Boss SD-1 appreciation

[Rex_Rocker]

These used to be HUGE in the 80's, but in this day and age where people are boosting their high-gain amps with Tube Screamers, I find they don't pop up that often in people's boards. At least not as often as they did.

People used to use them with 800's all the time, but to me, it EXCELS at boosing a Rectifier. Peope ofen use a Maxon 808 with Rectifiers, but I find the SD-1 is much tighter and more aggressive, and it just adds back that clank and agression to the attack that neither Rectos nor 808's naturally have.

I get it, though. It is a bit much with some amps (like maybe 5150's) that are already tight and attacky themselves. But with rounder-sounding amps like Rectos, Oranges, and maybe some SLO's, they just make everything tighter and more aggressive without boosting as much stuffiness in the low mids as Tube Screamers.

They've also got more range in the tone and gain knobs (if you care about that), and can be had for dirt cheap, yet are solidly built. Downsided is yes, they've got a little let juice to the output. But if you're dropping it on top of a gainy amp, I don't think that's much of an issue.

What do you guys think?

 

[jimilee]

I agree with you. It is tighter. Definitely nicer alternative to the tube screamer. I built one and picked up a 49th Anniversary during the presale. Not terribly expensive by any means.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dave74]

If you can ever snag any of the old vfe screamer models for an honest price I think you'd love it. Or the focus/standout boost.

I just had to snag a 40th sd-1 when they first were released. Looks cool in those "steeler" colors and sometimes it's just the right boost. SD-1 was my very first pedal back in 88. Should have kept it but it fell victim to my early days of stupidity.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeah, always wanted to try the Ice Sceam. Cool pedal.

I've owned three or four SD-1's. Nothing fancy. Not special edition, just modern ones before they made them SMD. Wouldn't mind trying one of the new SMD ones, TBH. But I always sell them thinking I might've found something better, and always end up regretting it.

People say how the older 80's ones are warmer, but honestly, if I reach out for an SD-1, the last thing I want is "warm". I still wouldn't mind giving one a try to see what the fuss is about.

I think I found my perfect SD-1, though. I own two MXR Wylde Overdrives. One has the switch inside to turn it into a GT-OD, the other is an older one that doesn't. I'd almost say they're 1:1 clones, excep they're a little bit tighter and more aggressive even. Subtle difference, though.

 

[devastone]

The SD-1s are all the same circuit (can't speak to the Waza). I like them better than TS's because of the asymmetrical clipping, and the don't have the big mid hump. Great pedal.

FWIW, the DS-1s changed drastically, the original ones were very different and warmer, unfortunately the chip they used went OOP so they came up with a totally new circuit, should have also change the name, or at least the number IMHO.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I like them better than TS's because of the asymmetrical clipping, and the don't have the big mid hump. Great pedal.

I find they still kinda do. It's just boosting somewhere above the honk region of the mids a TS808 boosts ever so slightly. But compared to something like a BD-2 or other full-range overdrives, they are still pretty AM-radio-like.

But we all hear things differently.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Yeah, always wanted to try the Ice Scream. Cool pedal.

I get it. Ice cream. Cool.

 

[jimilee]

I get it. Ice cream. Cool.

If you guys can build pedals, or know someone, there’s some VFE circuit boards over at madbean.com. Not affiliated just passing it along.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rex_Rocker]

As much as I like the idea of such tweakability in a TS-style, I also kinda like the simplicity of an SD-1 or a TS808. Just plug in, set the gain to 0, the level to 10, and maybe play with the tone. If it doesn't work, try the next boost.

Part of the reason why I reach out for an SD-1 most of the time over my 805 as well. I love the 805, don't get me wrong, but there's two extra knobs that can just as easily break your tone if you're not careful.

Honeslty, I'd love to try an OD-1 because there is even less stuff to tweak, LOL.

 

[Top-L]

The SD-1 into any amp is my goto tone. All I need is an SD-1 and I can make any amp work for me.

Past five years I've been using it with an Ironheart and it adds everything that amp needs.

Tube screamer sounds meh in comparison to me, and costs twice as much.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

The SD-1 into any amp is my goto tone. All I need is an SD-1 and I can make any amp work for me.

Past five years I've been using it with an Ironheart and it adds everything that amp needs.

