Boss DS-1 Distortion

If by "good sound" you mean the best sound this pedal is capable of producing then it's quite easy, there are only three controls, and you don't need a manual to fool around with them. Mine is a made in taiwan model, late 2005 I guess, from what the dealer tells me.

I play a variety of guitars but mainly a Fender tele, a Godin LG P90 and a Charvel San Dimas, which go through a variety of effects into a Kustom tube 12A combo or a Budda at times when we gig. I used to play a lot of shred stuff with my old Ibanez guitars for which I used pretty nasty distortion pedals. When I mellowed down due to age (I am 44), I wanted some milder sounding distortion stomp boxes. Since everyone around me used or recommended the DS-1 I bought it.

The DS-1 has its own character and tone, and it does change the guitar tone in a non subtle way but it is most often too flat, sucks lows, doesn't deliver chunky rhythm nor does it sound full. I'm not looking for a do it all Grateful Dead overdrive to Napalm Death thrashmaster stompbox but I wish it was at least good at what it did.

First of all this is a distortion box, not an overdrive so one can't expect mild hair tones from this box, but the gain setting only goes from mild fizzy sore throat to nasty fizzy fart. Beyond the 1 o'clock setting it gets real nasty and sounds truly screechy and noisy. I'd use it with gain between 10 and 11 o'clock. Too low a gain and it sounds like a transistor amplifier on its last legs, letting out its last croaking breath before it falls on its back, throws its legs up in the air and dies.

The good thing is that I didn't pay much for it, and I'll gladly get rid of it to anyone who offers even 60% what I paid for it.

Got to give 'em that, it IS quite well made. I would depend on it, but then again I probably wouldn't even use this pedal. If there was no other dist pedal around I'd probably just use the amp's distort.

I didn't use it.

A cheap entry level distortion. There are much better sounding pedals at this price. The newer Behringer pedals are dirt cheap and extremely good value for money if you're really strapped for cash. If this were lost, I'd say good riddance, and yes, it really does get in the way and I went back to my EHX pedals.

Well, even though it has "only" three knobs, they don't all work like you'd expect. The tone knob is quite tricky, since bumping up the tone beyond 10 o'clock really eats up your lows, and you get a thin watery icepick kind of tone. It depends a LOT on the guitar and pickup used. I find the 9:30 setting ok for my strat but when playing a humbucker equipped hot strat I can go up to 10:30 and still get enough lows. I wish increasing the tone didn't kill the lows.

I bought the DS-1 because "everyone" recommended it. This was supposed to be the "standard", a yardstick used to measure every other dirt pedal out there. I fell for the hype and bought it many many years back. I think mine was a Made in Japan version.

I play a standard strat with slightly hot DiMarzios, and another strat with humbuckers. On stage we use a 100 watt Marshall stack and for practice I use a small Marshall 15-watter.

I was not happy with the tones I was getting. It was too fizzy / hairy for lack of a better term. Not much character to the tone. There was a large amount of coloration to the guitar's tone, but in a nasty way. Like some other people have commented, I was surprised at the poor tone quality I was getting out of this pedal.

There's not much noise unless the gain is way up. For me the pedal sounded best when gain was close to 9-10 o'clock, tone at 9:30-10:00 and level to taste. I got quite upset with this pedal for some months when even a naturally fat sounding Les Paul sounded thin and watery through this pedal.

Then I got mine modded (Keeley) and it did sound better. I always found myself going back to my SD-1 or Maxon's because I could get a warmer, fuller and more rounded tone with lots of character from these other pedals. It was sold a few years later and it's been replaced by other pedals.

I'd rate this a 2 (stock) and 5 (Keeley modded).

I dunno. There was a problem with the input socket. I had it repaired at the local music store for $10. I had it happen again and had my bassist fix it for me in his workshop. Didn't happen after that, but I didn't have it long after that.

Never used.

This is a cheap dirt pedal which tries to do it all. Sadly it doesn't do anything quite so nicely. If budget is a constraint, there's the SD-1, the bad monkey overdrive and some other dirt pedals which have far better tones. For just a few dollars more, I got the truly blistering West Siberian AMT california sound a few months ago. Imagine yourself playing on a fourth-hand $50 guitar, minus a couple of strings, through a 5-watt practice amp with overdrive. That's the DS-1. Now imagine playing a beautifully crafted top of the line PRS or American fat strat through a 100-watt marshall stack. That's the AMT. Don't compromise on tone, I almost ended up giving up music thanks to bad sound.

