The SD-1 Super OverDrive pedal produces the warm, natural distortion of an overdriven tube amplifier while maintaining the subtle nuances of a player's picking technique. This is one of BOSS' more subtle and smooth overdrive pedals, perfect for blues and rock.
Compact overdrive pedal with warm, smooth overdriven sounds
Unique asymmetric overdrive circuitry for a classic, natural tube amp growl
Tone control provides precise adjustment of drive sound
Q & A
Question: Bonjour, est-ce que ça vient avec le bloc d'alimentation ? - asked on Aug 14, 2024
Answer: Non, il n'est pas livré avec une alimentation. - answered by Ron Elliott, Red Deer, Alberta
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Fizzy-Pop Goodness 0 of 0 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Cambridge, Ontario
It's a tube screamer & I haven't any tube amps. A couple solid state modelers though.
Not exactly a chugger/for chugging, better at lifting distortions & volumes rather than stacking with ODs.
Put after a heavier pedal to lift the EQ &/or volume, not in front to push it (mostly).
If looking for a tighter yet warmer reed-based OD so that there's a type of fuzz to the edges of signal clips, this is it.
The Gain adds edge fuzz (not full fuzz) while the clean mid-boost that is the Level shifts slightly brittle or muffled with the Tone.
The asymmetric clipping is like a univibe's modulation wave versus a flanger in that it helps add a layer of randomness to the effect's saturation.
It's not about the base string tone, it's the harmonics of the pick attack & use of vibrato on the fretboard that are most affected by the effect.
Lifts a Behringer TM300 nicely placed after. Doesn't exactly tube scream it in front. Just mid saturation.
My solid state amp does react decent to it being used as a screamer when said amp is set around breakup, not so well deep into OD.
Posted by Jay on Nov 1, 2024
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SD-1 Please and thank you 1 of 1 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Kingston, Ontario
Go this to complement my Boss DS-1. They work seamlessly together. Was considering a BD-2 but it works great with my rig which is a Marshall AVT50 Tribute
Posted by **db** on Jan 7, 2024
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Another classic overdrive 3 of 3 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Calgary Chinook, Alberta
Got this to go along with my Ibanez TS808 just to compare. I always liked the Ibanez overall but that little switch is harder to work whereas Boss pedals with a much bigger switch are always flawless in their design so never a problem for me. The tone is different with the SD1, a bit noisier as I crank the level, keep the distortion low and the tone knob under half, similar to my Ibanez settings. The midrange is slightly lower on the Boss and the bass frequencies are still there. It tends to work better with Marshall or Boogie Recs than cleaner amps like Vox or Fender.The Ibanez typically bumps the midrange and tightens the bass. Either way I like it. Something a little different. At the time though in the 80s both overdrives were serious competition. Will keep both.
Posted by Music Mike on Apr 29, 2022
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IT'S A TUBE SCREAMER (Basically) 6 of 6 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Winnipeg (Pembina), Manitoba
it's basically a tube screamer for $50 instead $250
Posted by Justice on Jan 7, 2021
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Great For A Solo Boost 5 of 6 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Grande Prairie, Alberta
I use this pedal currently and have since I got it.
Perfect for a treble booster or a solo gain boost before distortion or fuzz
love this pedal a lot would definitely recommend it for a boost not a distortion though
Posted by Bradley L on Jul 11, 2019
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interesting 2 of 30 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Grande Prairie, Alberta
hard to setup plug in is sold separate or use a 9 volt
needs numbers for tone and drive
Posted by Airn Allen on Apr 5, 2018
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Nice overdrive tones 6 of 6 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Toronto (Bloor St.), Ontario
This is a very nice, reliable, and affordable overdrive pedal. I think this is somewhat mid-range focused and that it is suitable for leads, as opposed to many "distortion" pedals that are mid-range scooped. My only concern is that it is rather noisy. Other than that, this is a great sounding overdrive pedal. You just can't go wrong with Boss pedals.