Tube screamer sounds meh in comparison to me, and costs twice as much.

Depends on the Tube Screamer too. The 808 costs like 3x, LOL.

I do like my TS808 a lot, though. Better than the OD808 that I used to have for sure. Sounds less clean and more middy. Less "transparent" overall. The way I picture a TS should sound. Honestly, into a 5150, it's that sound.

But the SD-1 is just as good (better on some applications) and costs like 60 dollars. Looks like they just raised the price. I remember it used to be like 40, no?

 

[Aceman]

My Mesa needs no "Tightening"

That said - I do use an SD1 'model' into my JCM800 'model' in my Pod Go. Does that count???

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Depends on what Mesa. No way I'd use an SD-1 in front of a Mark. A Recto? No way I wouldn't use one, LOL.

 

[El Dunco]

I love my original ZW-44 which I’m pretty sure is derived from the SD-1. My custom built “Cornhole” overdrive has a switch for two circuits which are a far cry from the stock versions but based on the GT-OD and ZW-44 circuits. The flatter response of the ZW circuit is the side I use the most. It’s a bit cleaner with less grind than the factory ZW and tightens things up without sucking out as much low end as most overdrives do.

With the LPB-1 boost and symmetrical, asymmetrical and diode bypass, it can do anything. If you trace back the lineage, it couldn’t exist without the SD-1.

I’ve never liked what tube screamers and its derivatives do to an amps sound. The mid bump always messes up what I liked about it in the first place.

 

[Securb]

I know I have mentioned this before. Evrery guitar player at Berkleee tries at some point to cop Steve Vai's tone seeing he is the most famous guitar alum. The music store across the street has piles of used DS1s. The last time I was in there, they were going for as low as $19 each. I am going to be down the street from there today if I have time, I just might grab one.

 

[jeremy]

i like the sd1 much more than the ds1 but for $20...

 

[devastone]

I know I have mentioned this before. Evrery guitar player at Berkleee tries at some point to cop Steve Vai's tone seeing he is the most famous guitar alum. The music store across the street has piles of used DS1s. The last time I was in there, they were going for as low as $19 each. I am going to be down the street from there today if I have time, I just might grab one.

This is about SD1s, not DS1s, although they are cool too. Vai has used both FWIW. A SD-1 is listed in the gear list for P&W in the tab book. I know he used a Keeley modded DS-1 a lot in the early 2000s, more as a boost than a main drive IIRC. George Lynch used a DS-1 too back in the Mob days for recording (again, IIRC). If they have any MIJ DS-1s definitely grab them, they are awesome, but not for modding, they are too good as is. The newer ones are great for modding.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I've never gotten into the DS-1 myself. I used to have one. Didn't get along with. Into a clean channel, the output volume was just too low, even cranked. Into a distorted amp, I thought it was too scoopy. But then again, I've never gotten into tones that use one. I know they were big in the 80's, but I don't know how people used them. Was it into cranked Marshalls? Or was it into clean amps?

I love my original ZW-44 which I’m pretty sure is derived from the SD-1.

Not sure circuit-wise how it derives, but sonically, I'd say they're *almost* a 1:1. With maybe the Wylde being slightly grindier and tigher.

I own two ZWOD's. One with the switch, and one without the switch. The one with the switch is nice because it can go from straight up SD-1 in ZW mode to a sort of in-between SD-1 and TS808 in the GT-OD mode.

 

[ErikH]

The ZW-44 is a SD-1 with a little more bottom end and some more gain. It is the same circuit. Great pedal too.

I've had many SD-1's but these days, I'm using either my OD-1 Clone from BYOC or Boss OD-3.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

The ZW-44 is a SD-1 with a little more bottom end and some more gain. It is the same circuit. Great pedal too.

I actually find mine has less bottom-end. Or maybe not less bottom-end, but certainly less low mids. So it's tighter. But it's also slightly thinner.

And the gain... I don't really know. I never venture outside 0 on mine, LOL. But at those settings, they're more or less the same. Neither is clean. But cleaner than a TS808 with the gain on 0, yeah.

That is in ZW mode. It changes a bit in GT-OD mode. GT-OD mode is fatter. I don't know if the gain level changes at all, but the feel of the gain kinda does. AFAIK, the GT-OD only changes one resistor.