poweredbysoul
New member
Looking at getting one of these, any major differences between these to stock.
Thanks
Thanks
SD-1 Monte Gt mods? Any feedback?
- Thread starter poweredbysoul
- Start date
poweredbysoul
New member
Re: SD-1 Monte Gt mods? Any feedback?
Just picked up the SD-1 Monte Allums GT mod. Should be in next week. I'll post my observations.
Just picked up the SD-1 Monte Allums GT mod. Should be in next week. I'll post my observations.
Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: SD-1 Monte Gt mods? Any feedback?
I finally got to A/B my GT mod against my stock SD-1 last night, but it was only for about five minutes, as it was after midnight.
First impression is that the stock unit is very muted sounding by comparison - the GT gives that "taking off the blanket" feeling. I don't know how much of that comes from the GT's "clarity" mods and better op amp, and how much comes from the fact that the GT removes some of the mid-hump.
Overall, in comparison to nothing in particular, the GT is a very smooth-sounding pedal. Even with the gain on 2X and the clipping asymetrical, it doesn't get real nasty-sounding. I was hoping with the extra gain switch, the GT would get into DS-1 territory, but it doesn't - it's a more polite sounding pedal, even with gobs of gain dialed in. It's a great sound, but not "rude" if that's what you're looking for.
I'm going to compare them more as-is, then do the clarity and op amp mods only on my stock SD-1. I'll leave the mid-hump alone, and not mess with the clipping diodes. I expect that that will be a cool pedal, but we'll see...
I finally got to A/B my GT mod against my stock SD-1 last night, but it was only for about five minutes, as it was after midnight.
First impression is that the stock unit is very muted sounding by comparison - the GT gives that "taking off the blanket" feeling. I don't know how much of that comes from the GT's "clarity" mods and better op amp, and how much comes from the fact that the GT removes some of the mid-hump.
Overall, in comparison to nothing in particular, the GT is a very smooth-sounding pedal. Even with the gain on 2X and the clipping asymetrical, it doesn't get real nasty-sounding. I was hoping with the extra gain switch, the GT would get into DS-1 territory, but it doesn't - it's a more polite sounding pedal, even with gobs of gain dialed in. It's a great sound, but not "rude" if that's what you're looking for.
I'm going to compare them more as-is, then do the clarity and op amp mods only on my stock SD-1. I'll leave the mid-hump alone, and not mess with the clipping diodes. I expect that that will be a cool pedal, but we'll see...
Last edited:
Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: SD-1 Monte Gt mods? Any feedback?
When I did the GT mod, I remember it getting better and better-sounding up until the steps that remove the hump and replace the clipping section. At that point the pedal kinda took off in a different direction, and became less SD-1-ish. (Which is not to say it's bad - I think Monte's GT Mod is a great pedal).
I have all the parts to do the clarity and op-amp mods, including removing C6, so I think I'll go back to that intermediate point in the GT progression and stop there. However, on your advice, I'll just pull C6 first and see what I think.
When I did the GT mod, I remember it getting better and better-sounding up until the steps that remove the hump and replace the clipping section. At that point the pedal kinda took off in a different direction, and became less SD-1-ish. (Which is not to say it's bad - I think Monte's GT Mod is a great pedal).
I have all the parts to do the clarity and op-amp mods, including removing C6, so I think I'll go back to that intermediate point in the GT progression and stop there. However, on your advice, I'll just pull C6 first and see what I think.
Last edited:
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: SD-1 Monte Gt mods? Any feedback?
I don't even know what Monte does in his mods other than removing C6, which seems to be what everybody does.
If you want to try a different type of diode for clipping, replace D4, D5 and D6 with 1N4001's. You can get them at Radio Shack. They're my favorite for clipping.
I don't even know what Monte does in his mods other than removing C6, which seems to be what everybody does.
If you want to try a different type of diode for clipping, replace D4, D5 and D6 with 1N4001's. You can get them at Radio Shack. They're my favorite for clipping.
Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: SD-1 Monte Gt mods? Any feedback?
Check out his page - the "GT" come from having a germanium transitor as one of the choices for clipping. There's also a 1N4002 in there somewhere. The mod has a symmetrical/asymmetrical switch, but I don't remember all the details of the clipping section. He also changes out several caps for better quality, and substitutes a nice Burr Brown OPA2134PA opamp. Overall, it's a very versatile pedal.
Check out his page - the "GT" come from having a germanium transitor as one of the choices for clipping. There's also a 1N4002 in there somewhere. The mod has a symmetrical/asymmetrical switch, but I don't remember all the details of the clipping section. He also changes out several caps for better quality, and substitutes a nice Burr Brown OPA2134PA opamp. Overall, it's a very versatile pedal.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: SD-1 Monte Gt mods? Any feedback?
I changed out the opamp before for the same mod. Oddly enough, since you mentioned that, two of his changes come from the Keeley 5-Star mod (removing C6 and the opamp), probably more. I put the 4558 back in it though. The Burr Brown is nice though. I tried out a Germanium transistor a few weeks ago and didn't like it as much. Too splatty for me.
