SD-1 vs TS-9

[sleejay80]

These 2 are said to be really close.

So what are the differences?

[whiteop]

I would guess you are going to hear the 'hump' a lot on this one.

TS-9 is a 'tubescreamer" which to me means overdrive with compression. The SD-1 is an overdrive that has breakup more bordering on the distortion side without the compression and can get grittier. Different animals to my ears but both have their uses.

[chemical69]

I believe the SD-1 has asymmetrical clipping while the TS-9 does not.

[marcoaml78]

precisely what chemical69 that's the difference on both

and in general its said that the sd-1 is more "agressive" than the ts9, which is smoother and more natural.

the only real problem that my sd-1 (and some others i've heard actually) is that they have this annoying bleed (from factory at least)

[sleejay80]

thanks for your input!

how bad is the bypass bleed?

[Jack DeVille]

Bleed is leakage from the output blocking JFET.
sometimes it is noticeable, sometimes its not. Quick fix if you're handy with a hot iron. Or you can True-Bypass it and call it done.

[marcoaml78]

Originally Posted by Jack DeVille

Bleed is leakage from the output blocking JFET.
sometimes it is noticeable, sometimes its not. Quick fix if you're handy with a hot iron. Or you can True-Bypass it and call it done.

i'm quite handy with the iron, can you tell me what to do?, im kind of sick of the bleed. it depends on the amp, and the volume used, but when at high volume and clean tones, the bleed is very noticeable

[Strat Slinger]

I can't really see any comparison between the SD-1 and a TS-9. I can see a comparison between the BD-2 and a Tubescreamer a lot easier though.

You can try having Keeley modifying it, he's great with taking Boss pedals and making them 5x better. I'm sure you could get rid of the bleed just by having his mods done to the pedal and not even have true-bypass.

Also, I believe it's impossible to give a Boss pedal true-bypass ain't it? I believe Analogman says that on his site and he won't even attempt it.

I suggest sending it to Keeley. You will have a heck of a lot better pedal that sounds better then it did stock and it will be more versatile as well. Analogman does mods to Boss pedals too and is top-notch also. It's a win-win either way.

[Jack DeVille]

Originally Posted by marcoaml78

i'm quite handy with the iron, can you tell me what to do?, im kind of sick of the bleed. it depends on the amp, and the volume used, but when at high volume and clean tones, the bleed is very noticeable

Hey. Reference this URL:
http://www.godiksennet.com/images/sch/SD1PG2.JPG

You are shooting to replace Q1, found towards the upper right corner of the schematic. I can't remember what BOSS usually uses, I want to say an SK118? Replace it with a J201 or equivalent JFET. Pay mind to the pinout of the device substituted vs. the pinout of the device presently employed. That's IT.

[LouRossi]

Originally Posted by Strat Slinger

I can't really see any comparison between the SD-1 and a TS-9. I can see a comparison between the BD-2 and a Tubescreamer a lot easier though.

I agree... I have a sd-1 w/ the keeley mod & maxon od808. I use the sd-1 w/ hb pups & maxon w/ sc pups. different sounds & uses for both and don't favor either....

[Mr. SD-1]

[Cirrus]

Wow it's Mr SD-1 himself! Quite an honour to be sure!

I've owned both and preferred the SD-1 with my AC30. They both cut bass, boost mids and smooth off the highs a little, so both are kinda good for the same thing - boosting a valve amp into distortion. The SD-1 has as already said asymmetrical distortion so it sounds a little more raspy/complex than the ts-9 and retains more top end so it's a little more fizzy but sounds more cutting in the context of a mix.

The mid hump sounds higher to me on the SD-1 than the TS-9. I think that's the reason I preferred it with my amp - the amp has quite thick low mids, so the upper mid boost changes the voicing to make it cut better whereas the ts-9 was just boosting lower down where there was already a boost, so it just sounded tubby.

The low end of both pedals is cut quite a lot, so it's great for freeing up headroom for solo boosts. I think the SD-1 has a little more dirt on tap than the TS-9, and I wouldn't be able to say which one gave the signal the greatest volume boost.

As for the bleedthrough, my first sd-1 from years ago did have it, the one I have now doesn't though it's in a loop switcher anyway so wouldn't be an issue.