TS Vr SD-1

[Phorhas]

I modded these two pedals and A/Bed them for long time. I don't want to sound corny, and it's certainly not hype, but the TS was just better... clearer, sweeter... bluesier... I don't get it. I modded the Sd-1 thoroghly... I changed every cap in the signal path to metal film, raised the input cap like I did it my TS, and both used NE5532 (that IS one NIIIICE chip...)

I really hope the Sd-1 would puul it off and sound better...
why is that, is it just me, or is ther eactual mojo in that little green bastard?

( hope I didn'r sound too stupid :roll: )

[gein]

I have done the same thing, an I completly agree.  I was even hoping for some wierd reasons that the SD 1 would win, but I always go back to the tube screamer.

[Johan]

did you try to change the value of the cap between the input buffer and the first opamp stage on the SD1? it cuts a lot of bass out and makes a world of difference...the stock value is 0,018uF..make it at least five times bigger.. the ratio of resistor/cap in that point is 1/10k in TS and 0,018/100k in the SD-1, so stock values will cut a lot of lows out in the SD-1 compared to TS....

Johan

[Phorhas]

Me too... I put better part s in the SD-1, and more of them. I tried them at 9V'12V and 18V anfter a quick cap change, and still the TS won... blaaagh...

I hate (love) it!!!

[Phorhas]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

did you try to change the value of the cap between the input buffer and the first opamp stage on the SD1? it cuts a lot of bass out and makes a world of difference...the stock value is 0,018uF..make it at least five times bigger.. the ratio of resistor/cap in that point is 1/10k in TS and 0,018/100k in the SD-1, so stock values will cut a lot of lows out in the SD-1 compared to TS....

Johan

Well, I put a 0.1 cap...

[petemoore]

Interesting.
 I'm converse on the subject...so that said, *SD-1...
 I love them both too.
 Only one of my Three SD-1 clones does 'that', must have been some kind of happy accident.
 Are you using buffers at input and output?
 What scematic are you building from???
 I'm using the one at GM Arts...

[swt]

have u tried putting the same diodes and diode configuration?. I can't remember why, but i tried assymetrical clipping in a ts clone once, and didn't like it because it was too creamy, not crunch enough. I'm building a new one, with better parts, and will try it again and let you know.

[RDV]

I, for one am not looking to sound bluesier. No offense intended to all you blues players and fans out there, but I'm a 'rocker' with some blues influences. If I had to play blues all night long on a gig I would most certainly eat the 'proverbial shotgun'.

This is why I like my SD-1(w/aNaLoG.MaN 808 mod but w/assymetrical clipping left intact and a Burr/Brown OA) over any TS I've owned or tried. I had an original 808 which I sold for cheap back in the 80's cause I thought it was a bit lame in the guts department.

Just another perspective...

RDV

[phillip]

I personally also prefer the SD-1 over the TubeScreamers.  The SD-1 seems to have a little more hair on its chest.  I've done the Keeley 5-Star Ge. mods to my SD-1, complete with the Burr Brown OPA2134PA IC.  I also like the SD-1s asymmetrical clipping more.

My ears say that the Boss JFET switching is somewhat better (clearer) than the JFET switching on the TS, and the switch in the Boss is quite a bit more rugged than the Ibanez switch.

Phillip

[keko]

I built a couple of TS, and like'em all...then I bought a SD-1, just to try them side by side....and I still like TS more.

Maybe I'll mod the sd1 some time, but still, my TS are more defined, a little more crisp sounding.

[petemoore]

