Boss Clones

[JoeNeri]

Don't think I've ever heard of a clone of a Boss pedal. Lots of mods out there for BD-2, SD-1, etc., but no clones like there are for the TS808 and TS9. Anyone want to speculate as to why not?

[SnorkelMonkey]

This guy?

[JoeNeri]

Ha Ha!

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by JoeNeri

Don't think I've ever heard of a clone of a Boss pedal.

Just off the top of my head, I know of two by Digitech.

Hot Head Distortion = Boss DS-1, and Screaming Blues = BD-2.

...Both add a fourth knob, but in the case of each, it's just tapping into existing circuitry.

There are a ton of them, but are just lesser known. The Fender Starcaster that they are (were) selling at Best Buy is a MT-2 clone.

...And speaking of Digitech, back in the day when they were DOD, pedals like the American Metal were a Boss HM-2, but instead of augmenting the tone controls (HM-2 had separate "bass" and "treble"), the DOD equivalent had the whole thing in a single tone knob.

[Kestrel]

Originally Posted by JoeNeri

Don't think I've ever heard of a clone of a Boss pedal. Lots of mods out there for BD-2, SD-1, etc., but no clones like there are for the TS808 and TS9. Anyone want to speculate as to why not?

Just take a look at Behringer's site. They've got a clone just about every Boss pedal there is. They've also got a couple of Electro-Harmonix clones a s well.

[JoeNeri]

I meant more like BYOC and GGG. No Boss clones that I know of. Just seems a bit interesting that the low-priced (relatively) clone kits don't include Boss pedals, and you never see anyone trying to duplicate the Boss-style box, either.

[Mumphrey]

If I'm not mistaken, Tone Clone makes a clone of the SD-1, and possibly the DS-1.

I'm almost certain about the SD-1. Surprised Boss hasn't sued the hell out of them.

The Screaming Blues is a BD-2 clone? Sure as heck doesn't sound like one.

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by Mumphrey

The Screaming Blues is a BD-2 clone? Sure as heck doesn't sound like one.

That's because they made the fixed "active tone shaper" that "dangles" off of the BD-2's post-level op amp booster into an adjustable affair. But the amount of bass boosted, as well as the specific frequency, will only occur when the bass pot of the Screaming Blues matches the value of the fixed resistor in the BD-2.

It's very easy to get quite different responses when you go from passive to active EQ. Not only are you actually boosting, but there is a "window" (known as Q) which defines how "focused" the boost is. It can be narrowly focused to the point where that frequency will stick out like a sore thumb (think of an EQ slider pushed up to max), or it can be more gently boosted over a wider portion of the EQ spectrum.

...The Boss MT-2 is an excellent example of how overt these active tone shapers (also called gyrators) can push certain frequencies. Most modders will disable the fixed "pre gain mid booster," to remove the nasal effect. They will also typically alter the shaper in the active mid control, to make it more mild throughout the sweep.

I know that many folks love the Digitech pedals with their separate treble and bass controls, but I just don't like the overall concept. I think that the EQ should be primarily fixed and shaped throughout the circuit, with just a nip tuck possible here and there (I'm talking OD pedals, primarily).

...The one OD with bass and treble boosting that I really like is the Colorsound Overdriver. Almost hilarious, since it's circa 1971 or so "technology." So much for pedal trends!

[clapointe]

Boss SD-1 = MXR ZW44

[Wampler Pedals]

boss sd-1 = ts9 tweaked.

[EasyEB]

I have never found a Boss pedal that I like so IMHO it would be because they aren't worth cloning?

[Mumphrey]

I have never found a Boss pedal that I like so IMHO it would be because they aren't worth cloning?

Because you don't like Boss pedals, they aren't worth cloning. That's as fascinating an example of narcissism as I've ever seen.

As it turns out, I was correct. Tone Clone has an SD-1 clone. Go to their site, see for yourself.

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by EasyEB

I have never found a Boss pedal that I like

Methinks you are in the minority. Boss has sold a ton of pedals over the years, so my guess is that someone likes them.

...Companies such as Behringer, Digitech, and others have taken notice of those sales, as it requires them to design little if anything, and then package it differently, and at a lower price. Low hanging fruit with profits for them.

