Boss SD-1 SUPER OverDrive - Tubescreamer on steroids mod user reviews ( 9/10) - 39 user reviews

• 03/21/11

  PurposeToMelody's review "Good Overdrive ....if you buy used."

  Characteristics

  Simple Overdrive to boost an amp or add distortion

  Utilization

  Super easy to use, very simple lay out of volume tone and drive, input and output jacks and a 9v plug for powering by an adapter.

  Sound Quality

  For the price of less than 50 dollars its hard to beat if you want an overdrive, for tightening up your sound or just to add a little more dirt to your sound.
  
  
  
  Les Paul Laney GH50L: I use this setup with it almost exclusivley. I don't use it for much other than boosting solos. I have it set with the volume very high (5 o clock) and the gain low ( 9 o clock). It sounds pretty good this way for just boosting it for a solo, I personally would never use this to tighten my amp though, it is MUCH to "brittle" sounding and can't really handle the low frequencies as well as TS9 can. the Tone control while very responsive does not impress me. it goes from dark and muddy to brittle and bright, and everywhere in between, it really needs mods to make it shine ( which I did do to mine). I really enjoy it on top of a dirty amp now after I modded it to tighten some stuff up in the low end and really makes tight heavy rhythms POP.
  
  
  
  MIA strat Laney GH50L: I don't use this as often, but when I do I set the amp with a little bit of break up and use the SD1 for solos and for parts I really want stuff to come out. It sounds great this way, think SRV or Hendrix, very bluesy and soulful, I highly recommend this to people looking for this type of sound, even un-modded it does a pretty good job, modded its pretty amazing, albeit still a bit muddy.

  Overall Opinion

  Overall, it really is just OK. I like it, but not enough to buy new, or not mod. it's ok at a few things and thats it, if you want something for CRUSHING rhyhtms look elsewhere if you want it for boosts for solos and thats it, take a look, maybe you'll like it, maybe you won't.
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• 03/21/11

  rockerdad's review "Super Overdrive? Maybe Semi Overdrive"

  Characteristics

  The Boss SD-1 is a stompbox style pedal that is used to tighten up and "hot rod" a mid gain amp.
  
  
  
  -Yellow chasis
  
  - level, tone, drive knobs
  
  - check led (more of an on/off light)
  
  - in and out jacks
  
  - powered by a boss power supply or 9 volt battery

  Utilization

  I use the SD-1 to drive my marshall 100 watter a little more. Just plug into the amp's input from the output of the pedal. I power mine with a Godlyke powerall and it works great...no more changing batteries. The pedal itself is as simple as it gets. Set your level for how much of the effect you want to affect your tone, adust the tone knob for a higher ended sound or lower ended and use the drive knob to dial in the amount of...well...drive! It's NOT a distortion pedal. It won't give you more gain but think of it as kinda squeezing the gain you have really tight to push it to it's limits!

  Sound Quality

  I'd compare this to a tubescreamer but I think the tubescreamer might have just a little bit more oomph too it.
  
  The SD-1 does a good job with my DSL 100 to give me the amount of saturation I need though. It can be a noisy pedal and you will most likely need some kind of noise gate or suppressor if you keep the drive above half on an amp that's already got a good amount of gain going.
  
  I would not recommend using it on a high gain amp as there is bound to be a ton of feedback. It has a fairly transparent sound when engaged and also when not turned on.

  Overall Opinion

  Overall, the Boss SD-1 is perfect for players of rock, pop, country rock, and even some metal music. I think it's best utilized with a marshall style amp, whether it be a plexi or JCM800. Slapping this pedal in front of amps like that will push your sound over the edge in a very good way. I do wish it tightened up the sound just a tad more though with my setup. I may explore some other options in the future but it's been a workhorse for me for the last 6-8 months.
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• 03/21/11

  Hatsubai's review "Great boost at a great price"

  Characteristics

  The Boss SD-1 is one of the two most popular overdrive pedals out there. The SD-1 is really an evolution of the original OD-1 but with a tone knob added. This pedal was featured by many guitar players in the 80s in conjunction with Marshall amplifiers. Zakk Wylde was probably the most well known user of this pedal.

  Utilization

  Boss pedals will take any abuse you throw at them. Their rugged housings could withstand a nuclear bomb. Everything is clearly labeled and easy to use on this pedal. On top of that, it's very easy to get a good sound with very little time. A lot of people use this as mostly a level booster, but I recommend at least running a touch of gain to help get some of that asymmetrical clipping flavor going on.

