modifying a DS-1

[Col. Funk]

Hey,

I've got a DS-1 that I was thinking of modifying. How easy is it to do yourself? Are there any websites or even books that act as a good guide? I realise that there are people who will do it for you (Analogue Man, keely, even StratDeluxer) but they all live in the US, and postage from the UK may make it more expensive than it's worth, plus i'd like to have a crack at it myself.

Has anyone done it themselves? Any help would be great.

Adam.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: modifying a DS-1

If stratdeluxer doesn't chime in, then PM him. He does really good work.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: modifying a DS-1

check out the clips on indyguitarist.com i have the mod sheets for all of the ds-1 & bd-2 mods

I won't give you sheets for my own mods, but his, ehh, may as well

and if you can solder neatly it shouldn't be a problem

 

[Col. Funk]

Re: modifying a DS-1

check out the clips on indyguitarist.com i have the mod sheets for all of the ds-1 & bd-2 mods

I won't give you sheets for my own mods, but his, ehh, may as well

and if you can solder neatly it shouldn't be a problem

That would be pretty sweet, thanks, I'll PM you my e-mail address if you like. I'm a little curious though, all the mod's on the indyguitarist.com page seem to say "sounds exactly like a cranked tube amp", how much CAN a small orange box sound like a 'cranked tube amp'? I can dig the idea of the pedal performing the task of "being a distortion pedal" better with some mods, but the whole 'sounds exactly like a Marshall' seems a little optimistic. Is it?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: modifying a DS-1

Hey,

I've got a DS-1 that I was thinking of modifying. How easy is it to do yourself? Are there any websites or even books that act as a good guide? I realise that there are people who will do it for you (Analogue Man, keely, even StratDeluxer) but they all live in the US, and postage from the UK may make it more expensive than it's worth, plus i'd like to have a crack at it myself.

Has anyone done it themselves? Any help would be great.

Adam.

Before any of us help you,let me say this....I'm getting quite a few pedals that are non-workers simply because either the component surrounding what they want to replace is getting overheated or they screw the board up...

If you don't use a good quality solder sucker or that braided stuff Radio Shack sells and you don't have "great" soldering skills,I'd advise to have someone that really knows how to do this stuff do it..It's $15 to send a pedal to you from the states and in the long run,you'll have a pro modded pedal that you won't have to worry about for the long haul...Many people have tryed to do their own mods and I end up not only fixing the pedal,but then modding it....This is very tedious work and you have to make sure you don't stay on any component too long(Especially transistors)...You also have to make sure you don't solder across two adjacent components(Common if you don't see what your soldering clear)...

It's your call,but you've been fore warned buddy....LOL :wink:
Sometimes you're just better off biting the bullet and paying a few bucks and save yourself lots of hours of scratching your head and wishing it wasn't you etc....Send it to one of the pros...Doesn't have to be me,but send it to someone....Trust me...I just fixed a screwed up MXR Phase 90 for the same reasons...

 

[Kent S.]

Re: modifying a DS-1

Sometimes you're just better off biting the bullet and paying a few bucks and save yourself lots of hours of scratching your head and wishing it wasn't you etc....Send it to one of the pros...Doesn't have to be me,but send it to someone....Trust me...I just fixed a screwed up MXR Phase 90 for the same reasons...

+1 ... Yep, it never ceases to amaze me the number of people that won't spend a bit of cash to see something done correctly by those that have the knowledge and training to do so ... I think a lot of it stems from the concept of *free* being misunderstood. Not only that, but the idea that one's knowledge and skills should be *free*.
Adam, that's not directed towards you, yours seems to be more an issue of cost effectiveness, which is totally understandable ... but like John said, $15USD in shipping, plus whatever small amount he charges for the actual work ... That's a steal in itself ... Glad to see you got the MXR up and running, lifted trace?

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: modifying a DS-1

well, if he wants to get into it, better he does on a $40 ds-1 than a $100 metalzone

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: modifying a DS-1

yeah man, since i got my DS-1 used and it's missing knobs and paint anyway, i'm thinkin of busting it open and modifying it if i can...just so i can say I did it.

Then maybe I'll get a new one and either leave it stock or maybe get a Spina mod...

much love for my bro with the Bassman and DS-1...

-X

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: modifying a DS-1

Yeah it's definitely a good idea to send your DS-1 to someone else who's had a lot of experience, especially if you haven't done too much modding yourself.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: modifying a DS-1

much love for my bro with the Bassman and DS-1...

-X

HAH, never noticed that

we're the same ago too :smoker:

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: modifying a DS-1

+1 ... Yep, it never ceases to amaze me the number of people that won't spend a bit of cash to see something done correctly by those that have the knowledge and training to do so ... I think a lot of it stems from the concept of *free* being misunderstood. Not only that, but the idea that one's knowledge and skills should be *free*.
Adam, that's not directed towards you, yours seems to be more an issue of cost effectiveness, which is totally understandable ... but like John said, $15USD in shipping, plus whatever small amount he charges for the actual work ... That's a steal in itself ... Glad to see you got the MXR up and running, lifted trace?

Hello Kent...I found the red led not working and also 1 4148 glass diode that I had to replace...I adjusted the pot inside of the MXR for the best sounding and most overall phase range,but I left R28 in place...I Liked the pedal as is once I adjusted the little internal pot,though all he has to do is snip one end of R28 if he'd like to try it....I'd cut one end in such a way that the resistor could be retacked with solder if the mod doesn't suit him...

Not to toot my own horn too much,but I've only had 1 DS1 come back to me for a repair after modding it(Blue Calx's)as a trace lifted away from the pcb and only 1 forum member that actually disliked my modded DS1...That's not a bad track record,especially considering how cheap the mod prices are on my end....I charge so little to make members happy and get a few bucks,but mostly it's the satisfaction of hearing how much you all like your tweaked pedals...If you are modding specifically to learn as you go,then that's great! More power to ya on learning..

John

 

[Col. Funk]

Re: modifying a DS-1

Wow, thanks for the response. I was thinking of doing it myself just for the satisfaction of modding my own pedal. I was a gift from my brother however so i'm not too keen on rendering it un-useable. In terms of postage, $30 in shipping both ways seems reasonable.

StratDeluxer: If you were to work your magic on my pedal, perhaps you could PM an idea of how much it might cost?

In terms of making your boss pedal sound like a tube amp, maybe this http://www.diokay.com/sd1TM.htm would help

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: modifying a DS-1

Wow, thanks for the response. I was thinking of doing it myself just for the satisfaction of modding my own pedal. I was a gift from my brother however so i'm not too keen on rendering it un-useable. In terms of postage, $30 in shipping both ways seems reasonable.

StratDeluxer: If you were to work your magic on my pedal, perhaps you could PM an idea of how much it might cost?

In terms of making your boss pedal sound like a tube amp, maybe this http://www.diokay.com/sd1TM.htm would help

I'll shoot a PM at you from work later on today...

John