| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Rich_S
Silver Member
USA
219 Posts |
 Posted - 09/21/2009 : 18:08:43
|
I recently sold off my Xotic BB Preamp which has for the last year been the one-and-only overdrive on my pedalbaord. However, my modded-all-to-hell SD-1 has slowly been winning me over. A couple weeks ago, I made the momentous decision to sell off the BB Preamp, on the grounds that 1) there's no sense having a ton of moeny tied up in a fancy boutique overdrive when I'm not gigging, and 2) the SD-1 was "close enough" in terms of tone (it's now a full-on SD-1 Enternity mod).
Granted, the BB Preamp is a fantastic overdrive, but it did have a slight mid push that annoyed me unless I dialed it out with the EQ. I'll give the BB the edge in flexibility - its active EQ section is a huge plus. But, for MY tone, the SD-1 Eternity nails it.
This morning was the first time I got to spend a little quality time with my now BB-less rig. It sounded awesome, but I found another advantage I didn't anticipate - the good old Boss pedal design. For weird reasons I won't get into, only Boss pedals will fit on the front row of my pedalboard. The BB Preamp had therefore been relegated to the back row, up on a short riser. Now, when it's time for the solo, the SD-1E is right there, front right corner. If I need to simultaneously switch the echo on or off, my trusty DD-3 is right next to it, for two-pedals-with-one-stomp convenience. And when I kick it on...
it gives me the perfect scream/howl that is MY sound. Some people might think it's either thin or shrill, but it sounds "right" to me (I've never been a fan of the Tube Sceamer mid bump). The SD-1E has the all of the BB's note clarity, and happens to nail the EQ settings I like best without having to fiddle with the tone controls.
I also sold off a Rocktron Short Timer to be repolacved with second DD-3 that I have lying around. So my board is nearly all-Boss, the lone exception being my MXR Custom Shop 74 Reissue Phase 90.
So in closing, I repent. I am heartily sorry for straying off the path of Boss-ness into the sinful lands of booteek. |
|
|
zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2009 : 18:27:38
|
| sometimes you have to do that to get the tone you need.Imagine trying to do an all boss pedal board when all boss pedals can't produce the tone you need |
 |
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2009 : 20:33:45
|
If thou strays from the path of Boss again thou shall be smitten down with a flaming DS-1 from the sky..... .....
i was playing with the idea of getting a RC booster maybe for a change from my CS-3.. have you ever tried that pedal out Rich...?.... |
|
|
|
guitarfreak1387
Bronze Member
USA
91 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2009 : 22:58:44
|
| I hear ya man, I recently found myself being ignorant and only looking at boss pedals. A fulltone gt500 changed that |
|
|
|
verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2009 : 04:23:35
|
| I'm no player, so I focus on the collection aspect.. that and it saves me from spending $$ on boutique stuff which I find overpriced. I pay/have paid very little for most of my BOSS (all MIJ too). |
|
|
|
Rich_S
Silver Member
USA
219 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2009 : 14:53:48
|
As long as I'm feeling philosophical on the subject of my rig, here are a couple more observations:
1) I've realized my "bag" is a rig comprising mostly modded junk. My #1 Tele is a MIM that'I've modded with a first-rate set of Duncan noiseless pickups. My other "Tele" is a mutt: Korean Schecter body, Fender Mexican neck, bridge from GuitarFetish, nice set of Duncan 59s. My amp is homemade from an old Bogen PA head. So, a pedalboard full of used Boss boxes from eBay sort of fits the overall style. An SD-1 purchased for 20 bucks off eBay with pre-chipped paint, then modded with $12 of new parts and some bright red knobs into a boutique-sounding overdrive fits. A $180 overdrive does not.
2) I think Boss' product development is completely off the rails. This SD-1 Eternity mod is a case in point. Completely brilliant overdrive. It's great they keep the SD-1 in their line, but doesn't everybody kind of look at it as "a good overdrive FOR THE MONEY", or "a good overdrive that's a lot better WITH A FEW MODS". They could build an SD-1 Eternity (or some other much-improved mod of the original) for exactly the same cost as the stock SD-1, but sell it for twice the price. I've read numerous comments on line, saying the Lovepedal Eternity is a great $80 overdrive, but at near $300 its just overpriced boutique hoo-hah.
Of course for Boss, committing to just one hopped-up version of the SD-1 would be hard. Not everybody would like the SD-1 Eternity. Different people have different tastes. Here's Boss's big mistake in my view - they spend their time designing do-it-all 4-knob-plus-concentric boxes intended to provide something everybody will like. In the process, they've driven up complexity and cost, and (in many people's view) negatively impacted sound quality. Sure, the super-uber-COSM OD-8 Ultra-Mega-Overdrive has one sound that I like, but I'll never use the other 126 sounds, and overall, the digital box doesn't sound as good as the older analog ones.
Boss needs to develop the balls to make a choice, build some simple, brilliant boxes that make some people happy, and accept the risk that other people will like other boxes better. I'm simply not going to buy a stompbox with four knobs, unless it's a flanger. (OK, OK... I admit my DD-3s have four knobs, but the one on the right is completely superfluous.)
Boss' form factor is the best out there, but they need to start making some great boxes that do "their" thing really well, rather than Swiss-Army stuff. With their manufucaturing abiilites, they ought to be able to give us boutique tone, but meet us half way on price.
|
Edited by - Rich_S on 09/22/2009 14:54:31 |
|
|
|
Johnrocks
Silver Member
Brazil
175 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 17:08:28
|
First of all I�d like to thanks to Rich_S for the amazing topic and for his words. I�m always talking to some musicians that are like me: maniac about chips, pedals.... And one of them (Ernesto)said "you can�t go wrong with old MIJ Boss pedals and other old amazing brands". He really likes Xotic, but he is in love with Boss too. So, I begun to think that he is right. I�ve been thinking aout great tone pedals and my final thought is "you can�t go wrong with old MIJ Boss pedals and other old amazing brands". Xotic are very expensive BUT you will NOT get that Clapton tone with that. I�m not talking about copying artists but about tone if u know what I mean. I was working in one of my songs and I recorded the solo using a Mit SD-1. It�s a ballad like some Bon Jovi stuff. It sounded amazing! I have a "Howie" by Menatone nowadays and it seems I�m not getting the same result. Xotic and other stuff are not on my plans BUT I�ve been thinking aboyt getting a SD-1 Mij again. Boss is unique! |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
I REPENT! (Boss vs. Xotic content)
