All user reviews for the Boss DS-1 Distortion

-Distortion.
-Analog.
-No conection PC or MAC
-input/output
-ON/OFF The pedals
Hyper-box sound.

UTILIZATION

Child-configuration: 3> button dozens of sounds
10minute-testing quietly and we already control, I let you guess which is in fact its been years when we have this pedal.
Hand-well thought out, with clear tips.

SOUND QUALITY

Nikel-distortion from heavy rock to jazz.
Calita-good, however a small gap in the tone that has a level mole and too vague, wonderful for aggressive distortion and clear (as I do).
-For electric guitar, a Cort low end this pedal definitely boost your sound like no one else does!
-The effect of the distortion is really impeccable even at full power it works well!

OVERALL OPINION

-1 Weeks, I still cry to have received this wonderful! I hate to know the handle over time!
-Is that I love about this pedal it is appearance and handling!
the case is that if solique impérssion to have a brick in hand (uen wonderful brick ^ ^) on the foot control is super easy. although the level using the pedal to change or just let the sound of the amp.
"I consider the full range of distortion, and I decided after two months of choice.
- I bought 60 euro (pedal + adapter + shipping) seri 60euro for her I would be willing to pay the double.Si's little you decide Curt bath (nirvana) used it for years.
1week-depusi I'm in heaven distortion DNAS which I often voi kurt under air smell a teen spirit.Je do not regret to have to buy.

- Analog Distortion
- Connectivity simple => Input / Output + 9V
- Three knobs => Volume / Tone / Disto
- Metal housing: you can type ^ ^

UTILIZATION

- Configuration is very simple, very clear manual but does absolutely nothing
- Editing sounds is done in 5 minutes chrono

SOUND QUALITY

With this pedal you can play many things to say everything because you have a nice presence of distortion. Set to the minimum overdrive gives a rather violent and set all the fuzz is the limit.
Used in booster (with a good Big Muff fuzz type) it works wonders!
Small black dot, the tone knob from the acute very quickly.

It is a very versatile distortion and widely used (and it is no accident) and it does not cost that expensive!

I put 9 because of the tone knob but I'm tough enough.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for almost a year and I can not do without.
What I like + => The versatility and sound! ^ ^

What I like least => It should be noted the small feature of the Tone knob (which we can not put BEYOND 14/15h if we take his ears) but it's nothing serious .

I try a lot of models before this one and the only one who love me truly enjoyed because of its versatility and sound!

The price / quality ratio is excellent, for about € 50, you can buy the best (for me) of Distortion.

With the experience I remake this choice because I can not play without my little orange pedal underfoot!

Analogue distortion pedals

UTILIZATION

Using ultra simple. Nothing to say.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound is especially trs! In my view, contrary to what is said is not a PDAL go anywhere or do. a range from rock to grunge not Fuzz trs exploitable. Ds that Exceeds the first shots of Tonnal sound is immediately screaming. It must therefore be coupled with other effects such as an equalizer and a comprsseur. however it does not gnre bcp of breath.
For my part, I changed it in a Schma I can send. For 15 components and 1:30 mounting bcp has changed things.
I put 4 because the original is not trrible.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 6 years, I have a MT-2 for heavier sounds but it does happen to use it for Rock sounds because DS-1 is sometimes too dgueu.
Overall, if it is found to be 30 and okaz to make changes, was worth it. If not, better to move towards a model that offers cleaner sound and warm. In today's market, the choices abound.

Conventional analog distortion pedal, input, output, power, volume, tone and distortion, classic what!

UTILIZATION

This pedal could not be simpler to use, the format boss being very well known, has resumed its assistance to find and it's solid!

SOUND QUALITY

To be clear, I use it with a bass, I found the bass overdrive too shy, so I made the leap up the distortion. Well I'm not on it, has sent what it takes! The only problem encountered (but that is the micro of my single coils Jazzbass), 2 hours pass on the knob of distortion, a breath can be a villain but nothing!
I use a background distortion and tone neutral, sounds terrible for a rhythmic chordal bass, very cool for free at the time of the guitar solos!

OVERALL OPINION

Considering the price, it's a good pedal but it does not revolutionize the genre, what an honest MODEL!

Of distortion pedals: tone / dist / vol
Simple and effective!

