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Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal

Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
edited July 2012 in Musicians and Gearheads
Is it worth it?
I am thinking of buying it.
I currently use a Behringer Ultra Metal UM300.
How do they compare?
Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • VOLAREVOLARE Posts: 314
    It's an awesome pedal. If you have a guitar center nearby they have it n a rack you can plug right in and try.

    Great pedal for the money.
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  • Johnny AggroJohnny Aggro Posts: 543
    Thoughts_Arrive wrote:
    Is it worth it?
    I am thinking of buying it.
    I currently use a Behringer Ultra Metal UM300.
    How do they compare?

    I use a boss metal zone II. Some nice chunky distortion as well as really warm heavy tones too
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  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    Thoughts_Arrive wrote:
    Is it worth it?
    I am thinking of buying it.
    I currently use a Behringer Ultra Metal UM300.
    How do they compare?
    no.

    shell out another $30 and get something true bypass that has 2 switches. one to turn the pedal on and off and one to boost the volume for soloing. try to get something other than boss if you have the cash...
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  • joergjoerg Austria Posts: 123
    i just ordered a true valve pedal, the distX pedal from blackstar, it's not so cheap but i think the sound is worth the price!
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  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    gimmesometruth27 wrote:
    Thoughts_Arrive wrote:
    Is it worth it?
    I am thinking of buying it.
    I currently use a Behringer Ultra Metal UM300.
    How do they compare?
    no.

    shell out another $30 and get something true bypass that has 2 switches. one to turn the pedal on and off and one to boost the volume for soloing. try to get something other than boss if you have the cash...

    Sorry, what is that? :?
    I cannot solo for shit, I can only solo the Teen Spirit solo lol :fp:
    Any examples or pics or reviews?
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • OffHeGoes29OffHeGoes29 Posts: 1,240
    It was my first pedal I've ever picked up and after owning some dozen pedals later its the one I still can't dial in. I mean for the price it isn't bad but I feel like it gets really muddy past half way on the distortion. It doesn't sound bad when I back off the tone, distortion at 25%, and play some Soundgarden stuff in drop D.
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  • RedMosquito22RedMosquito22 Posts: 8,158
    I would spend an extra $30 and get the MXR '78 distortion.
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  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    None of those really make my heart skip a beat.
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  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    The 78 distortion might be a good option as it is based on the DS-1 circuit. It has shitloads of low end though and is still quite harsh with the tone control past 11 o'clock or so depending on the guitar/amp combination. Much better than a stock DS-1 though. I don't really find it muddy but yeah, lots of low end.

    One bummer with it is that it's built with surface mount components so it's hard to modify.
  • sleeplikeadogsleeplikeadog Posts: 156
    I had one a long time ago, and didn't like it. I don't use a distortion pedal anymore because my amp has awesome distortion and tone. The last one I used was a Rat pedal, and it was awesome. If anything, you should just buy a Marshall amp, and skip the whole pedal deal....just my opinion, though :D
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  • xtremehardy388xtremehardy388 Posts: 2,759
    First pedal I ever bought (in downtown Disney on the 10th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death!). It's a great pedal and AWESOME to mod. I have two on my board. 1 Stock and one moded (sounds like classic Black Sabbath)
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  • DeadlogicDeadlogic Posts: 69
    If you get one, make sure it's the Keely Modded version.

    The difference in tone is phenomenal.
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  • dogfootbluesdogfootblues Posts: 116
    theres good advice here. you should listen to these guys. If your gonna go Boss go to Craigslist and get a BluesDriver. You can get a used one for $50. Keeley has mods for a few Boss pedals whice totally sound great. Ibaneze tube screamer is my fav as of now, it dosent get crazy distortion or overdrive but it really makes open chords, and single notes sound beautiful. Dont sell your self short. Sometimes you do get what you pay for.
  • xtremehardy388xtremehardy388 Posts: 2,759
    the DIY mod is amazing!!!
    Grand Rapids '04, Detroit '06
    JEFF HARDY AND JEFF AMENT USED TO LOOK THE SAME
    "Pearl Jam always eases my mind and fires me up at the same time.”-Jeff Hardy
  • xtremehardy388xtremehardy388 Posts: 2,759
    Blues Driver = most versatile OD/Dist. pedal out there IMO. Subtle overdrive/tube breakup all the way to hella hardcore crunch
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  • DaveyGDaveyG Posts: 225
    I'd avoid the DS-1, I had one for a while (first stombox I ever owned) and it drained the tone quite a bit (when on and not-on). It wasn't absolutely terrible as some would have you believe, but I ended up selling it and getting a Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde.

    The Blues Driver is great, but if you're into metal distortion like the Behringer, it's not going to be enough gain for you.

    I've heard very good things about the Blackstar HT-DistX, the Electro Harmonix Metal Muff, the MI Audio Crunch Box (not a metal pedal, but still high-gain), the MXR M116 Fullbore Metal, the Visual Sound Son of Hyde (not metal, but still high-gain), and the Zvex Box of Rock (not metal, high-gain). I know those are much more expensive pedals, but I imagine you're going to end up replacing or modding the DS-1 at some point, so you'll save money (and time) in the long-run.
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  • BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,309
    I use it as a boost for my overdrive pedal when I want a crunchy tone with good sustain. By itself it's good for a very basic distortion tone. If you do not have any distortion pedals, and no experience with them, it's a great starter. But you'll quickly want more.
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  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    My friend gave me his Boss DS-1.
    I was telling him how I wanted to buy one and he said he's got one and I can have it as he does not like effects.
    :D

    I like it.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
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