All user reviews for the Boss DS-1 Distortion

The Boss DS-1 is a distortion based effect. It is used to add an analog type distortion to a guitar signal before use in an amplifier. This distortion has been around for many years and has remained unchanged though it's production life. The unit has three user definable controls to allow for configuration of the sound. There are two ¼ inch jacks, one for the guitar input and one to send to an amplifier. There is also a 9 volt adapter jack available so the unit can be powered from an external AC source (sold separately).

This distortion effect pedal can be tailored through three user controls. These consist of level, tone, and distortion. The level control is responsible for the overall output of the unit that will feed the amplifier. As this knob is turned clockwise the overall volume will increase. The distortion dial allows the user to control the amount of clipping, or distortion the unit will produce. As this control is turned clockwise the amount of gain will increase producing a more distorted signal. The tone control will affect the how much high or low signal is processed through the unit. As the dial travels clockwise the tone will alter from a thick, bass heavy sound to a cutting, high treble sound.


UTILIZATION

The Boss DS-1 is one of the easier effects to tailor in your pedal board. This effect should be one of the first in your signal chain, before all time based effects but after and compressor or envelope type effect, like a wha. As with any distortion based effect you will want to add or decrease levels so they are most complimentary to your amplifier. The effect is engaged when the red LED is lit, always be sure the light is bright as a dimly lit LED will indicate a weak battery that will affect the quality of your sound. The manual is very basic but it does get its point across.

SOUND QUALITY

The Boss DS-1 is one of the easier effects to tailor in your pedal board. This effect should be one of the first in your signal chain, before all time based effects but after and compressor or envelope type effect, like a wha. As with any distortion based effect you will want to add or decrease levels so they are most complimentary to your amplifier. The effect is engaged when the red LED is lit, always be sure the light is bright as a dimly lit LED will indicate a weak battery that will affect the quality of your sound. The manual is very basic but it does get its point across.

OVERALL OPINION

The Boss DS-1 is one of the easier effects to tailor in your pedal board. This effect should be one of the first in your signal chain, before all time based effects but after and compressor or envelope type effect, like a wha. As with any distortion based effect you will want to add or decrease levels so they are most complimentary to your amplifier. The effect is engaged when the red LED is lit, always be sure the light is bright as a dimly lit LED will indicate a weak battery that will affect the quality of your sound. The manual is very basic but it does get its point across.

The Boss DS-1 is a simple, dirty, and crunchy distortion pedal. It's a compact little killer. The thing has murderous sounds. It reproduces dynamics very accurately and has an awesome tone. It's a very simple unit to use and runs on a 9V battery or a power supply. It's a really classic unit used on many great recordings. It can go from a slight bluesy edge to pounding rock distortion. It's also a real steal, I got mine for just 50 bucks. It doesn't have any bells or whistles (it doesn't need them), and it sounds great. I use it all the time on gigs, for practice, whatever.

UTILIZATION

Easy setup. Plug it in, mess with the knobs, play.

SOUND QUALITY

I have used this with guitar, vocals and keyboard, all with great results. There are three knobs, tone, level, and distortion. Tone sweeps from an edgy biting treble to a muddy pounding rhythmic sound. Level affects the output volume and Distortion adds/subtracts how much edge and bite is applied to the sound. It's really easy to get a whole bunch of awesome sounds with a minimal amount of effort. It's such a versatile unit and VERY well built. These things are TOUGH. All metal chassis and good parts. I've had mine for months, it's been dropped, banged, rained on, smashed, and rolled down stairs. It works like new. There is also no tone loss. Instead of some distortion pedals, where you just hear a toneless, thin crackle, this has a very full and thick sound.

OVERALL OPINION

My favorite things about the DS-1 is the simplicity and AWESOME sound. It's so versatile, and I love the grit and crunch. I have no complaints about it. It's a well built piece of equipment with a great sound. I got mine for 50 bucks. I would pay 300. If you are considering this, buy it. It's a professional piece of equipment for an amateur price.

I play metal, classic rock, some bluesy stuff, and basically anything rock.

I bought this pedal for 40 dollars at my local music store (Music and Arts). I bought the pedal primarily to have something to switch between distortion and clean on my marshall 15 watt amp(i just play for the fun of it in my bedroom). It was very annoying to have to press the distortion button every time i wanted to switch from the intro into the power chords in songs

My setup is as follows:

Ibanez GRX-40 H/S/S guitar (low end but very good)
Marshall MG15DFX(just a practice amp)


I bought this pedal just to switch channels on my amp, but i find that this stompbox is very versitile. I can get sounds from Metallica's black album if i turn the tone knob down to 9:00. If you turn the tone up, it gets rattier and fizzier. I keep the tone knob at about 8-10:00 for my rhythm work.

