Boss SD-1: Buy or Build?

[eddie83]

Hi ppl,

Is it practical to build the SD-1 from scratch or buy it from the shelve? If so, are the parts surface mounted or are they moddable? I'm just afraid that I might lift the pads of the pcb while modding...

Thanks,
Ed

[Hal]

it wouldnt be _too_ hard to build (unless its a first project) but odds are it'll cost more to build than the fair $40-$50 you'd spend for one new.  They use all through-hole components, like all boss pedals.  The newer ones are super-modable becuase they have fiberglass boards rather than pheno - the pads stick better.  Still, if you have no skillz with an iron, you should practice before you take it to an sd-1

[Ben N]

Either way works, although this one is so reasonably priced (usually available for ~$40) that on price, anyway, you wont beat the off-the-shelf. OTOH, if true bypass is important to you, or if you have mods in mind from the get-go, it may make more sense to just build the thing. It is not SMT, BTW, so mods on the board are certainly doable, although, as always, you need to be careful about lifting traces, etc.
hth,
Ben

[Alex C]

Here are some threads about modding these:
http://diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=28145&highlight=sd1
http://diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=26237&highlight=sd1
http://diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=26284&highlight=sd1
http://diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=23013&highlight=sd1

From the discussions in these threads, I think it's very "moddable," as long as you're careful when desoldering.

Here's a thread by FatMike, who built his own.  Maybe it will help.

Philip's site has great info about mods for this pedal.
Good luck!

Alex

[jimbob]

I got one in the other day new from sam ash.com for 45.99 no tax and no shipping! great deal! To my suprise it sounded really good w my gear. I say buy! Too cheap not to. esp for wha you get. But-who knows?  it may not sound as good with your gear?

[MartyMart]

Thats a great price !
Man you guys get some good deals in the US  !
Its about 70 bucks in the UK . . . . . :cry:
I buy them to "mod" and sell, best I can get is about 60 bucks for one.

Marty.

[snorky]

_just_ bought one of these too.  cheap enough.  it does sound ok stock with my setup, but i'll do the mods, and if i don't like it, resell it on ebay...

- mark

[eddie83]

hmmm. it makes me wonder... i juz called up my local music store that's the authorised dealer of boss pedals. the staff told me the sd-1 cost $69 SGD(Singapore Dollars)! That's like freaking cheap for a brand new SD-1, which converts to 41 USD effectively. And not forgetting that i can get up to 25% discount from the store... Awww, I'll get a stock pedal and mod....

[FatMike]

I built an SD-1 myself. The parts, not including enclosure (which is actually selfmade), paint and knobs, did cost me about 13$ (using cheap potentiometers). The price for this pedal is about 65$ new here in Europe.
So you could search for a cheap, used one on ebay or built your own one. Both would be pretty cheap.

[eddie83]

mike, can u pls post the schematic u used to build ur sd-1 here? is it the same as this, which has a lot of components... : http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schematics/bosssd1.html

[FatMike]

Hi,

I used the schematic at http://fuzzcentral.tripod.com/ . Your schematic is quite the same, however, there are some smaller differences. For example the diodes are not the same. But I guess the schematic at Fuzz Central is correct.

By the way, does anybody know which diodes are use in the stock Boss SD-1? If the schematic at Fuzz Central is right they are 1N4148, however, they sound a bit unusually (to much mids) in my SD-1.

Note that the lower half of the schematic is only for the Boss bypass switching. You can leave that out when you use a 3PDT or a millnium bypass.

[MartyMart]

I think that the original diodes were 1N914's......
yes, just checked my "removed parts" bin, that should only be very slightly different to a 1N4148's though !  am I right there ??

Marty.

[FatMike]

that should only be very slightly different to a 1N4148's though ! am I right there ??

Well, in my modded  (DIY-)Guv'nor I can switch between a pair of 1N914 and 1N4148 Diodes and they sound very different. However these diodes are not in the same position as the diodes in the SD-1.