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..

Simple-Two knobs and a toggle switch.

For what I use this pedal for, it's perfect. I cannot attest to how useful it would be for someone using this for a more "traditional" compressor purpose, like chick'n'pickn'.

I use this pedal as a boost for solos, usually on a fairly distorted lead channel. For this it is absolutely heaven. I have all knobs cranked and the switch set to treble. It sounds just as good if you roll some of the knobs back and flip the switch, but I like the thing cranked. Gives my solos a nice creamy sustain and attack, and boosts the treble to make them cut through the mix.

I can see where some people would have issues with this, and that's why I give it a 9. It would be nice if the level knob had a little boost to it; it really cuts back your volume unless you place it all the way up. Also, it does have a more "clicky" sound than most compressors. It seems to boost your treble signals more than your bass signals-they certainly aren't even-which doesn't sound as good on a clean channel. It would be cool if the treble adjustor was a knob and not a switch so you could adjust the amount of treble, because it's either no treble or tons of treble the way it is set up. Who knows if this was feasible back then though.

This pedal existed for 25 years before I got my hands on it, so I think it's gotta be pretty good.

This is one of the black label, made in Japan models with the metal screw that are supposed to be the tops, and I would have to agree. For an old analog pedal, it's super quiet, and suits my purpose fantastically. I got this suprisingly cheap on Ebay, so keep your eyes open; I got this one for 55 dollars and I have seen ones in similar condition go for well over 175 dollars. I would have gladly paid 100 dollars for this unit, so I am very happy with it.

Easy as any other pedal compressor to use.

Too squishy, over the top compression for most purposes. I find I have to set the compression knob near 0 to get any kind of usable effect.

Yep reliable, it is very old and still works.

I have owned a CS-3, CS-2 and CS-1 (amongst others) - the CS-3 was bland but OK, the CS-2 is great - musical and full of character, but the CS-1 falls into the special effect category to me - squishes all the dynamics out of the guitar.

Not useless by any means, but not very versatile and if you are only going to have one compressor, I would not recommend a CS-1. Unless they vary a heck of a lot from the one I have, I think the reviews here overrate the CS-1.

So easy to murder your tone!

For a vintage effect it's kinda quiet, but the attack characteristic is so plinky and annoying. I found it impossible to get a good sound. I had one in mint nos condition for about 6 years so I'm not talking out my ass. This pedal drove me up the wall. It amplified the sound of the pick hitting the strings. It made a Click, click, click with each strum. Now kick in the treble boost and marvel at the sound of ten thousand fingernails running across a chalkboard!

Maybe this is cool for lead players, but if your mainly a chord basher like me this ain't it.

After this I got the cs-3, after comparing them back and forth I ended up liking the cs-3 better but not much. Next I used a focusrite rack mount for a few years, much better. Then I used the bjfe pale green for awhile that was also good but the release was kinda fluttery. The best compressor I've found is the Carl Martin. Makes the cs-1 sound like the toy it is.

I had to put in my two cents on this one because what I see here is a bunch of reviewers that just want to make themselves feel okay about spending to much for a compressor that's not even as good as the dod milk box IMHO.

keith richards!

I was happy that I made $90 profit when I sold it 'cause it's the worst compressor I've ever used. I feel sorry for the sucker that bought it especialy because he loved it. His tone is obviously a lost cause.

It is a lovely shade of blue, and has cool vintage knobs for those who listen with their eyes and think only old crappy pedals are cool. It must be the best it's the cs-1, yeah right. There is reason they didn't sell well; they are crap.

Very easy to use-2 knobs-level & sustain-and a tone toggle
switch. No manual needed to get great, analog compression
and sustain. They surely do not make them like this anymore!

This pedal sounds great in front of fuzz/distortion. As
with any compressor/sustainer, it should be the pedal you
plug your guitar into(unless you're using the amp's effects
loop).Sounds great with any set-up you can think of.

I don't gig-my pedals are in my home all the time and
recieve lots of TLC, so I'm really not qualified to render
an opinion on this subject. I'll give it a 6 because I
really don't know.

Never had to deal with Boss-again a 6.

I play mostly hard rock-this pedal really compliments my
playing style.Sounds fabulous in front of fuzz or distortion-great sustain capabilties!Get one if you're able
to find it-ebay is a good place to look.