It's a bit tricky getting a decent tone out of this pedal.

This is a weird pedal. People rave about it, but I have heard better OD/dist sounds from almost every other pedal I've tried. I run my Gibson Les Paul or Fender MIA strat with texas spl pickups through this pedal. There's also a SD-1, a compressor, a chorus and a delay in the chain, sent to a mesa boogie or a fender.

It does add a significant amount of color to the tone of the guitar - the original tone doesn't really come through nicely. The distortion is not quite nice to listen to. It's a bit fizzy when at min, and sounds like a nasty shriek when close to max. The tone ctrl is weird, when you increase the tone, all the bottom end vanishes and it sounds truly nasty.

Thought it may be a problem with that one pedal, but I tried a couple of DS-1's, all made in Taiwan, and they all sounded the same. I can't imagine how anyone could rate this good. I'm going back to my SD-1.

I guess so, but why the heck would I use this horrible little noise maker?

Not needed. I sold my DS-1 a month after I bought it.

I'd really look at other pedals, any other pedal would probably sound better. I know my SD-1, OD-3, TS-9, MT-2 and every other dist/od pedal I've used sounds better.

Level, tone, distortion....if that's not easy I don't know what is.

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed or mentioned this but the tone knob is is just a freq shift for a freq that is permanently boosted on the pedal, its a parameter. I have a MT-2 Metal Zone (have had for 8 or so years) and if you boost the mid and rotate the mid parameter back and forth it sounds just like rotating the tone knob of the DS-1 back and forth. Just thought you should know.

Okay the review. I bought it for a generic rock/alternative/punk/whateverthehell distortion, and it serves its purpose well. What I had not planned on was that it would sound like the Divine Intervention and Seasons In The Abyss Slayer albums. Shocking, I know. Go ahead and try out Dead Skin Mask, War Ensemble, SITA, Serenity In Murder, 213, Sex Murder Art and see do it sound like that. You will be surprised. I'm rambling now.

I set level at max (not a very loud pedal) and its just about matches my amp volume (I think I should mention I have high output hums so if you have sc's it will sound louder). Tone at around 10, 11 o'clock and dist anywhere from max to 12 o'clock.

Pros:
I am amazed at the difference you get from a Seymour Duncan JB pu (New Found Glory, Green Day-ish) and an EMG 81 (metal, Metal, METAL), not that I use ti for metal, but it sure does work with the right pickups.

Cons:
There is an ear-piercing high freq characteristic to this pedal. When you shift from low fret chords to high fret chords (like in most punk) the sound of you're hands moving down the strings seems to be amplified, pick srapes all the way down the strings even more so (perhaps this particular aspect is a plus for some but not for me). This doesn't happen with any other distortion I've ever used and I can't seem to get it to stop, but then again it's 40 bucks new.

Overall a decent sound and if you're just starting to play you can buy it without fear. Maybe look around a bit first but just about everything else is more expensive.

C'mon, it's BOSS, should this category even be here when reviewing a BOSS pedal?

Don't know, and probably never will.

I play all types af metal (too many to types list, although the amount of time it took me to type this paranthetic blurb probably took more time than it would have to just list all the various types of metal....I'm gonna go cry now), just about all types of rock, some blues but I'm not that good at it, a bit to technical. It works for most rock, some metal (especially with the right pu's). Been playing for 10 or so years, I'd probably buy it again, maybe try something else out. Sure as all fuckin hell would be nice if it had a 3-band eq instead of tone.

3 knobs. dist, tone, level

not the metal sound i was looking for, but i adapted with minutes.

boss...

simple, relatively sheap, solid built

Tone,Level and Gain thats it cake walk!!