  Sound Quality

  The sound of this pedal is pretty good, even to this day. Some argue about the tonal differences between the MIJ and MIT versions, and there is some truth to that, but it's nothing to really get worked up over. One real cool thing about this pedal is that it's crazy easy to modify. Anybody looking to customize his or her own boost pedal could easily do it with the SD-1. The most common mods are taking out the mid hump and adding some bass. If you're going to mod it, I recommend fixing the bypass. The biggest issue with these pedals is that they leak signal, even when turned off. If you search Google, you can find various ways to fix this.

  Overall Opinion

  If you're looking for a boost pedal to try out, I recommend trying this, especially if you have a Marshall amplifier. These pedals work awesome with Marshall based amps for whatever reason. They're also very easy to mod if you aren't 100% satisfied with the tone. Don't forget that a lot of the TS808 mods also translate to this pedal, so don't be afraid to experiment.
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• 02/28/09

  moosers's review

  Characteristics

  The Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive is an analog guitar pedal. It has a 1/4 inch input for your instrument and a 1/4 inch output for your amplifier. It is powered by either a nine volt battery or a nine volt power supply. It is not a rackable effect as it is a foot pedal.

  Utilization

  The configuration of the SD-1 couldn't be easier. It simply has three knobs that control three basic parameters - level, tone, and drive. It is easy to get a pretty good sound from this within a matter of minutes and is capable of getting a few different nice overdrive tones. While I don't have a manual for the SD-1, one shouldn't need it as the pedal is really easy to use.

  Sound Quality

  The sound quality of the overdrive on the SD-1 is pretty good overall. While it isn't the most versatile pedal in the world, it is good at what it does. I use this pedal with electric guitar - a Fender Stratocaster and a '76 Fender Twin Reverb most of the time, and get some pretty good results. The SD-1 would probably also sound good on electric keyboards as well. The overall tone is full sounding, and is probably best suited for rhythm guitar when playing modern and classic rock.

  Overall Opinion

  I've been using the Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive pedal for about two years and have found it to be useful overall. This being said, I wouldn't recommend it for the guitar player looking to get a single overdrive pedal for all of their distortion or overdrive sounds, as it simply isn't versatile enough. However, for the price one would be able to collect a few different pedals at this rate to get a few different tones. Boss makes sturdy pedals that are hard to break and overall they have a great reputation. I would encourage those interested in overdrive pedals to check out a variety of different options to see what will work best for them.
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• 01/19/11

  coolzapp's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  3 knobs: Volume, Tone and Drive

  Utilization

  use could not be more simple, 3 knobs is not very complicated ^ _ ^ '

  Sound Quality

  Then, j love it! Not only as an overdrive pedal it stands up very well and we get a good sound easy but what's more it takes on the role very well boost! It was in itself that I use and coupled with the overdrive of my amp Marshall MG50 DFX or my Boss OS-2 is a real treat, a boost clean and efficient, just what need (with the right settings of course).
  
  FYI, I use a Fender Telecaster Highway One;)

  Overall Opinion

  I have for a week but I had already tested previously and different amplifiers.
  
  I tried several models before, but one that is my favorite by far!
  
  What I like most is when I use it as a boost or coupled with another pedal, I find that the result is great and I love the tone produced.
  
  The price / quality ratio is very good, especially compared to the astronomical price overdrive and finally are no better than this small SD-1!
  
  I do it again without hesitation that choice =)
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• 09/28/10

  thegoofisonfire's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " just enough! ""

  Characteristics

  Indeed format type overdrive pedal, typed enough rock'n'roll.
  
  analog.
  
  connector jack mono 1 / 4 "
  
  -1 In
  
  -1 Out
  
  9V battery or power supply sub sector with appropriate adapter.
  
  
  
  a knob for level (volume)
  
  a knob tone
  
  a knob of drive

  Utilization

  the config is super simple, with 3 mm long knobs not see how I get lost !!!!!
  
  The manual is super simple égalemnt, and frankly there is no need.
  
  I like the grain 70 'of this pedal.

  Sound Quality

  this is where my opinion will not serve much use, because this pedal is connected between my guitar and my Trace Elliot Warwick, stock without modification.
  
  ferving fan of distortion on the bass I have always struggled to find distortion pedal, and I was franchemnt agréablemnt surprised by the record.
  
  remain lucid, it is an extra pedal for distortion with a big bass this well it would be better to go through a guitar amp connected in parallel with the bass amp, or have a dedicated head down to the distal .
  
  certainemnt but not for nothing that the crazy-mad bassist of Lightning Bolt has also crank his ds (discovered after the fact)
  
  a small remark qd mm, the pedal has a better sound QD is connected to a stabilized power supply sector, because the sound changes as and when the battery is empty and a further blow to the distortion appears.

