Boss CS-1

I'm going to have to say ease of use is a little on the "not so easy" side, as I had to modify the pedal (see below) to get it to sound the way I wanted it to. The mods, however, were about as easy as they come (desoldering 2 resistors and soldering 2 different ones in their place) and are easy to determine using the boss schematics Alan so kindly posted (also below, in the next review). As far as using the actual pedal, I'd say be really conscious of how much signal you're sending it from your guitar (or other gain boxes). I really disliked it at first (WAY too squished, with an intense "POP" on every attack... see critical reviews below for more of this). Returning it to original (v1) specs helped, but the intensity of the compression was still there, even when "Sustain" was turned all the way down. However, once I thought about it a bit, I realized I was sending it a very hot signal (80's Gibson Humbuckers set on 10) and backed it off all the way to 3. Now I can't stop playing it. So yes, not the easiest compressor to figure out, but once you do....

I'm playing a Gibson Invader [USA-made (Nashville) in 1984, bolt-on neck, mahogany body, Sonex Deluxe 180 pickups, tune-o-matic bridge] through a vintage Roland Cube-60 (orange tolex, overdrive, spring reverb). First, this is not a noisy pedal. It will introduce a little noise if you turn the gain all the way up, of course - but that's to be expected. The compression effect is extremely strong/sensitive, but it can be tamed by lowering the input level (rolling back your guitar volume). However, if you want some "compressor as creative effect" it will pump and breathe and pop like no other if given a hot signal. I'm guessing a lot of the people who love this pedal have lower-output single coil pickups. I have to really back off with my humbuckers if I want a natural sound - but it's *worth* it. Sounds incredible, with beautiful clean tone and sustain - makes me want to play... and write this review.

Based on previous 80's Boss pedals I've owned, I think I can depend on it. I treat my pedals pretty well, though. Boss pedals are not indestructible, but they are very tough and seem to last indefinitely if you don't throw them at things. I'd use it at a gig for sure. The only thing I can imagine just "failing" in one of these vintage pedals would be the electrolytic capacitors (they can leak, and dry out). But mine look just fine, thank you.

I've never dealt with Roland regarding this pedal, but they do offer all of their old manuals and schematics to the general public, so that's pretty great. Wouldn't have been able to get this pedal working to it's full potential without the schematics... I doubt I could get it repaired by them, of course.

I play blues/rock/experimental/punk, and this pedal gives me yet another solid yet flexible tool to shape my sounds. I think I'd definitely seek out another one if I lost it. BTW, a big thanks to Alan (the review just below) for steering me toward the original Boss schematics for this pedal. I too have the second version (mine's dated from February 1981, with the serial ink-stamped inside and a silver screw). I first tried it with the 47K resistor Alan recommended (it definitely helped) and then went ahead and determined the original value of the other changed resistor from the schematics. From what I can tell, the original value seems to be a 560 ohm (not Kohm) resistor, and they replaced it with a 1.2K. So I went ahead and swapped that one out for a 470 ohm (the closest I had). I feel like the original specs must have been changed for some reason, of course, but I have yet to determine what it was - this pedal sounds so much cleaner, with more gain available (and, of course, a little bit more noise at higher boost settings). Get out your soldering irons, kids...

Here's Why Opinions Are So Split On This Pedal....

There are two generations of CS-1 !!

I found that I had purchased a 2nd generation CS-1 and there were
two very important changes that BOSS made to the second generation. The difference I will address has to do with volume and amount of compression.

When I first tried it out I was extremely disappointed as it couldn't be adjusted for any usable settings. It squashed everything mercilessly! Searching for the reason for the disparity between the 1s and the 9s in the reviews I found a schematic (http://www.godiksennet.com/images/sch/CS1.jpg) which explained the difference between the two generations. Boss apparently changed the value of two important resistors. The 150K resistor connected to solder point #16 must be changed back to a 47K Ohm to give back the needed volume and control to make this pedal a 9+

Firstly the unit is dead silent. Now it sounds absolutely astonishing.
The best compressor I've ever heard...Everything sounds great now!

The Treble Switch gives even more delighful options

I play a 1988 Model 3 Charvel HSS and a 1993 Jackson DR5 HH going through an original Marshall Guv'nor (1979)into a Cream Machine
(Loop 1) Or an MI Audio Blues Pro into an Award/Morley JD10, (Loop 2) all feeding a Seymour Duncan 100Watt Covertible combo.

Cue cliche: Built like a tank.

N/A but have it on good authority that they will send you any schematic you need

I'm a specialist, I play slide guitar...Classic Rock & Blues.

