The Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive

RandallFlagg

I have just ordered a Boss SD-1 as GAK have them on sale for £59.99

I can't believe I never owned one before, such a ubiquitous, classic overdrive. Looking forward the cheap simplicity of this classic, boosting a medium driven amp or to add grit and gain to a clean amp.

It's one of my favourite ODs in the HX Stomp.

Anyone else loving the simple, classic SD-1?

Cirrus

Yeah,  they're lovely pedals. If you can't get a good tone with an sd-1, you probably fought for the nazis in WW2.

RocknRollDave

I use one every gig and will continue to do so. 

Slightly gritty amp, distortion pedal on with a low gain setting to add a bit of sparkle and then the SD-1 for a bit more overdrive. Sweet.

Supportact

Yes the SD-1 has to be one of my longest serving pedals, and I always come back to it even though I get tempted by fancier stuff from time to time.

I think at this stage its big attraction is that I can set it pretty much without hearing it, I'm so used to it. I could probably gig with just one of them plus a delay. 

DoctorX

It was my first ever overdrive, I loved it, I went on to buy an Analogman modded one with a supposedly upgraded chip and caps and a push/pull pot that changed between symmetrical and asymmetrical clipping (this was 15-20 years ago), but there was no real improvement over the original. It’s been years since I’ve played one, might have to revisit it.

ICBM

The newest edition has fixed the long-standing problem of the overdrive sound bleeding into the bypass signal slightly at higher gain settings as well, so there's no point in buying an original for more money.

KevS

I find the SD 1 especially good with single coil Strats and Teles..
I got seriously great tone from just a Tele with Fender Original Vintage Tele pickups,,Flat pole alnico 3's,with an SD1 and a Teal Stripe Peavey Bandit on the clean channel..I think I dated my one to 1989/1990..I had a noughties one that was very slightly less transparent,but it could have been aging capacitors in the earlier one dropping in value/causing less output....I like the Tubescreamer too,but the SD1 has a little more raunch and energy,but you can still get a good lowish gain tone..Past 3 o'clock on the gain knob,I think it loses something..
With hotter Humbuckers it is like it has too much mids..It can sound a bit wooly and mushy..

Just what I find...I love them though.. 

monquixote

I've tried loads of unicorn boutique drives and I currently have an SD-1 BD-2 and DS-2 on my board.

Classics for a reason

Dave_Mc

Yeah it's awesome

thermionic

My only overdrive pedal for many years was an OD-1 so I had to check out the SD-1 and OD-3 as well.

https://i.imgur.com/g0CS9My.jpg

The OD-1 and SD-1 are very close. The OD-3 is a completely different circuit and it suits me better for home playing levels but I plug in the SD-1 now and again.

KevS

I have an OD3,but for me the SD1 is the one with personality and Mojo..

dean111music

Is the Wazza Craft version worth the extra? 

guitargeek62

I've had a couple over the years, it's a great pedal but the BD-2 is 'better' for the type of stuff I play (and play through).

tekbow

A bog standard SD1 kicked an analogman KOT and a Keeley modded TS off my board.

Just can't go wrong with it.

monquixote

dean111music said:

Is the Wazza Craft version worth the extra? 

It's got an additional mode.

It's probably not technically worth the extra but given it's my favourite I've got one anyway.

NelsonP

monquixote said:

I've tried loads of unicorn boutique drives and I currently have an SD-1 BD-2 and DS-2 on my board.

Classics for a reason

Couldn't agree more...

dean111music

NelsonP said:

monquixote said:

I've tried loads of unicorn boutique drives and I currently have an SD-1 BD-2 and DS-2 on my board.

Classics for a reason

Couldn't agree more...

nice! What board is that?

NelsonP

dean111music said:

NelsonP said:

monquixote said:

I've tried loads of unicorn boutique drives and I currently have an SD-1 BD-2 and DS-2 on my board.

Classics for a reason

Couldn't agree more...

nice! What board is that?

It's a Warwick Rockboard Tres 3.1

Fez

I got the black anniversary one and as soon as I plugged it in I thought why have I never had one of these before? I often think shall I get an ordinary yellow one, not sure it would replace my gunshot though.

TimmyO

At different times I've thought the SD-1 was the most wonderful under-appreciated (well I know it's not exactly unknown but you know what I mean) little box of boost goodies there is, and at other times I've thought it's somehow both nasal and flat at the same time and not much cop.

The difference was the amps I had at those times. 

for my taste, it has to be going in to something already clipping/crunching. The more the better. 

Flanging_Fred

TimmyO said:

At different times I've thought the SD-1 was the most wonderful under-appreciated (well I know it's not exactly unknown but you know what I mean) little box of boost goodies there is, and at other times I've thought it's somehow both nasal and flat at the same time and not much cop.

The difference was the amps I had at those times. 

for my taste, it has to be going in to something already clipping/crunching. The more the better. 

Agreed, rather like the DS-1, the SD-1 can sound great with some amps in some situations and properly unpleasant in others.

I guess all pedals exhibit this to some extent but these two seem somewhat sensitive to being used in a suitable rig.