Posted by Deadbees on Jan 27, 2018
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Why did I wait so long!!? 15 of 15 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Playing guitar for 30+ years but I was never a gear expert. I'm kicking myself now for not buying this earlier. As someone else pointed out, the only "bad" point I found is some background noise if the Level gets turned up past 2:00, but I can't imagine turning it that high - It's an overdrive, not a boost. Short Version, fantastic creamy OD and I like the sound better than many of the more expensive ones I've tried over the past year (like the BOSS Blues Driver, Tube Screamer, EXH Soul Food, to name a few)
Longer Version - I'm in the process of building up a custom pedal board to play with other friends my age (mid-40's) and potentially get back into playing in public. I have a Golden Brownie for heavier OD (AC DC, blistering guitar solo type stuff) but I wanted something for the more mid-range stuff ? Brian Adams, Black Crows, Loverboy, etc? In terms of planning the final pedal board, overdrive/distortion/dirt has been a big one I've put a lot of effort into. Important thing to keep in mind, like all true overdrive pedals, the SD-1 will behave very differently through different guitars/pick-ups/amps/ and set ups. I play a 2004 telecaster with a little 59 humbucking-style bridge pickup and set-up to accommodate 11 gauge strings. I'm playing through a blues junior (all EQ set around 7-8 and Volume set at 4). So, my dry signal is mostly clean; you get a little bit of ?hair? if you strum really hard. With this pedal set to Level (12 o'clock), Tone (2 o?clock) and Drive (between 11 and 12), you get a full creamy responsive overdrive. In fact, while I was testing the pedal in the store (brought my guitar and plugged in to a Blues Junior in the show room) these two guys came up to me and said ?Man, what is that pedal ? you are getting such a sweet tone). And now that I've brought it home, it fits in my board (between my compressor and my heavier OD pedal) and has caused no signal loss, background noise, or other issues.
Anyway, I can't guarantee you'll get the same results through your gear, but for $59, this thing really seems like a steal to me.
Posted by Jason T on Nov 6, 2017
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This is your tube screamer! 2 of 4 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Moncton, New Brunswick
I tried Maxon od808, Boss SD1, Electro Harmonix Soul Food, Ibanez DS9, and I chose the Boss SD1!
Maxon od808 have a tighter sound but less bottom and it sound tinner compare to the boss SD1.
The other ones are not my cup of tea.
Boss SD1 is Perfect to boost up a tube amp, and it really sound as good as the Maxon od808. Very simillar.
For the price you can't go wrong with this one! It really rock's hard!
Once you will tried it you will buy it.
Why pay more.
Posted by Francis Rousselle on Oct 3, 2017
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The only one you will ever need 2 of 5 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Fredericton, New Brunswick
Got this used after setting out for a behringer over drive, treid them both, this is 100% better easier to use better tone etc, this is affordable but just as good if not better than some ridiculously expensive, get this one!
Posted by Matt on Jan 4, 2017
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boss overdrive 2 of 2 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Ottawa, Ontario
I got this as a christmas gift and this pedal works great, i run it trough my board and used it as a boost to my eh octavix and also used my donner blues drive to boost this boss pedal, ive been super pleased with how great i can get it to sound, its very verisitile and its priced amazingly, boss pedals are tough and look great on your board, i play on a yamaha thr10 and they sound terrific on the flat channel.
Posted by Tom on Dec 29, 2016
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Great sound for a great price 3 of 3 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Abbotsford, British Columbia
I bought this pedal on boxing week there were tons of pedals that were way cheaper than normal. I had about $100 dollars to spend. This was better than all of them that I tried expect the ts808 but that was to high priced. I bought it and it sounds great. I love how low priced it is but still sound great. Buy this pedal, God bless.
Posted by anonymous on Jan 11, 2016
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sd overdrive 4 of 5 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Waterloo, Ontario
this is a great pedal and has many of the same internal components as the far more expensive ibanez ts-9 and sounds within 5% of the ibanez pedal.you do not need to spend $100,$150 or $200 for an overdrive.
you will not reap any benefit whatsoever.
i turn the drive off completely,turn the level up and keep the tone at about half
and it just pushes the harmonics and gain
of your tube amp without coloring the sound of it at all.