The easiest. I bought mine new in 1981. If there was a manual, I tossed it along with the box, I'm sure.

I play bass, and I stopped using tube amps in 1979 (SVT). My solid state amps sounded "spiky", as they lacked the natural compression of a tube amp. Hence the need for a comp pedal. The Boss was the best around, so I found a beat up used one for $20, in 1979. It had a metal screw and a momentary LED. Then, two years later I heard that Boss was discontinuing the CS-1 in favor of the new CS-2, which I also heard sounded like crap for bass(it does). So I ran out and got a brand new CS-1 before they all disappeared. Plastis screw, stationary LED. I A/B tested them and they sounded IDENTICAL. Since then I picked up two more used ones for back up, and all three sound the same. For bass, there is no other comp pedal that performs as well, or even correctly in my view. I've owned an Atomic, a Blackbox Oxygen, TC Elec., Tech 21, Maxon, Ibanez CP-9, Ibanez BP-10, Boss CS-2's, LocoBox, Boss LM-2B, and they all suck for bass. But the CS-1 has a major squeeze and sustain ability that will not distort, pump, wheeze, or howl even with the sustain dimed. The treble switch is nice for guitar, but is too raspy for bass. I cant believe that more bass players dont know about this pedal. For me, its not an effect, but rather an "always on" pre-amp stage to my pre-amps. It does color your tone heavily, but in a very nice way. I run Reverend basses, 4 and 5 string, into the CS-1....into a Sans Amp Bass Driver...into a Genz combo w/ext. cabinet. The Sans Amp does all the EQ work and warms the Genz up a lot. Sounds tubish and fairly strong. Note; Some CS-1's will only run clean with a battery or an ACA adaptor. A typical PSA adaptor will make some of them howl a little.

No sweat.

Don't bother.

Never played without a CS-1 since 1979, when I dicovered it. However, in the last five years or so, I have bought some very expensive comps during a quest for improvement, and found none. The earliest ones are collectable and certainly worth more these days. And I respect the opinions of those who claim that the older units sound better. That just was not my experience.

Sit back, grab a beer and light a cigar ...

After years of searching for this supposedly 'holy grail' of compressors, I've stumbled on this fact:

THE 'MOMENTARY LED' CS-1s, ARE WAY BETTER THAN THE LATTER-DAY VERSIONS!!!

Check it out here, as i have, for maybe hundreds of times. Thanks to the reviews here at harmony central, I've done an exhaustive cross-check and comparison of the best compressors (Boss, MXR, Maxon, even the newer Keeleys).

One thing I remember was that some reviewers here mentioned about that 'momentary LED' version, which only lights up when the pedal is actually depressed.

Now, here's the story...

I bought a pretty well-kept CS-1 last year from a buddy, and thought that that was IT. Although it sounded better than the CS-3 and CS-2, I thought that its squawking was not too good. On the 2'clock to max settings, there was this major swell (and pop) that wasn't to my liking. It sounded ok for distortion, but for clean, jazzy sounds, the notes seem to lose a lot of articulation.

Well, after some months, another friend offered me yet another CS-1. Out of curiosity, I decided to borrow it and bring it home. What triggered my curiosity was when he said that, "Oh, there's something wrong with the LED. It doesn't seem to light up."

And so, I figured that maybe, this was one of those late 70s CS-1s, with that configuration. Soon enough, I put a fresh battery in it, and ... lo and behold! On the clean settings, the 'new' CS-1 sounded fatter! (regardless of the setting, even on max) ...

Amazed at this new discovery, I ABd the two boxes and true enough, the stock one (the one whose LED lights up normally) sounded thin, and had poorer sustain than the 'momentary LED' version.

What I like about this new pedal now is that, as I said, even on clean settings, ANY setting on the CS-1 gives out round, fat tones that don't have that unbearable squawking (or pumping or breathing, as some reviewers call it). It just sounds 'right.' I do remember a soundfile of a Route 66 pedal used for a jazz setting, and this CS-1 sounds pretty close. I think a good word to describe the sound is ... milky or juicy.

Satisfied with the cleans, I then put the CS-1 through the acid test: distortion!!!

Oh, if I may mention, the reason why I've been searching frantically for this little blue box is because of my fascination with that 'violin-like' tone of guys like Allan Holdsworth, Eric Johnson and a lot of other fusion players like Scott Henderson.

