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Roger
Bronze Member
USA
81 Posts |
 Posted - 01/10/2006 : 14:31:32
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Hey Fellow Boss lovers,
Could someone please tell me what the main tone differences are between the SD-1 and OD-1? I have used a MIJ SD-1 for many years and love it, but I am intrigued by what I have read about the OD-1.
Thanks! |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2006 : 15:29:17
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Will do a "proper" test later on, but just post for now what I can remember:
OD-1: More Bass, More Gain, Overal Closer to a 70s Marshall sound
SD-1: More Brightness, but it does have a tonecontrol so you could tweak the amount of treble to your own desire, More Midrange, Gainboost is not that high.
Both pedals can do the clean boost very well, bu the OD-1 is cleaner.
NB. at the moment I only have a Taiwan SD-1, the Jap. may be cleaner, not sure, will be able to tell you more about this later as a Jap. is on its way.
About the Marshall sound: Both OD-1, SD-1 and DS-1 can do this, but they all do it differently. I know you did not ask about the DS-1, but out of all of them, the DS-1 is the most versatile in variety of Marshall Mojo you can create. |
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Roger
Bronze Member
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2006 : 16:02:49
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Thanks Visserman!
I feel like you've read my mind...bringing the Marshall Mojo into things. That's definitely what I'm after. You nailed the SD-1 when you mentioned the Midrange and Gainboost characteristics. About the DS-1...it's funny, I only tried one briefly at the local GC. I wasn't real impressed, but then again, that was during a time when I was kind of "cold" toward overdrive/ distortion pedals. I saw them as being inferior to "Amp Distortion" in my case mostly Marshalls. I've since come to appreciate many of the fine pedals out there. BTW is there a specific issue of the DS-1 you would recommend trying MIJ, MIT Etc. or are they all pretty much the same? |
Edited by - Roger on 01/10/2006 16:20:29 |
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2006 : 19:06:45
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Here's my two cents worth:
OD-1: early issues of the OD1 are superior to the later version. More full sounding and more bass.
SD-1: MIJ version is more natural sounding than the current version and does in fact offer more gain than the OD1, but at lower gain settings, can sound similar to the OD1.
DS-1: MIJ version and early MIT version are identical circuits. I've A/B compared 4 MIJ and 2 early MIT DS1s and although there seems to be a subtle difference between them (even between 2 that are MIJ), they are still a far cry beyond the current version of the DS1. If you want full-on distortion, but not metal distortion, these early DS1s are your best bet. They sound a bit more compressed, yet more open and transparent at the same time. Much more warm and punchy than the latest DS1s. |
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Roger
Bronze Member
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2006 : 22:18:01
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| Thanks for the detailed review Boss Freak, it helps a lot. So it looks like the question now is, what to get first (as funds are limited)...OD-1 or DS-1? |
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2006 : 23:57:42
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You can probably *find* an OD1 a little easier than you can a MIJ DS1, but the way the value fluctuates with some Boss pedals, it seems like a few more people are bringing out their MIJ DS1s on eBay over the last few months. Depending on how lucky you get, you can probably grab a decent one for $80 +/- (USD), depending on condition and how many others you're bidding against, versus finding one of the better OD1s, which will run you closer to $110, maybe a bit more.
The OD1 is better for pushing a tube amp into the zone, where a DS1 will be a good option if you play clean through your amp and need a kick in the pants with full-on dirt. |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2006 : 15:43:04
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Thanks boss freak for the comments on the OD-1 and the issue of Jap. and Taiwanese DS-1's and SD-1's
Will be able to do the Jap/Taiwan A/B tests between DS-1 and SD-1 soon as I have picked up both the Jap. versions of these pedals.
Your comments on Ebay and prices of DS-1's and OD-1's are so true:
You do not see many Jap. DS-1's but lately we have seen some more, and because you see so many Taiwan DS-1's [and they very often look mint] people tend not to bid on the Jap. DS-1's partly because their starting bid tend to be a little bid higher, but let that not put you off from bidding though.
Same goes for SD-1, they are plenty available, but most of the ones you see are Taiwanese ones.
OD-1 seems to be a bit more hyped and that is why their prices are higher, but you can be lucky with them, just need to search and be careful with your bidding. |
Edited by - visserman on 01/11/2006 15:45:33 |
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2006 : 19:47:31
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Exactly. There are a lot of people that don't realize that there's a difference between the MIJ and MIT DS1, and so the majority goes for the lower priced of the two.
