Boss SD-1 appreciation

[Rex_Rocker]

Tubescreamer -> Bluesdriver -> clean amp sounds great. :P

Or Tube Screamer - OCD. That works as well!

[Chistopher]

Well, that would work I guess if you wanted a scooped sound out of an SD-1. But at least when using it as a boost to tighten things up, I don't see why you would, LOL.

You can tweak the values to give either a midboost, midcut, or flat tone at noon.

[Rex_Rocker]

Oh, really? Honestly, I've never really payed much attention to the Big Muff. I was under the impression that pedal was like midscooped to hell and back, which worked great for when I was using it on bass. But it's cool to know you can actually tweak it!

[Chistopher]

Yup, the entirety of the midscoop is from the fact that the tone control is just a bass cut and treble cut operating at the same time. Where the corner frequencies are now, at noon the bass control filters out bass and mids, and the treble control filters out treble and mids.

If you put a trim pot in for R16 (bass) and R17 (treble), you should be able to get just about any sound you want out of one. Those resistors are for a DS-1, but if you see how they fit into the circuit, you can translate to any Big Muff circuit or any other pedal that uses that style tone control.

[larryguitar]

Is it normal for an SD-1 to have very little output? I had to take mine off my board, since I couldn't get it to unity gain with my (cough, 'several') other dirt pedals. That's using a power supply.

Larry

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeah, sadly.

How little, though?

Because when using EMG?s you *barely* get unity gain cranking a TS's output, I find. With a Boss SD-1, yeah, it's slightly quieter.

With HOT pickups like the Black Winter or X2N, forget it.

But I find that's the nature of distortion and overdrive pedals designed way back. The DS-1 for me is a particularly bad example. Even a Metal Zone's output is relatively quiet by today's hot pickups standards.

Good thing is I never run an SD-1 in front of a clean channel to notice.

[larryguitar]

Yeah, sadly.

How little, though?

Because when using EMG?s you *barely* get unity gain cranking a TS's output, I find. With a Boss SD-1, yeah, it's slightly quieter.

With HOT pickups like the Black Winter or X2N, forget it.

But I find that's the nature of distortion and overdrive pedals designed way back. The DS-1 for me is a particularly bad example. Even a Metal Zone's output is relatively quiet by today's hot pickups standards.

Good thing is I never run an SD-1 in front of a clean channel to notice.

Well, my TS clone, OD-1, Uzi, Riot clone and Splinter all put out so much more output that I had to pull the DS-1, since I couldn't get it to the 'unity' setting on my board. Wonder if it's jacked? Bought it new a couple years ago. Anyone know a way to test its output level?

Larry

[Rex_Rocker]

Well, my TS clone, OD-1, Uzi, Riot clone and Splinter all put out so much more output that I had to pull the DS-1, since I couldn't get it to the 'unity' setting on my board. Wonder if it's jacked? Bought it new a couple years ago. Anyone know a way to test its output level?

Larry

Do you mean DS-1 or SD-1?

Because the SD-1 is just a tad quieter than the TS. So I'm sure if you're using like non-blistering-hot metal humbuckers and picking like a sledgehammer 100% of the time, you'll be fine.

But yeah, the DS-1's output is famelic, IME.

[Rex_Rocker]

Well, my TS clone, OD-1, Uzi, Riot clone and Splinter all put out so much more output that I had to pull the DS-1, since I couldn't get it to the 'unity' setting on my board. Wonder if it's jacked? Bought it new a couple years ago. Anyone know a way to test its output level?

Larry

You won't get any "technical" readings like output voltage, dBu's or anything like that, but you can compare them if you record them DI to your interface's instrument input. That's how I get an idea of pickups' output relative to each other. Because perceived levels can be tricky. Pretty sure you can do the same for pedals.

If you do that, prepare to be disappointed, though. You'll actually see that something like a Tube Screamer never actually "slams an amp's front end" like we're lead to believe, LOL

[El Dunco]

If you do that, prepare to be disappointed, though. You'll actually see that something like a Tube Screamer never actually "slams an amp's front end" like we're lead to believe, LOL

Explains why I never liked them. I don’t usually need a huge push. Even so, it’s method of “tightening up the sound” takes too much that I do like about the sound of the amp it’s in front of and adds too much that I don’t. Even as an overdrive, I find it too cloudy and thin.

I used to get so annoyed at the Premier Guitar “Monsters Of High Gain” videos where the point is to show off how the amp sounds, including amps designed to give that modern sound straight in and half the time, they feature guitar players who insist on using a TS in front every time, which defeats the purpose and raises the question why they won’t at least try to get the sound from a Fryette or Thrasher without a d@mn box in front??

[Rex_Rocker]

Explains why I never liked them. I don’t usually need a huge push. Even so, it’s method of “tightening up the sound” takes too much that I do like about the sound of the amp it’s in front of and adds too much that I don’t. Even as an overdrive, I find it too cloudy and thin.

I used to get so annoyed at the Premier Guitar “Monsters Of High Gain” videos where the point is to show off how the amp sounds, including amps designed to give that modern sound straight in and half the time, they feature guitar players who insist on using a TS in front every time, which defeats the purpose and raises the question why they won’t at least try to get the sound from a Fryette or Thrasher without a d@mn box in front??

It's amp-dependant, IMO.

I like a 5150III without one for sure.

But I wouldn't dream of using a Recto without one. For the stuff I play, at least. Or a JCM800. Or even an OG 5150.

JMO.

[El Dunco]

It's amp-dependant, IMO.

I like a 5150III without one for sure.

But I wouldn't dream of using a Recto without one. For the stuff I play, at least. Or a JCM800. Or even an OG 5150.

JMO.

I know. It’s a personal preference thing too. I just thought it was ridiculous to demo amps without really demoing the amps especially the kind know for their tightness, clarity and being built from the ground up to already get that sound.

[Chistopher]

Is it normal for an SD-1 to have very little output? I had to take mine off my board, since I couldn't get it to unity gain with my (cough, 'several') other dirt pedals. That's using a power supply.

Larry

What year is the pedal from? This can happen if you use a 9v supply with an older pedal designed for a 12v supply.

[Chistopher]

But yeah, the DS-1's output is famelic, IME.

I don't know what "famelic" means and if output is even a matter of opinion, but the DS-1 has a more than reasonable level of output, even when "clean" to do just about anything you'd want a distortion pedal to do.

[larryguitar]

What year is the pedal from? This can happen if you use a 9v supply with an older pedal designed for a 12v supply.

I bought it new two years ago; is that a new one? I'd just assumed it was 9V, but have to admit I never checked...maybe I should RTFM, like my wife always says.

Larry