Well, I must admit now that you can't just get such tones out of ordinary stompboxes. (But hope is a wonderful thing, don't you think?)

But anyway, I put the CS-1 before a SansAmp GT-2 on the Marshall setting, and ... voila! Superb sustain!!

Prior to this, I must say again that I've tried a host of compressors (which I'm now selling one by one) and I must say that they don't give the sustain I've been looking for. I've gotten better sustain by driving the SansAmp with another overdrive box (a Vox Valvetone, a Maxon SuperTube Screamer, Blues Driver, etc). THAT made the thing sustain better.

But with the new CS-1, I couldn't believe my ears! The sustain was WAY better than my earlier CS-1. And when you switch the toggle to treble, it gives this nice 'warmth' to the tone. Unbelievable!

As others have said, perhaps the one foreseeable problem here is when you're using the CS-1 at a gig, and (since the LED doesn't really light up) you can't tell whether it's on or not. But I guess your ears will tell you.

Haven't used it in a gig yet, but it seems pretty sturdy.

Considering the prices these things fetch at E-bay ($200-300), I think this is a steal.

As I've stressed earlier on, do watch out for the 'momentary LED' versions. These must've been the earlier versions Boss built. And now that I've ABd that against a 'regular' one, I can pretty much say with conviction that those are the 'holy grail' of compressors - the main reason why these thingies merited such high ratings here.

If I may digress, I should say that it's quite amazing how there are actually very few reviews of this pedal here compared to the other compressors.

And lastly, I'd like to thank these guys who did the reviews below for giving me enough reason to spend endless nights dreaming about that lovely sustain that just makes your tone so amazing. Having a good pedal is one thing, but hearing others rave about it makes you glad to be a member of the six-string fraternity!

Nothing to it. Just set the the sustain, set your volume and flick the switch if you want a slight hi end boost.

Be vewy, vewy quiet...you still can't hear this pedal. I used it in front of my chain, and every combination has resulted favorable. Currently, I use it in front of my POD, switching out with an Ibanez CP9.

I found this unit in 1997 in a little music store. It was in rough shape. I did the LED mod on it, replaced the footswitch and replaced the battery connector. Works like a charm!

Boss was very supportive. if you call them they will FAX you a schematic. I also got a schematic for all my other boss pedals.

Compressors seem to all be different to me. This one has a color all it's own, because of the sustainer mode and the high boost/cut. I use it in my studio only.

Easy to sound good with this pedal. Never read the manual cuz I'm a guy. It has two knobs and a switch. Rainman could figure this one out.

I have a Les Paul and a S/S/S Strat. I play through a Fender Twin Reverb Amp. The pedal itself is perfectly noiseless. I'm lucky enough to have a black label, silver screw, 70's, Made in Japan pedal. I've heard that later models are almost as good. My usual setup for this pedal is with the Level at the 4 O'Clock position, the Mode set to Normal and the Sustain set at around the 2 O'Clock position.

Reliability?? After a nuclear war, only cockroaches and BOSS pedals will survive! A back up for a BOSS is a waste of money.

Never needed it. Never will.

I'm a child of the 70's but enjoy playing Offspring, Creed and Collective Soul as well. I've been playing over 25 years and own several other BOSS pedals (OS-2, CE-5) I have a Taylor acoustic/electric that plays well through this pedal as well as my Les Paul and Strat. I would never sell this pedal as it is much better then the newer ones. If it were lost or stolen, I guess I'd bite the bullet and try to find one on Ebay. Worth every penny of the $80 I spent on this bad boy. I love the fact that it is noiseless and bulletproof. I've compared it to lots of Comp/Sustain pedals and this was my favorite. Invest in rechargable 9V batteries and keep some charged at all times. No warning when battery is gonna die, its just dead. Battery usage is not higher then with any other pedal.

Very easy to use, just VOL & SUSTAIN-also a bright normal switch.

This unit is very quiet as far as compressors go, it's much more
transparent sounding than a ROSS compressor, and the swell is more
natural sounding-not as extreme. But it does slightly increase presence when the unit is ingaged/even in normal mode-not a problem. When bypassed the unit is very transparent. The bright mode is not very useful unless your really trying to cut.
I use to only run true bypass effects, but have had lower noise and less trouble with pedals that use FET switching. To each his own..... This unit to my ears is one very nice compressor, and although there are other good pedals to choose from. Your not going wrong with one of these. Easier to set and better tone than the current BOSS CS-3--don't know about the CS-2???

