Modified by Boss CS-3. Purchased on eBay for $58 dollars. Wanted something with good attack. I already own an clean optical one.
The noise on this thing was horrible, the tone lackluster, was not really usable for what I wanted, but it has awesome attack, super punchy!
Purchased the Monte Williams noise decimator kit because I wanted to keep the attack.
Researched and changes made
C4, C6, C14, C17- kept stock value of 1uf and swapped for Tantulum 1 uf caps. Made noticeable difference in noise. Measured the old ones and they were still up to spec.
C1 changed .027uf to .047uf– pretty tame modification some go all the way to over 1uf. This was a pain to get to. Monte said I didn’t have remove the mini pcb, but I did anyways. The struggle was real.
IC1 replaced with Brown Burr OPA2134PA– The Monte Williams adaptor kit is ingenious, makes your life easier. It is a super tight fit. You must bend Q1 and C14 out of the way for it to fit. Also the wick for removing the solder was also really helpful. Noticed less noise for sure, but not as notable as just changing the caps. I think you can use the compressor after those first cap changes.
Diodes D2, D3, D6- Replaced with IN34A germanium diodes– This one gave it warmth, It can now drive my amp a little bit. Not as much as the JHS Pulp n Peel, more like a light overdrive. Before I could raise the volume and sustain but was crushed by noise. Now it usable like a drive effect. That combined with the attack I love.
Future mods- Possible replace the IC2 with adaptor from Monte and buy the chips somewhere and experiment stacking different ones. Links for information and where to buy below. C2 change and maybe replace all the resistors to metal film, keep default value, maybe get noise a little lower?
Where to buy
https://www.monteallums.com/pedal_mods_CS3.html Monte’s CS3 Mods
https://reverb.com/item/950068-boss-dual-stack-chip-adapter-mod-kit Monte Adaptor kit, can stack them!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/122108576789 IN34A Germanium diodes, same ones I purchased.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/261992568237 Some BURR-BROWN OPA2134PA, haven’t bought these yet, will buy when I make future mods and with the adaptor kit Monte sells on reverb.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/274700650976 Same 1uf Tantalum polarized caps I used.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Modify-Guitar-Pedals-how/dp/1434801063 Wamplers book, more in depth than beginner guide below
Information for more mods I found
http://www.lonephantom.com/2010/03/modding-the-boss-cs-3/
https://www.zeta-sound.se/Temp/CS3-mods.pdf
https://www.tdpri.com/threads/boss-cs-3-power-problem.328985/
https://www.tdpri.com/threads/quieting-a-cs3-compressor.173259/
https://www.tdpri.com/threads/my-mods-of-boss-cs-3-nice-pedal-now.957360/
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1068026k
https://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=68796.0
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/opinions-on-boss-cs-3-mods.1675905/
https://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=58324.0
https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?t=6038
http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/cs3modding.shtml
Tips for Noobs
Use the wick Monte gives you to remove all the solder. This made removing the IC1 chip a breeze. Also don’t force it out, the part should slide out easily. I tore one cap pad buy doing this. Tried a solder sucker at first but it is just so awkward using one and it doesn’t always work at first, definitely a skill I haven’t mastered.
Use flux every time- just do it, finally got into the habit of doing this every time I use solder something. Don’t run the hassle of making cold joints, it’s a pain to troubleshoot. Solder flows way better, I’ve ruined so many guitar pots by overheating them.
Clean tip with flux after finish using. So far I’ve had the same tips for 10 years. no joke.
Use Digital Multimeter to check and troubleshoot continuity. I also test capacitors and resistors when replacing them and tested old ones too.
Document your changes, you may want to revert back. I test after replacing a handful of components, not every single one, that’s just tarded.
Wampler beginner guide below, more in depth guide he sells on Amazon.