Ive been in several bands,and this is definitely a keeper and always has a place on my board.
Posted by wayne on Jun 23, 2014
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Cant go wrong for the price 5 of 6 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Edmonton South, Alberta
I love the tonal characteristics of this box. It is a little meatier than a tube screamer and does not roll off nearly as much bass as the TS. Here is what I dont like about it and it could be because it is a $60.00 pedal and mass produced in Taiwan. This thing produces a fair amount of un-wanted noise when both the output and gain are pushed past 12 oclock. I like to use these boxes as a boost so I like to crank the output and leave the distortion at a minimum but enough for some of the pedals clipping characteristics to come through. I find even on this setting if I am not careful I can generate unwanted noice when using it on a dirty amp channel. All in all it is a great pedal and lots of pros are using it (most likly moded to improve components). I would definitly recomend speding an extra $40.00 and going for the MXR Zakk Wylde OD. It is an exact clone of the SD-1 with a touch of mid scoop compared to the SD-1. It is also true bypass and it doesnt produce the unwanted noise when hammering on the output or the gain. Definitly worth the extra $40.00 to get the SD-1 sound in slighlty better components.
Posted by Dave on Mar 11, 2013
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Boss Super Overdrive 4 of 6 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store Cambridge, Ontario
The features are basic Level,Drive and tone. I had this on my pedal board for years , this was my main guitar tone with with my Marshall JCM 900 for years and years live and for the first Tracenine recordings , until getting endorsed with Mesa Boogie, however I keep this very same pedal in my guitar case it goes everywhere with me, for jams and live just in case back line amps dont cut it, my Boss pedal is ready to rock. Also i will use the overdrive pedal for solos if the amp doesnt have channel switching. You cant go wrong for the price its amazing . I cant stress how much I will always love this pedal . regards less of my endorsments I will continue to squeeze it on my pedal board somewhere to add the crunch and harmonic tone to my amps. buy it and enjoy it. cheers .
Posted by Adrian Blaney , lead guitar player of Tracenine on Dec 31, 2012
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Nice Pedal 3 of 3 customers found this review helpful
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Closest Store St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
I've owned this pedal for four years or more and it works excellent. Produces a crunchy sound that replicates a tube amp very well - as good as a pedal can at least. The input and output are very sturdy with no slop. The knobs are also very sturdy and the whole unit is built well. The only concern I have is that the battery wires inside the unit seem very fragile but this is the same with every pedal I've used. Otherwise it's an excellent pedal and worth the price.
Posted by Andrew on Aug 21, 2012
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Long & McQuade is a family-owned Canadian business that has been servicing the Canadian music industry for over 60 years. Our experienced team of experts offers the highest level of before- and after-sale service. Our policies and services are designed to provide you with the ideal shopping experience.
Performance Guarantee - normal wear and tear is covered, so your product will be performing as well as the day you purchased it for the entire duration of the coverage. 100% Parts and Labour Coverage.
Product Replacement - if your product cannot be fixed or costs too much to fix, we will replace it with the equivalent model for no additional charge. If this is not possible, a full refund will be provided.
No Lemon Policy - your product will be replaced should the same problem occur multiple times.
Convenient - easy drop off and pick up of the product at any Long & McQuade location.
Guitar Setup - Guitars purchased at Long & McQuade come with 1 free setup, to be redeemed within 1 year for new guitars and 90 days for used guitars.
Loaners Available - a loaner product may be given while the product is being repaired.
Power Surge Protection - your product is covered even if damaged from a power surge.
Accessory Coverage - any peripheral devices or accessories that come with your product (i.e. foot pedal, case) are also covered.
Commercial Use Coverage - music and recording professionals who purchase gear for “heavy-use” commercial purposes will still be covered.