I changed out the opamp before for the same mod. Oddly enough, since you mentioned that, two of his changes come from the Keeley 5-Star mod (removing C6 and the opamp), probably more. I put the 4558 back in it though. The Burr Brown is nice though. I tried out a Germanium transistor a few weeks ago and didn't like it as much. Too splatty for me.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: SD-1 Monte Gt mods? Any feedback?
They will. They have the same forward voltage so will begin clipping at the same point. Germanium clips much sooner, even sooner than silicon.
I need to get another SD-1 so I can try another conversion I've mapped out. It's nothing new and in some research, I found that it's been mapped out before, although I didn't find that stuff until after I already went through the schematics....LOL. At least I can say I figured it out myself.
They will. They have the same forward voltage so will begin clipping at the same point. Germanium clips much sooner, even sooner than silicon.
I need to get another SD-1 so I can try another conversion I've mapped out. It's nothing new and in some research, I found that it's been mapped out before, although I didn't find that stuff until after I already went through the schematics....LOL. At least I can say I figured it out myself.
devastone
Well-known member
Re: SD-1 Monte Gt mods? Any feedback?
Germanium diodes clip around .3 - .4 V, hence their warmer, more compressed sound, they can also get too mushy on their own IMO, but work better in asymmetrical circuits. They are nice for bluesier od sounds.
Silicon and Rectifier (also silicon) diodes clip around .5 - .7 V, some a little higher. The spec for 1N400Xs is around 1V, but the ones I measured in our lab is much lower, around .53V (as did a 1N914), the breakover voltage is probably also dependent on current.
LEDs depend on the color, red ones clip around 1.2 - 1.4V, hence why pedals with LEDs have more output (all other things equal). They sound more open and crunchy.
The best example is the different Rat models are the same circuit with different clippers, the Dirty Rat has germanium diodes, the Rat has silicon, and the Turbo Rat has LEDs (yellow I think, which have a slightly higher breakover voltage than red IIRC). So, with a 3-way switch, you could easily make a Rat into all three.
I did pull C6 out of my old MIJ SD-1 last night, it did open it up quite a bit, it's subtle but noticeable, it's more like it "feels" better if that makes sense. I didn't really pay attention to it in the past, but it is feeding back higher frequencies in the feedback loop of the 2nd amplification stage, therefore rolling them off. I do like it better with it out of the circuit. I also put some 1N4001s in the clipping section, not sure if I could tell a real difference from the 1N914s but YMMV. I was thinking about trying a BB Preamp, but I think I'm going to give the SD-1 some more time now, not to mention the BB is pretty expensive.
Germanium diodes clip around .3 - .4 V, hence their warmer, more compressed sound, they can also get too mushy on their own IMO, but work better in asymmetrical circuits. They are nice for bluesier od sounds.
Silicon and Rectifier (also silicon) diodes clip around .5 - .7 V, some a little higher. The spec for 1N400Xs is around 1V, but the ones I measured in our lab is much lower, around .53V (as did a 1N914), the breakover voltage is probably also dependent on current.
LEDs depend on the color, red ones clip around 1.2 - 1.4V, hence why pedals with LEDs have more output (all other things equal). They sound more open and crunchy.
The best example is the different Rat models are the same circuit with different clippers, the Dirty Rat has germanium diodes, the Rat has silicon, and the Turbo Rat has LEDs (yellow I think, which have a slightly higher breakover voltage than red IIRC). So, with a 3-way switch, you could easily make a Rat into all three.
I did pull C6 out of my old MIJ SD-1 last night, it did open it up quite a bit, it's subtle but noticeable, it's more like it "feels" better if that makes sense. I didn't really pay attention to it in the past, but it is feeding back higher frequencies in the feedback loop of the 2nd amplification stage, therefore rolling them off. I do like it better with it out of the circuit. I also put some 1N4001s in the clipping section, not sure if I could tell a real difference from the 1N914s but YMMV. I was thinking about trying a BB Preamp, but I think I'm going to give the SD-1 some more time now, not to mention the BB is pretty expensive.
Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: SD-1 Monte Gt mods? Any feedback?
I spent a good long time last night playing my latest-rev pedalboard, and especially comparing three dirt boxes: a a stock SD-1, a Monte Allums SD-1 GT, and a Monte Allums DS-1 Recto. I spent about two hours futzing around with all of them, twiddling knobs, playing the same passages three times over. So, I learned a lot.
First, I've concluded the DS-1 in any form is just not for me. I've owned three in the last six months: stock, Keeley Ultra, and Allums Recto. The modded pedals stand head and shoulders above the stock box. The Keeley is a bit more versatile, but I think I like the Recto a bit better. Either way, they all have an artificial component to their sound that's not "me". I can see how it might be useful sometimes, so I think I'll hang onto the pedal, but probably not on my board.
Obviously, I like overdrives better than distortion boxes. The Allums GT Mod is a great overdrive. It's extremely verstile. The 2x gain switch doesn't really add much more audible overdrive - it already has a ton. But 2x position is brighter - since it switches a resistor value without changing the corresponding cap, the switch raises the filter frequency, making the pedal brigher, but without being shrill.
