SD1 - Normally noisy or busted?

gusman2x

I've just gotten a s/h SD1 to replace my TS9. Much prefer the sound to the TS9, but on full gain (how I like it), it adds a lot of noise to my rig. Probably even more so when it's on bypass, when playing, it adds a lot of hiss. Tried to run it off a battery instead to see if that helped, but the battery clip doesn't work

Is it normal for SD1s to be quite noisy? If so, the search will continue, but if not then I might look for another.

ThePrettyDamned

Not especially...
They can be noisy in bypass with gain full up though, it's got a bad buffer. There are fixes - if you really like it, maybe look into mods? Or try one out at a guitar shop to see if yours is faulty.

Sassafras

At high gain settings in bypass mode the SD1 distortion can bleed through. I've never had that problem but then I never have the drive set past about 9 or 10 O'clock.

gusman2x

Yeah, I think that's the problem, as I like it maxed out. The person I bought it off didn't state that the battery clip wasn't working. It wasn't terribly expensive, but not lower than the going rate either. Should I contact the seller do you think?

ICBM

The bleed into the bypass is normal, although how bad it is varies from one example to another. It's caused by a small design flaw that Boss have never corrected for some reason, although all their other overdrive and distortion pedals I know of have it fixed. I'm not certain about the new 'Waza Craft' SD-1.

Hiss when the gain is up all the way is also normal I think, but again varies. I've owned three or four of them and noticed it with some and not others.

Oddly the notorious hiss from the GE-7 varies too, I have one just now which was noticeably less bad than they usually are even before I changed the chips, but even more oddly is not *that* much better even with it done...

bingefeller

ICBM said:

The bleed into the bypass is normal, although how bad it is varies from one example to another. It's caused by a small design flaw that Boss have never corrected for some reason, although all their other overdrive and distortion pedals I know of have it fixed. I'm not certain about the new 'Waza Craft' SD-1.

I have the Waza SD-1 and don't notice any noise when I have it off and the gain up full.   

stratosonic

I use my SD1 at about half gain with no issues. There are a few mods available for the SD1 to sort high gain noise - http://www.pedalarea.com/sd1.htm ;

professorben

Yeah it's shagged mate, better buy my SD-1w from the classified......

gusman2x

Well, I would flog it (as the bleed seems to be a normal condition), but the battery clip's knackered. So I don't really want to sell it without mentioning that, but it kind of makes it of nearly no value.

stratosonic

Cut the old battery clip off and replace it, couple of quid from amazon or fleabay? - https://www.amazon.co.uk/BATTERY-CONNECTOR-145MM-CABLE-BLACK/dp/B008IL9R7A ;