be useful. Other idea is probably use it for my synth, to give it a little warmth :)

[gunslingerdit]

I've tried to use SD-1 as a boost to my TS-808, but I didn't find a good setting. I mean, the SD-1 is good by itself, the 808 is great by itself but if a make one boost another then it goes horrible. I'd like to use the SD-1 only to give the 808 a little more boost in the treble, but when i set it to lots of tone and a little gain, then it all went wrong. Any suggestions for this probably?

[Biz Prof]

Originally Posted by gunslingerdit

I've tried to use SD-1 as a boost to my TS-808, but I didn't find a good setting. I mean, the SD-1 is good by itself, the 808 is great by itself but if a make one boost another then it goes horrible. I'd like to use the SD-1 only to give the 808 a little more boost in the treble, but when i set it to lots of tone and a little gain, then it all went wrong. Any suggestions for this probably?

Let me clarify my earlier post. When I listed my settings for my TS-9 > SD-1 setup, I was giving you my settings for how I use these as separate dirt boxes. The TS-9 is set to a very mild break-up, whereas the SD-1 is set to provide thicker, heavier overdrive. The point is to use each independently and if I need "high gain", I employ both. You will need to tweak, tweak, and tweak some more.

[schenkadere]

Originally Posted by gunslingerdit

I've tried to use SD-1 as a boost to my TS-808, but I didn't find a good setting. I mean, the SD-1 is good by itself, the 808 is great by itself but if a make one boost another then it goes horrible. I'd like to use the SD-1 only to give the 808 a little more boost in the treble, but when i set it to lots of tone and a little gain, then it all went wrong. Any suggestions for this probably?

They're too much of the same. I find that stacking too pedals that are very similar in character is blah or just bad.

[teleman55]

I've got an SD-1 and a TS-9. They're similar but the same. I like the SD-1 better with a Tele, TS-9 better with humbuckers. Like 'em both about the same with a Strat. I've used them both together sometimes, to have two drive settings and then run them both for a distortion thing. I think I had the SD-1 into the TS-9. Again, I like and use both but use the SD-1 more than the Tubescreamer. It won't get you into metal land anymore than your 808 will.