For every Hardwire that Digitech sells, I bet they sell 30 or more of their "most economical alternatives."

[EasyEB]

Originally Posted by 11 Gauge

Methinks you are in the minority. Boss has sold a ton of pedals over the years, so my guess is that someone likes them.

...Companies such as Behringer, Digitech, and others have taken notice of those sales, as it requires them to design little if anything, and then package it differently, and at a lower price. Low hanging fruit with profits for them.

For every Hardwire that Digitech sells, I bet they sell 30 or more of their "most economical alternatives."

Oh I know I am toatally in the minority and I guess that kinda came out wrong. I didn't mean that since I don't like them they aren't worth cloning. I mean they are already fairly inexpensive mass produced pedal so why bother? Sorry bout that.

[justin.ray]

I could speculate on one reason that companies like BYOC don't offer 'Boss clones' (read: pedals that look like boss pedals):

Boss pedals are designed to be mass produced. The enclosure is more complicated, so making a few of them is expensive. Boss uses the sort of enclosure they use so that they can use momentary switches for the pedal bypass. I don't work for Boss, so I can't say for sure, but I bet someone discovered that it was cheaper to mass produce the more expensive enclosures with the cheaper switch than it was to mass produce the cheaper enclosures with the more expensive switch. It could be that they just really like having a buffered switch. A lot of people that are into DIY pedals are also really into 'true bypass switching'. Which is cool, but for me, pedals are for hearing and switches only matter if I can hear the difference, or they break.

As far as clones of Boss circuits from DIY companies are concerned, I think the bulk of their customers are more interested in boutique pedals. I'm not saying that Boss doesn't have some killer circuits (BD-2), just that most people aren't as interested in making them at home.

[schenkadere]

Originally Posted by EasyEB

Oh I know I am toatally in the minority and I guess that kinda came out wrong. I didn't mean that since I don't like them they aren't worth cloning. I mean they are already fairly inexpensive mass produced pedal so why bother? Sorry bout that.

I'm not much of a Boss clone either. I've tried so many over the last 30 years and the only one I truly like is the SD-1.

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by justin.ray

Boss pedals are designed to be mass produced. The enclosure is more complicated, so making a few of them is expensive. Boss uses the sort of enclosure they use so that they can use momentary switches for the pedal bypass. I don't work for Boss, so I can't say for sure, but I bet someone discovered that it was cheaper to mass produce the more expensive enclosures with the cheaper switch than it was to mass produce the cheaper enclosures with the more expensive switch.

Bingo!

The original tooling was no doubt a bit more expensive, but a zillion pedals all machined the same way (unless there's a stereo out, or it's drilled for 2, 3, or 4 knobs) offsets that. The D.C. jack either "drops in" to the chassis, or "pokes out" the backside, eliminating the labor for that, as well.

The momentary switch that Boss went with is super rugged compared to most others. And their treadle design keeps all of the impact off of it. Buffered bypass was cheaper back when the alternative was a nicely made Carling mechanical switch, unless you wanted to go with some crap thing. And even if it was a bit more expensive, again at the Boss scale, it's offset.

The other nicety with buffered bypass switching is no switch pops - some folks prefer "silent switching" over any other form.

What is interesting is that Boss has stuck with "flying leads" to the jacks and pots, when they could have gone to the cheapo Dano/Behringer/Digitech method. But I like it, since it makes pot replacement easy and fast (in many cases). They must have a jig in the factory that everything gets soldered up in, and then slapped into the box. Their status LED also mounts with a screw and an alignment post, unlike many other cheap (and not so cheap) pedals that just have the LED elevated on the board, with it "poking" out of the hole.

[Batman]

If we're talking about boss clones check out Beta Aivin (in some countries they're a different brand eg. Harley Benton, GLX, Boss-Hog). While they're not always the same pedal, a lot of people rate them just as highly as their Boss equivilent. They're definitely meant to be Boss replacements!

I have one of their delay pedals, which is excellent.

[Mumphrey]

I keep seeing responses that appear to indicate that people aren't reading carefully.

So here we go again. AT LEAST ONE COMPANY MAKES AT LEAST ONE BOSS CLONE. Tone Clone does IN FACT make an SD-1 clone. They might make others.
They have no issue with making clones of pedals currently in production.