Well it's 20 years old (probibly older than most of the people on this
site-He he he... :) and still works great! All orginal-even the switch!

Never used them...probibly never will.

I play Rock,Fusion Funk/Soul/Jazz 60's 70's stuff, and this is great for all these styles. I've played for 15 years and have played in
some top SF bay area clubs, as well as many studio sessions and Jams.
I use a 1960's Tele custom and a 1970 Les Paul Deluxe through either
a 1964 Princeton Reverb or a 1990 RI Bassman with a 63" Fender Reverb.
I love this pedal for the clean sustain thang. For this it's great.
Notes really hang. It also ads a nice thickness to the sound.
There are others nice compressors, but this ranks in the tops.

Simple. 2 Knobs and a Switch.

The Guitar Gods have blessed this PEDAL!!! I run my setup usually asfollows Ibanez 7620 7- string > CS1 >Rocktron Piranha > Rocktron Chameleon > Marshall 9000 Power Amp > Custom 4x12 Cab That is just the basic setup, i usually add differnt pedals or effects at different times. The CS-1 has a beautiful smooth compression, I use to use an MXR compress/sustainer but this thing WHIPS it. Absolutely an awesome pedal.

Gets a 9 because I think if you were stupid enough you could kick the toggle switch at the top with your toes when turning it on or off.

Never Dealt

I got this thing for a steal. If I ever find another one I'll jump on it.

two knobs, one toggle, a 4 year old could figure this out!

I got this for 20 bucks at a pawn shop a while back lookin for vintage boss pedals. Mine is a first run 1978 with the metal thumb screw and momentary led. i didnt intend to use it, then i hooked it up. I use it first in the effects loop....immediatly folled by boss tw-1,ibanez ts-9, boss mt-2,dd-5. I also use boss bf-2,ce-2,ft-2 and ge-7 with this. this pedal is amazing. I leave the sustain all the way up, level at 11-noon, and the toggle on normal. Run my american standard strat into the cs-1, to a hotrodded ts-9 to the dd-5 and to the ge-7, It is total eric johnson! smooth and juicy yet punchy! I leave the volume on the guitar at about 8 so it doesnt give you that slap bass sound. I also run it with the same setting only in treble mode into the distortion on either my fender pro-sonic or peavey classic 30, Extreme srv. I recommend this pedal before any distortion, ANY...it is a bit noisy however, but unless you plan on spending hundreds of dollars, you'll find all comp/sustainers are. It brings out feedback and harmonics like you wouldnt believe. Highly recommended!

I rebuild/fix/modify pedals as a hobby I can count on one hand how many broken boss pedals ive seen

Well on the few i have fixed, Its a pain in the ass to find parts. the thumb screw and the footswitch are easy. But to find circuitry parts, it is opposite of what is posted on car mirrors "objects are closer then they appear". It also takes months to get parts, slower then most any other company ive dealt with. But i guess this is ok because so few of them ever break on their own

I play alot of blues/progressive rock, i tell you what this pedal TOTALLY changed my tone for the better. Ive been playing almost 12 years now, and ive owned nearly 70 boss pedals(not at the same time) and this one next to the ge-7 was the best single addition to my rig! i use it daily! the only thing about this pedal. if your going to run through heavy distortions, buy a very good noise gate.

The Boss CS-! Compression Sustainer is simple: Two knobs- Level and Sustain, plus a toggle for Normal or Treble. I set my level at about 2 o'clock, sustain all the way up, and the toggle on treble. The sounds are great- real punchy compression, easy to get that country pop thing goin' on. The sustain is very good, but it's not just a "sustain" pedal. You can get that nice long note and bleed into feedback if you want. It's very clean on/off, no static or hum or any noise with mine, and it's pretty old. I never had a manual or instructions.

My set up is: 1983 Kramer Pacer> DOD Tuna> Crybaby> CS-1> BF-2(Boss Flanger)> Ibanez TS10 Tube Screamer> HM-2 (Boss Heavy Metal)> Fender Princeton Chorus (2 x 10 solid state combo). The CS-1 is very smooth and surprisingly quiet. The LED light on mine works fine, and I hav not had any trouble with the switch (and remember, this pedal has been around for a long time). I use it more for sustain than compression, but they kind of go together. Great for solos- it really adds to your sound- the best way to describe it is it just makes the sound "professional." Great for making harmonics easier, and also letting that high 22nd fret bend ring out and fade into a little feedback. Works very well with my Heavy Metal pedal for blistering solos. Using it clean is great for country music, it can bring a real Nashville feel. You can tell that most recordings have compression after you use this pedal. The CS-1 is not meant to used when playing chords, it gets muddy and messy- it's mainly for picking or solos.

