Boss SD-1 to TS808 THE REAL WAY!!!!

[AC30Dirty]

I have a SD-1 i'm just messing around with and I'm wondering what is the real way to mod the SD-1 to TS808 specs. I have a bunch of info that says just to change 2 resistors but a lot of sites say this is a quick alternative to the real way you change it. Although I can't find any info on how the other way (REAL WAY "SO TO SPEAK") is done. I've tried the search function on here but, with no luck. Do any of you guy's know how it;s done or have a link??? Thanks

[Barcode80]

if you change the two resistors and the opamp, you can have the REAL ts808, whatever that means. anyone who says anything else is really involved is mistaken.

[moro]

if you change the two resistors and the opamp, you can have the REAL ts808, whatever that means. anyone who says anything else is really involved is mistaken.

The clipping diodes are different too. You'd want to jumper one of them, then put a 51pF capacitor in parallel.

I'm not that good at reading schematics yet, but comparing the two, there are a lot of subtle differences in the cap / resistor values. The resistors in the output buffer, the opamp, and clipping diodes are the main ones though.

[searoad]

[Dirk_Hendrik]

I did a SD1 to 808 conversion 2 weeks ago and can only say that the claim in the above pic is absolute bullshit.

What you will have to do is get the schematic for a SD1 and for a 808 (this will take only a few minutes) and trace the differences from beginning to end. After that change all components (some 15+  if I remember correct) you're pretty much done.

[daver]

i've done this mod...i can't say that it makes your sd-1 into a ts808, cause i've never owned a ts808. However, i think the mod makes it sound much better that the stock sd-1

i was recently given a second sd-1, what are some good DIY mods i can do? I'm kinda new to modding, but i want to do something crazy with it

[MartyMart]

Dirk, correct that there are several other differences, but ... that small picture only claims to get you
some 808 "tone" - which it does quite well for a simple 5 minute mod
The nice thing is that an SD-1 can be made to sound great - 808 or not and it's a third the price of
a TS-9 new !!
Gotta love that Boss design, it's a classic and almost perfect gtr pedal shape !

[MartyMart]

i was recently given a second sd-1, what are some good DIY mods i can do? I'm kinda new to modding, but i want to do something crazy with it

SEARCH function ...   but here's a cracker for the SD-1 :  http://www.geocities.com/overdrivespider/SD1/sd1.htm

MM

[brett]

Hi
before you bypass that diode, I suggest that you do a blind test.  Get someone to switch +/- the diode and alter the volume while you look the other way.  They can write down the switch position and you write down whether it sounds better or worse.  Then compare notes.  (you need to randomly alter the volume between tests because switching the diode out (alone) increases distortion (which people like) and lowers the volume (which people dislike).

I think you'll find there's a good chance that you like the extra diode.

IMO the main thing that makes a difference is the lower output impedance of the TS808.  This has an advantage when pushing a tube amp quite hard (ie grid conduction is greater with less output impedance).
cheers

[MartyMart]

There's a mistake on the link I posted, Keeley's SD-1 mod, R2 should be 620k NOT 620 ohms !!

[slacker]

I suppose it depends how real you want it to be, but all the schematics I've seen of the SD1 have a 1Meg gain pot, so it's got twice as much gain as a Tube screamer so you'd need to change that to 500k. Or just never turn it up more that half way
If you do that and the diode mods you're 90% of the way there. The other main differences are in some of the resistor and cap values in the tone control section.

[wampcat1]

I did a complete circuit breakdown on the differences here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FETtHV-2Ndw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4ue58PPTV4

dirk is right on, IMO

bw

[moro]

I thought this might be a fun exercise to help me learn how to read schematics. So it looks like the circuits are nearly identical, but the resistor and cap values are almost all different.

Using this as refernce: http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/TStech/tsxtech.htm

(The SD-1 value is first, then the TS-808 value after the arrow.)

Input Buffer
10K -> 1K
0.047uF -> 0.02uF
  the order of the resistor and cap above are switched
470K -> 510K
2SC732 -> 2SC1815

Clipping Section
0.018uF -> 1uF / 50V NP
100K -> 51k
0.047uF and 4K7 are same value, but in opposite order
33K -> 51K
1N918 diodes -> 1N914 diodes
   also, remove one of the diodes in series and add 51pF cap in parallel with remaining diodes
1M drive pot -> 500K
10K -> 1K (there are two of these)
0.018uF -> 0.22uF
22K tone pot -> 20K
0.027uF tone cap -> 0.22uF
470 ohm -> 220 ohm
0.01uF -> remove (don't jumper. just remove)
4K7 -> 1K
10K level pot -> 100K

Output Buffer

0.047uF -> 0.1uF
1M -> 510K
1K -> 100 ohm
1uF -> 10uF / 16V
100K -> 10K
2SC732 -> 2SC1815

So that's a lot of components. Some of them are pretty close, but a lot of them are off by an order of magnitude.

Hope I got everything right. Oh, and I didn't bother with the bypass section.

[boyersdad]

Personally I think the SD-1 sounds great as is. If you also want a TS-808, why not build one? Then you can have twice the tone!

[Toney]

Totally agree.

I love my SD-1 dead stock. I'm leaving it that way. If I feel like going on a mod journey, I'll get another. They are so cheap!
If you have one, but are sure it's not your sound...wait! Your tastes and rig will change in time. I bet you'll buy another one day!

You can build any of them  TSanything/SD-1/Zac Wylde.... all the derivitives.

All the layouts and info is here. Probably a lot quicker too

[96ecss]

Personally I think the SD-1 sounds great as is. If you also want a TS-808, why not build one? Then you can have twice the tone!

The SD-1 is a very underrated pedal. Everybody talks about the TS as the holy grail and very few people even consider an SD-1. I like the SD-1 better too.

Dave

[MartyMart]

I find it "thin" and "flat" sounding out of the box, just me/my gtr/ my amp though !

[96ecss]

I find it "thin" and "flat" sounding out of the box, just me/my gtr/ my amp though !

I forgot to mention that I like it when it's modded.    I'm not crazy about stock either.

Dave

[Melanhead]

I find it "thin" and "flat" sounding out of the box, just me/my gtr/ my amp though !

I forgot to mention that I like it when it's modded.    I'm not crazy about stock either.

Dave

Me too ... I just fatten it up a bit really ...

and yes it does take a lot more to get it exact ...

I'm not that fond of the reissue 808's either so I fatten them up as well, so when I do an SD-1 mod I try to make it sound similar to my modded TS808, which I sold 

I'm working on some new SD-1 mods as well ... something a little different and time consuming but they're so cheap ... 

[jschwalls]

Hey MelanHead....

i just checked out your band Mindzeye.. very cool..... Very Cool