BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

Swampy

Swampy

New member
Bought a used one yesterday. Can't remember ever plugging into one, but have read a lot of people loving them. Even seemed to sound good on videos/demos. I plug in and sounds super thin and boxy. Not what I was expecting at all. Using Strat/'59 Bridge(HB)/Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue. Have tried through clean and as a boost through a dirtier setting. My BD-2 sounds like a $300 boutique pedal next to this thing.

What gives? Anyone else not really dig the SD-1?
 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

Have you tried using the BD-2 as your rhythm sound and the SD-1 into it as a solo boost?

What is your midrange setting on your amp? People really like it into the Blackface tone circuit with the scooped mids. If you are really bringing them back in with the amp’s midrange control, I can see the SD-1 being boxy.
 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

I think the SD-1 was everyone's first pedal. I don't even remember what happened to mine.

I thought this video was helpful

 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

It’s not too far removed from at ts9 electrically, it’s eq’d nearly identically. Most of the difference relies on the asymmetric clipping circuit which will make second order harmonics more noticeable, especially the 2nd. Other than that it should sound pretty close to a ts9
 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

Ayrton said:
I think the SD-1 was everyone's first pedal. I don't even remember what happened to mine.
Click to expand...

I thought that was DS-1. Could be I didn't know how to use it, but I recall it to be worst, really lifeless and artificial sounding.

I traded it for a few beers.
 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

The SD1 sucks as a standalone, for the same reasons a TS9 does. Their thing is to push dirty tubes further.
 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

I run an old SD-1 in front of a modded MT-2 I to a SS amp. It can actually put hair on the Metalzone. In front of a clean amp, well, it's going to depend on how loud you run it. In front of a tube amp on breakup, it's in it's own. Or in front of a treble boost into a tube pre-amp section.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

The SD-1 needs to be dialed in correctly for your tone. But that doesn't mean it's right for you. Since you got it I say fool around with it. Go outside your tonal box and experiment with different settings then your comfortable. Some guys get into a tone rut but thinking that add or removing a certain tone will not sound right. Sometimes it's exactly what you need and it may inspire you to write something you may not have without it.
I tried 3 times with the TS-9 and never get it to work out for me. It just doesn't shape into my tone well. I use the tc electronics Spark Booster and man that pedal sounds like a mini amp preamp. WOW is it fantastic. It's everything I ever wanted out of the Ibanez.
 
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Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

I've messed with it a few times yesterday. Even boosted and cut some frequencies with an MXR-10, which got it closer to likable.

Went ahead and ordered a Monte Allums mod kit this morning.
 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

There is a reason there are SD-1's and TS-9's.

I don't hate the SD-1 - too many people love them. But I'm a TS-9 guy.
 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

I think the SD-1 belongs with the Tube Screamer family in that they work better as boosts in front of an amp that's at least on the edge of breakup. If you're using it in front a completely clean amp, then yeah, it's going to cut a ton of bass and have this weird half clean signal with some overdrive in the background.
 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

Suitable for boosting a thick sounding high gain tube amp. But not even close the most suited pedal for that application...
 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

plug one into any cranked up tweed fender or any early marshall and see if you feel the same way.
 
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Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

ive bought the sd1 more times than i can count then sold it. i bought my last one and made a promise to myself that id not sell it. its been a long time and i still have it. it does what it does well and i like it better than the ds1 or bd2 even stock. its not my favorite od by a long shot but when used to goose something it can work really well
 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

Last one I had I clipped a diode, forget which one, to make it more transparent. It worked...but the pedal still sounded thin to me.
There are lots of mods you can do that are beyond my capability to increase Bass and other things, but I'd rather just get another pedal that does what I want properly.
The SD2 I recently got is fantastic and blows the SD1 out of the water IMHO.
 
Re: BOSS SD-1, kind of disappointed.

Swampy said:
Went ahead and ordered a Monte Allums mod kit this morning.
Click to expand...

You done good. Completely different pedal after that. (More like four completely different pedals because of the combination of more/less gain and asymmetric/symmetric clipping.)

In case you're new to modding pedals, I'd plan plenty of time to do exactly what it says and test the pedal after each component change. Even though in the short term, it'll take a lot longer, in the end, you won't have pulled out nearly as much hair as you may or may not have.
 
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