Boss SD-1 appreciation

[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

 

[Rex_Rocker]

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.

With PAF-types, maybe.

With Black Winters, X2N's, 500T's, no way. Not even with EMG's or Fishmans.

 

[El Dunco]

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.

I think it means hungry.

For… volts?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Famelic is famished. But what I meant is like exaggeratedly thin, weak, puny.

 

[Chistopher]

With PAF-types, maybe.

With Black Winters, X2N's, 500T's, no way. Not even with EMG's or Fishmans.

That is silly and I'm prepared to defend my position with a circuit analysis.

 

['59]

If that were true a clean boost into a DS-1 would make it quieter

 

[jeremy]

anything boss in the past 15+ years is 9v power supply for sure. i think it was in the 90s that anything that was 12v, switched to 9v, but it could have been a bit later than that

 

[Chistopher]

Yeah if it's a newer one I couldn't say what the issue is.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

If that were true a clean boost into a DS-1 would make it quieter

That is not what I'm saying. I'm not saying the DS-1's output is lower with high output pickups. I'm saying it has to be higher with high output pickups because clean, high output pickups are louder, so the pedal has to have more output to be able to reach unity gain.

That is silly and I'm prepared to defend my position with a circuit analysis.

Maybe I got a faulty one, then?

I've honestly had that problem with like 90% of the gain pedals I've had. It's not so bad on some, it's pretty bad in many.

Even a stock unmodded TS808. It's not too bad with EMG's, but with somethint truly high output like an X2N, it gets kinda silly. I mean, strum hard in 100% clean tone with the X2N, It's LOUD. Turn on a TS808 with the level al max, it's quieter. Which is kinda silly. It's overdriven. It's meant to be loud, right?

But I'm cool with TS's output because you rarely use TS's in front of a clean channel anyways.

But IME, a DS-1 has less output volume than a TS808 available, or even an SD-1, which has even less than an 808. That's why I was wondering if the DS-1 is supposed to be used in front of a dirty amp as well. Because the pedal's EQ profile wouldn't make me think it is, but I'm honestly truly ignorant about that pedal. When I tried it, for me it sounded like it was kind of a primitive/precursor amp-in-a-box kinda deal. Definietly nothing like TS or even a Rat.

Now a Klon has some real ouptut! Or something like a modded 808 style pedal like a Plumes.

 

[Chistopher]

DS-1s definitely sound best to me in front of a dirty amp, but I use modded ones, so I can make them do many different things. My only experience with high output pickups through a stock one is Deathbuckers and I've had no such problems.

What your describing sounds like it could be that somewhere else in your signal chain their is an inefficiency somewhere that causes an overall volume drop for bassier signals. I designed a Harmonic Percolator style circuit with that issue. Producing bass frequencies takes more energy than high frequency signals.

 

[misterwhizzy]

This thread got me thinking about doing the C6 mod to an SD-1 I got a couple of years ago. I opened it up and found the circuit board is now about the size of a stick of gum. I won't be modding this one.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

What does the C6 mod do?

 

[misterwhizzy]

What does the C6 mod do?

It’s supposed to roll off less high end and open it up a bit.