UTILIZATION

Getting started very easy, it is known as 1 / 4 H is hard!
It is easy, you soon realize the role of each of the three knob! in addition to the record gives first settings for boats closer to certain musical styles. (Having said that it is easily adjusted without notice .. they are only indications)

SOUND QUALITY

Simple and effective! we push model flight they put a tone and dist 13h a 11h ca slap to death! It ROCK'Roll (Note that it is not classical sounds of the big modern sound of true c'es DISTORTION!)
we get a good range of sounds from rock crunch to the right couillut through the british punk, you can have more metal sound, but C fuzz, ca drooling, in short it's not what is asked.
If one understands the world of the pedals and that one does not seek to assign the tasks it can not do, we are satisfied!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for one day but since my house tjr repeated in the store or when I try guitars ... it suits me and satisfy me completely, I tried .. oulaaaaaa! of tones before, I have a multi effects very busy so this time I did finalemet simple.
Very good value qual / price c'tait if I would do a remake!

Needless to say it again

UTILIZATION

Such

SOUND QUALITY

So I bass player, I just 30 occasions, and knowing that this is one myth pedals, I bought it and told me that if c'tait rotten, I could still scratch my refourger of a roommate or a 40 on ebay (gnark gnark gnark).
Purchase therefore continued shopping in town, wondering what the worth of a low-famous DS-1. It finally runs short of impatience (we argue a bit with his girlfriend by the way), we go home, we leave her finest cables, there a 9v crazy, you turn the amp, heat is allowed 5 minutes ...

Premiere note: WOUAW!
Deuxime note: re-WOUAW
little riff: HIS MOTHER!

Small adjustments: ouafti! (For non ligeois: Hula!)

I do not include a review "breath", bah: Marshall Basstate 150 + Fender Precision Fender 51 California Cable rissue + = so little breath that it is pointless to talk about. A tad it's true, but set the button "noise" (well, distortion) has no substance, has no more breath.
I tested it in all directions: with wha (before, in the pdalier APRS), with the Big muff (like before, APRS APRS-worth more if its the big muff Inrush is horrible).
Effect in the loop and outside. All knobs thoroughly, all to a minimum and a max config possible: this pedal comes out full of his diffrent. Not to mention the possibility supplmentaire offered by the gain of your amp and DIFFERENT SETTING.
Finally, one is a distortion, but it really means to change the color.

A, sounds like my PB Beezer Butler of Black Sabbath!

9 good for me (taiwan model)

OVERALL OPINION

I for one week, I love dja.
For the bass player I am, it has the advantage not to eat the bass and put mdium beautiful.

She made a quick tour of the couple Deville Fender / Fender Start my roommate, has also killed, but a bit short test (15 minutes) to get a true opinion.
But I know that it dja eyeing since he tried this morning.

I would do is a choice? to 30, you think!

This is the legendary DS-1, used by Kurt Cobain, the pedals Distortion has 3 knobs: Tone, Level and Distortion.

So simple to use, but since everything is subtle nanmoins analog. In terms of food there two possibilities: A universal adapter 9V or 9V battery good old enough to be on aprciable scne because the adapter produces interference, which may be detrimental to its in gnral. To the battery is easy to trs ACCS, just dvisser the small black button.

So there is nothing to say on the appearance of the product, the BOSS is reliable and works well.

Come on, you plug a jack and see what it gives ...

UTILIZATION

In terms of use, I would say it's a sound that offers PDAL INTERESTED in terms Satur but will put off making a few.

Indeed, the DS-1 provides a plutt "Vintage" in the sense that it's a bit fat, a drooling and it's hot. So, for my part I am happy because it is exactly the kind of saturation I DSIR but attention to other surprises. Any fawn it is better to try before you buy any hardware. Besides this purpose, I suggest you Youtube, you type the name of pedals and you will find a vidoo bte is the test. Plutt is good fun but all the same focus, the config is not the guy forcment yours.

But I expected that the o pedals forward, it is in coupling with another pedals: the Tube Screamer TS 808 reissue. In fact, I play mostly blues / rock and I am a follower of the TS, but when I went solo I needed to power supplmentaire and I had the DS-ide 1. Frankly, I'm not with rglages appropriate coupling of the two provides a powerful sound, a warm vintage wish.

SOUND QUALITY

Well, for sound, I use it with an Epiphone BB King Lucille Gibson micro customizes a 490R and a Gibson Classic 57 'Plus. For the amp it is a Marshall MG100 DFX.
For rglages, I am clear about his amp with:
Bass = 12
Mid = 1:30 p.m.
Treb = 2:30 p.m.
Gain = 1:30 p.m.

For the pedals, I put the tone from 9am to 11am, 12am and the level distortion between 14h and 16h.

