Is the Boss DS-1 The Best Distortion Pedal Ever? Boss DS-1 Demo & Review
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- čas přidán 19. 12. 2018
- Dagan takes a look at the Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal, one of the best distortion pedals ever made and an essential piece of kit for guitarists.
Shop the Boss DS-1 over at PMT Online: bit.ly/2GeeDOM
The Boss DS-1 is the first distortion pedal produced by Boss and since it was released in the 1970s has become a mainstay on guitarists pedalboards. Used by the likes of Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Kurt Cobain to name but a few.
Part of the reason for the DS-1 pedal’s success was the fact it gave you a tight and focused distortion that would never become muddy even when you cranked the gain. This is one of the major factors why it’s so widely used; no matter how much you push it, it can handle everything and keep pumping out that quality sound.
The Boss DS-1 also provides both transistor and op-amp gain stages offering up a unique sound that guitarists of all genres will appreciate!
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Everyone’s first guitar pedal
Theo Perkins mine was a big muff
Mine was an MXR distortion. Can't remember the exact name.
Mine was a wah
I lost my pedal virginity to a NUX high gain. It makes me feel cheap. I was young and stupid. But then I met my Boss sd-1 super overdrive. That one did it to me right. That's my first real pedal.
Mine was the super overdrive. Then traded it for the ds1. Now that I'm older I regret it.
him: "I don't think this guy even needs an introduction"
also him: "THIS IS THE BOSS DS-1"
I mean, we all had one at some point. I still have mine.
The most famous
Sounds like noise pollution
@@sandakureva i don't (3 month beginner)
I've actually played guitar a long time without a pedal. So this is my first one. I'm a pedal virgin. Hoping to get some sweet sounds out of it!
Same
@@doomslayer8431 A doom fan playing guitar... nice
My 1st was Boss Blues Driver
same here. for so long I have only used the distortions from my amps
Me too!!!
I just ordered a mxr 10 band EQ pedal.
Now I'm looking for a good overdrive/distortion pedal to push my dsl20 head.
Literally just got my DS-1 five days ago. absolute sledgehammer of a pedal, it's amazing what this tiny little orange stomp box can do.... you can get real hard edge grunge tones and you can also get a really slick bluesy hendrix tone out of it too. turn the distortion back to about 10 o'clock, turn the tone up to brighten it a little bit and use your neck pickup for the hendrix tone. want Nirvanas tone, turn the tone right back to about 9 o'clock turn the distortion up to around 4 o'clock and switch to your bridge pickup. beautiful, clean, genuine grungy tone. turn your distortion up to max and turn your ton back to about 9-10 oclock if you want to make your way into smashing pumpkins territory.
"I dont think this guy even needs an introduction"
*_gives introduction_*
Kurt Cobain also was a ds1 user
Luke Kern he was also a heroin user and that didn’t go too well for him.
También DoD punkifier
@@adamalexanderray I wanted to call you out on how insensitive that comment was, but since it was fucking hilarious I will just go back to play smell like teen spirit wrong as always
Liam O is your comment satire? Can’t tell if you’re serious or joking 😂
@@adamalexanderray Guess he doesnt understand humor
It’s a classic, if you can’t get a useable tone out of it, it is you that truly sucks.
Well said. I believe there's 3 main reasons for all the DS1 hate...
1- Tone Snobbery(it's cheap & common so it HAS to sound cheap & common).
2- Misuse(some expect it to sound like a Metal Zone, others play it through a cheap amp or an overly bright amp plus they often set the DS1's tone too high. Bottom line, it shines best through a warm, edge of breakup tube amp)
3. Laziness/ Too quick to judge(it takes time to dial in the right EQ, gain, and volume settings between both pedal and amp).
Btw, if anyone thinks Gary Moore and Joe Satriani's tone sounds like a "Can of bees", as many people describe the DS1, you should take up painting, cycling, needle point... Anything but music because your hearing is for crap.
@@t-boog2173 on a side Note, most famous DS-1 users including the ones you mentioned modded their pedals
Satch uses a modded DS1 now but he used the stock one for most of his career incl the Surfing album. And Gary was using Boss pedals as soon as they hit the shelves. I seriously doubt he immediately had the DS1 modded. After all, in the late 70's & 80's, although players talked about modded amps, pedal modding wasn't really thought about... even by the pros.
