Silver screw vs backplate

[sebastien32]

Hi,

I just started collecting old boss pedals a month ago. I've been pretty lucky and already found an OD-1A (200$), an HM-2 (75$), a FZ-2 (75$), a BF-2 silvercrew (60$) and some others (XT-2, CE-2, CS-2, PW-2, NF-1, SD-1, HF-2, DC-3, LM-3, MT-2) at very good prices. My latest found is a longdash DS-1 from november 1981 (65$). This one had me questioned.. It has a plastic thumb screw but have a backplate saying "use a coin...". Is it a silver screw pedal that the owner changed it or is it normal for that period. From my reading, the silver screw stops around march 81 so mine is 8 months older.

[Pepe]

Welcome to the forum!

I had a CE-2 with a "use a coin" logo from September 1981 and it had a black screw. And the owner definitely didn't replace it.

FZ-2 and HM-2 for only 75$ are a fantastic deal these days. Congratulations!

[sebastien32]

Wierd... imagine buying this brand new in 81 and reading that... "How the f!#k can I open that with a coin??" lol

[Old_Iron]

I remember reading about that long time ago, can't remember where.

It's said that Boss changed the screw but had a lot of labels with the "open with a coin" text in stock, so they continued to ship them out.

Took a look at my pedals and saw that my SD-1s are mostly with the "coin" text, from the first batch, 0300, up to the 151300 February 1982, witch by coincidence is the one that have the "black pins" I recently asked about in another topic.

An entirely one year with the "wrong" label at least, maybe even more since my next one, that came with the "use your finger" is the 404600 March 1984, so probably in between them some others may have the "coin" text.

Another interesting fact about "label mistakes" is the DD-2:

"The DD-2s circuit didn’t change throughout its lifetime but there are a couple of minor differences to note. The black control plate had cream colored text early on. The text color was changed to silver somewhere around serial number 480000 late 1984. The first blue label used did not have the FCC compliance text usually found on all digital pedals. This was changed very quickly so this blue label is rare."

Mine, batch 404700 March 1984, have both characteristics.

[sebastien32]

It's good to know... I'm just starting but it's kind of addictive!!!

I have another question. Do silver screw pedals can only have a stamped serial?

[Old_Iron]

It's good to know... I'm just starting but it's kind of addictive!!!

I have another question. Do silver screw pedals can only have a stamped serial?

Yes, the silver screws began at batch number 6400, and after batch 9900 Boss continued using the same stamp so they turn to 0000, and by 0300/0400 they changed the silver screw to the black plastic head, a couple months later, 0500/060000, they began to use paper printed stickers with 6 characters and dividing the month production into different batches.

And yes, it's highly addictive !!!

[Luke Drifter]

id say $75 for an FZ-2 is the bargain buy on your list

[fuzzbuzzfuzz]

Great scores indeed! That's 1990s prices!

I just watched a mint silver screw Touch Wah go sailing away, hesitated...oh the sadness!

[sebastien32]

It's good to know... I'm just starting but it's kind of addictive!!!

I have another question. Do silver screw pedals can only have a stamped serial?

Yes, the silver screws began at batch number 6400, and after batch 9900 Boss continued using the same stamp so they turn to 0000, and by 0300/0400 they changed the silver screw to the black plastic head, a couple months later, 0500/060000, they began to use paper printed stickers with 6 characters and dividing the month production into different batches.

And yes, it's highly addictive !!!

Do you have detail about stamp serial #10000? I have 2 silver screw with that number.

[fernieite]

https://www.stompboxzone.com/decoder/

Have you tried the link above?
Looks like November 1980. Are your 10000 ink stamped or stickers?

@pepe, shouldn't we have a sticky for the boss serial decoder, like the old days?