Overdrive pedal quandry

[KRKBAB]

Hello people-
I'm trying to find a pedal that is almost identical to the Boss SD1 Overdrive (not the DS1 Distortion) but with a tad more low end.
I want the low end cut like the Boss SD1, but just not as much cut.
I actually like the coloration and compression of the SD1.
Every pedal I've tried (from $45 to $200!) that has the coloration and compression of the SD1, ALSO has too little headroom.

I've tried the
Maxon OD9 (almost perfect, but not there)

MXR Badass Modified OD (almost perfect, but not enough headroom- I like it best with the boost off and the 100db cut at center) * I'm thinking the MXR GT would be very similar , but with extra headroom?

Fulltone Robin Trower (nice, but not nice enough for $200)

Xotic BB Preamp (close, but not creamy enough)

Way Huge Green Rhino (too bulky sounding)

Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive (too transparent)

Fulltone OCD (too transparent)

I've looked at a lot of Boss SD1 mods, but the ones with more low end seem to also feature more gain, which I def don't want.

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: Overdrive pedal quandry

I think the MXR Classic Overdrive would get you pretty close. I found it very similar to my SD-1 and in fact replaced my SD-1 with it

 

[mremic01]

Re: Overdrive pedal quandry

Well, since this is a pickup forum, I'm going to assume you have a soldering iron. If that's the case, the SD-1 is pretty much a Tube Screamer variant with different component values (that's probably why you like the OD9). It shouldn't be too hard to look up mods to get it to do what you want, or build your own and experiment. Don't worry about the gain. You just might have to only do half of the mod, or live with a different setting on your drive pot. If that seems a little daunting, you could always send it to someone to mod it. It's worth asking around diystompboxes or freestompboxes. Those guys should be able to suggest some part substitutions.

 

[thespricket]

Re: Overdrive pedal quandry

Totally, there are a bunch of really easy mods for that thing. There's one that won't even require using a soldering iron, you can just snip a single component and it will smoothen out the upper mids and give the bottom a bit more definition. I'll have to look it up, but you can find it easily if you search sd-1 mods.

 

[saladin]

Re: Overdrive pedal quandry

Boss OD-3!

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Overdrive pedal quandry

I all else fails . . . i always go back to the 'perfect-ts-style' box.

Give the Jacques Tube Blower a try - it works for me !!!

http://www.jacquespedals.com/index....er&PHPSESSID=a165cc76a7291e652c36af4fc97cb8ff


See what is can do for you.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Overdrive pedal quandry

This is a link to a thread over at MLP about the SD-1. Has some great info about mods to this great pedal (starting with the C6 cap clip) which bring the mid hump under control and add lows.
Most of the mods are a simple replacement of a capacitor with a different value.

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/pedals/237165-love-mighty-boss-sd-1-a.html

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Overdrive pedal quandry

just increase the value of c3 to get more bass from your sd-1. stock it is .047uf. put in a .1uf and youll get more bass end. It wont affect gain.

 

[KRKBAB]

Re: Overdrive pedal quandry

Boss OD-3!

I've heard that suggested. My local store will be getting one in for me to try.

thanks

 

[KRKBAB]

Re: Overdrive pedal quandry

just increase the value of c3 to get more bass from your sd-1. stock it is .047uf. put in a .1uf and youll get more bass end. It wont affect gain.

That sounds interesting- I'll look into that

 

[gvis]

Re: Overdrive pedal quandry

The SD1 Monte GT mod takes what I felt was a mediocre pedal and makes it fantastic. It may include adding more bass, I don't know and don't recall stock bass; with the mod I feel it has more bass than other TS type pedals.

And when I had the SD1 and OD3 (great pedal) side by side, I found the SD1 more compressed and the OD3 more open, which I mention because you said you like a compressed sound.

Otherwise a visual sound route 808, with bass boost, is a good option.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Overdrive pedal quandry

I duno how similar it is to an SD-1 but I tell everyone to try the Way Huge Pork Loin... it's not as gained up and aggressive as their Rhino and it has the 'clean' knob which is just awesome. I dial in the level and gain boost I want and typically crank the Clean all the way up... brings out the shimmer in my highs and the fat in my lows.