Take it from a guy who read almost every guitar mag in the 80s(cover to cover), pedal modding wasn't really a thing back then(save for a few nerds in their basements who we later found out about). Btw, Lynch also used a stock DS1. So did Cobain. Cork sniffing the best pedals mods are mostly a 21st century thing.
@@t-boog2173 you nailed it.
@@t-boog2173 so we can all agree that it work well stock or modded.
1:50 I literally wanted this pedal just to play this song...
Same bro, I’m getting mine soon too and enter sandman is one of the sounds I’m trying to get or sound close to
@@khangngo971 It would be good for Nirvana songs too, since it was used heaps by Kurt Cobain.
@@tam7933 oh yeah. bleach all day
It is everybody's first pedal for a reason. Was mine as well, years ago. I've had three of them throughout my life, and have made the decision to hold onto the one I have now. I feel like the Boss DS-1 is one of those pedals where you need to have the right amount of know-how and finesse to get a good sound out of it, but if you do manage it, it's something quite special.
Totally agree! You have to search and play with it to discover the perfect tones.
My first pedal was an early 80's DOD FX-50 Overdrive/Preamp; I played it for years until it finally died and went to pedal heaven...then I bought the Boss DS-1 in the late 90's, and it proved to be a highly worthy successor, and still does to this day! It's been put thru hell with countless gigs, practices and jams and it still sounds awesome! 🎸🔥👊
Thanks Dagan, I was not sure if I should get one. Your seal of approval good enough for me. SOLD!!! Keep Rocking
The DS-1, SD-1, and TU-2 have been in my pedal arsenal since I was a teenager.
Do have some others on my board that I use for other affects but when you want that mean distortion and overdrive you can’t go wrong with the classics!
Iv been using this pedal since mid 90's . This and a TS-9 all iv ever needed.
Yes it is. I had a lot of dists but I came back to DS-1 and I'm happy. Ds-1 is really dynamic and clear. Very good sounding pedal.
Me too mate. I'm a gigging guitarist who pairs it with a fulltone fulldrive 2. Between them you can get any drive sound. Sounds huge!
Ive had one for years and love it!
his guitar playing was incredible !
Has always been a great pedal. Built like a tank with the thunder to go with it. Thanks for the vid 👍
Jack Sparrow meets Russel Brand.
Russel Off-Brand
@@andrewhunter9119 Incredibly underrated comment
Sorry for raising the likes past 69.
I got it with my first guitar last April, I got a Squier Stratocaster and learned basically all of nirvanas Discography except Mr Moustache of course (I am so close...) and this pedal is AMAZING, It sounds so good, it makes the guitar sound exactly how i want it to, and honestly, it kinda puts me into a trance, the sound is so clean its amazing, I absolutely love it.
i agree 100%%%%%
A great little box of rock and roll. It's always worked wonders for me.
Bro Sick video love the rifts. I just bought this pedal. Great sounds! Love the vids.
I have the black 40th version on my board and it sounds great at low gains with coils.Play with the treble on your guitar or pedal.It loves high quality tube amps.
Loved the video & review, pretty simple stuff. Thanks
Mines on the way gettimg really hyped for it
Got my first DS-1 in 1995. Lasted me until about 2015. Replaced it with a new one and it’s still going strong. The DS-1 will always be on my pedal board.
i found this pedal because Chuck Shouldiner used it too and its great!
Very Cool Demo/Review, Thankyou. Have a DS-1 after Boss Blues Driver for that extra Crunch. Works Awesome.
just got mine 😁 can’t wait
Solid sound for a good price. I'm sold, that'll be my first pedal.
I’ve used different pedals throughout the years, but never did try the BOSS DS-1. I just bought one, and gonna try to run it through my Marshall 100watt head, but use it just enough to boost my guitar sound for solos.
In 1994 I had a Peavey Vegas 400 and a Boss Distortion petal. I would shake the house. Want one now!!
I have a ds1 and a od1. They easily get every distortion tone I want for all kinds of music.
Old school like me!!! The perfect catch!!!
I'm a beginner, just got 1 from craigslist with box and docs for $25 bux. Sounds great! thx
I've only just bought myself one and I use it through the rhythm Chanel on my crate gt212 amp it sounds really good, I play punk and just gives a real nice boost and distortion sound that my amp doesn't quite get, my next pedal will be a boss ge 7 to compliment it
It does that classic metal/thrash thing perfectly!