The SD-1 I bought...wasn't really in the running at any time...except the time it was the only distorter I had.
 The one I use these days doesn't really remind me of the one I bought.
 Ok Blues Breaker...A worthy OA feedback clipper build.
 I boxed todays BB build up, just because it works so good.
 I'm not really that picky, because I like most superb tones, any of these three are fun to play, but the SD-1 is enough different from the Blues Breaker and Tube Screamer to be in the same class, under the sub-class of having more grit or DIST available, all of them are easy on the ears to me.
 Now the diode configuration, Opamps and and caps...do make a difference IMO, and in that order.
 I'm using one diode each way in the BB. makes it grittier still pretty mellow distortion wise...I tried LED's, Ge's, combinations and two little red Si's [4148?], snagged from a monitor board are what's in there...
 Without a 'better OA like 4558, 5532 or TL072, [I'm sure there's others], it is less likable IMO. TL082 just doesn't light them up the same.
 I suppose I should build another, but use all the fancy caps and see how much more I like that. I build with mostly Greenie type film caps.
 Oh I've been liking alot using the 386 Oa for a voltage divider, as suggested recently by R.G. , it's too simple to wire...gets real close to 1/2v everytime I've tried it too.
 Anyway the Blues Breaker's tone Knob works right, another reason my comparison to TS is slanted...I can tune the tone on the TS, but just can never get that tone knob to work right...some kinda wierd taper I understand...that's why if I had to do a TS sounding build, it would be either a BB or something that uses Jfets.

[SM]

I personally also prefer the SD-1 over the TubeScreamers.  The SD-1 seems to have a little more hair on its chest.  I've done the Keeley 5-Star Ge. mods to my SD-1, complete with the Burr Brown OPA2134PA IC.  I also like the SD-1s asymmetrical clipping more.

My ears say that the Boss JFET switching is somewhat better (clearer) than the JFET switching on the TS, and the switch in the Boss is quite a bit more rugged than the Ibanez switch.

Phillip

I have to agree with Phil and RDV. I had a Analogue Mike Modded TS9 (to 808 and Brown mod). I even tried 4 different original OA's in there but never fully liked the sound (no offense Mike, my fellow guitarist loved it). I found it to hard an "non organic" if that makes any sense.

After following Pillips mods and then following Johans advice on the 0.018 cap (I changed from modded value 0.1 to 0.2 uF) I'm extremely happy with the sound. (I did also ad some other personal tweaks).
This is a GREAT pedal.

:-)
Bjorn

[analogmike]

My ears say that the Boss JFET switching is somewhat better (clearer) than the JFET switching on the TS, and the switch in the Boss is quite a bit more rugged than the Ibanez switch.

Phillip

The boss pedal is a little clearer when OFF. But there is some distortion bleedthrough on the SD1 when OFF if you have the DRIVE up high. VERY few people can hear it and I didn't believe it until an angry customer told me about it. It's there, like a ghost note.

[Ben N]

I think it depends how you use them.  To my ears, the SD-1 is better as a straight overdrive pedal, where the pedal makes all the distortion and amp interaction is not important.  The TS (in my case TS-9 or TS-5) does a better job when it is pushing an amp that is at the edge--which for me means it is better as a standalone, not in a pedalboard where I have to keep levels pretty consistent.

BTW, anyone here ever do the GFR mod on either of these (i.e. not a DIY clone)?  It is something that I would like to try, but I'm not sure how to wire it up.

Ben

[phillip]

What's that GFR mod?

Phillip

[Ben N]

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/2987/fatts.html

Basically the idea is to flatten out the frequency response as you turn the gain knob down.

[brett]

I really like the assymetric clipping mod (3 x 1N4148s) in a TS.  "Opens" it up and makes it sing.  

For thick distortion, it's hard to beat an Axis fuzz or Miss Piggy, and for high gain, a Blackfire, and for grit a Distortion+.  Neither the TS or SD-1 excels at these things IMO.

cheers

[petemoore]

what do you say?
 I like the way the tone knobs wires up right.
 The sound is quite similar to a TS?..what differences do you notice???

[Phorhas]

hey...

here is what I did to my pedal (an out-of-the-box new one):
1. OA - NE5532
2. All caps in signal path (on & bypass) are metal film typs, and changed to the values suggested by phillip (thanx phillip)
3. All elec. caps are made 25V - for 18V usage
4. Blue LED
5. "Big Bottom" switch (parallels C3 with 0.1uf)
6. Asyn(Ge Mod)/Reg(classic TS) clipping switch
7. Input resistors is made 620K
8. LED current limiter is 2k2

It sounds really good, just not TS... which, now that I think about it is a stupid thing to wish for... why bother with 2 differant box?!

Well... I guess I'm happy now