Well its OK,so-so.
I use it to boost my Marshall into a more thrash percusive sound for heavyier rythm sounds and lead boost.
Its OK and pretty decnt for its price but not the"be-all-end-all take into abby road pedal". The tone knob tends to get make the tone nasily and tinny and metalic(not the music type).It seems like I can't get enough treble bite outta the pedal without getting into that metalic tinny thing.
The lowend on power chords tends to be a hair muddy and "garbled" as I call it.
As far as gain I'm sure theres not enough to boosta clean amp into Mesa Boogie territory but there more than enough to boost an allready overdriven Tube Marshall.
For leads the pedal is pretty decent I can get some nice pinch harminics with it but it allways seems a bit middy.Atleast with my rig.
Also I do think thsi thing loads the signal a bit too. I A/B'ed it bypassed against the amp alone and I can hear a differnace.......unless its just the double cords length I'm hearing??
Its not the best pedal in the world but its a decent distortion on the cheap if you only need it for certain things.If you use Dist. all the time there are better units.

Can I say it??........................Can I??.................ITS A BOSS!!!!!!!!!!................cliche

Dunno

OK So-So yadda yadda.....Its Ok on the cheap.If you like your sound and only need a distortion for certain parts or for a few songs.Its great.If you need a pedal for your main sound or are realy particular about your alternate tones this ain't it.If your distorting a clean amp prolly not enough gain.

Bone simple 3 knob layout. I much prefer a 4 knob setup with individual bass and treble controls but the 3 knob layout has become almost standard even on a lot of the botique pedals. The ac plug is on the top which I like, (I hate them on the side.)

A lot of people give up on this pedal (too early) I have a lot of other pedals to compare this one to and I must say... harmonics and smokey woody tones come out of this pedal better than my Fulltone OCD or Xotic BB and RC and at about one third the price thats a huge statement. I tend to run this pedal with the gain fully cranked, for me that is where this thing comes alive (atleast with my setup) and my only real problem with it is that it is a bit noisey with its gain fully cranked. This pedal is actually quite articulate and does have its own voice. For me grind boxes are just colors and flavors and each is a little different and I like having a lot to choose from. I concidered having this pedal modded for a while but after playing it and comparing it my other dirt boxes this stone standard DS1 will stay just as it is. I do know that what you can wring out of your guitar and effects comes from your own hands, your touch and style and the little things that make you you. It has taken me a long time to get to this point (been playing 40 years) but its true. I must give this pedal a 10 for sound, it may not be concidered a botique pedal But, it really is a classic and there is a reason many of your top players use this pedal in pro rigs.

I have owned many Boss pedals and products over the years and their stuff keeps working long after many others stop. Build quality on the pedal is good and I like the silent switching.

I have used customer support several times concerning my BR1180cd and they always been helpful and polite. They have always tried to help.

I play mostly rock (my own stuff) The DS1 is run into a Genz Benz El'Diablo 30/60 (tube) combo and sits in line with a Barber tone press, an Electro Harmonix Metal Muff, Xotic BB, a Frantone Peachfuzz and a BBE Sonic Stomp, this line up goes straight into the amp and I also run a row of effects through the amps effects loop. I also have a Digitech Bad Monkey, Boss OD3, Barber Direct Drive, Dan Electro Fab Distortion, Barber LTD Silver (and a few others.) I like to have a lot of switch out options when it comes to drive pedals. The Bad Monkey is an outstanding pedal and a great deal as is the Fab Distortion. The DS1 is a fantastic deal provided you are willing to put the time into your playing to make this thing really sing. This pedal really suprises me sometimes when it comes to sounding great. For build quality, price, sound and reliability I have to give this classic a 10 ... you can spend a lot more and get a lot less. I may get another DS1 and have it modded a bit but I will always keep a stock one around!

Easy to get a good sound out of this than other pedals cause its only got 3 huge wonderfull knobs, manual is cool I guess but who needs it?

Im into alternative rock mainly but I judge on power chord sound mostly and this thing surprised the hell outta me when I first tried it, I was not expecting it to be so LOUD and crunchy! more like a sd1 sound I guess but oh man I just turn both tone and dist. all the way up and BAM its there, very good harmonics! Only complaint is its kinda noisy and also a bit HIGH and squeally and not as warm as other pedals (so 1 point off for that) but ive tried it against all kinds of distortion pedals and this one keeps beating them to hell I dont know why its got a solid sound that stands out, right now my set up is a hotrod deville 212 and Epiphone sheraton 2 it works well with my boss dd3 as well and seems to do well on batterys

you know the drill its Buh Bah Buh Bah boss.