J'obtient saturated sound really warm and powerful but also "filthy" is also this little dirty ct gives it its personality. Short to love.

OVERALL OPINION

I just to have it before I had a DS-2 Turbo distortion n'tais and I really do not sound excited, too "compressquot; I got, while the DS- one has really captured, in addition to playing the Rock Nirvana, Silverchair, etc. ... it's really at the top. In short, as well as guilt only with TS 808 or a Small Clone, this p dale is really INTERESTED and more it is not CHRE.

I can not say that I advice the pedals because I am partisans of the "Try before you buy". So you listen and then make your own opignon, but I will tell all of the same we must also rely on their instinctive, it must be bold To create new soundscapes.

Ah! My distortion pedals before bonnne who do not leave me for our fifteen years together ...
Always ready-when the need arises ...
To be more seriousness, I think I can pass on the little critter CHARACTERISTICS ...

UTILIZATION

The configuration is simple? Uh ... yes! trs trs! it pedals with a few buttons!
Easy to use, forcment!
Manuel? who is this manual? : D

SOUND QUALITY

The effects are simple and Varis ... but it is not a pdalier l. .. I also use a multi-purpose AX3000 but sometimes I show my little boss because his boss .... Oh, the Boss's ...
With what instrument I use it? An accordion!: D Well no, Obviously a guitar ... it's a guitar pedals ... forcment then I use it with a guitar ... Finally, good short ...
I love it all ... diffrent boss distortion distortion korg ... : S

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for fifteen years ...
His most: its sound!
the least: his sound sometimes!
Report quality nickel prices, c'tait a gift!

C is not very complicated

one tone knob and a distortion level

mine has a small push button added by me and augumente gain and distortion

I put nine as they might have to tread a little to the settings but I quibble

UTILIZATION

Ultraaaaaaaaaaaaa simpleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee you plug the jack into the guitar input and one branch in another jack and the amplifier output
OK ??????????

not complicated all the same

SOUND QUALITY

Here we are this pedal can do everything from blues to rock and even a little metal
(Mine is changing and I may simply have his death) this pedal I was advised by my proff of scratches and frankly I'm disappointed I work a lot for the vai satriani petrucci and so it is for

I will if you could 20

OVERALL OPINION

I used the last one and a half years that I adore the sound
I like that a little less chti any lack of possibilitée ADJUSTMENT

I do not know if we can beat the price compared qualitée

j I tried a metal box that I hated him because the sound is horribly by synthetic j cons have tried a 2 ds that I've liked but I have a preference for the ds1

Analog distortion pedal created in the 70's, as told below. Used by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, among others ...
Ability to create a lot of distortion thanks to the three knobs of the pedal: Tone, Level, Distortion.

Orange, very solid metal casing, the whole is good.

Let's use ...

UTILIZATION

Configuration generally very simple, not need the manual.
Manuel clear, but as said above, it is not needed as the pedal is easy to use.

It is partly for the sound quality ...

SOUND QUALITY

A big fat greasy distortion for amateur grunge.
I use this pedal with a Fender amp and a Squier Harley Benton 20 Watts.

WARNING / \: For maximum effect, it is recommended to use an amp good enough. The mine was not suitable, I was quite disappointed with the sound of the pedal, but my having tried it on a Marshall and it sends the thunder god. : D

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for about a me.
Pedal efficient, not too light, not too heavy, metal box very strong.
Money very interresting because I got to 39 € promotion.
With experience, I hesitate between the latter is the Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion, after it according to taste.

I skip the description

UTILIZATION

The manual is nothing:

SOUND QUALITY

I was looking for a type of sound prcis based on the distortion of my Attax 100, I told him the Deputy DS1, to compress and make a little more edge to the sound of the amp.
I spent time the rule but I! the DS1 will be the basis for the research that I
My Settings:
TONE: 1H
LEVEL: 12H
DISTO: 2H

OVERALL OPINION

The DS1 is not as versatile as other pedals I tried a TS9, a Maxon, RAT and I prefer the DS1, I like that sound a bit cold warmed by the lamps, the attack is precise, every note comes off well in the gaming agreement.
The quality of the amp has a lot to.
Finally I would say it's a legend, as a guitarist I admire bcp uses, and for the price, you can not go cot

This design is robust and pedals!
It works battery (9V) or AC power. The small problem is that if you branch of industry, use the adapter at Boss if there are enough teachers noise.
For the rest there are three rglages:
- Tone: Set your stamp
- Level: Adjust your level of gain
- Distortion: Turn a greater or lesser distortion

UTILIZATION

The PDAL is mainly used for small rock riffs or solos.
The rglages are very easy and there is no need to consult the manual to find its sound!
on the other hand I would say what may be lacking a bit of saturation. Metals, look plutt the distortion mga boss!

