Boost Pedal Comparison (through a JCM 800 Studio)

Thanks for supporting the channel!

Thanks for watching this guitar overdrive/distortion/boost pedal comparison video! Please hit subscribe and follow SDS at:

The signal flow was as follows:

-guitars
-Fractal Audio Axe Fx III (for recording the DI's)
-Pedals
-Marshall JCM 800 Studio SC20H
-Fractal Audio LB-2 Loadbox
-Fractal Audio Axe Fx III (for IR loading and noise gate)
-OwnHammer (r)Evolution Impulse Responses
-Steven Slate Drums
-Cubase 10.5 pro

[elvis_chen]

1:10 JCM 800 Studio
2:18 JCM 800 Studio + OD808
3:13 JCM 800 Studio + SD1
4:10 JCM 800 Studio + Soul Food
5:14 Side by side

[slag]

SD-1 is a legend. Love it here and in front of plexis.

[phantasmagora]

Great tone and playing. All three are great pedals. When you're using this much gain up front the differences become subtle.
OD808: Mid-focused. Tightens up your original tone.
SD-1: Aggressive. Creates an edgier pick attack and cuts bass.
Soul Food: Flat boost. Retains more body of the original tone.

[roybuis]

1:34 Unboosted
2:42 Maxon OD808
3:37 Boss SD-1
4:34 Soul Food

[mystdeisanto]

SD-1 is perfect companion for Marshall amp (and similar sounding amp i.e. Friedman), OD808 is for everything else (5150, Framus, Randall, and other modern hi gain amps). OD808 tighten up some low end and slightly roll of the high, that what makes this pedal a gem. In the other hand, SD-1 is cleaner and almost like treble boost.

[regortex]

In the 80’s when I was a teenager, we had this figured out. The Tubescreamer with its huge mid boost worked best for Fenders midscooped character, SD-1 worked best for the JCM800 series to push it into higher gain without muddying the waters. Zack Wilde for example did this for decades.

[SonicDriveStudio]

Notes: I realize this is a simple way of comparing boost pedals. If there are enough requests for more with different styles (low gain bluesy for example) I will consider making another one. The amp settings remain the same throughout the entire video.

[smcgloth]

The Soul Food sounds bright and punchy. IMO the best of the three.

[scottl]

Thank you for adding the isolated guitar. that is so important when demonstrating a guitar tone.
Good video. I think the JCM 800 sounds great alone. But it's interesting the different tones you get boosting a Marshall.

[adamkalkman]

The Maxon seems to be high mid focused, the Boss is bright, and the Electro Harmonix is more of a flat boost. Paired with an amp that is already mid focused I think I like the Electro Harmonix the best.

[thorpenator]

Criss Oliva loved the Sd1's.
He was an amazing player with great tone.

[guitarpunkcovers]

I really like the unboosted tone the best. Nice video, thank you for this one!

[michaelgriffin]

It's been so crazy watching this channel grow. Kudos to you for putting in the hard work and making great gear content!

[NickHillMakesMusic]

Always cool to hear these types of comparisons. It’s not even about what sounds better but helps one figure out what direction they want to go with their sound. Great video per usual Jon!

[metaljonesy]

Great comparison, the EHX seemed to complement the amp most so very interested in this to add to my OD collection! This test seemed to reinforce my thoughts of which boost for which amp, always choose my Maxon OD for my American amps and the SD1 for the British style amps, been doing that for 10 years because it kinda felt right and from all the reamping it just sounded the best match. Great vid as always

[RayRay-pgfx]

I was pleasantly surprised by the Soul Food. Tight gain with a good bottom.

[jeffreylazzarinisr]

Great vid! Soul food for me. I could hear the "bassness/fullness" more than the others.

[thruthenever]

Wow, what serendipity! I am pulling the trigger on a new 800 today and was wondering what would be the best to boost it. Then this shows up in my subscription feed. Thanks for the great video!

[abiwankinobi]

They all sounded really good in different ways but if I absolutely had to pick only one, I would take the sd1

[gultra]

Back in the 80s, I played an MXR dist+ into a JCM800 and got a great tone. Now I'm chasing tone with a JCM 2000 DSL. They all sound great and that riff is BADASS!!!🤘