All user reviews of 3/5 for the Boss DS-1 Distortion (Japan)

Probably the most beginner or entry level distortion box you can buy. You can find this pedal in just about every music store in the world. There is a couple reasons for that, one being that everyone likes this pedal and its marketed very well. The other being it is as cheap as they come and can get you somewhat of a desired result.....not really

The Japan made one people swear by as a much better tone than the Taiwan made version. This pedal will sound better as a booster pedal but not the main overdrive. Many modifier guys will mod this pedal to have more clarity and a much better usable distortion. The Japan version has a different circuitry chip inside and may be the reason as to why people like this version better.

Level will turn your overall volume up or down. The tone will brighten or darken your tone depending on which side you turn it to. The Dist with give you the grind or saturation that your looking for.

UTILIZATION

Specifications

* Controls: Tone, Level, Dist
* Connectors: Input, Output, AC Adaptor
* Current Draw: 4 mA (DC 9V)
* Weight: 400 g (15 oz.)
* Nominal Input Level: -20dBu
* Input Impedance: 470kOhm
* Nominal Output Level: -20dBu
* Output Impedance: 1kohm
* Recommended AC Adaptor: ACA or PSA Series (depending on production year)


SOUND QUALITY

I used this pedal with a good old Gibson Les Paul which I find blends better with the voicing of this pedal. It is still kind of a thin pedal so the mahogany makes up for that thinness to the tone. I would also try a Strat with the pedal as you can get a good bluesy tone with the neck pickup in the STrat.

I heard that they make a mod for it that you can pick up on ebay. Maybe this address the volume loss when engaging this pedal or makes it sound better when using in a high gain mode I guess you can only make this thing sound better with a decent modification to it.

OVERALL OPINION

These amps have been discontinued for a while now. They have been replaced by the Taiwan made version. This is an pedal isn't bad for running is as a boost into an overdriven amp that you can pick up on the used market for right around $60. Not a bad price for a good working pedal that can be used as a decent boost but not the main overdrive.