SOUND QUALITY

The sound is trs correct!
Say no more!

OVERALL OPINION

I have for some months and I am satisfied dja trs!
It's a good value for PDAL trs qualitprix that offers a robust and sound worthy of the other pedals of the same type!
I would do without hsiter this choice, and I advise all! (Except in mtaleux!)

See below

UTILIZATION

The configuration of the pedals, you turn the knobs bah (except may be the tone ) And you find your sound.
The manual is very basic, there are a few examples of configuration, but not too good gnial I find it crazy and then the manual!

SOUND QUALITY

Well actually I like the bin and dtest the pedals! I like its "big" rock out what can and cot fuzz and a little dirty when I push the dist and the tone (how horrible the tone) but it is so commonplace, no personality and it does its job that's all. Another thing, the Tone knob of a really crap ingrable APRS 9am.
I think this boss is suitable for people looking for a basic distortion and good quality without seeking the stamp of a Maxon or Fulltone (I know it's not the same price).

OVERALL OPINION

I have a few days (I have to go crawling to my dealer), I have tried many in this price range and for me it is one of the best but not for me. The report qualitprix is ​​excellent.

It's a distortion pedal. I think it's analog, I think ... 1 volume knob and a tone, a distortion, it's good we follow?

UTILIZATION

Bin with 3 buttons is hard to get lost but we still discovered every day. so we set the volume to be too much difference with the original (in general) is selected the amount of distortion and then the tone that attention is very sensitive to the amp settings.

SOUND QUALITY

It's a great pedal neutral. good point, she respect your amp and your guitar. the wrong point, y 'has to be not just happy because it is neutral. But it responds very well, but as I said before it is very sensitive to the settings of the amp even, too. I put such a treble, go 6 on my amp, the sound will be sharp and direct the big downside to this pedal is well on the acute selling fast but good god created the tone button is for use it, but you can find patterns on the internet to solve this problem so cpi

OVERALL OPINION

49E New .... all is said after the worst you can always use it to decorate the room, with its orange color it will add much to the atmosphere

It is a distortion, not point.Technologie analog editing PC (why do anyway?) Audio connectors non rackable.Bref chichi.incassable no (or only with a lot of will)

UTILIZATION

3 knobs: level, distortion, tonalité.facileu!
The manual, which manual? Why a manual?

SOUND QUALITY

Well, let's be clear I bought this pedal for its reputation.
And I feel that there is not one that sounds like.
After a certain level it is more distortion of the fuzz I think.
But I love him, I am not loyal to him but I will keep it.
In fact the sound quality is real is not to say, but I use this pedal sparingly, in which lightness.
Increased in level 8, or 6 disto's draft, I do not like, but we can not say whether the quality of the object (I had a behringer or there is not the same song).
Simply the sound quality is real but all its sonic palette does not suit me (as against a friend I love him metalheads)
So I put my 9

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for two months, I do not like go all out with the controllers but it is utile.Elle is strong, I tried other models before and I'll have others. For nothing to say the price should not deprive yourself, but let's be honest it is not an end in either (I like the MXR yellow). I plead guilty about it because I'm not a crazy distortion enormous.
A plug before wha is better.

RAS everything is already said

UTILIZATION

Simpler you die: 3 knobs (gain, tone, level) is quite simple to obtain a correct distortion, not abusive, which can also be obtained pas.On drool sounds dirty, fuzz limit.

SOUND QUALITY

Bon ben is a classic distortion, which flies direct, no frills, easy to use for a bit of rock énervé.Je'm using it as often boost.
The tone knob is used sparingly if you want to keep a good sound, not tinny.
Pedal used with a Start copy, an Ibanez AG75 and whalebone55 (humbucker seymour duncan) and Marshall VS100 amp, 30W torque and orange micro crush.

OVERALL OPINION

I Utis since 2007 and I like its simple and effective, but his lack of personality a little fishing (say it is a trivial distortion), now it is his job perfectly and for the price (25 € of occasion) it's a distortion pedal more to my collection '.
I would do so this choice without problem.

DISTORTION PEDAL simply ..

Those who have opinions on this ngatifs pedals would do well to change their hobby.
This is a musical instrument, trs trs trsrpondant the attack, dynamic incredible.
VINTAGE RAT only comes close, but in a register just DIFFERENT.