Yes it was my first guitar pedal. Mom bought for me off ebay in about grade 10 about 14 years ago
I like having two in the chain. One set for lots of distortion, the other way backed off, and also use anything in between. I swear by them. I play Strats, and the tone knob tapers the high mid/treble down and sounds great. It sounds like a good distortion pedal vs an overdrive, which I also use, of course. Into delay and modulation it is insane. Killer through my tube amps.
dammit M. G. Gallagher. now i have to go out and buy another one.
I just got one for 30 bux at my pawn shop, thanks for the review man
DS-1 + cabinet simulators of softwares is an amazing combination for tracks, this old pedal sounds clean, you could hear ever single note. Softwares can equalize that pedal better than amplifiers or pedals.
I just love how affordable they are!
YES!!! It’s the most versatile and also a go-to cheap pedal for any player.
@@tommybalogh6232 if someone is on a budget or doesn’t have a whole lot of money to spend. Jerk off, that’s what he meant
I prefer the Mxr Distortion plus, that Explorer looks great
This was the first pedal I got when I started playing the guitar back in '97 and I still have it. Just rocked on it earlier today and realized it adds a real nice touch to a clean amp sound if you don't turn all knobs to 5 o' clock cause that's how I always used it: all knobs at max all the time.
Been play for almost 25 years. Just bought one for the nirvana cover band.
And do forget Kurt Cobain on the Bleach tour. I started on this pedal myself and bought it back in 1994 and still use it until this day. It's the best damn pedal I've ever owned but one thing to add. If you buy one of these, try to get one from the 90's because they tweaked it and it got a bit thin on the re-issues, common problem with most newer pedals. Turn the distortion all the way up and then tone 3/4 to the left and you got Nirvana!
Yes, mine is Made in Japan 1984, All my Boss pedals are great.
You are correct, sir.
Ride the lighting was recorded with Boas DS-1 and Grafic Equalizer GE-7!
No it was not. That would be a proco rat. Not sure where you got boss ds1 but that pedal had nothing to do with any of Metallica’s tones
@@assnapkined9295 they said an old interview about the ride the lighting album!
I have one for my bass and is till love it
It is!
Use mine as a clean boost for solos and it makes the guitar absolutely scream.Not unlike the Gary Moore thing he mentioned.
El mejor saludos desde chincha Perú
Got one today
Cheers Russel Brand mate
The DS-1 was my first, and will be my last, distortion pedal. I've had a total of 3 in my 30 years of playing. One got stolen, one got sold, and I just bought another one! It's a tried and true pedal and I love everything about it. It makes everything from a Squier to an actual American Fender sound incredible!
I bought one back in the early 80's when they were made in Japan, I sold a Big Muff to buy this.
I know what a big muff is but I still laugh at the name
@@KZfr I used to have a big muff but we got divorced.
@@andrewhunter9119 Did you get the Russian model next? ; )
Have 1 for 22 years, have had tons more but the ds-1 still the go to ...
Jack Sparrow is that you?
I think its jacksepticeye
he pretends hard to be
That's Inigo Montoya.
tbh he reminds me Orlando Bloom more xD
I’ve been playing guitar since 2006-7 this is my legit first pedal I’ve EVER HAD, I’m trying to figure out how to set it up with my old line 6 spider lmao, I almost bought a new amp too, but ummm for secret reasons I decided to hold off, sometimes ya gotta hide what ya buy from the wife 😂
Love it....👍😎🎸
I have a ds-2 and I’m pretty sure it’s identical to the ds-1 but it has a second mode.
Agreed ...bought one this year ..."the mutts nuts"...gorgeous pedal
That Epiphone is sweet bro
This explorer Lee Malia is amazing btw
Yes
I’ve got a mega modded clone with the first Death Star on the graphics 🤪
I have 2. One I did the Neeley mod to.
I love your "Jack Sparrow" like personality, great video!
YES
Are you Russel Brand?
Russel Brand's off-brand sober clone.
@@LUR1FAX come on, bro...Russel Off-Brand. It was right in front of you.
@@andrewhunter9119 Maybe I did it deliberately just to pester you, "bro".
BEAST she is.!!!!!
I want one.
Steve Vai does too
I use mine to beef up the tone on my bass guitar. 🤘😎
Are there any other explorers with that dope trim, or just the Lee Malia?
SOLD!! thats all i will say
I loved mine so much I let someone borrow it and never bothered to ask for it back. 😜
VOX Satchurator 1st version : )
Ive heard these sound bad with high output pickups, but i dont know what output my pickups are or what makes them high or low,i have a gibson explorer with dirty fingers
Hi! These pedals sound great with all guitars - but you have to change the settings to suit your style. Dial the gain all the way up for metal, or tone it back for a drive style!
