Why all the hate for the DS-1?

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JakeAC5253

JakeAC5253

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I've never really understood why everyone on the internet hates the DS-1, I think it's pretty awesome.
 
I had a Keeley Seeing Eye Mod. It was ok. Sounded bad through the Soldano and Fender I was using at the time.
Since I got my JCM800 I thought I'd buy another DS-1. Stock. It sounds ok through the 800 and my JTM45 but not nearly as good as a stock SD-1.
I guess it's too harsh for me. :(
 
It definitely has its uses, not one of those pedals you'd always use IMO and I wouldn't recommend it to someone wishing to boost a clean amp to get a distortion sound. I use it to boost a Marshall style crunch tone to dirty it up for doom and I think it fits the part nicely. With the distortion knob all the way down it gets really spongy, which is great for doom sounds. I think Candlemass used one in front of their amps for their tones, and Candlemass rules.
 
because it's not $150+
:(

It's a fine pedal. not my favorite, but not bad.

Even without all of the mods, the $20 MIT version still sounds like Satch/Vai ftmp. :rock: :rock:
 
Because 90% of the people out there make them sound like shit.

If you use them right with the right setup, you can pull some decent tones out of them.
Used wrong, they're a fantastic way to turn everything into buzzy shit.

I hated them for a LONG time until I finally bought one and learned how to use it.
 
Sixtonoize":1ccesoht said:
Used wrong, they're a fantastic way to turn everything into buzzy shit.

I guess I've always used mine wrong because that's exactly what I thought it sounded like! :lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL:
 
Silly boy! How can a $29 pedal be any good?!


(sarcasm)


The fact is, it was plenty good for many, many rock players in the 80s.
 
IMO it's a decent pedal, but there are tons of better sounding ones.
 
Take the MIJ DS-1. Put a Suhr logo on it, and sell it for $250 and you'd see gushing reviews and youtube videos all over the place for it.

A friend of mine ran the MIJ version of the DS-1 through his Fender amps and it sounded pretty damm good. He was getting better results than i was with a Suhr Riot pedal through the clean channel of a Lonestar.
 
danyeo":36a47hj8 said:
Put a Suhr logo on it, and sell it for $250 and you'd see gushing reviews and youtube videos all over the place for it.


Yup. I've had so many boutique pedals over the years, no need to name names, and they were just awful wastes of money and time/effort on my part.

Having said that, for boost pedals I prefer Fulltone, Xotic, Keeley and Hermida! :thumbsup:
 
To me the DS-1 is pretty vanilla. Its like alot of Boss pedals I have owned, pretty good, but not great.

I haven't used a DS-1 in about 10 years. Maybe I was using it wrong. :lol: :LOL: Its nice that everyone in this thread has clearly defined how to properly use a DS-1. :thumbsdown: If you are going to say that a lot of people use it wrong, than define what is right and wrong. come on man :D
 
Don't forget about the hands! A DS-1 in the hands of a great player will always sound better than a lesser player using a boutique pedal.

Put that pedal in front of an old Marshall, and dial back the gain to about noon, and you'll have a killer rock tone.
 
blackba":i55jwwgd said:
To me the DS-1 is pretty vanilla. Its like alot of Boss pedals I have owned, pretty good, but not great.

Its nice that everyone in this thread has clearly defined how to properly use a DS-1. :thumbsdown: If you are going to say that a lot of people use it wrong, than define what is right and wrong. come on man :D

I told everyone how I use it :poke:
 
JakeAC5253":1fhct1qp said:
blackba":1fhct1qp said:
To me the DS-1 is pretty vanilla. Its like alot of Boss pedals I have owned, pretty good, but not great.

Its nice that everyone in this thread has clearly defined how to properly use a DS-1. :thumbsdown: If you are going to say that a lot of people use it wrong, than define what is right and wrong. come on man :D

I told everyone how I use it :poke:

It was Sixtonoize I was referring too. Should have quoted him. Giving myself the :doh:
 
Keep the Tone and Gain below noon and set the Level to get the desired push from an already dirty amp.

It's not rocket surgery, but it seems like 90% of the time people are using a DS-1 as their only drive in front of a completely clean amp, then crank the Tone and Gain...which, in my experience, is a surefire recipe for shit salad.
 
Sixtonoize":3jjkj2cf said:
Keep the Tone and Gain below noon and set the Level to get the desired push from an already dirty amp.

It's not rocket surgery, but it seems like 90% of the time people are using a DS-1 as their only drive in front of a completely clean amp, then crank the Tone and Gain...which, in my experience, is a surefire recipe for shit salad.

that's pretty much how i use a ds-1. i don't use it with all my amps. it seems to like the drive channel on my carvin x 60 best. i've tried it in front of other amps. i like the sd-1 better on most of my other setups.
 
danyeo":c3siu4qc said:
Take the MIJ DS-1. Put a Suhr logo on it, and sell it for $250 and you'd see gushing reviews and youtube videos all over the place for it.

A friend of mine ran the MIJ version of the DS-1 through his Fender amps and it sounded pretty damm good. He was getting better results than i was with a Suhr Riot pedal through the clean channel of a Lonestar.
This brings the question - how many $150+ boutique boxes out there are just clones or modded clones of the DS1?
 
D-Rock":25ghivwv said:
I like the Blues Driver better :student:
Me too. Also, the OS-2 Overdrive/Distortion wipes the floor with the DS1 as a boost IMO.
droptrd":25ghivwv said:
danyeo":25ghivwv said:
Take the MIJ DS-1. Put a Suhr logo on it, and sell it for $250 and you'd see gushing reviews and youtube videos all over the place for it.

A friend of mine ran the MIJ version of the DS-1 through his Fender amps and it sounded pretty damm good. He was getting better results than i was with a Suhr Riot pedal through the clean channel of a Lonestar.
This brings the question - how many $150+ boutique boxes out there are just clones or modded clones of the DS1?
Tons of them are just copies of 808's, TS9's, DS-1's, Marshall Guv'nor, Fuzz Face, RAT, Univibe, Phase 90's, etc. with maybe a slight tweak in the circuit.
But there are many unique and original sounding stomps that are actually worth the boutique price. Most Fulltone stuff, Skreddy, Xotic, Zvex, and some of the Lovepedal stuff has improved upon the classics and don't sound "fake" like many Boss pedals.
 
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