The other switch is the symmetrical/asymmetrical switch for the clipping section. Another revalation: I don't like symmetrical clipping sections in these pedals: don't like Tube Screamers, don't like SD-1's modded to be symmetrical. Of course, if you like the smoother sound, then this switch is useful; it might save you having two pedals on your board. But I prefer the nastier sound of asymmetrical clipping.
Of course, the GT stands for "germanium transistor". Clipping comes in really early on this box, but I wouldn't call is splatty. The GT mod is a very sophisticated sounding pedal - it has modern levels of high gain, but with an old-school 60's kinda character to it.
The stock SD-1 is of course, an SD-1. It sounds like it has a blanket over it, but I like the rawer clipping that comes from it's asymmetrical, silicon-diode circuit. I spent a lot of time switching back and forth between the two SD-1's and I like aspects of both.
My next project will be to combine the clarity mods, C6 removal, and Burr-Brown op-amp from the GT with the stock SD-1's clipping section. I'll call it the HAM (H for half, M for mod; you figure out the A), and it may end up being my ultimate SD-1. I hope to get it done this week, stay tuned for a shoot-out.
I spent a good long time last night playing my latest-rev pedalboard, and especially comparing three dirt boxes: a a stock SD-1, a Monte Allums SD-1 GT, and a Monte Allums DS-1 Recto. I spent about two hours futzing around with all of them, twiddling knobs, playing the same passages three times over. So, I learned a lot.
First, I've concluded the DS-1 in any form is just not for me. I've owned three in the last six months: stock, Keeley Ultra, and Allums Recto. The modded pedals stand head and shoulders above the stock box. The Keeley is a bit more versatile, but I think I like the Recto a bit better. Either way, they all have an artificial component to their sound that's not "me". I can see how it might be useful sometimes, so I think I'll hang onto the pedal, but probably not on my board.
Obviously, I like overdrives better than distortion boxes. The Allums GT Mod is a great overdrive. It's extremely verstile. The 2x gain switch doesn't really add much more audible overdrive - it already has a ton. But 2x position is brighter - since it switches a resistor value without changing the corresponding cap, the switch raises the filter frequency, making the pedal brigher, but without being shrill.
The other switch is the symmetrical/asymmetrical switch for the clipping section. Another revalation: I don't like symmetrical clipping sections in these pedals: don't like Tube Screamers, don't like SD-1's modded to be symmetrical. Of course, if you like the smoother sound, then this switch is useful; it might save you having two pedals on your board. But I prefer the nastier sound of asymmetrical clipping.
Of course, the GT stands for "germanium transistor". Clipping comes in really early on this box, but I wouldn't call is splatty. The GT mod is a very sophisticated sounding pedal - it has modern levels of high gain, but with an old-school 60's kinda character to it.
The stock SD-1 is of course, an SD-1. It sounds like it has a blanket over it, but I like the rawer clipping that comes from it's asymmetrical, silicon-diode circuit. I spent a lot of time switching back and forth between the two SD-1's and I like aspects of both.
My next project will be to combine the clarity mods, C6 removal, and Burr-Brown op-amp from the GT with the stock SD-1's clipping section. I'll call it the HAM (H for half, M for mod; you figure out the A), and it may end up being my ultimate SD-1. I hope to get it done this week, stay tuned for a shoot-out.
Last edited:
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: SD-1 Monte Gt mods? Any feedback?
I like asymetrical clipping better myself. However, when the TS circuit is done right, symetrical sounds great. At the Arlington Guitar Show this weekend, I played through their pedals and they have a new one coming out called Route 808. It's the OD section of the J&H and Route 66 pedals by itself. They also have one called Double Trouble coming out which is two of the Route 808's in one pedal. They sound amazing. Best sounding TS clones I've heard. They're not up on the Visual Sound site yet but they will be soon. New look to the current pedals as well, for the better I might add.
I like asymetrical clipping better myself. However, when the TS circuit is done right, symetrical sounds great. At the Arlington Guitar Show this weekend, I played through their pedals and they have a new one coming out called Route 808. It's the OD section of the J&H and Route 66 pedals by itself. They also have one called Double Trouble coming out which is two of the Route 808's in one pedal. They sound amazing. Best sounding TS clones I've heard. They're not up on the Visual Sound site yet but they will be soon. New look to the current pedals as well, for the better I might add.
devastone
Well-known member
Re: SD-1 Monte Gt mods? Any feedback?
I've got their latest catalog, the new ones do look different. I need to see them for real. I've thought about a J&H, but right now my slightly modded SD-1 and my Rat seem to be working fine. Anything else would just be GAS
which I've had too much of lately.
I've got their latest catalog, the new ones do look different. I need to see them for real. I've thought about a J&H, but right now my slightly modded SD-1 and my Rat seem to be working fine. Anything else would just be GAS
which I've had too much of lately.Similar threads
