SD-1 Clip MODS

[rice37]

I already clipped C6, can i just clip d4,5,6?? what doers that actually do before i clip em all out, thanks everyone!

[Mark Hammer]

C6 keeps hiss in check, although I suppose it might remove a little "bite".  Clipping D4/5/6 will effectively transform the pedal such that all clipping will come from the chip distorting, rather than the didoes clipping the signal.  Personally, I would not expect good things to come of this...and they would be VERY loud things too.  Your next post would likely be "I can't move my volume control much above 7:00.  What should I do?".

You said in the other thread that you were aiming for something more like a Bluesbreaker.  In that spirit, I will suggest that you take a 6k8 resistor and .1uf cap, put them in series, and placed that pair in parallel with R6 and C3.  DO NOT place the 6K8 in parallel with R6 or the added cap in parallel with C3.  These need to be treated as two completely seperate parallel paths to ground.

The stock SD-1 will roll off bass below 720hz, by 6db/octave.  This mod will bring back more of the bass, though it will not produce as much gain for the bass end as simply making C3 larger in value would.

Second, pull one end of D4 out.  Doesn't matter which end.  Take another diode - could be same type, could be germanium, or schottky,  Solder the added diode to the "free" end, making sure the diode "points" the right way, and solder the other end of the added diode to the pad where D4 used to go.  You now have a 2+2 diode complement, like a bunch of other pedals out there, including the Timmy, Bluesbreaker, a bunch of Xotic pedals, et al.  It will be louder than before.

Once you get there, determine what you don't like, andget back to us.

[rice37]

what about removing ONE of the diodes, Would it matter which one, 4,5,6, or would the results be the same.

[Mark Hammer]

Disabling D5 or D6 (by replacing them with a piece of wire) will turn it into a Tube Screamer.  Removing D4 will turn it into....something....that clips on only one half of the wave.  Same thing for breaking the D5/D6 path.

I'd strongly recommend "holding up at 2nd base" here, and being a little less radical in your mods.  The basic SD-1 is a decent pedal, enjoyed in stock form by many.  A few minor changes can make it more enjoyable or flexible, but I see no need to change or disrupt its basic functioning.  But that's me.

[rice37]

Ok i messed around with the sd-1 again through my rig. I honestly dont care for it.  So im gonna jump d4 and 5 and see how that goes