Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive

Three Knobs -- manual contains suggested settings.

Okay, I'm probably going to get a lot of flack for this, but this overdrive box sounds better than the TS-9, BD-2 and several other units that I tried. I a/b'd several of them and wanted to keep going back to this one, but then I would think, "this is the cheapest box, the other ones must be better," but NOPE. To be fair, let me give you my setup, because boxes sound different with certain amps: Fender Deville, Boss CE-5, Boss CS-3. With this setup, I was able to get a very smooth blues sound, and a very versatile rock sound. The pedal is fairly quite. My only complaint is that you have to leave the tone control around 10 o'clock or it will get pretty trebly, but so will the BD-2 (worse) and the TS-9 (about the same).

without a doubt

I would definitely buy this pedal again.

Excellent ease. Three knobs. Volume, level, and tone. Got it used so it didn't come with a manual. Easy to toy around with.

Depends on who uses it. Its really noisy and the only way to get rid of the noise is to shut the thing off. I myself reccomend the sound to punk players, cause this thing isn't a low, dark, metal box. Its a speedy, high-treble, punk box. I'd be great for green day, but i'd be a nightmare for Nirvana.

Dammit, its a BOSS. What do you think?

Never dealt with them, cause think thing would never break.

I hate the pedal just because it doesn't get the sound I want. for ALL you punkies out there, this is a box to try out.

It's good to know that settings other than the maximum still sound good. Controls are easy, though I think they'd better change size of the controls, because you mostly set the LEVEL control onces or twice during a gig and the TONE more [The tone control is smaller than the other two (Level and Drive)]. Another weird thing is that Boss swapped the position of these two controls on the SD-1. If you owe both, this must lead to confusion. In the end, no comment. Like all overdrives, it very self-explaning/easy

Noise never really gave a problem. When using a Marshall at high volume, you can expect some feedback, which is easy to control and in a way that is most likely desirable. If you're looking for a distortion unit, then look for a DISTORTION. This unit is a true overdrive box. As Boss described in their form: It gives a Natural and Smooth distortion. Like most Boss pedals, it sounds beautifully It doesn't make your sound muddy and follows the dynamix of your playing faithfully. Nor sounds it flat or dead, but a little alive like tubes do. Though it does NOT sound precisly like a overdriven tube amp. The kind input [humbuckers or single coil, solid body or tremelo-body] does make difference. It's worth taking you're own guitar with you when testing. In combination with a enhancher this one get's VERY creamy. It served me for years and after selling it, because of a multi-effect unit, I finally re-bought this overdrive. [no comment]

You can depend on this one. It will work. It only consumes a lot of batteries, so use a 9V NiCd-rechargeable or better a AC-adaptor. You will need that [like many overdrive and distrotion-units]. It's fully metal and FET-switching. Even the click of the pedal sounds very solid. No strings atached! The switching is noiseless and normaly spoken, it won't fail ever (see below).

Well, maybe I am the first. The first one I laid my hands, was new...and broken! The effect didn't always switch one. This is the FIRST and ONLY problem I ever came across with Boss. Since then I always first open a new Boss pedal and press the switch underneath several times, while connected. If it's broken you can tell directly by looking at the switch-light. I got a replacement from shop right-away (after returning the faulty one). And why shouldn't they? Boss gives 5 YEARS of warranty. They didn't even took the time to check if I was telling the truth. No, not problem at all. When it comes to this, you can buy a Boss pedal with closed eyes. Read what others had to say in their Boss reviews and you will understand what I mean. Since I don't know if they have a customer-support, I give a nine (if they do have one, they are hidding it from us)

This is a very nice overdrive unit. If this is your sound, then you have a very good overdrive at your command. Try before you buy! (like all effects). Compare it with the Rat, the Blues Driver etc.. that is very important. Sound beautiful and very clean, and specailly not muddy. It's Boss. And for those who looked a little closer to this form. The prices did rise the last years. Boss is a little expensive, but very good value for your money. Even occasions are still worth a lot. 5 years Warranty. Good reputation. Strong case. I love this one. I certainly buy this one again...in fact I did.

Piece of cake. Gain, Level and Tone. How hard can it be?

On my Custom Dean Markley twin, it outputs no noise whatsoever, though I don't use it on the highest setting. It's sound quality is excellent, fitting perfectly into the rock style- excellent for AC/DC or ZZ-Top. As for thrash and metal, the pedal isn't really suitable.Some modern material like Green Day sound good, but nothing too heavy.

Yeah Yeah. You know.

C'mon now, it's Boss. Like you'll ever need support.

I would definitely buy it again. Top quality overdrive pedal. Good in conjunction with another Distortion pedal where extra grunt is required.

