Talking about the Boss DS-1

[wickenspoet]

A lot of people rave about the Boss DS-1 distortion pedal. But the common criticism I've read is that the tone seems tinny or thin after around 11 or 12 O'clock.

Do you think the DS-1 sounds good? Do you think it needs to be modded to get it sounding good? Who does the best mod, Analogman... Keeley...etc?

What are your opinions on the DS-1?

 

[guitarded]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

With some amps it sounds really good. With others... Not so much.

A lot of people rave about the Boss DS-1 distortion pedal. But the common criticism I've read is that the tone seems tinny or thin after around 11 or 12 O'clock.

Do you think the DS-1 sounds good? Do you think it needs to be modded to get it sounding good? Who does the best mod, Analogman... Keeley...etc?

What are your opinions on the DS-1?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

A lot of people rave about the Boss DS-1 distortion pedal. But the common criticism I've read is that the tone seems tinny or thin after around 11 or 12 O'clock.

Do you think the DS-1 sounds good? Do you think it needs to be modded to get it sounding good? Who does the best mod, Analogman... Keeley...etc?

What are your opinions on the DS-1?

In my opinion the stock MIT DS1 has this fuzziness riding over notes that I hate,it also lacks lows and the tone control doesn't work right...The pedal has alot of top end overall unless you pretty much dial the tone control almost off....Keeley charges alot and there are others doing great mods right here on the forum for alot less money!

 

[flinch]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

A lot of people rave about the Boss DS-1 distortion pedal. But the common criticism I've read is that the tone seems tinny or thin after around 11 or 12 O'clock.

Do you think the DS-1 sounds good? Do you think it needs to be modded to get it sounding good? Who does the best mod, Analogman... Keeley...etc?

What are your opinions on the DS-1?

I have both a stock ds-1 and keeley ultra mod ds-1. IMO awesome pedals. Great for classic rock,progressive rock, punk, thrash, grunge, and even metal. I also have a MT-2 and the ds-1 definitely blows it away. The mt-2 lacks mids. The stock ds-1 is good in the sense that it has a heavier metal sound at max gain settings but gets a bit fuzzy and slightly thinner sounding than the keeley because of lesser bass response. The keeley mod cleans up at max gain settings, removing the fuzz however has slightly(almost unnoticeable though, just noticed it after a billion comparisons) less distortion at max settings. However the keeley still sounds fatter because it does indeed have better bass response as the keeley site boasts. The keeley is perfect for both lead and rhythym. i've tried the ds-1 bakemono mod, don't like it.

If you are deciding to get just one, go with the ultra mod ds-1, the SEM mode sounds almost exactly like the stock ds-1 but cleaned up and when switched to ultra mode, has an awesome tube amp emulation, great crunch and chug and clean enough for leads has good distinguished notes.

I'm a boss ped guy all the way, and i've owned and tried almost all of the boss distortion peds. Owned a ds-2 and i also own a os-2. IMO keeley ds-1 rules big time.

But yes, i agree that the amp you use is a HUGE factor. As with most pedals. I use a peavey classic 30 and JCM 800. If your amp sucks, no matter what you do the ds-1 is gonna be crap.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

Do a search here on the forums under "DS1 Mods" and read what comes up...Also you can save yourself alot of hard earned cash! Nothing against Robert Keeley,but his SEM didn't impress on me at all...I do like the Ultra Mod,as it's not as buzzy sounding! I don't care for LEDs in the DS1 and don't use them in my own DS1s.....But: Do your research!

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

I recently bought a new DS-1 because it sounded good in the store (compared to all the other Boss OD's and distortions), but immdeiately discovered through my amp (Marshall 18 Watter clone) what everyone says about it: fizzy, tone control only useful up to 10 o'clock, lack of picking dynamics.

Then , I got into a great trade deal here on the SDF, and ended up with a Keeley Ultra. It's a lot better than the stock unit, so it's on my pedalboard right now. I haven't had much chance to play with it yet at "real" volume; playing with the MiniMASS 'way down low makes evaluating the subtleties of distortion-box tone difficult-to-pointless. I haven't yet formed an opinion on whether I prefer the SEM of Ultra modes.

Nor have I figured out whether to mod the stock DS-1 or keep it as-is for a different flavor ('cuz good or not, it certainly is different than the Keeley). I suppose the DS-1 has its uses - it sounds pretty good for a $35 box. But it's biggest value is bullet-proof Boss enclosure, and a great platform for modding.

My family is leaving town for the summer, leaving me in Houston to work, cut the grass, and play my rig at whatever volume I want, whenever I want. I'm sure I'll have better-formed opinions after a few weeks.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

.....But: Do your research!

Consider this research - what sort of mods would you do to a DS-1 to get it as close as possible (or even better than) to an '86 LM308-equipped Rat? If I could get my spare DS-1 sounding like that, I could sell my old rusty Rat to someone on whose pedalboard it would actually fit.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

i use Stock DS1's with my Peavey Classic 30 and C50.... thru those amps they sound good... thru my Fender 65 Deluxe they are too thin and fuzzy... For a $50 Canadian pedal they are quite good..... I'd love the stock ones to have a better EQ in them but hey for a cheap pedal they do their job... But more lows would be great. I own a Boss Mega Distortion that i bought because of the better EQ lay out, but thru my amps it does not sound as nice as the DS1's oddly....