The distortion CAN sound like metallica or most nu-metal you hear today. This could be becuase i have an ibanez guitar, which are primarily for metal. It is great for power chords. I usually keep the distortion up all the way.

When i switch to the single coils on my guitar with the distortion up all the way, it can actually get the sound of Eric Johnson on "Cliffs of Dover"



The one major complaint I have about the pedal is that it DOES suck the bass out of your guitar as you turn the tone knob higher (around 12 o clock). It gets a fuzzy ratty sound, which can be desireable, but I do not like it. However until you get to the 11:00 position of tone, i can get some great bass(could be i have a marshall)

Also, it gets noiser the more the distortion knob is turned up. It does get pretty noisy, but it could be my cheap guitar and amp which i bought used online.

It is made of metal, seems very solid. i don't stomp on it(i step on it) so i hope it will last a long time

Great distortion pedal, very good value for 40 bucks. I am very glad this was my early birthday present to myself

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I got this at the guitar shop for 75 bucks Canadian.

I like the distortion a lot. The sound is perfect and can really change the way an amp sounds. You can adjust how hard u have to press on it too. There's a knob for Tone, Distortion levels, and Volume.

I hate how u have to take both cables out of the slots, or else the batteries die. Also it kills the battery fast anyway. When the battery is low, it gives no sign of it and the sound sucks ass.

It's built really tough. I could jump on this pedal and it wouldn't break or crack. It looks cool with the orange too.

It's a great all around pedal and I would recommend it to anyone.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this unit at a local music store new for 60 bucks. I was looking for a good distortion pedal to give me a good crunch.

This pedal is well constructed, and sounds amazing. It deffanatly compliments my amp, and the material I play.I also like the simplicity. Although there are only three controls, (tone, level, and distortion), you can set it to sound warm and classic, or hot and modern.

I guess the only this I dislike is it's not too bluesy. But that really isn't a problem, because I didn't get it for that, I've got that covered. So, I really don't have any dislikes.

As far a construction and quality is concerned, it's a boss. It's built very well, and it is very sturdy. I won't ever have a problem replacing it because of damage.

The bottom line is, the Boss DS-1 is money well spent. This is a great distortion pedal.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought it from a local music store for $40. I wanted a distortion pedal that didn't sound like garbage.

I knew this pedal was a good one, that's why I bought it. I have seen a couple reviews by morons who I bet can't play guitar and/or just started playing guitar to be cool and have a little junky Ibanez guitar. Some people who have reviewed this pedal said it was bad, but it isn't, those people probably think it is a heavey metal pedal and turned all the knobs to max because they don't know what they are doing. The ds-1 is the best distortion pedal, once you get your settings, and yes it does only sound bad with everything on max, but only beginners or those cool "punk" guitar players turn everything to max because they don't know how to play guitar. Ds-1 is simple, three knobs, tone, volume and distortion. It is a good distortion pedal that doesn't get so heavey it covers up you guitar playing.

Nothing bad about the ds-1, I have the ds-2 also, I like the ds-1 better, it sounds a lot better for solos.

Boss makes the best pedals, they are built to last and most sound great. Just don't turn everything to max, it sounds bad like that.

The ds-1 is a great pedal for people who have been playing guitar for a while and know what they are doing and don't need some heavey metal pedal that distorts everything and covers up their playing.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Bought my DS-1 from Vine Music Evesham. I was looking for a quality distortion, which did not destroy the natural harmonics of my playing. I paid £50.00 for my unit.

To be completely honest i cannot fault this unit. It provides more than adequate clean cut distortion while the versatile tone switch allows you to either increase or decrease the weight of sound. I play punk, grunge and metal and i find this little unit really does it all. I use my DS-1 with an Ibanez DTX120 Destroyer through a Marshal G-30R CD. I set the tone switch to either the eleven or the 12 oclock position while setting the level and distortion to the max positions. With the amp up high you stomp on that DS-1 and the sound is pure naypalm-its the best!

There is absolutely no faults at all with this baby.

The construction and quality is typical of Boss. The unit is strong, nicely finnished, and you can bounce them off a brick wall and they will still work.

The DS-1 is one hell of a quality distortion, which should suit most punk, grunge and metal heads. Great for begginers or pros alike. Its affordable, durable and will last forever. If i lost mine i would be out to buy another the next day-cant do without it!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I got this pedal at samash for like 40 bucks or so...best money i've spent in a lonnnnng time this pedal ROCKS

The distortion is very versatile. The pedal can do metal, punk, something like ska and fusion (not including ones i havnt found) The battery life is long, but you have to remove the input cable when your not using it to extend battery life. Because the battery lasts so long, there's no need for bulky adaptors and other crap like that.