Here are some pedals ive tried it against: Boss metalzone, Boss ds-2 Line6 UberMetal, Ibanez Ds7, Ibanez Ts7, Bigg Muff, ProCo Rat 2 (I still own this one) Digitech BadMonkey and some others ive tried in the past like the boss sd1 and korg dst3

My next pedal I wanna try is a boss blues driver but if this gets stolen then I would buy it again since its so cheap I got a good deal on mine for 20 bucks :)

easy, but the again, I'm from belgium.
(I could give it less than a 9 going from other peoples reviews,
only 3 knobs, yet many cant get this one sounding good ??? oh well )

I descided to post a review on this one because:
I went through nearly every distortion / overdrive imaginable.
played the entire menatone, fulltone, Xotic, radial, MI Audio, whatever boutique, and all the others => boss, line 6.... lineup. Didnt own them all, (too much though), but had each one for a few gigs er at least for a few hours. After this dist/OD frenzy (and a few years and many gigs & countless rehearsals) the bottom line is, I stil use the DS-1 as "my sound", the building stone for my entire rig. A previous reviewer said: the are but 4 distortion pedals out there: DS-1, Big Muff, the RAT and the guvnor. what is (In my humble opinion, true)
If you can't work any of these, you dont have it in your fingers, and thats where 90% of your "sound/signature" is. other pedals only try to emulate one of these 4. Of course there are flaws in this pedal, but a lot less than in any other I've come across. (must say, the menatone carcrash is MIGHTY GOOD, but for 400?/$ ???)
The Radial tonebone hot brittish is nice, espessially with a better 12AX7, has many times the tonal posibilties of the Boss, but still I prefer the Boss, example, A/B these two guys they both only sound at there best on One or Two setting, then whats the use of 100 sounds if it lacks that (REALLY) sweet spot ?
the DS-1 is not noisy, not more than others in this gain rage, you only have to use it wisely. As I said, level and gain are to be set as you wish, but here the toneknob is the key, to set this one, just listen, straight in front of the speakers, (at a safe distance ofcoarse) TURN UP THE AMP, !! LOUD !!!
any distortion pedal that sounds good at bed/living-room volumes will Not sound good on stage. and the DS-1 sings at gig/rehearsal volumes. Also mind, if you are using a solid state amp (and a POS guitar) this will not de the pedal justice, or visa versa. The pedal is picky to what amp it is played through though. i'd say best on 6L6. think thats about it.

everything I ever owned broke down, rattled, being switches etc...
everything but the boss pedals. wonder when these will fail on me ?
I gig without backup.

never dealt with ...

I play everything but house and classical. currently studying at the Jazzstudios. play rock (hard), blues, funk, fusion, jazz, pop ......
this pedal works all these styles, all the time.
been playing a lot for 10 years now
my rig:
Les paul - 535Qwah - MXRsupercomp - OD3 - DS1 - Pitch shifter - DD6 - volume => mesa F50 or (the mighty)FUCHS ODS50 - FXLOOP=> 10 Band EQ, RV5 reverb. speaker out to the REDBOX DI.(to PA) and G12T75 and G12M greenback speakers.

Besides experimenting to find the levels you like, it's a piece of cake.

I don't think of the DS-1 as a single, stand-alone effect. I've found that the shortcomings others have mentioned are done away with when it is paired with an SD-1 Super Overdrive (except for some noise... you may want a noise gate). Then it becomes like a distortion boost layered on an already full and warm overdrive sound (the drive can be set low on the SD-1 and you still get the warmth). This approach delivers the compressed crunch of a traditional distortion effect this role, but without the cold, thin sound of the DS-1 on its own. If you already own either the SD-1 or DS-1, I highly recommend getting the other pedal and trying this versatile combo. It covers the gamut from blues to metal.

Sure. I've never had a Boss unit fail on me.

I haven't had to deal with them, but I haven't hear good things.

As I said, on it's own it doesn't cut the mustard for me, but with the SD-1 it undergoes a magical transformation. I play everything from Cream to the Cult to Dream Theater, and I can cover it all with this combo. In twenty years of playing, I have found sounds as good, but I haven't found a compelling improvement. They're so cheap, if you are curious about this pedal, you might as well try it. Simple, effective, solid.