Boss SD1 Waza Craft

rawk100

A mate of mine lent me his SD1 Waza overdrive the other day to try with my marshall as a boost. I've had a couple of standard SD1's over the years and, although they are ok, I've never kept them. However I was pleasantly surprised at how good this Waza pedal sounds, from what i remember it's alot better than the other SD1's. In standard mode it seems to sound fuller/thicker yet retains a lot of clarity and definition, even with the gain cranked up. Its great for boosting the marshall for teh metalz. The custom mode seems to have more gain and bass with less mids yet still retains a lot of clarity.

Any other Waza love/experience round here?

Johnnyseven

I love the BD2W, it's a great pedal in both modes. I'd love to try the MT2W too.

DanR

I like my Waza SD1.

Its seen off a lot of expensive boosts/drives as well.

rawk100

Apparently the waza circuit is slightly different to a normal SD1 because it uses "discrete components" rather than an op amp/chip. The construction uses the smaller SMD components as well. Don't know if this approach is used across all Waza models....

ArchtopDave

I own a Waza Tuner. Looks cool, and works well. The only downside, in my experience, is that it eats batteries. It’s now living on my first pedalboard, and is Zuma powered.

JezWynd

Every one of the Waza series I've tried has sounded good. Currently use the VB-2w which is an exact sonic recreation of the original but with an option for a deeper/lusher sound. 

timmysoft

The waza sd1 is a great pedal, much better than the original and probably my first choice for any boosting needs 

Limehouse_Blues

The Waza chorus and analogue delay are both sublime. I’d like to get hold of the Blues driver. 

Marktigere1

My DM2W will only be removed from my cold dead hand.  Love it!

BD2W on its way to join the herd!

Cheers

clarkefan

Does anybody know if the Waza versions have fixed the volume drop you get using multiple "normal" Boss pedals?

TimmyO

rawk100 said:

Apparently the waza circuit is slightly different to a normal SD1 because it uses "discrete components" rather than an op amp/chip. The construction uses the smaller SMD components as well. Don't know if this approach is used across all Waza models....

if the Waza SD-1 doesn't have an opamp I'll eat my (or at least a) hat 

rawk100

TimmyO said:
if the Waza SD-1 doesn't have an opamp I'll eat my (or at least a) hat 

I didnt believe it either but according to this review it doesnt:

https://tonereport.com/reviews/boss-waza-craft-sd-1w-super-overdrive

And this one:

https://www.theguitarmagazine.com/gear/boss-waza-craft-sd-1w-and-bd-2w-reviews/

TimmyO

rawk100 said:

TimmyO said:
if the Waza SD-1 doesn't have an opamp I'll eat my (or at least a) hat 

I didnt believe it either but according to this review it doesnt:

https://tonereport.com/reviews/boss-waza-craft-sd-1w-super-overdrive

And this one:

https://www.theguitarmagazine.com/gear/boss-waza-craft-sd-1w-and-bd-2w-reviews/

blimey. TimmyO seeks chocolate hat 

thermionic

Both the BD-2 and the OD-3 use something similar, i.e. an opamp made of discrete components rather than fabricated on a single chip. There's more than one stage of diode clipping going on in those as well. I'm guessing the SD-1W has the standard SD-1/OD-1 diode clipping, just that the opamp is made of discrete components, so that the mode switch swaps some component in the opamp to get the different sound. Just a guess though!

Musicman20

I think I've bought every single Waza pedal so far....starting with the SD-1W, BD-2W and the DM-2W.

I've been super impressed with ALL of them. 

My favourite so far is the VB-2W, closely followed by the DM-2W.

TTBZ

How does the Custom mode on the SD1w compare to something like a Klon? Does it still have that tubescreamer-esque compressed sound to it or is it more of a "transparent" clean boost?

rawk100

TTBZ said:

How does the Custom mode on the SD1w compare to something like a Klon? Does it still have that tubescreamer-esque compressed sound to it or is it more of a "transparent" clean boost?

I haven't got a klon type pedal at the moment so can't compare them I'm afraid. In custom mode it sounds less compressed to me but I wouldn't call it transparent, the distortion still feels tight and not wooly. With the gain right down in custom mode it will give you a clean boost and the tone still works well, but you only have to nudge the gain to 9 o clock and the grit starts to come in. 

Samgb

SD1W and the BD2W on my board. BD2 cleanish but boosting. SD1 just about 12 o-clock on the drive. Works for me.