Boss SD-1
A brand new Boss SD-1 is astonishingly affordable, and due to its legacy, popularity, and basic circuit design, there are many, many options
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Best Budget Overdrive Pedal
Boss SD-1
- Don Makoviney
- Last Updated: September 20, 2020
The Boss SD-1 Pedal has been used for decades and is easily the best budget pedal out there. With unique harmonic capabilities, velvety low/medium gain, a rich mid range to play clear solos, and its trusted popularity among musicians, you won't find anything better for this price.
The SD-1 pedal by Boss has been around since the early 80’s and is trusted among every guitarist out there. At MSCGR, we love gear that stands the test of time; great reviews over the past couple decades make us love this product even more.
When choosing an overdrive pedal, the SD-1 has a big advantage over the market. Boss made the SD-1 have asymmetrical clipping which means it has odd AND even harmonies, while just about every other overdrive pedal out there contains symmetrical clipping (which only has odd harmonies). These extra harmonics make the SD-1 have the loudest sound with the most presence.
Roland (the parent company of Boss) patented the use of asymmetrical clipping which means you won’t find another mass produced pedal out there that sounds as amazing as the SD-1.
Runner Ups
Our other favorite choice is the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer; a classic among diverse groups of musicians. The Tube screamer has a very indescribable bright sound that guitarists tend to fall in love with. The SD-1 and the Tube Screamer are both seriously amazing pedals, but the SD-1 comes in at half the price, which is why it is our main budget pick.
If you have a little extra to spend, the Ibanez Tube Screamer is a serious option to consider.
Another one of my personal favorites is MXR’s Sugar Drive. Although it was released in 2018, the tone is based off a rare overdrive pedal sound that was prominent in the 90’s. This pedal gives beautiful rich warm tones by mixing together the clean guitar signal with the overdrive signal for a nice natural sound. This guy especially sounds good with blues or rock elements and is super small and compact so it doesn’t take up too much room on your pedal board!
If you have the extra cash, MXR’s Sugar drive is also a great choice.
Conclusion
There are countless overdrive pedals out there, but none quite like the Boss SD-1. The sound is truly remarkable for the price you pay. It is a time less tone that guitarists everywhere love in some capacity. If I needed an overdrive pedal and only had $50 to spend, I’d get the SD-1 no question.
Pick one of our favorite overdrive pedals and you won’t be disappointed.
Happy Recording! 🙂
Tell Me If There's A Deal For This
Best Budget Overdrive Pedal
Boss SD-1
Important Specs
| True Bypass | No |
| DC IN | 9 V |
| Input/Output | 1/4" |
| Width x Height x Length | 2-7/8" x 5-1/8" x 2-3/8" |
| more specs |
Synopsis:
The Boss SD-1 Pedal has been used for decades and is easily the best budget pedal out there. With unique harmonic capabilities, velvety low/medium gain, a rich mid range to play clear solos, and its trusted popularity among musicians, you won't find anything better for this price.
Runner Up Option
Ibanez Tube Screamer
The Tube Screamer's been around since the 80's and is one of the most unique sounding overdrive pedals used by diverse musicians. However, it's twice the price of our main pick.
Warm Toned Option
MXR Sugar Drive
The Sugar Drive Pedal has a beautifully warm toned mix with a classic crunchy overdrive. One of my personal favorites!
Sources
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Jamie Wolfert, ToneReport.com, 20160617
A Working Guitarist’s Guide to Cheap Overdrives“The classic Boss SD-1 has been in production since 1981. It regularly ranks near the top of all-time-favorite-overdrive lists, and can be found on the pedalboards of countless musicians who actually making a living playing music professionally. With a trio of basic controls, the SD-1 can summon a surprising range of velvety low-to-medium gain tones, especially when run straight in the front of an amp that already has a little dirt happening. It can crunch authoritatively, it can goose the front end of the amp with clean, transparent gain, it can boost the mids for a solo tone that is both rich and cutting, and more. A brand new Boss SD-1 is astonishingly affordable, and due to its legacy, popularity, and basic circuit design, there are many, many options for modifying it for even greater performance. Everyone should have one, especially since it sells new for 49 bucks.”
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, Pedal Authority,
Boss SD-1 Overdrive“The greatest difference between the SD-1 and Ibanez’s Tubescreamer series is that the Boss generates asymmetrical clipping, as opposed to the more common symmetrical clipping that is produced by the Tubescreamer. What does this mean? Well, for one thing it means that the fundamental character of the SD-1’s sound is slightly different than that of a typical overdrive pedal. Symmetrical clipping generates mainly odd harmonics, while asymmetrical clipping generates both odd and even harmonics. According to Analogman (who is a pedal wizard, and worth checking out), this results in a sound that may not be as pure, but that is richer. When compared to a Tubescreamer, the Boss SD-1 has more volume, and a greater presence of harmonics. Sounds like a nice option to have in the overdrive market, so why don’t we see more overdrives that feature asymmetrical clipping? Apparently Boss’s parent company, Roland, has a patent on asymmetrical clipping, making Boss’s overdrive series the only mass produced overdrives currently on the market that feature this unique voicing.”
Important Specs
| True Bypass | No |
| DC IN | 9 V |
| Input/Output | 1/4" |
| Width x Height x Length | 2-7/8" x 5-1/8" x 2-3/8" |
| more specs |
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