Why bother modding with so many choices out there?

[stratotastic]

It seems like with so many small builders operating out there and so many clones of clones of clones, that just about every possible nuance is covered, or at least every nuance discernible to the human ear. So instead of butchering a pedal, why not just go get the one that already does what you're hoping for? Maybe it sort of relates to that "last 5%" thing?

[Jahn]

Which one does what I'm hoping for?

[sodapopinski]

Originally Posted by stratotastic

It seems like with so many small builders operating out there and so many clones of clones of clones, that just about every possible nuance is covered, or at least every nuance discernible to the human ear. So instead of butchering a pedal, why not just go get the one that already does what you're hoping for? Maybe it sort of relates to that "last 5%" thing?

Because modding is often a lot cheaper to do

[kvandekrol]

Not everyone has the money, especially when they aren't sure exactly what they're looking for. Much cheaper to buy a used Boss SD-1 for $30, then buy a $25 mod kit to make it as good as a $150 handmade boutique TS-9 clone. Or you may already have the pedal, but you think it's missing something... It's a low-risk and cheap investment to try a $25 mod kit before you sell the pedal and buy something new, and modded pedals are usually worth more anyway, so you can recover some of that investment if you don't like it.

It's also a lot of fun and very rewarding to do the mods yourself!

(Note that this all specifically applies to DIY mods... have Keeley or Analogman mod your pedal and the price argument is out the window Not that they don't do tremendous work!)

[gulliver]

Monte Allums original TS-9 kit $20ish
Time - two hours
The ability to listen to the pedal after different parts of the mod to customise ot taste - priceless.

[pacomc79]

It's kind of fun to hot rod things on your own.

Sort of the same reason we change pickups and buy pedals in the first place.

If you look at the multitudes of male hobbies. Guys like one upping each other in some sense.

In the other it's fun to have something that is custom. That not everyone else has or sounds/looks a bit different.

[storm319]

I agree with the op. Take a Boss SD-1. You can do any number of mods to it, but at the end of the day you still have a Boss SD-1 (and are stuck with the terrible Boss buffer and bypass)

Now the Price issue:

Brand New SD-1 $59.99 (at Guitar Center) + mods = $85 - $140
Monte Allums $25
Keeley $80 mod ($135 for premodded pedal)
Analogman $70 mod ($125 for premodded pedal)

Alternatives that sound better
Barber LTD $120
Cmatmods Signa Drive $135

[Hamp]

1) Cheaper.
2) What else are you going to do evenings and weekends? Practice?
3) Cheaper.

[Hamp]

Originally Posted by storm319

I agree with the op. Take a Boss SD-1. You can do any number of mods to it, but at the end of the day you still have a Boss SD-1 (and are stuck with the terrible Boss buffer and bypass)

Now the Price issue:

Brand New SD-1 $59.99 (at Guitar Center) + mods = $85 - $140

You should never spend more than ~$30 (including shipping) for an SD-1 on ebay. If you are modding, why use a new one?

[Shiny McShine]

Sometimes it's just fun!

[Stormbringer]

Because it's fun and because you can tailor it to your specific needs. The DS-1 I have on my board I modded using different specs and it sounds better than the Keeley Ultra I had (great mod BTW) with my setup. You can make it bassier, have more mids, less mids, more gain, etc.

[analogmike]

Originally Posted by storm319

I agree with the op. Take a Boss SD-1. You can do any number of mods to it, but at the end of the day you still have a Boss SD-1 (and are stuck with the terrible Boss buffer and bypass)

Our mods address the bypass noise and the buffered tone is also improved