Operation wise a very simple pedal. Three-knob based peda with volume, Senstivity & Attack controls. I bought it second hand almost new probably in 1983. It is very easy to get your required sound.

As far as its sound is concerned it is a real tone enhancer pedal. I never play guitar without it. I mosly set its knobs as; Volume 1 o'clock, Senstivity 2 o'clock & Attack 12 o'clock. It has a very smooth and noise free sound. It really gives life to the overall sound of the guitar. It is also a fun to combine it with distortion or chorus effects. I have used it with both single coil and humbucker pickup guitars and found it equally great. It gives a nice clicky sound sound to your solo playing in clean channel setting on amp. It has strong compressor effect but slightly less if compare it with MXR Dyan comp. I am using Fender FM212R, Yamaha G50-112 III & Yamaha JX-50 combo amps with it. I am using Yamaha electric guitars AES-620, Pacifica 412V, Epiphone Les Paul black beauty 3 pup & Yamaha Les Paul Studio Lord SL-400S.

I have been using it for the last 25 years and it never gave me any problem.

Never had a chance to deal with them.

I mostly play rock, popular, blues and country. I have been playing for the last 28 years and got lot of pedals from Boss and some from Ibanez, MXR, Behringer & Danelectro. If this pedal is stolen I would get upset but then buy the Boss new compressor CS-3. I love about this pedal is its smooth, sliky and very natural sound and furthemore it works equally great with and without distortion while I have seen that MXR dyna comp does not work well with distortion and MXR is also very noisey especially with distortion but MXR dyna comp has got more warmth as compare to Boss CS-1. Overall Boss CS-1 is a great pedal and I cannot think to play guitar without it.

Described "ad nauseam" on other reviews, I like the retro look and the toggle switch gives a total non-digital interface. Silver screw, serial number inked inside. Worth notice is the outstanding quality of the pots, the type that use the solid shafts with screwed knob instead of the tiny ching-ling of these days.. Tipical 70??s and 80??s Japanese obsession for quality.

Awesome compressor, you can use as a boost in cleans or to push your amp in a overdrived/distorted solo. Used with a 70??s Squier JV and a mexican fender hot rod deluxe. You can grab pink floyd tones very easily, and with a chorus it??s total The Police tone alike. Very satisfied with the tone, the only thing is that its goes very percussive when cranked, but it dissapears when connected in the effects loop. It has tons of gain inside, almost the same amount of gain foun in my OD-1 !! Overall a very quiet pedal, not noisy at all.

Mine is more than 24 years old, like new. Difficult to loose money with it.

Just poke around and find the schematics and manual. 1st class components and hand made soldering job.

Worth a try, it??s all analog and has a strong personality, stands out of these mass produced nowadays. Certainly will improve your tone. Bought on e-bay for US$ 75,00 and prices are rising...

its difficult to find a use for it,oh I mean its easy,just two knobs and a toggle switch.

hands down the most useless comp I own.it completely squashs your signal,not good,unless your going for that as a special effect.You have no control over the amount of attack,it lets no transients through.It just grabs a hold of your signal,chops the front of it off and sustains the shit out of the mess thats left.The toggle switch is hilarious,AM radio/telephone tone at the flick of a switch,just what I look for in a compressor?Unless your looking for a very squashed special effect type compressor,this thing is useless.

beat to death but still destroys your dynamics.

I bought it years ago to try on bass,didn't like it.for guitar I've come to the conclusion that its strictly a collectors piece.I own a mxr dyna comp,ibanez bp 10,dod fx 80,dod milkbox,wd orange squeezer,boss cs-2,Arion sco-1.Faves are the milkbox,fx 80,dynacomp and cs-2.If a mod could be done to control the attack rate,and ramp up the make-up gain,this pedal may be useable,as it is,its a joke.I'll keep it because I collect boss pedals.If a pedal sounded as cool as it looked,this would be a good one,it just looks like it would sound godlike.Sadly not the case here.If someone tries to market a cs-1 clone,I'll piss myself laughing.

You just keep moving the knobs untill you give up on getting a decent compression sound. Impossible to use for me.

This S in SC-1 stands for sucks. There is a very audible delay before the compression kicks in. In other words it doesn't compress the begining of the note. The Attack is full volume or even amplified and the rest of the note is squished beyond recognition. All sense of feel is lost.

It would be okay if it was a good special effect type of compression, but it's not that either. This is the worst compressor I have used. The arion compressor is much better, so is DOD and every other compressor I have ever used.

You can count on this unit producing the same sub-standard effect year after year.