UTILIZATION

Easy configuration: the distortion sounds good on the whole race knob, and the acute mdiums are not buried. The tone knob lets you add mdiums / acute as when we play with the neck pickup or SETTING THE Reduces distortion.

SOUND QUALITY

With the OD channel of my marshall is NIRVANA, instantaneous and screaming!
I want to buy a deuxime DS1 to change it and see if we can amliorer example the output level of the pedals (on clean channel is true that a little more volume would have t welcome)

OVERALL OPINION

Of course the distortion is that of a idalie amp 3000 euros.
Too bad.
But we will not commit suicide;
is the DS1, the TAR, and I'll fuck all the rich.

Those who find this distortion trivial or neutral, it is better that you say you plutt same. Able, neutral, go live in a white hospital

Fully analog distortion pedals, popularis by Kurt Kobain.
one input one output, three knobs ...
solid warranty (mine prs 20 years of use derrire it, and the sound has not changed!)

UTILIZATION

Configuration simplicity, we branch, turn until you find the sound that we like!

SOUND QUALITY

Personally, I use the pedals with the maximum rate of gain. I play a Hamer "Slammer series" (super Start type) on a marshall DFX50 (transistor so)
The pedals also offers nice distortion sound more "soft", but for me it is pushing the gain that it becomes crdible.
The sound is (on my amp ...) rather dry, sharp and aggressive. Perfect for playing punk. Tone is a true horror pass 11am.

But do not expect a flexibility of thunder ... (I've never tried it on an all-tube

OVERALL OPINION

I use the pedals for a number of years, and I do not think I'm one day spares. Despite the purchase of a disto lamp, the boss is one of my disto prfr. I think it got all about, then the try before you buy

Boss is ok! Analog Distortion
An input, an output!
3 pots: Tone, Level and Gain!
Generate power from a 9v battery or 9v adapter that apart t'achte <img class="smiley" src="https://fr.audiofanzine.com/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt="" />
!

What is fun is that the Boss with the electronic switch and not mcanique so it's quiet, there is no "click" of the swicth!

UTILIZATION

It is simple as a chicken <img class="smiley" src="https://fr.audiofanzine.com/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_lol.gif" alt="" />
Choose the gain level, the tone and balance the volume effect / clean! .... that's all.

SOUND QUALITY

It is a distortion trs simpa! Blues / rock n 'roll at the Hard Rock! For his mtal dpanne: P!
The distortion is good trs is a long recognized pedals. has no hum, not a sound was drooling! <img class="smiley" src="https://fr.audiofanzine.com/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" />
You just have to try before you buy to see if we feel <img class="smiley" src="https://fr.audiofanzine.com/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt="" /> !

OVERALL OPINION

Ah it's a great PDAL for rock or blues! There is nothing to say against it! food has no battery as it! You just dplugger the son of the input jack.
It is an essential in my opinion.

Rock on what? <img class="smiley" src="https://fr.audiofanzine.com/images/audiofanzine/interface/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt="" />

Well, hey there! it's a big slap when one listens to a pedal by modified MSM! I had a Boss DS-1 that I no longer used because it was missing that little something that MSM has successfully ... MSM has sublimated this pedal and offered him unique opportunities, you find yourself spending hours to enjoy the different sounds, true madness at its ... and yet God knows I've tried all brands of gear and then I tip my hat to the work because it is a killing this pedal now! Frankly if you have a DS-1 made no hesitation to make the change quickly, you will be amazed! Besides, I'm about to send my brand new Proco Rat for editing in the Rat, and impatient to see the result!
Congratulations to MSM Worshop that deserves real recognition given the quality of the changes! It's hello audience for musicians in search of her, I'm going to tell my musician friends!
myspace.com / dominiquevassart
myspace.com / phaesis

The Boss DS1 for years has been a cheap way to get just a standard rock distortion tone. It's a very basic in its feature-set. There is only three controls, a tone (for adjusting your equalization frequencies, a level (for adjusting your overall output), and a drive (for adjusting the amount of gain or saturation being produced by the pedal. It, like the vast majority of Boss pedals is housed in the classic compact metal casing, painted a classy shade of orange. It has a single input and output jack set, and is powered by either a 9 volt battery or the Boss PSA adapter.

Just a very simple distortion unit overall. Nothing too fancy, which shouldn't be expected at the low price point that these sell for.

