Boss SD-1-4A Super OverDrive 40th Anniversary Edition Overview
BOSS’s Legendary Super Overdrive Sound.
Overview By Boss
Legendary BOSS overdrive pedal with genre-defining sound and feel.
Since its release in 1981, the workhorse SD-1 Super Overdrive has been the core gain pedal for generations of players across every musical genre. Based around the revolutionary asymmetrical clipping circuit from the OD-1 Overdrive—one of the three original BOSS compact pedals from 1977—the SD-1 delivers rich, smooth, and highly musical overdrive tones that continue to inspire guitarists everywhere.
The Clipping Circuit That Defined “Overdrive”
In 1977, BOSS created an entirely new stompbox category with the OD-1, bringing natural overdrive in pedal form to guitarists for the very first time. Producing a signal rich in even-order harmonics, its unique asymmetric clipping circuit replicated the pleasing sound and feel of a driven tube amp—but at controllable volume levels. Four years later, this breakthrough design evolved into the more versatile SD-1, which added an active tone control for shaping the treble response and subtle enhancements for more low-end body.
Overdrive Perfection
The SD-1 allows players from beginner to pro to get inspiring sounds right away, thanks to its natural behaviour and the subtle mid boost that’s part of its design. It gives your tone a push where it matters most, ensuring your guitar always sits perfectly in the mix with warmth, clarity, and rich presence. Lower drive settings are great for rhythm parts, while higher settings are ideal for fat, singing leads. The SD-1 is also very sensitive to input gain, letting you dial in different shades of overdrive simply by adjusting your guitar’s volume control.
The One Pedal Every Player Needs
With its organic character and responsive drive and tone controls, the SD-1 delivers the right sound for just about any style of music. Kick on the pedal with your favourite clean or slightly driven amp for mild-to-moderate overdrive that’s ideal for everything from classic rock and gritty blues to pop, country, jazz, and beyond. The SD-1 also shines as a booster for high-gain amps and other drive pedals, providing mid focus, tight bass, and smooth top end that’s perfectly suited for heavier sounds and solo playing.
Limited Edition 40th Anniversary SD-1 Super Overdrive (SD-1-4A)
To celebrate 40 years of continuous SD-1 production, we’ve created a limited edition version that’s available throughout 2021. This commemorative pedal features a black body with yellow lettering, gold-capped knobs, and a vintage silver thumbscrew for the battery compartment and comes in a box with a special 40th Anniversary logo.
- Genre-defining BOSS overdrive sound
- Unique asymmetrical clipping circuit produces tube-like overdrive characteristics
- Mild-to-moderate drive tones with focused midrange and tight low end
- Ideal for use with clean and slightly driven amps
- Also works great for bringing tightness and definition to high-gain amp tones
- Stacks well with boost, overdrive, and distortion pedals
- BOSS five-year warranty
- -Nominal Input Level
- -20 dBu
- -Input Impedance
- 1 M ohm
- -Nominal Output Level
- -20 dBu
- -Output Impedance
- 1 k ohm
- -Recommended Load Impedance
- 10 k ohms or greater
- -Bypass
- Buffered bypass
- -Controls
- DRIVE knob
- TONE knob
- LEVEL knob
- Pedal switch
- -Indicator
- CHECK indicator (Used for indication of check battery)
- -Connectors
- INPUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type
- OUTPUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type
- DC IN jack
- -Power Supply
- Carbon-zinc battery (9 V, 6F22) or Alkaline battery (9 V, 6LR61)
- AC adaptor (PSA series: sold separately)
- -Current Draw
- 10 mA
- -Expected battery life under continuous use (These figures will vary depending on the actual conditions of use.)
- Carbon: Approx. 60 hours
- Alkaline: Approx. 90 hours
- -Dimensions
- 73 (W) x 129 (D) x 59 (H) mm
- 2-7/8 (W) x 5-1/8 (D) x 2-3/8 (H) inches
- -Weight (including battery)
- 360 g
- 13 oz
- -Accessories
- Owner's manual
- Leaflet ("USING THE UNIT SAFELY," "IMPORTANT NOTES," and "Information")
- Carbon-zinc battery (9 V, 6F22)
- -Options (sold separately)
- AC adaptor: PSA series
- * 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms
