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phostenix
Gold Member
USA
754 Posts |
 Posted - 05/08/2006 : 06:14:23
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I took some time today and did some comparison testing of some Boss pedals to see what the general differences are between them. I included a stock Ibanez Tubescreamer TS-9 as well. I also used a Boss ME-50.
I did not spend a lot of time on distortion nuances, I was just looking for overall tone and distortion sounds. I used a Strat w/ Lace sensors into the clean channel of an Ampeg VL-503 for the tests. I did some spot checking with a Parker Fly, but got the same results with the humbuckers. I used a totally passive A/B switch with 2 loops to switch between pedals on the fly.
The players:
MIJ DS-1
MIT SD-1 (very new)
MIT SD-2
MIT OD-3
circa 1999 TS-9
Boss ME-50
The SD-2 is the most transparent of the bunch. Both on the Crunch channel and the Lead channel. It has a slightly fuzzy low end that the others don't really have. Sometimes I like that, sometimes I don't. It does not have the mid scoop of the DS-1 or the mid hump of the overdrive pedals. It has as much distortion available on the lead channel as the DS-1. It can be set for a totally clean boost on the Crunch setting with single coil pickups. Humbuckers will give a you a little dirt. A fair amount of clean boost is available. It's very similar to the ME-50's "Natural" distortion setting, but the SD-2 has more distortion available in the Lead mode than the ME-50.
The OD-3 gives a slight mid boost. More gain is available with the Level control than the SD-1, but it cannot do clean boost. Even with the Drive control all the way CCW, there's a fair amount of overdrive.
The SD-1 is close to a Tubescreamer in character. More mid hump than the OD-3. It can be a clean boost, but there's not much level gain available. Since the SD-1 is esentially an OD-1 with a tone control, it's not surprising that it matched up closely with the ME-50's OD-1 setting.
The TS-9 is very similar to the Boss SD-1, but it has a little more low mids. It's noticeable until you get up high on the neck, then they start to sound very much alike.
Just for fun, I compared the ME-50's OD-1 & OD-2 settings. I don't own an OD-2, but the difference seemed to be that the OD-2 had more bottom end & sounded fuller across the spectrum. It also had more distortion available. I'm not sure how that jives with "real" OD-1 vs. OD-2, maybe someone else who owns those can chime in.
So, that's my brief review. And, as always, YMMV. 
Grace and peace,
Steve
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2006 : 23:15:38
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nice review.. sounds pretty accurate to me. you should do one on heavier distortions next. (HM-2, HM-3, MT-2, MD-2)  |
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stahlhart
Platinum Member
1318 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2006 : 00:39:55
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What about the BD-2...?
C.K.
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phostenix
Gold Member
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2006 : 01:12:24
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I don't own any of those other pedals. I use the ME-50 for my distortions, mainly. I owned the SD-2 first & the others I bought just to check them out.
Maybe some others could give that a go.
Grace and peace,
Steve
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Dingus
Silver Member
USA
472 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2006 : 16:22:31
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| I have all of the Boss Overdrive/Distortions including the OD-20, and plan to do an indepth review as soon as I get a weekend off. |
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phostenix
Gold Member
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2006 : 18:40:16
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Very cool. Looking forward to it.
Grace and peace,
Steve
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telemike
Copper Member
47 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2006 : 20:43:28
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The OD-3 rules them all
One OD-3 to rule them all, One OD-3 to find them,
One OD-3 to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. |
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SirJackdeFuzz
Bronze Member
South Africa
83 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2006 : 19:25:26
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Going slightly off-topic (as i do):
. . . i love my BD-2, even more than my TS9, but is the mighty BD-2 a true over drive, or is it mote of a VERY LIGHT dist.?
Why i ask, is that after 12 o' clock setting it starts to crack-up the amps tone - as it is intended to do - but od's are not voiced to do that, right ?
. . . comments ?
Later |
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SD-1, SD-2, OD-3, TS-9, DS-1 Comparisons
