Boss Over Drive & Distortion Effects Unit
BOSS Micro Studio Series
Made in Japan
Model: ROD-10
Released to market 1986
1/2 Rack unit size
Analog technology - not a scrap of digital processing in this unit
Supplied with the 20 page User Manual, a bit Jinglish but understandable (e.g "The ROD-10 is a rack mount overdrive/distortion unit to which all the BOSS technology is drained - drained? What the????)
The manual is quite comprehensive and even provides some suggested knob settings to start getting your "sweet" sound
Includes a suitable LINEAR power pack but not the original PSA adaptor. It is important to use Linear PSU not the often offered "online" switchmode power packs, these might be small but they can also be electrically noisy. Actually so can old linear power packs but its our preference to stay with linear where possible.
The ROD-10 only requires 50mA but the power pack is rated for 300mA because you can "pass through" the DC supply to other suitable equipment, such as the RCL-10, RBF-10, RGE-10, RPQ-10, RPH-10, RDD-20 etc - there is plenty of spare current capacity in the supplied power pack to happily supply other effects units (DC 9V with centre pin negative)
BASIC SPECIFICATIONS:
3x Overdrive effect settings
Distortion setting
Fuzz setting
Frequency EQ control using 4 controls split into Lo/Mid/Hi
Variable Output Level
Effect in/out switching
DC pass-through for powering other units requiring 9V DC
Remote Effect on/off control
1/4" Jack sockets for:
Line Outputs
Low Level Output (-20dBm)
Input (-20dBm)
Clear screen printed block diagram of the unit on top of the case - easy to work out what each section of the effects unit is doing
Central bolt underneath for mounting onto a support bracket instead of rack mounting
NO rubber feet supplied - we never used them and now long gone, these are easy to get from Jaycar Electronics or similar (rubber or acrylic self adhesive feet)
COSMETIC CONDITION:
Very good condition. Clean and unscratched casing and labelling
Light rust "bubble" to the top left hand corner but this is NOT a problem at all *** See notes about this in my test notes section below ***
Complete with all buttons and knobs - no damage to the front panel at all
TESTING:
We have owned this unit since purchasing new in the mid 1980's - it has never needed repair or been modified in any way
This equipment has been completely refurbished while I was taking a closer look at the light rust on the top left hand corner.
Our resident muso in the studio had a habit of placing a beer on top of this unit, thus the rust. It is not extensive and confined to ONLY the top left hand corner INSIDE - on top you can just see a small "bubble" in the black finish.
NOWHERE HAS ANY LIQUID DAMAGE OCCURRED INSIDE THIS UNIT - THE RUST BUBBLE IS SUPERFICIAL ONLY
Very well constructed, inner false frame (steel) over which fits the top steel casing. Only the front panel is plastic.
Single layer board, all discrete transistors - no integrated circuits and absolutely no digital processing.
Changed the DC power sockets as they had been damaged by the previous user (bending the power plug while still in the socket!)
Plugged in a guitar, made sure all of the effects are working - no problems at all. REMEMBER, this unit has a design feature which mutes the effect at turn on for around 10 seconds when powered up! It is working perfectly and the muting is part of the design (as explained in the user manual)
Checked the remote switching and ALL output sockets - all good.
Controls have been cleaned and I can confirm there is no noise (scratching etc) while making adjustments.
These old Boss effects have a nice sound, many muso's like to experiment with them - have a hunt around online to see what others are saying e.g https://www.harmonycentral.com/forum/forum/guitar/acapella-29/1779063
