NPD: TC Electronics SCF Gold SE

[Progrockabuse]

I blame the studio rats YouTube channel for this.

I’ve wanted a subtle chorus/flanger pedal for some different modulation sounds. Used to have a CE-5, CE-3 and a CE-20 years ago but I was stuck in the 80’s cheesy chorus phase back then.

Was after something that could be left on to give a little bit of thickening and movement but also do the gilmour/summers flanger sounds if I wished to.

Enter the SCF reissue.

Runs on 9v inside of a normal plug and it’s dead quiet when engaged. The pedal is buffered but doesn’t seem to suck any tone when I’ve A/B it. I run a a klon and some boss pedals so not fussed about buffered vs unbuffered.

It sounds bloody lush, I’ve kept the speed, width and depth at levels that work well with flanger and chorus modes and just adjust the speed to taste.

Whilst I love my Leslie sim, it was a little too much for some songs and its own thing. This can cop fast Leslie sound really well.

I didn’t want the bling finish but it was the only one I could get at the time.

Also re-did the power supply to a cheap gokko one. Runs quiet and I can stick it under the board.

Keep going back to the DS-1 but I get snobby about using it in the band as I worry wether or not it will work well or not being my main drive. My lead singer uses one for his semi-hollow.

Nails the wall album flanger tones too

[Thom]

Nice board Rob. I’ve stuck a DS-1 back on my board recently alongside the JHS Violet which remains my favourite distortion and knocked the 1981 DRV off the board.

[Progrockabuse]

You running a stock ds-1 one or the waza one you had/have?

My recent issue DS-1 really does sound pretty good at home with the rig, almost plexi like. Might squeeze the Supa Lead and DS-1 on together and let them battle it out.

[Thom]

You running a stock ds-1 one or the waza one you had/have?

My recent issue DS-1 really does sound pretty good at home with the rig, almost plexi like. Might squeeze the Supa Lead and DS-1 on together and let them battle it out.

Sold the Waza one a while back, so it’s stock (though the white one they recently put out - maybe I won’t sell this one). Must be my 4th DS-1 lol. I’m really liking it again, but then again I always do at home, it’s when I get it into band practice that I just find myself wanting something a bit more cutting.

[Progrockabuse]

You running a stock ds-1 one or the waza one you had/have?

My recent issue DS-1 really does sound pretty good at home with the rig, almost plexi like. Might squeeze the Supa Lead and DS-1 on together and let them battle it out.

Sold the Waza one a while back, so it’s stock (though the white one they recently put out - maybe I won’t sell this one). Must be my 4th DS-1 lol. I’m really liking it again, but then again I always do at home, it’s when I get it into band practice that I just find myself wanting something a bit more cutting.

That’s the worry I have if i try it at band practice.

[Ankhanu]

Maybe try an EQ pre- or more likely post- DS-1 to shift the frequencies a bit for more cut while keeping the general tone?

I've been using a JHS 3 Series Flanger, and while I like it, it's not quite giving me what I really want. TC makes a good effect, maybe I should look that direction again. Have you tested the stereo output?

[Doog]

I always thought these looked so cool, and then Stompbox Breakdown did a video on it a while ago, and turns out they ARE cool!

RE: DS-1, I did a simple mod to my gf's DS-1 that basically alters the low-end filter in the tilt tone control to get lower mids back, and make the control more usable generally and its a gamechanger. Literally snipping one resistor, turbo easy. Neat video for reference with a few other options to make it even smoother.

Always dug the 'half-fuzz, half-cranked Champ' hard-clipping on it, and that mod makes it so much more usable - more presence without having having to make it super bright.

NOTE: said DS-1 is one from the mid '90s, so isn't surface-mount built, so getting in there to clip caps/resistors is pretty straight forward; the more modern ones less so :/

[Progrockabuse]

Maybe try an EQ pre- or more likely post- DS-1 to shift the frequencies a bit for more cut while keeping the general tone?

I've been using a JHS 3 Series Flanger, and while I like it, it's not quite giving me what I really want. TC makes a good effect, maybe I should look that direction again. Have you tested the stereo output?

Haven’t had any desire to run a stereo rig, but from some of the demos I’ve seen this sounds great in stereo.

It’s definitely worth hunting down to try it out. They were £69 for the black edition over here but on back order for months. Think some of the us retailers had them quite cheap as well for a similar price in dollars.

I run a klone after the DS-1, which does push the mids a little and that helps cut through for lead work, but debating wether to stick the klone before the ds-1 and run a clean boost at the end of my chain for lead work.

[Progrockabuse]

I always thought these looked so cool, and then Stompbox Breakdown did a video on it a while ago, and turns out they ARE cool!

RE: DS-1, I did a simple mod to my gf's DS-1 that basically alters the low-end filter in the tilt tone control to get lower mids back, and make the control more usable generally and its a gamechanger. Literally snipping one resistor, turbo easy. Neat video for reference with a few other options to make it even smoother.

Always dug the 'half-fuzz, half-cranked Champ' hard-clipping on it, and that mod makes it so much more usable - more presence without having having to make it super bright.

NOTE: said DS-1 is one from the mid '90s, so isn't surface-mount built, so getting in there to clip caps/resistors is pretty straight forward; the more modern ones less so :/

Yeah, stompbox breakdown’s video was part of the deciding factor too. It’s a chorus/flanger for those that don’t really get on with the standard chorus/flanger pedals. It can get crazy if you want, but on the whole it’s much more subtle.

Alas my DS-1 is one of the current SMT versions, so doubt I’d be able to modify it. Might try and score a cheap older variant to mod. Does your suggested mod boost the volume as well? I’ve heard of a similar snippy mod that boosts the volume too.

[Doog]

Does your suggested mod boost the volume as well?

Not in a "removing clipping diodes" kinda way, where it doubles in volume, but you get some more volume for sure, since the tone stack is no longer sucking out a good chunk of the signal.

The video I linked above shows it very well, scope it out! Defo worth a look if you can source one; I just read that its anything pre-2016, so surely loads out there to be found for cheap, esp if you can scope the serial number and use an online checker.

[Progrockabuse]

Does your suggested mod boost the volume as well?

Not in a "removing clipping diodes" kinda way, where it doubles in volume, but you get some more volume for sure, since the tone stack is no longer sucking out a good chunk of the signal.

The video I linked above shows it very well, scope it out! Defo worth a look if you can source one; I just read that its anything pre-2016, so surely loads out there to be found for cheap, esp if you can scope the serial number and use an online checker.

Yeah, I’ll have a gander on reverb or evil bay and see if I can get one and mod it. Defo unfairly slagged off at times. With the gain low and the tone around 10-11 o clock, it’s got some real crunch to it.

[Doog]

Defo unfairly slagged off at times.

For sure; even Boss themselves seem down on it:

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