Is the klon circuit really all that magical? And why is the SD-1 overlooked?

[Gtarzan81]

The only pedal I own that I paid over 150 dollars for is my Friedman dirty Shirley. Now THAT is a good pedal! Great for high gain British overdrive.

I'll never pay over 200 dollars for a pedal unless its something i fall in love with.

Then that's a budget decision, not a sound decision.

I use my KTR into a Belle Epoch. They sound wonderful together.

 

[Alligatorbling]

Its hard to believe you can find these 35 or 40 dollars.

What REALLY sounds good is a fender twin pushed to overdrive (yes the head room is sky high on a twin but they WILL overdrive.) Dime the twin then step on the SD-1 to kick it in the ass harder.

This pedal is SO under-rated!

I did a mod to my SD1 about a month after i got it. Its a resistor or capacitor you clip from the circuit. I did the mod and it made it TOO transparent. I played it for 10 minutes and opened the pedal back up and put it back stock.

 

[bildozr]

Its hard to believe you can find these 35 or 40 dollars.

What REALLY sounds good is a fender twin pushed to overdrive (yes the head room is sky high on a twin but they WILL overdrive.) Dime the twin then step on the SD-1 to kick it in the ass harder.

This pedal is SO under-rated!

I did a mod to my SD1 about a month after i got it. Its a resistor or capacitor you clip from the circuit. I did the mod and it made it TOO transparent. I played it for 10 minutes and opened the pedal back up and put it back stock.

Boss makes great stuff. For some reason a lot of people scoff at them or write them off. It's hard to beat what you get for the price. Sure they've made a couple bad pedals *cough metalzone*, but even the good ole orange box DS-1 (which people hate on) can give you great tone if you know what you're doing. I have a modded DS-1, and OC-3 and a TR-2 on my board.

 

[Alligatorbling]

People see the 50 dollar new price tag and automatically think its going to be lack luster. Keeping the SD-1 on my board is a no brainer. I got it for 35 used and it sounds amazing. The SD-1 does not get the credit it deserves.

 

[dc007]

I mean it's like this. You gonna buy a 5 or 6 thousand dollar guitar then it just stands to reason it will never sound like it's supposed to without a 4 thousand dollar pedal. I thought everyone knew that

 

[KStopper65]

Is the SD-1 a TS clone?
BP

Yes but actually no.
Its different. It has asymetrical clipping meaning that it has only one clipping diode.
Therefore IMHO it sounds far better than the tube screamers

 

[KStopper65]

People see the 50 dollar new price tag and automatically think its going to be lack luster. Keeping the SD-1 on my board is a no brainer. I got it for 35 used and it sounds amazing. The SD-1 does not get the credit it deserves.

Actually, the only one pedal I have wanted the most is the SD-1.
Reasons:-
1. Its Cheap
2. Half the price of the TS-9 and sounds better
3. Vivian Campbell used it on Holy Diver
4. its yellow
5. Its made by Boss

 

[KStopper65]

Sure they've made a couple bad pedals *cough metalzone*,

How dare you??
Its an outrage

 

[edro]

Soul Food and multiple others does the same thing....shove the curve on preamp jugs in amp...so no.


Some sound a bit different.... So.

 

[Les Kiwi]

Not sure if this has already been posted, if it has then disregard. In reply to the OP The SD1 is a distortion pedal (Super Distortion actually) the Centaur is an overdrive pedal. Different.

 

[KStopper65]

Not sure if this has already been posted, if it has then disregard. In reply to the OP The SD1 is a distortion pedal (Super Distortion actually) the Centaur is an overdrive pedal. Different.

No no no no no. Its not a Super Distortion. Why does everyone keep making that same mistake?
Its an Overdrive. A Super Overdrive.
The Super Distortion is a Diamarzio Pickup

 

[Les Kiwi]

ok I stand corrected. I thought the SD1 was a higher gained version of the DS1. Good to know that I learnt something today days not a complete write off then.

 

[KStopper65]

A $28 Mosky Golden Horse works just fine ...

The problem with owning these is the reliability issues.
I'd rather spend more on something from EHX/MXR/Wampler.
There's also a lot of Japanese made klones that have been popping up which i really wanna try

 

[Oldskoolrob]

 

[ReWind James]

SD stands for Super Distortion.

Nope.

Super OverDrive. It says so right on top of the pedal.

They are pretty low gain and actually kinda clean, compared to many options. They sound to me like they mix in a bit of the clean signal with the original (kinda like a TS sounds) but that might not be how they actually work, I dunno. Point is, they are definitely not high gain or distortion. Just a nice mid-boosted drive / boost pedal.

Klons don't mid-boost, so different animals, but I think they actually do mix in some clean signal with the driven signal?

 

[ReWind James]

I'm a fan. SD-1 is one of my favorite Boss pedals. I do prefer the 70's OD-1, though. It's got more of that "big and fat, and open and breathy, all at once."

I've got a SD-1 on the way to Analogman for his mods (keeping the asymmetrical clipping, which I prefer with humbuckers). Really, only a few bucks for both the pedal (used) and the mods. One of my favorite drives, so figured I'd give Mike's take a try.

 

[KStopper65]

Klons don't mid-boost, so different animals, but I think they actually do mix in some clean signal with the driven signal?

Also, the Klon is a hard clipper, unlike the SD-1 which is a soft clipper
IMHO I think the best combo is a Marshall JCM800 running with the OD-3 and the SD-1 stacked.

 

[ReWind James]

I think the best combo is a Marshall JCM800 running with the OD-3 and the SD-1 stacked.

Too much gain for me. I'm not too into the OD-3, personally. I have enjoyed the SD-1 into the low gain / yellow channel of a KOT, though, just for a little more upper edge, while still staying open.

For a 2203, a RAT or TS are nice options, also.

 

[KStopper65]

I'm not too into the OD-3, personally.

I like the sound of the OD-3. it sounds transparent, but with some nice bass.
I love high gain tones, so yeah, it does make sense for me

 

[Alligatorbling]

Not sure if this has already been posted, if it has then disregard. In reply to the OP The SD1 is a distortion pedal (Super Distortion actually) the Centaur is an overdrive pedal. Different.

Google boss sd1 it is not a distortion pedal.