  Overall Opinion

  Buy € 70, I've had 3-4 years no problem, boss pedals are trimmed to the scene, it's robust.
  
  
  
  did not find anything that suits me better than this pedal distortion pr my bass, I would do certainly mm choice.
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• 02/24/10

  nico21120's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Utilization

  Sound Quality

  I use it between my Highway One Start and my Marshall JTM 30 combo any lamp.
  
  What I love is that it fully respects the tone of my guitar-amp pair that suits me perfectly.
  
  This is my first pedal overdrive in 17 years of practice! I simply compared with the TS9 with a friend, I prefer the BOSS for grain neutral (which may correspond to a quality defect or otherwise according to what is desired!). Otherwise a small comparison, just for laughs with the simulation equivalent of my little multi-purpose, obviously nothing to do!

  Overall Opinion

  Well, me I agree completely. But beware, my advice is worth what it is, that I never used many different overdrives: ie that of my amp, my multi-effect, or plugins, and computer I use this relatively rarely, or rather that I'm starting to get serious especially after having played clean.
  
  Not disappointed at all, and fair price, I would.
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• 10/15/09

  Antoninodelavega's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Utilization

  Sound Quality

  Overall Opinion

  How long have you use it?
  
  
  
  I use it for a year.
  
  
  
  What is the particular feature you like best and least?
  
  
  
  BOSS solidity quality, easy to use, but many possibilities thanks to the three knobs.
  
  
  
  Have you tried many other models before acqurir?
  
  
  
  Almost all models of overdrive available on the market. I prfr a BOSS BluesDriver but it costs 70 more for a slightly more bluesy sound.
  
  
  
  How do you report qualitprix?
  
  
  
  Excellent, LA Overdrive pedals trs good quality of the least CHRE the march.
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• 08/20/09

  marron37's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  What are the effects or types of effects available? What technology is used? (Analog, digital, tube ...) Are they edited? Via an editor Mac / PC? What is the connection? (Audio / MIDI) Is this a rack or rack model? *
  
  
  
  overdrive pedal with three knobs
  
  volume / tone / Drive
  
  immedia sector or cell

  Utilization

  The general configuration is it simple? Edition sound effects or is it easy? The manual is clear and sufficient? * ...
  
  
  
  simple configuration knobs effective. can be precisely its afinné grain.manuel short but ample.

  Sound Quality

  The effects are they effective, responsive and realistic enough? Which instruments do you use? Which ones you prefer, you hate? *
  
  
  
  I find that this pedal is perfect boost in saturation or very low or even just a slight crunch.
  
  
  
  Start with a> good for blues / rock while we're going easy on the Drive as it passes quickly for something "heavy" and "fuzz" if you put in the bottom but it is not very good, it becomes rough for my taste ...
  
  
  
  with lp> interaissant enough because the pedal can move towards several different grains from mild to loud playing with the 3 knobs ....
  
  
  
  the good will that she eats too serious
  
  
  
  * H & k amp on 60dfx

  Overall Opinion

  How long have you use it? What is so special that you like most and least? Have you tried many other models before buying it? How would you rate the quality / price? With experience, you do again this choice? * ...
  
  
  
  I've had 3 weeks
  
  in my previous notes I take into account the price.
  
  It will be naive to believe that a pedal at 60 euros gives her an equal to pedal to 300 euros ...... <img class="smiley" src="http://fr.audiofanzine.com/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink" /> This pedal and vice versa has not changed my amp transistor lamp ... <img class="smiley" src="http://fr.audiofanzine.com/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink" />
  
  
  
  However ...
  
  
  
  I got my money or a pedal very correct for a great price, both simple and effective.
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• 04/09/09

  blaez_minkoff's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Overdrive is to say not too straight forward.
  
  Like all BOSS is not a true bypass, but I heard no sound altration when the pedals are class without an effect is triggered.

  Utilization

  Simple.
  
  Sturdy is the Boss.

  Sound Quality

  I made some modifications on it: I changed a silicon diode clipping of a FET (the hottest), I have a TL072 storage piles on the first PDO (more gain) and I changed the condo of a higher value (more serious).
  
  It's better, the sound is more EHJV, more gain and a higher sound lev.
  
  We can say also that it is less dry, it loses its nasal winning cot particularly serious.
  
  
  
  Any takers, the change is simple for those who can weld.

  Overall Opinion

  Without pedals is a nice mod with the mod is a good trs pedals.
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