Boss DS-1 New In Box

Just to be clear, I don't hate Boss. I do think they make some good pedals. Their analog delays and their chorus pedals have nearly cult-like followings. I have a Boss Tremolo pedal and I'm pleased with it. But, there's a reason there are so many mods for the DS-1 and that in any lineup of truly good distortion pedals, you rarely, if ever, see the DS-1.

But, I do owe somewhat to the DS-1, in a way. It is because of my DS-1, and its killer bee mating call, that I discovered two-channel amps and the beauty of an amplifier's native distortion.

This is the cork I sniff, ladies and gentlemen.
 
Last edited:
eSGEe said:
please note the 2 shown....the one in post one looks like the "new" version with black knob-- NOT the original MIJ.
Click to expand...
Cosmetically: Hardly any has changed since '82. The silver thumb screw changed to black, and the "D" in "DS-1" moved from being underneath the "t" in "Distortion" to under the "i". This all happened before production of the DS-1 moved to Taiwan in '88.

smitty_p said:
Just to be clear, I don't hate Boss. I do think they make some good pedals. Their analog delays and their chorus pedals have nearly cult-like followings. I have a Boss Tremolo pedal and I'm pleased with it. But, there's a reason there are so many mods for the DS-1 and that in any lineup of truly good distortion pedals, you rarely, if ever, see the DS-1.

But, I do owe somewhat to the DS-1, in a way. It is because of my DS-1, and its killer bee mating call, that I discovered two-channel amps and the beauty of an amplifier's native distortion.

This is the cork I sniff, ladies and gentlemen.
Click to expand...
Ha ha… Steve Vai and Joe Satriani were lovers of the old DS-1.
 
syscokid said:
Ha ha… Steve Vai and Joe Satriani were lovers of the old DS-1.
Click to expand...

Maybe the old ones were better. Maybe a lot of the fault was the rest of my rig. But, I could never get anything from mine, even after the Tri-Gain mod, that I really liked.

Now, to be fair...if you're NOT trying to use a DS-1 for distortion, but more for just a little bit of extra gain, it's not too bad. But, when you try to actually use it as a distortion pedal, that's when the Fizz of Doom settles in.
 
eSGEe said:
:blink::blink::blink::blink::blink::blink::blink:
Click to expand...
P:lol:P:lol:P:lol:P:lol:P:lol:P:lol:P:lol:

smitty_p said:
Maybe the old ones were better. Maybe a lot of the fault was the rest of my rig. But, I could never get anything from mine, even after the Tri-Gain mod, that I really liked.

Now, to be fair...if you're NOT trying to use a DS-1 for distortion, but more for just a little bit of extra gain, it's not too bad. But, when you try to actually use it as a distortion pedal, that's when the Fizz of Doom settles in.
Click to expand...
Even before my old DS-1 got modded, I also felt that "Fizz of Doom", too. To counter it, I always had the Tone control at about 9 o'clock and the Distortion control at a healthy 2 to 4 o'clock... :dood:
 
syscokid said:
P:lol:P:lol:P:lol:P:lol:P:lol:P:lol:P:lol:


Even before my old DS-1 got modded, I also felt that "Fizz of Doom", too. To counter it, I always had the Tone control at about 9 o'clock and the Distortion control at a healthy 2 to 4 o'clock... :dood:
Click to expand...

Before I modded mine, at anything past 11:00 or 12:00 on the distortion control, my reaction was, "What the ___ is this?" I try not to use foul language, so fill in the blank with the four-letter word of your choice. After the Tri-Gain mod, the pedal was definitely more usable, but I could never get away with anything past 1:00 on the distortion control.

I feel for the audiences I must have subjected to the fear of an impending attack of anarchists on mopeds.
 
Last edited:
I love DS-1's. It's my all-time favorite distortion, as goofy as that sounds. I find them to be incredibly versatile and sounds nice in front of just about any amp.

And I have come to believe it's not about whether it was made in Japan or Taiwan but whether it has surface-mount or discreet components. I'n not completely sure where the change happened but they do sound different to me. I picked up one of the anniversary models last year, the one painted black, and it has discreet components like the old ones and side-by-side with my original MIJ it pretty much sounds identical and doesn't have the fizziness that the new ones do.
 
GLWS, seems you cant go far without tripping over a used DS-1.
The MIJ might have some value; others will know better.
I considered that and the RAT2 and went with the RAT.
No regerts (as some say) though I am only in a home alone setting and not in a band mix setting.


smitty_p said:
What the ___ is this?" I try not to use foul language, so fill in the blank with the four-letter word of your choice.
I feel for the audiences I must have subjected to the fear of an impending attack of anarchists on mopeds.
Click to expand...

Brit.
My 4 letter word of choice at the moment is Brit.
(It is actually Britt at 5, but one should never let the facts interfere with a good story ((sarcasm)) )
That anarchists on mopeds statement: Larry says "now that there is funny, I dont care who you are"
s-l300.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top