Pretty easy to get a sound out of the it (whether it fits your taste is no fault of the controls). Three knobs: Gain, Volume, and Tone

There's some definite hiss when the gain and tone are turned up all the way. (The instruction manual actually recomends that you don't do this because it may cause "unwanted distortion").
One big beef I have with this pedal (and many others) is that it cuts out the low-end when the effect is on.
I've only found two (marinably) usable sounds it could make: 1)Turning the Gain and Tone to 10, and 2) another with them around 5 (12 o'clock)
No matter the gain setting, playing just one note through it produces a "feathery" tone (as opposed to clear and "ringing"). I would classify it's overall sound as thin and "reedy", but not bad (if reedy is what you want).
I wouln't like having this as my only means of distortion.

The case is built like a tank. (yes, we've heard *that* said before)
But I've had some serious trouble with on/off bounce. (ya know, you step on the pedal for your thin, reedy, sreaming solo, only to see the little red light go on then off again. )
By the way the little red light, which "shows up on even the darkest stage" (quote from the owners manual. But wouldn't any light show up on a dark stage?), is hard to see in the daytime.

Not a versitile pedal. Good for maybe one or two sounds, and even then they are almost better suited to novelty sounds. I own one only because I was young once and easily influenced by advertisement. And I bought it sound-unheard (never do that)
It never really made the sound I had in my head. Years later, I have now found that the ProCo RAT does. Anyone who's compared both of these pedals may start to grasp how disappointed I've been with it. and is very versitile. If any of you

Very simple to use...3 knobs: tone volume and drive

Not real good if you're into heavy metal, which I'm not. It's great for some Jerry Garcia type leads if you turn the tone up a lot and the drive down to about 10-25% Good for alternative like Green Day, who by the way, SUCK

What can i say? it's a Boss, metal tanks! They can't break!!

Don't know, never needed it! :)

I wouldn't buy it again just because i dont use it that much. I use my Dallas-Arbiter Fuzz Face more because i do more blues. It's a pretty good sound though, good on the highs and great when combined with the Fuzz (makes great feedback and great for Star Spangled Banner!!)

Easy thing... Level, tone and drive. I didn't get a manual, but who needs?

I bought this one in great hurry, like I just grabbed it. The pedal is kind of weak used by itself but it's great if you have a fuzzed sound and want it up a bit for a solo or something...

I've used it on gigs, but not anymore...

Can these things break?

I would NOT buy it again with the same price. There are so many other much better sounding units out there...

Three knobs...tone, level, & "drive". Chuck the manual and twiddle with the knobs until you get the harshness you're hankerin' for. You really can't go wrong.

Not noisy at all (other than the noise it is intended to produce). I use it for a warm flanging effect with heavy chorus and a little vibrato. But it can get real dirty on the high end if that's your cup of tea. I'd reccomend it for anyone who wants to texturize a lush guitar sound. I don't customarily play with it on all the time so for me it provides a gritty contrast to a normally clean tone.

It's a Boss. And on top of that it seems to me that this pedal is built a little bit sturdier than a couple of other Boss pedals I own. The knobs are big enough to adjust in the dark, and it's the only distortion I take with me when I play out. Unquestionably reliable.

Never needed help with this or any other pedal. I'd imagine that they're so bored over at Boss customer service that they'd flip over backwards just to have somebody to help.

To be honest, I set out to buy this pedal and didn't do a whole lot of shopping around. But for me, this pedal does the job and I'm not looking for anything to replace it.

Pretty simple, Level, Tone and Drive Knobs.
Decent manual, but not needed.

This is an Overdrive device, not a distortion pedal, It will give you from just a tad, to a real hard rock sound. It's a bit harsh. The manual says that it can emulate a tube amp distortion. NOT SO. It tries to, I mean, but the effect is good. Doesn't sound bad though. The Level and tone knobs do their job.

It's a BOSS pedal, and I would use it without a backup, As with all Boss pedals, this one sucks up batteries pretty fast.

Never dealt with them

I wouldn't buy it again, there are better pedals out there, the Reissued Tubescreamer, The blues driver. This pedal works best in front of an amp's distortion or another distortion pedal to boost the gain for leads, although it's very noisy. Use a noisegate to quiet things down.

3 knobs to tweak. Sounds kind of dull with the tone knob to the left of center, but otherwise most of the settings sound good.

Very Hendrixy. Through a Twin, it doesn't get up to a full metal/grunge fuzzy roar, but it has an inspiring low-tech 60's vibe. Definitely an overdrive, not a distortion. What it does, it does well. Individual string definition is pretty good.

If you want to give your amp a sweet overdrive for bluesy stuff, this is a good way to do it. If you want fuzz or metal, look elsewhere.