BOSS Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal

Boss effect pedals are simply the best in terms of engineering and build quality. I have a fairly large collection of effect pedals, and at least half of them are overdrive or distortion. This one is REALLY good.

A couple of considerations if you buy this one:
This one is a different breed of cat. It has digital circuitry that gives it some special qualities:
1. Take the time to experiment with adjustments. It’s different. It’s very bright, and has very high gain, so the best sounds won’t look like settings on a typical distortion like a DS-1.
2. Playing a Stratocaster, I’m getting the best sounds as follows:
Gain: 10:00-12:00 (maybe lower with Humbuckers)
Low: ~2:00 (boosted)
High: ~9:30 (reduced)
3. This pedal has very high gain; If I get past 2:00, I hear a lot of digital noise. Gain of 10:00 – 12:00 is great. I get a few feedback squeals at this level.
Hope this helps The results you get with all gain type effects (overdrive and distortion) will depend entirely on your guitar and amp. The DS-1X has the tones – just be patient and dial them in 🙂

It’s bright orange and it works. Some things never change.

Anywhere you go you will find a DS1 either on the nearest pedalboard or in the nearest music store. Roland has such consistent quality and the pedal is bombproof. It’s a workhorse that will consistently coax every little sound out of your guitar.

For better or worse there is nowhere to hide with the DS1. It is clear, and articulate, and dripping with danger for the new player. If you think your playing is precise, the DIST knob is loaded with truth. What you do with that is up to you.

The first time you turn that DIST up you might think the pedal sounds bad. If you are lazy with your volume knob when you stop playing you might think it is noisy. If you don’t respect the TONE knob you might think it is harsh.

The LEVEL knob… well, yeah… it’s probably going to seem like it doesn’t really work. Maybe set that to full and just leave it. It’s a DS1 thing.

Take the time to work with the pedal. Get to know the way it compresses your sound. Get to know how it cleans up as you ride your guitar’s volume knob. It’s worth it.

The DS1 keeps getting better the more you play through it. Practice more. It really is that simple.

Matched with a PRS with Seymour Duncan high-output pick ups, this rips.

What can you say that hasn’t already been said about the Boss DS-1, it’s an iconic pedal from a variety of genres. Whether you’re Kurt Cobain, Steve Vai, Chuck Schuldiner, Mike Stern, Robert Smith, or Gary Moore, I promise you you can get nearly any tone out of the right signal chain. I use it for Extreme Metal and it’s been great but I know I can play Punk, Hardcore, Grindcore, Jazz, Blues, Rock, or even Country no problem with the DS-1. It’s a phenomenal distortion that can be used as a boost or a standard overdrive. If you play bass, this will get that overdriven 80s Punk bass tone. Not to mention that extra buffer all Boss pedals have just adds an extra oomph to your tone. If you’re an aspiring Producer, or just a hobbyist you should have a DS-1 in your arsenal especially for the price.

Súper buen producto bien empacado !

This pedal is great. I used it on my Gibson LP 100 and Roland drum machine and man…
It sounds like a dream. There’s definitely a lot to work with here.

I don’t know what these other people mean by saying “mid-high or high-gain is only achievable with this”.
I tested the pedal myself and adjusted the tone of it to produce lower frequencies and it sounded thick. I wouldn’t ever use this for low, low sounds but, that’s not to say that someone wouldn’t.
If you’re receiving a brighter sound out of it and want it to be lower, it’s likely that you are playing an instrument that’s already producing a bright sound. I can’t hit my cymbal on my drum machine and complain about the lack of bass through the distorted sound because there no low end frequencies to work with in the first place.

There is a meal on a silver platter, and you hold the power to possess this meal. But you have to inquire about it. This pedal is your waiter, menu and utensils that can help you indulge in it.

But in all seriousness. I have spent so many hours on specifically distorting my sounds through digital pre-sets and such. They’ve sounded great afterwards, but that’s not the point…
No the point is, is that this device right here:

1) Cuts the distortion editing process time in half.

2) Saves up RAM + Helps avoid potential latency issues in your DAW (if you’re like me and use a shitload of presets) which in turn, creates more efficient, easier work flow.

3) Creates an effortlessly attractive flare to your sound.

If you have the money get it. If you don’t, go on eBay or to guitar center and spend 25$ for a used one…These things are very indestructible.
Hope this helps.

Been using it for 4 years without issues