I plan on buying a Diamond Fireburst pedal when my local shop gets them in... They are now a dealer... The fireburst is over $200 so it is 4-5 times the price of a DS1, but it is at least 4-5 times better then a ds1... It has a great EQ and a Distortion that reminds me of a DS1, PLUS IT IS MADE WITH HIGHER QUALITY LOWER NOISE PARTS.... great unit

but for now the DS1 gives my C30 a Marshall-ish type fuzz..

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

I can't get one to work for me, your results may well be different.

 

[flinch]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

The stock DS-1 sounds close to the amp distortion of the peavey classic 30. And the keeley sounds even closer because it's less fuzzy or cleaner.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

Consider this research - what sort of mods would you do to a DS-1 to get it as close as possible (or even better than) to an '86 LM308-equipped Rat? If I could get my spare DS-1 sounding like that, I could sell my old rusty Rat to someone on whose pedalboard it would actually fit.

I have some great mod ideas that have worked now for over 5 years or so and have modded "alot" of DS1 pedals for forum members....I simply don't charge enough to research into making a DS1 into a RAT....I made my own home made RAT however and recommend buying a RAT for that tone....I did alot of cool stuff though to my own RAT!

Keeley's mods are about twice the price,but his mods aren't really twice as good sounding! LOL I do like his Ultra mod,but his SEM mod to me,is still fuzzy sounding..

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

I bought my DS-1 to replace the terrible DOD Grunge pedal I had been using. Thought it rocked, used it happily for years...when I began wanting a less fizzy-fuzzy, more crunchy/rockin distortion, it didn't take me long to find somebody on the forum to modify it for me. Stratdeluxer97 actually modded mine -- dunno if he does mods any more but the pedal took on a whole new life when I got it back from him. Now rather than using it for my full-tilt wall of distortofuzz tone (i use the Double Muff for that) I put it in the end of my chain and it's like changing my Silverface Fender into a JCM800.

-X

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

I bought my DS-1 to replace the terrible DOD Grunge pedal I had been using. Thought it rocked, used it happily for years...when I began wanting a less fizzy-fuzzy, more crunchy/rockin distortion, it didn't take me long to find somebody on the forum to modify it for me. Stratdeluxer97 actually modded mine -- dunno if he does mods any more but the pedal took on a whole new life when I got it back from him. Now rather than using it for my full-tilt wall of distortofuzz tone (i use the Double Muff for that) I put it in the end of my chain and it's like changing my Silverface Fender into a JCM800.

-X

Thanks forum brother....I still do the occassional mods but I don't do nearly as many as I was doing! I'm really ok with that though! LOL

 

[matt99camero]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

It sounded very thin through my HRDx. Stratdeluxer moded mine, and it was like a whole new pedal. At least through my setup I wouldn't play a stock DS-1. Now it's one of my main pedals beside the Fulldrive II.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

Love it AS-IS. That said, I acknowledge the amp to amp differences.

No disrespect for the tweekers out there, but there are so many fuzz/Dist/od pedals, I have trouble seeing the NEED to mod them. A little research can find you what you want out of the box IMO.

But I totally understand and respect those of you who do it! Tweek away.

 

[tc]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

hey wasn't boss gonna cut out the ds-1s out of production this year?? i heard somthin like that earlier this year...dumb, i know, considering it's one of their top sellers...

 

[saladin]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

DS_1 = ca ca

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

I've got an old, stock DS-1 that I got used around 13 years ago. I've had a few distortion/OD/Fuzz boxes pass through my hands since that time- I still have the DS-1.

Considering I only use Distortion/OD/Fuzz boxes for lead/boost type things...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

The DS-1 is a GREAT pedal and personally, I think the stock DS-1 is just fine. I've used the made in Taiwan version and own a made in Japan version. The MIJ version sounds slightly better...but there's not much diff and Steve Vai has said the same thing.

I don't go for Heavy Metal type distortion, but I can plug my '54 Tele into my DS-1 and then into one of my '58 Fender tweed Deluxe amps amps and get very, very close to Jimmy Page's Led Zep tones from the first album.

The DS-1 is not a fuzz box though. IMO, it's an overdrive unit...not a distortion generator.

What's beautiful about the DS-1 is that you can use it like Satriani used his: find a setting that allows you to leave it on all the time and which allows you to reduce the volume control on your guitar to get clear tones and advance the volume control of your guitar to get more overdriven tones.

The DS-1 is like a "Tone Conditioner". My buddy AJ uses his "on" all the time and it makes every padal he has sound "better".

I've tried some of the modded DS-1's. I tried Keeley's Seeing I mod and also John Spina's DS-1 mods. I liked them, and they did increase the girth of the DS-1's tone, but also compromised the clean tone when I turned my guitar's volume control down...which I didn't find desirable.

I LOVE that I can clean up the tone by lowering the guitar's volume control and then get alot of overdrive by turning the volume control back up again. You lose a little of that ability by modding the stock DS-1 for more distortion.

Lew

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Talking about the Boss DS-1

My modded DS-1 cleans up pretty well. Cleans up REALLY well when I step on it...

-X