Boss pedals are tanks. The construction is just awesome. I think they would survive a direct hit from a nuclear missle. Just the cockroaches and Boss pedals will be left. I only have one CS-1 (for now) so if it died at a gig I'd have no back up!

Never dealt with Boss or Roland. My pedal has no mods that I know of.

I play a lot of "classic rock"- Zeppelin, Beatles, Grateful Dead, Kiss; as well as stuff like The Cars, Van Halen, SRV. I also play a good amount of real heavy and/or fast stuff like Minor Threat and the Dead Kennedys. I really only use the CS-1 on solos, you can't use it when strumming (or bashing out) chords. A lot of times I'll kick on the CS-1 about half way through a solo or near the end of a solo to really bring it home in style- it can give you that extra umph to finish a solo in a blaze of glory. If you have a note that needs to be held for a few seconds, kick on the CS-1 and let it shine.
I've been playing guitar for about 15 years. I use vintage Kramer guitars (the real USA ones) and a Fender amp. If my CS-1 were damaged or stolen I would have to replace it. I got the CS-1 over the CS-2 or CS-3 because i like the "vintage vibe" and, let's face it, the toggle switch is just plain cool. I'm looking for another CS-1 for a good price because I love this pedal so much. I might try a CS-2 or CS-3 also, but I don't think anything can beat the original CS-1.

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i rarely use this live anymore, but it comes out of "Moth balls"
for studio recording sessions for guitar work.
The CS1 has a slow attack, so it creates are real "percussive"
sound which sounds great when you're picking.
I use a takamine for effects pedal work, the preamp drives it well.

Mines old but hey, it still works

boss gear is pretty reliable

I play folk rock and use midi controlled effects these days.
I've been playing for over 20 years but have kept my prized
boss effects pedals for studio work, cause every brand has it's
"flavours" its own sound and gee, in a studio you need all the
help you can get. if it where stolen i'd get another one if i came
across one cheaply.The attacky sound led me to buy and modify the
BOSS CS3 (which has more gain) and changed some component values
to emulate my old pedals character. you gotta try these things...
Compression is pretty mandatory for guitar picking, to help control
peaks and smooth out your performance.

Very simple to use. The Level control adjusts the volume, the Sustain control adjusts the compression/sustain, and the mode switch toggles between normal sound and a slight treble boost. The only hard thing to get used to on this is the LED -- the pedal is from 1978 or so, and the LED on the very old Boss pedals only comes on when the pedal is actuallt depressed. Not a big problem, as you can definitely tell when the CS-1 is on!

Recently I wrote a rave review of my Way Huge Saffron Squeeze compressor. That's still a nice compressor, but the Boss CS-1 BLOWS IT AWAY in my opinion. The CS-1 gives the coolest "squwking" tone I've ever heard. You can go from subtle compression to major squeeze, with cool pumping/swelling effects if you want them. Also, the CS-1 is extremely quiet, and has very little changes in noise as you crank the controls -- very interesting . . .
I've owned a lot of compressors in my lifetime -- Boss CS-2 and CS-3, DOD FX80, Ibanez CP-10, Way Huge, and Rockman Guitar Compressor. The CS-1 is my absolute favorite. I still have the Way Huge and Rockman units because they're both classics at this point, but the CS-1 gets the call in my signal (which goes ESP MII or Fender Strat into all sorts of pedals into Tech 21 TM60).

Well, it's a Boss, and we all know what that means. However, the footswitch can be a little intermittent (sp?) sometimes. But that's just a design thing on the very old Boss pedals -- the later pedals have a structural change on the underside of the footswitch plate that fixes this.

Glad I never have to call Boss with technical questions!

Awesome -- I will buy every CS-1 I come across from now on. I made the mistake two years ago of not buying one at a store for $40 used -- never again, my friends. If you want totally squashed/pumping/breathing compression, the CS-1 is your ticket!