I have used dozens of compressors over the past 18 years. This is the worst. For collectors only.

three knobs...i love simplicity, but i wish it had an attack knob.

just a fakie strat copy with singles. cs-1 --> "unknown brand" cheap wah --> digitech tone driver/ nobels od-1 overdrive --> marshall mg30dfx. makes i lil static sound on certain settings. I really dont like the "swell" effect it gives when im on clean tone...butwhen i fire up the overdrive, its just pure EASE. brings out more sustain and harmonics come out so easily. I'll figure out a way wherein the drive and the cs-1 can be switched at the same time...coz i don't need it on clean tone. i like john frusciante, john mayer and srv's clean tones...couldn't get those with the cs-1...but with the drive on...i just can't stop playing.

oh...by the way...when on...it affects your tone quite noticeably....specially on clean...but with an overdrive, i really dont care....i really have to get an a/b switch!!!

yep. looks really beaten up. but still works.

i hope i don't have to.

i like to play bluesy funky stuff on clean...but this ain't good for cleans coz of the slow attack. it kills on distortion or overdrive. if it were lost, id get different one with an "attack" knob...and see if it makes a difference. I love it with my tone driver on...but for cleans...it sucks...well that my opinion. one other feature i like is when i cs-1 and tone driver is engaged, and when i need to tone things down, i just drop the guitar volume a bit.

somehow...i found a use for it...so therefore...its a keeper

Great Compressor!
With the switch in the "Normal" position it's fat & warm sounding.
Treble is cool too!

Nice transparent tone. It is much smoother than the CS-3 & new MXR compressors. I play Hard Rock so I rarely need a compressor but it still sounds great when pushing an overdriven amp.

22 years old & works perfect.
The old Boss pedals are beyond durable.

OK to deal with.

For Rock / Punk Rock I usually don't need a compressor. This is the pedal I turn to when it's needed. The old "Made in Japan" Boss pedals are incredible - so much warmer w/true tone than the new ones. The new ones are nice, but to keep cost down over the years they lost a bit of pure tone w/each pedal. When you hear an old CS-1 it pours out pure tone. Find a Japan made Boss pedal "ANY MODEL" there is a difference. These usually go for less than the CS-2 Boss Comp which is stupid. The CS-1 does sound better than the CS-2 or CS-3. I've had all 3. These may not go for as much as the old ROSS comps or new Keeley comps, but it does the job of compressing your signal just as well.

Easy enough! But be careful and subtle. Great tones can be found with the dials low as well as high. From 1979, so menus were an evil not yet upon us.

Incredible compressor.
Loads of tones available so be subtle (I think the people who don't give it good marks are probably the turn to ten brigade). Put the volume up and the comp on 2 and it's a great sound. Above that it gets very noticeable, but if it didn't I'd be dissapointed ;)
If you want transparant compression, go elsewhere, if you want an evil compressor or treble boost, this is it. Into a tube amp (I have an Ampeg VT40 and AC30) it is wonderful.
The treble switch boosts highs and cuts lows. Great for a non muddy solo sound that cuts thru.

1979 and bought in a pawn shop. Not even a scratchy pot....

No idea

Awesome. I've seen them up to $120 and if I lost this, I'd bite my lip and pay that. Brilliant.
The other good thing with Boss is that you rarely lose money with them....
If you see one, pick it up before you can't!

Output Level, Sustain and a switch that goes from normal to trebbly

WOW, it;s hard to believe a guitar compressor can be this quiet. It's not for everyone.. In a studio environment, compression is something you want to mask or hide..In this case, it's an effect.. it really squishes your signal to extend the delay..
i have a Fender twin and a fantastic early 70's traynor guitar mate..

it's a boss..unless you really abuse it or fiddle with the electronics, it will spend its life with you..

never needed to call

To me, this pedal is a real surprise...i was a big fan (until now) of the Boss cs-2.. i owned it twice and found it pretty good..but the cs-2 is one of those who hides the compression a bit like the studios and has tons of gain so you can use it as a boost pedal..
but not the cs-1..
it's 'in your face' compression with a pop when you pick depending how much sustain you want..the trebble switch is really useful if you want a bit more attack and drive ..

the funny thing is that the 'momentarily' LED made me save some $$ on this pedal..when trying it in the pawn shop where i bought it, we didn't really plug the guitar..when i plugged the cable in the pedal, i just switched it 'on' but the LED worked only when pressing on the pedal.. it goes off after but i didn't know and so did the sales dude that it was a feature of this pedal..(i think so) so we both thought it was broken..so he sold it to me half price..

when i got home and plugged it in, it WORKED...The led stays on when you switch only ...what a surprise..

i'm happy for myself..and i won't tell the pawshop because they're all sharks..