Where can I see the year of the Pedal?.. thanks for your help!!
Ok Bro I believe you. It's cool ! But I like better Plexy pedal. Try one in the next show!😁
I'm planing to buy this pedal, use it on squier telecaster and use it to play mostly metal song on stock pick up and drop c tuning...
John Frusciante used one, I'm sold
I got it a couple months ago, sure it’s good I like it, I must be doing something wrong, the guitar is plugged in correctly, so is the amp, I play guitar and the sound goes through the pedal so it works just fine, on the other hand when I step on the pedal WITH a brand new battery in it, it doesn’t work, the light doesn’t turn on and the pedal doesn’t distort. If you could tell me why it’s not working that would be great thanks
Get a power supply
My suggestion: use your DS-1 or MT-2 through the Line IN on your amp's effects loop. You are essentially using your pedal as a preamp. You wouldn't believe the tones you can get and how it changes the tinny beehive sounds of these pedals into powerful chugging machines. For a band situation though you need a loud amp, because the only volume control will be from your pedal in many cases. I'm getting thousand dollar tone on a hundred dollar budget.
My current set up: a DS-1driving a Crate solid state amp head in the Loop In, (not the front end of the amp!), through a Fender 4x12 cab. Again - massive fucking tone on a budget. I couldn't believe my ears at first.
A DS-1 straight in to the loop is going to sound MEGA! I'll try that out! -Lee
Thanks for sharing! I’ll try it as soon as possible.
The first amp I got with an effects loop, I stuck my DS1 in and couldn't believe the difference. I'll never run it in front of the amp again.
Or just don't buy amps with shit preamps...
Love the distortion sound on the ds-1 but it's just not that great in stock form. I'd agree it's the most legendary and influential distortion ever but not the best. It's extremely noisy and thin. Still hoping boss releases a ds-1w with these issues fixed but until then the MXR 78 will be holding it's place on my board
Brad Crumbs the new ones come in Smd and they are less noisy
@@ananasie1211 oh that's good to hear. Do the new chips improve the frequency range for the bass as well so it's so thin sounding?
I just keep coming back to that orange little creepy impy monster. I just do.
awesome pedal.. question i have a line 6 spider !V 75, can i use this pedal . i have a clean preset i use alot for songs but would like to have the sound of this pedal ..ex Creep of radio head ..clean and metal on chorus can i do this..thks
Joe Satriani used only a Boss DS-1 for years, and his tone is incredible
Did he use a Keeley modded DS-1?
@@Michaelgracon Not sure but I don't think so. He played through a clean amp with his dirt coming from the DS-1 -- and his hands, of course
Also Kirk Hammett used one on KEA :)
Mine has been sitting unused thanks to my big red VOX distortion (used, $75)
Hmmm... Might have to listen closer to big orange.
It’s a staple pedal for a reason. It is a classic that delivers
you are exactly right sir.
Didn't know Russell brand. Played guitar
You are so right
..its cheap and crap, and bought it when it first came out.
Loved that sound when i was young & naive, but now, that i'm older, have the MXR Custom Badass '78, that does so much more in every sense!
Just bought a cheap ass $19 Naomi mini U.S. Dream clone pedal recently, that put a smile on my face.
Soooo many options out there you could blow your money on...
Happy trails to you!
The MXR Custom Badass '78 is a DS-1 clone...
Every time someone starts Symphony of Destruction, I hear the intro for Crank It by John 5.
I still have my first one and about 4 more. That first one looks pretty ratty but it works.
im a beginner guitar player but looking to buy a pedal, can anyone explain to me the difference between the overdrive pedal and the distortion pedal? I can hear there's difference but I dont really understand what im hearing if that makes any sense
In the 80s, prior to the mega rack setups, nobody looked at anything but Boss pedals. They were the dogs. Everything else was cheaper built and sounded fairly crap by comparison. Racks took over, but most guys didn’t have much of a clue about how to setup them up properly. There were just too many settings and options. Guitarists have come full circle and are buying lots of pedals once again, but Boss seems to have lost ground to lots of the more fashionable brands. Boss is still great gear, sounds absolutely brilliant, is relatively affordable and better built than most of the trendy stuff that’s around. Their delay, chorus and ODs are all really great and defined so many great guitar tones during the 80s.
Can this be used as an overdrive? I just ordered a RAT pedal for full distortion