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Boss OD-1x Special Edition Overdrive on Sale at L&M

663 Views 10 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  colchar, 
AlBDarned
I was looking around at ODs trying to decide what to get and stumbled across this pedal on sale at L&M for a hundred bucks, down from one-seventy. Out of stock but I guess they get them on backorder. Ordered one so we'll see!

Anyway, I didn't find ANYTHING on this forum about them despite that they've been around a while, but they seem to have pretty stellar reviews and sound like they're a different sort of beast than most ODs out there. Higher-def in a good way & highly responsive etc. They look pretty swank too!

FYI...
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colchar
What are they like in comparison to the other Boss OD pedals?
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M
The original OD-1 was essentially the precursor to the SD-1. Where the SD-1 has a tone control, the OD-1 had a fixed treble-cut filter. I made one for myself, following the first-issue schematic and quite like it. Unlike the TS-808/9, which has symmetrical clipping, the SD-1 and OD-1 use a 3-diode arrangement for a little more dynamic range and asymmetrical clipping. It also yields a bit more output level than the TS-9.

I have no idea what the OD-1X circuit is, although from the product description it is clearly a digital pedal; analog overdrives do not draw 45ma current and DSP is mentioned in the product blurb. So it is likely "inspired by" the OD-1, but is not the same thing.

Digital overdrives keep improving, annually. I trust Boss not to invest the resources into something like this with the result being a turkey....but I'm still gonna lean towards analog.
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AlBDarned
Yeah it's digital, so I was going to stay away from it as well, until reading some reviews. It's not supposed to be a digital version of the OD-1, it's supposed to be a whole new thing. From one review:

  • Without abusing hyperbole, the Boss OD-1X sounds unlike any overdrive available today. Whether used as an independent distortion source or to run into and overdrive a preamp, most overdrive effects work best as an integrated part of an ecosystem, with terms like “transparent” or “focused” as the typical descriptors. The OD-1X, however, sounds so present and lively on its own due to its responsiveness and dynamic voicing that it has an uncanny “plugged straight into the amp” feel. At lower gain settings, the OD-1X has touch-sensitive grit that is tube-like and extremely expressive; it feels alive. As the gain is turned up, subtle EQ shifts happen to compliment the overall gain structure while the pedal remains open, uncompressed, and harmonically rich.
The more reviews you read, the more they all say the same kind of thing ... kinda looking forward to this thing eventually arriving:)

Looks like the sale's over tho, fyi:(
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G
How much were they?
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High/Deaf
I just bought my first Boss drive pedal, ever, a few months ago - a used SD-1 for about $30 (figured I couldn't lose at that price). I've never personally been a fan of anything but Boss's mod pedals, but my other guitar player uses an SD-1 to great effect (he is a good player, though).

I really like it, more than most of the others I've tried, from the DS to the BD to the FDR. A bit one trick pony-ish, but it's a good trick. And to be fair, I think that can be said about most od/dist pedals.

That said, I'm a long ways from wading into their digital distortion pedals. This will probably have lots of range of tones, being digital, but will it do that light break-up thing that most digital od's struggle with? I'm still not convinced the $2500 digital pedals have nailed it yet. I'm sure it works fine for the various high-gain needs out there, at least for some people.
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colchar
High/Deaf said:
I just bought my first Boss drive pedal, ever, a few months ago - a used SD-1 for about $30 (figured I couldn't lose at that price). I've never personally been a fan of anything but Boss's mod pedals, but my other guitar player uses an SD-1 to great effect (he is a good player, though).

I really like it, more than most of the others I've tried, from the DS to the BD to the FDR. A bit one trick pony-ish, but it's a good trick. And to be fair, I think that can be said about most od/dist pedals.

That said, I'm a long ways from wading into their digital distortion pedals. This will probably have lots of range of tones, being digital, but will it do that light break-up thing that most digital od's struggle with? I'm still not convinced the $2500 digital pedals have nailed it yet. I'm sure it works fine for the various high-gain needs out there, at least for some people.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention the SD-1, BD-2, etc. I have an SD-1 (good, but a bit noisy) and had always been curios about the BD but had never bothered trying one. While in L&M earlier today I noticed a used BD on sale for $70 (regularly $139.99) so I grabbed it. If I don't like it I can always return it.
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High/Deaf
colchar said:
Funny you should mention the SD-1, BD-2, etc. I have an SD-1 (good, but a bit noisy) and had always been curios about the BD but had never bothered trying one. While in L&M earlier today I noticed a used BD on sale for $70 (regularly $139.99) so I grabbed it. If I don't like it I can always return it.
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I'm curious to hear your thoughts on it. Perhaps I need to give one another shot - because, ya know, I really neeeeeeeed another o/d pedal. LOL
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colchar
The SD-1 is a classic pedal for boosting a Marshall but I am not sure I like mine all that much. When I tried the BD-2 last night though, I quite liked it - and more than my SD-1. I needed to dial out some highs, but that could well have been my amp rather than the pedal.

When I have time this week I will connect both pedals to the amp and try them side by side to see which I prefer, and why. I will report back once I have done that.

I am also considering grabbing a distortion pedal to go along with the overdrives. I am thinking maybe an MXR '78 Custom Badass or maybe a classic like the Boss DS-1 (my local L&M has a cheap used one in stock).

That being said, my amp is a Marshall Vintage Modern so I sure as hell don't need any of these drive pedals.
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High/Deaf
My buddy uses one to boost a Fender Prosonic. I like what he gets out of it and that's what prompted me to pick one up.

But yes, they are legendary with Marshalls. Not what I bought it for. I will have to give a fair shot to a BD one of these days, now that my blinders have been partially removed.
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colchar
My SD-1 is a bit noisy. That being said, I noticed a little noise from my amp last night so will have to check it in another room with less potential interference. If there is still noise, I will take it to L&M for service under warranty.

But I didn't notice noise from the BD-2 yesterday.
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