Monte Allums Boss SD-1 DIY Mod Kit

This IS the SD-1 to TS808 conversion kit from Monte Allums. My first Allums mod was to my CS-3 compressor. The results were so impressive I immediately thought that a TS808 conversion should be a must-have acquisition for my pedalboard.

The instruction sheets are clear and logically set out. Anyone contemplating an MA kit would be well-advised to ensure that the recommended list of tools is adhered to. A multi-meter proved extremely useful in confirming the values of the resistors in the kit.

The experience in doing the CS-3 upgrade obviously made a difference in undertaking the work. I think the confidence factor is as important as any technical skills.

The work I carried out was not the full SD-808 conversion. Only two clipping diodes were used, with a jumper, to achieve symmetrical clipping and the 2X gain option was left out.

In all it took three hours to do the work. This includes coffee breaks and checking the pedal after each component change - another Monte recommendation you would be insane to ignore. The net result is amazing. The before-and-after is like two different stompboxes. Which, of course, is exactly what was intended.

Reading the PCB illustration was easier second time around. I am reasonably proficient at soldering so that held no fears apart from a proclivity towards using too much solder. That was relatively easy to overcome and the solder work was pretty tidy.

Removing the old 8-pin chip was far easier than I expected using the supplied braid which had a smidgen of flux applied before it was used. I found flux helped start the capillary action of molten solder into the braid. Fitting the 8-pin socket for the fabled JRC4558D chip was very straightforward. Resistors, diodes and capacitors were chnaged over without problem.

The golden rule is check, re-check and then confirm your re-check before applying the iron. Then check that each mod works after you have completed it. If you are fairly logical and organised this mod should not cause any major headaches.

Well... where do we begin? I bought the SD with the intention of converting it to TS808 specs. So its original sound is a starting point in the conversion process. The unchanged SD was never gigged.

Sound quality is by its very nature subjective. Noise levels are reduced, the smoothness and sweetness of the symmetrical clipping is very obvious compared to the harshness of the original overdrive. Transparency is enhanced and the SD-808 just works brilliantly with my Strat. It complements and enhances each of the five pickup selections without coloration. The neck pickup is warmer, the middle is more bell-like, the bridge is cutting but NOT harsh.

Driving the front end of an amp like a Hiwatt DR103 is what this pedal was designed to do. And it does it IN SPADES!! It is simply amazing.

It IS a Boss chassis. Components on PCB were changed so provided the solder work is competent I would expect the SD-808 to be equally as durable as any other 3-knob Boss stompbox.

Fitted to my pedalboard and therefore with a mains power supply I do not envisage any problems.

Monte Allums is amazingly responsive to e-mails. Very helpful and very courteous and very understanding of Dear Wife who thought all Monte Allums kits were the same! A real pleasure to do business with this guy. His products are brilliant and he is a true gentleman.

Can't say any more than that.

Blues band. So good overdrive is at the heart of my guitar sounds. I switch between two Les Pauls, an HSS Strat and a Hamer Special P90 depending on how the mood takes me. Amps are either a Marshall MG30 [small gigs] or a Hiwatt Dr103 with 2x12 or 4x12 cabs.

Pedalboard comprises:

Monte Allums CS-3 >> modified Ibanez Blubber wah >> Monte Allums SD-808 >> Keeley SD-1 (Ge) >> ProCo Rat2 >> Boss DD-3

Two overdrives and a distortion? Different jobs for each and in combination. The Allums and Keeley have different specs, different sounds and different roles. Audience members [invariably other guitarists] have commented upon the range of guitar sounds which is always welcome.

I am more than willing to plug Monte Allums products. They work - brilliantly. And help make my band's music better.

Monte Allums mods are brilliant. For a ridiculously small outlay, a bit of time and patience you end up with production-line stompboxes that sound like boutique/vintage units.

This is the basic SD-1 mod - not the SD-1 to tube screamer mod.

Great instructions included, all the parts are easy to identify and he explains what each one does, which is very helpful. I even put in a yellow LED light in there just so people know that there is something different going on in there...

Basic electronics experience is needed here to do the tasks, but was not a problem for me since i am a computer tech by trade so my soldering skills are good.

Anyone who has this pedal needs this mod - there is no doubt about it, thats how much of an improvment there is. Gone is the dull sounding overdrive and gone are the shrill highs. The gain is smoother and warmer. Works eqauly well with Single Coils ro HB's. Prior to the mod I used my SD-1 only as a booster (and still do) however i find my self using it more now as a straightfoward overdrive (with the clean channel) for getting some really great tones. Its very musical now, and very inspiring to play around with.

this really depends on your soldering skills. I am confident in my work

every email returned and answered, always kind and curtious.
what else do you need? His website is very informative and the sound bites are very accurate fo all the mods.

This is my second mod from Monte i have done. This is the best deal anywhere. The improvements are just to great to be disputed. Do the math: $50 for the pedal, $20 for the mod, 1 hour of your time. And you get a pedal that is the same all the boutique builders are charging 200-300 dollars for. Its a no brainer. Monte wins.

You need to know how to solder neatly.
The diagrams Monte supplies are excellent and easy to follow.

The mods made a massive difference to the stock pedal.
Tighter bass, more clarity - just much, much "better" for want of a better word..
IMO, no pedal can sound more defined, harmonically rich and just plain "musical" than a good valve amp cranked, but it is a great sounding pedal.
I tried a few opamps and settled on the Burr Brown - really mean!
So - this rating is for a comparison to similar pedals I have owned or used...

Boss pedals are indestructible. I hope my soldering is up to par!

Really top class- see my GE7 review.

Top class pedal mod from a really knowledgable and helpful guy!

well, i think you have to know how to solder to change the transistors and resistors and the led properly... i can't!

monteallums offers an 'sd-1 to ts808' mod, but this is the other mod for the boss sd-1. words are a weak tool, especially when describing sonic changes. in general, the sd-1 gets clearer, mucho louder and has way more gain. it gives me a good clean-boost now as well. the tonecontrol acts fantastic all the way, the stock-tonecontrol gives me teeth-aches over 2 o'clock, but that's OVER!
i think the use of the boss sd-1 in its strong areas, that is kicking tubeamps and as stand-alone overdive unit gets enlarged. my strats and teles love it and even my lp deluxe copy rocks big time.

boss-pedals never let me down since 1980. this mod shouldn't change it when installed properly, should it?

monte allums is a great guy (and a helluva player as well). he answers questions very fast and helped me with any question before AND after the purchase.

if You think Your sd-1 is somehow 'damped' or wnat more gain, You're at the right place. there are numerous soundfiles at http://www.monteallums.com/Product_links.html . there are many modders offering changes to boss-pedals, i personally needed changes concerning the presence of my sd-1 and od-3 and got it now.