Nothing really. The distortion is the perfect amount, not too much to mess with the sounds, yet not so little that there's no point to having it. Perfect balance.

ROCK SOLID CONSTRUCTION. This thing is the most solid pedal i have EVER seen. It can survive a nuclear winter and comes with a 5 year warentee which is awesome.

Basically, the best 40 bucks i've ever spent. If your playing needs some interesting tones or qualities - pick up this pedal. It also works great when linked up with other effects.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Local music store for $42. I bought it because I needed a good distortion to play solos. Also, I bought it because it works great with my wah pedals and other effect pedals.

The distortion isn't too heavey or too trebly like most other distortion pedals. It is a really good musical distortion pedal. Even though there aren't too many nobs to get the setting you might want, the nobs it has are better than having a lot. Mainly, it sounds great. The way you know that the ds-1 is the best distortion pedal, is that all of the best guitarists use them, like Satriani and Vai.

I think it is an awesome distortion pedal,there isn't anything I don't like about it. This isn't a pedal for people who want a huge distortion, like the metal zone pedal, which is also an insane pedal.

Built a lot better than DOD or Ibanez pedals. It'll last forever, unless you throw it a huge building. Boss makes probably the best pedals, and the DS-1 is probably at the top of the list for the best distortion pedal.

If you aren't lookin for a heavey metal pedal, than buy the DS-1, it is the best and used by the best.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this pedal at Mars Music and I got it on sale for like $35.oo dollars.

What I like about this pedal the most is its great power it offers for just a $35 dollar pedal. It has alot of Distortion and great level and really good tone for its price i beleive. It also really sturdy and i should know my pedal has been through some pretty good abuse and it still rocks just great.I think it is an excellent begginers pedal and even for others as well.

Umm,, not too much i dislike about it i greatly recommend this pedal.

Very sturdy and can take the abuse it gives.

The Bottome line this is a really exellent pedal if your thinking about buying a distortion pedal for the first time. Great power awesome distortion and really good tone and level. In addition its very sturdy and can take abuse as well. I think its very much worth the price.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This is the first stand alone stomp box style effect I have ever purcased. I have a Digitech rp50, but after reding heaps of reviews and seeing this pedal advertised I had to go out and try it. I went down to my local guitar shop and tryed it out. I loved it. I tryed lodes of other pedals whilst there but this but was by far my favourite. The pedal was about $180(australian) but I got a discount because it is the shop where i got lessons.

I love this units drive, tone and overall sound. When I use the pedal along with my digitech rp50 whilst using flange, chorus,wah etc I get some amazingly strange and brilliant sounds. It is a very versitile pedal that can give me any distorted sound I want from hendrix to Kurt Kobain, along with many other sounds. The gain can come as loud and really crunchy to soft and toney(?).It is small and compact and the orange colour makes it look hella cool.

I have no dislikes about this pedal exept that whenever I go into my room I have to pick up my guitar and jam with the pedal because it kicks so much ass.

The pedal is incredibly strong and well built, and looks great. Its made by boss so its not going to break any time soon. I havent had it for very long so it looks brand new, although it probly will in ten years.

I think this pedal is brilliant. I have no regrets about bying it. If I lost it i'd buy a new one. This pedal is great for sitting at home practicing or jamming with a band or on stage. Go try it out now- no buy it now.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

i bought tihs for $40 canadian in a panw shop.. the original dials had been replaced with crappy ones but who cares. i have been extremely surprised with the sound for the money. it sounds just like my friends $160 pedal!

-best sound ever
-variety of different sounds possible
-easy to use
-UNBREAKABLE!
-so pretty... orange makes me glow all over...
-makes such a great sound

-they dont fall from the sky.

amazing. throw it out a 3 story building and it will work fine. built like a tank, as all boss pedals are.

sweet miracles! buy it now!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

£39 Music Shop in London

As simple as it gets....3 knobs for Tone, Level and Drive. It takes some playing with the box to get a good sound out of it - it's very 80s and on the scratchy side. I have settled on running it with the level at about 3 o'clock, the drive at about 2, and the tone at about 10 - that way I get a nice fat sound, but eliminate some of the tinny, "boxy" sound. I'm primarily using it as a lead boost as it is an excellent pedal.


Personally, I think this pedal SHINES in front of a tube amp to push it a little harder for more sustain but I wouldn't use this pedal in front of anything that doesn't already have a distorted tone.

Well, it's a Boss, so it's never failed.

This pedal does everything I need it to. It makes a 1 or 2 channel amp way more versatile. It gives me some really great lead sounds. I use it all the time, and even though I've tried very few other distortions, I can't picture myself replacing it with anything else.


This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com