UTILIZATION

Setting up this pedal is very simple. There's no odd functions to learn, no tricks to it really. The controls do what they say and it it produces a distortion sound. Pretty basic to dial in and get tones out of, which is great for first time users/people who haven't had much experience with effects pedals before.

This pedal produces a very angry sounding distortion tone that is very grainy and somewhat harsh. It is great for styles like grunge (Kurt Cobain was a noted user of this pedal for a long time) where the tone is meant to be aggressive and raunchy. It's far from a very smooth sounding pedal for sure. Compared to the Super Overdrive SD1, it's much raunchier and angrier sounding with lots of clipping and harmonics. It's not a very versatile pedal, and it's not one I'm a fan of because of it's very brash nature overall.

SOUND QUALITY

I've used this pedal with various humbucker loaded superstrats, both as a standalone distortion unit and a booster for an already overdriven amplifier. As I stated above, I'm not a huge fan of the type of grainy distortion that this pedal produces so I can't really say I enjoyed using it very much. As a standalone unit it was just too grainy and buzzy for my tastes (I prefer a much smoother, rounder overdrive tone), and as a booster it took a nice smooth overdrive tone and made it too brash sounding. I'm sure that approach works very well for grunge, punk, or garage rock, but for the much more streamlined sounding rock I play, it just didn't work for me.

OVERALL OPINION

You can pick these up cheaply used and they make great platforms for modifications to change the tonal structure. I do not like this pedal in its stock form, but when modified they can turn into a much better sounding pedal, with a smoother attack that takes away some of the inherent graininess that I dislike so much. They're cheap enough to pick up used and modify, but if you're buying a pedal to use in its stock form, I would look elsewhere (perhaps grab an SD1 or an Ibanez TS7) unless you want a really grainy, harsh sounding pedal.

Standard stompbox format of 1/4" in and outs, 9V adaptor or battery to power and a bypass footswitch. Not rackable or editable with a computer. Analog circuitry.

Volume, Tone and Gain controls.

UTILIZATION

Easy to set up, just plug your guitar in, your amp to the output and a battery inside and you're ready to go. The controls are intuitive and easy to work out.

SOUND QUALITY

I've used this pedal with a lot of different guitars and amplifiers and all I've got is a quite mediocre sound with every combination that I've tried. I find this pedal to be very nasally and harsh in tone. While reducing the level of the tone can remove this harshness it can become quite muddy.

Another thing about the sound of this pedal I dislike is the buffered bypass, it colors the tone of my rig quite noticeably when it's not engaged which I'm not a huge fan of, although it can be useful for long signal chains.

I find versions of this pedal to be much better sounding. Even simple modifications such as removing one of the clipping diodes can make this pedal much more useable. There's a wealth of the information available on the internet for modifications of this pedal which can change many different characteristics of it.

OVERALL OPINION

The thing I like most about this pedal is the price, it can be picked up used for pretty cheap and It's a passible distortion unit. I also really like how useable this pedal can be after modification.

I dislike the buffered bypass and the harshness of the distortion produced most about this pedal.

Overall I think this is an okay first distortion pedal as it's cheap and easy to get hold of and can sound okay in certain settings.

The Boss DS-1 is one of the most iconic distortion pedals out there. It has been used by nearly ever major artist at one point in time including Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. It features three knobs -- a distortion knob, a level knob and a tone knob.

UTILIZATION

Boss uses their infamous enclosure to house this pedal. It's one of the most sturdy pedal enclosures on the market, and it'll withstand a drop from a skyscraper. That said, it uses a FET bypass. This can be good or bad, depending on how it's implemented. The Boss DS-1 doesn't exactly have the greatest bypass. I notice that it sucks tone compared to when it's out of the circuit. The manual describes what every knob does, but it's not really needed considering there are only three knobs.

SOUND QUALITY

This pedal sounds like the definition of a distortion pedal to me. It sounds very disconnected to the amp when you start to crank it, and it kinda sounds weak when it's trying to be used to boost the amp into overdrive. I find it best to leave it on moderate settings with a mostly clean amp and go from there. It can work at delivering some decent tones, but I find the RAT to sound a little better, personally.

OVERALL OPINION

The pedal is cheap on the used market, and there are tons of them out there. The sound, however, is fairly mediocre. I usually prefer using something like an overdrive to boost my amp. Back in the old days, amps didn't have that much gain. Instead, they had to rely on super high output pickups and distortion boxes like these. Today, amps have so much gain on tap that things like these aren't really needed anymore. I can't really recommend it, but given how iconic it is and how people have gotten some good tones with it, I can't really dismiss it, either.