It just doesn't make sense to me that with all of the circuit changes that Boss didn't make changes of any significance to the exterior of these pedals, such as DS-1, DS-2, DS-3, etc. within each model. There are of course the subtle differences, such as how bold the text is on the pedal, but even then, it's often necessary to have two examples side by side to compare them. |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2006 : 21:12:40
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I guess boss likes to create the image that some of the older pedals which are still being produced today have not changed at all, this to give people the idea of how consistent Boss pedals are.
I have to admit, before visiting the site, I did not know much about the Jap/Taiwain issue, and I guess just because I am interested in the boss pedals, I just did a lot of reading on the site and research in general. It is amazing how quick one gets clued up to all the little details such as different lettertypes etc.
Overal I think that more and more people will start to learn about these differences because of the growing popularity of the site and Bosspedals in general. Stikes me, that even in Jan. which is traditionally a low period for sales in shops, the bosspedals on Ebay still command a lot of money. One would have thought that most people would have spent most of their money with Christmas only just a few weeks behind us, but no, the pedalrace still continues. |
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phostenix
Gold Member
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2006 : 21:25:19
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My guess is that it's a marketing decision. Let's take the extreme example of the CH-1 & CE-5. They TOTALLY change the circuits from analog to digital delay & surface mount components, but the outside doesn't change at all. If you know this market - and I think you do - would you want to bring attention to the fact that you just changed your chorus pedals from warm, wonderful, must-have analog to cold, sterile no-thanks digital? I didn't think so. So, you quietly make the change and hope nobody notices. Most people didn't, BTW.  They're still arguing on Harmony Central about whether these are analog or digital pedals!
So, if you've got a good selling, popular product like the OD-1 or DS-1 and you can't get the XX opamp anymore, the last thing you want to do as a manufacturer is bring attention to that. Suddenly, no one wants your new one - they all want the rare, coveted no longer available previous model. Not good business. Boss didn't become the market leader by making bad business decisions. 
Grace and peace,
Steve
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2006 : 21:45:14
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Very true Steve, and for that matter, if you would not have brought up the issue of analogue/digital CH-1 not many of us here would have noticed that difference as well.
Just do not understand why Boss can not produce new pedals which uses different components but still do sound similar the older ones. Sure that should be possible given all the techn. we have today. So this must be a cost factor I guess.
Ibanez did reissue TS808 and TS9 using the older components. The newprices are these pedals are fairly high, but the pedals are popular, the sound of the new ones is really the same as the old ones, only difference is in some cosmetic details and construction of metal cases and the switch.
Boss could bring out their OD-1 again [but then they do have the OD-3, so I guess there lies the answer to this idea............]and it would not take too long before it would become a hit, but I guess they feel it is not worth it,............costs again!! |
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Roger
Bronze Member
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2006 : 19:01:08
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Awesome Info guys...thanks again.
A DS-1 MIJ is on its way!!! |
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2006 : 20:00:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Roger
Awesome Info guys...thanks again.
A DS-1 MIJ is on its way!!!
Congratulations! That's a great pedal! |
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2006 : 20:01:51
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quote:
Originally posted by phostenix
My guess is that it's a marketing decision. Let's take the extreme example of the CH-1 & CE-5. They TOTALLY change the circuits from analog to digital delay & surface mount components, but the outside doesn't change at all. If you know this market - and I think you do - would you want to bring attention to the fact that you just changed your chorus pedals from warm, wonderful, must-have analog to cold, sterile no-thanks digital? I didn't think so. So, you quietly make the change and hope nobody notices. Most people didn't, BTW. They're still arguing on Harmony Central about whether these are analog or digital pedals!
So, if you've got a good selling, popular product like the OD-1 or DS-1 and you can't get the XX opamp anymore, the last thing you want to do as a manufacturer is bring attention to that. Suddenly, no one wants your new one - they all want the rare, coveted no longer available previous model. Not good business. Boss didn't become the market leader by making bad business decisions.
Grace and peace,
Steve
Good points phostenix. We've had this discussion in the early stages of the bossarea forums, but it's probably good to revisit it now and then. Business is business for better or for worse, I suppose. |
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audioidkid
Copper Member
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2006 : 22:22:51
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for the record.....
i really like my MIT SD-1 that I got this past Tuesday.... |
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Roger
Bronze Member
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2006 : 19:49:27
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Thanks boss freak. The DS-1 arrived a couple of days ago and I am SO happy with it. It sounds amazing! I grabbed the '52 Tele (reissue of course) turned on the Marshall JMP. Plugged into the clean channel, just to hear what the unit sounds like without any gain help from the Marshall. I truly am amazed. Very smooth and creamy 
Thanks again for the advice
P.S.
audioidkid; Congratulations on your SD-1. I also have a MIT SD-1 and it sounds great. I just prefer my MIJ one a bit more. |
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Topic |
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Differences between SD-1 and OD-1
