Boss DS1 Distortion Pedal

Onboard Tone control. Reproduces all the subtle nuances of your playing dynamics.

Item: BOSDS1

  • Pricing
    • $39.00
    • List: $97.50
    • SAVE 60%
  • Standard Shipping
    Ground:
    $5.99
  • Expedited Shipping
    2 Day Shipping
    $9.99
     | Overnight
    $27.99

what's new?

  • In Stock :: Will Ship Wednesday

Payment Plan: Call for 4 equal payments on most orders over $395. Installment plans available only by phone. See details.

Or call 800.ZZOUNDS (996.8637) right now. You get the same low price and shipping discounts online or by phone!

No Sales Tax. (Except NJ)

Seen a lower price? We'll beat it! details

Be a zZounds Spy!


related accessories

Main

Line 6 DL4

$249.95

Main

Boss TU-2

$99.00

customer reviews

Rate and Review This Product:

318 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

40 People wrote reviews

* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

"This pedal is great!"

Feature:
Just three simple knobs

Value:
This product is worth it's price especially if your a beginner.

Desirability:
Bright orange, not hard to miss

Sound:
This pedal has a very loud sound

Ease of Use:
Very easy to use, just click it and turn a knob

Overall:
I'll pretty much keep this pedal for a while

Submitted: 4/21/2008

* * * * * * * * * * 9 out of 10

"IT WORKS FOR BASS"

Feature:
THIS is why I had to get one of these. I play bass guitar and sing. I play the bass like a guitarist alternaming between 'lead' lines and a lot of power chords. I have a big problem with most dedicated drive effects for the bass as they tend to cut out the bottom end a lot and actually make it sound quieter when I kick it in, either that or the crunch isn't nearly enough for the full sound I need. The style I play is just my voice, my bass, and my drummer so I needed something that would really thicken it out to make up for the fact that it's just a 2 piece but I still wanted a full sound. I was playing at an open mic and I saw the bass player from another band that was rockin out on this thing and I asked him if I could try it out for my set and I couldn't believe how well it worked with a bass signal. NO cutting of the low, just a big ballsy evil heavy blast of noise and really made my higher register power chords fill out. I actually recommend this over dedicated bass guitar effects for drive. I got one a couple weeks later and run it between a cheap p-bass knockoff and a midsizey 90 watt behringer amp and my little minimalist 2 piece rock act suddenly had so much more oomf to it.

Quality:
Boss stomper stuff doesn't break. Never in my experience anyways.

Value:
I was surprised when I found out it's so cheap.

Desirability:
I used the borrowed one and went and got one of my own a week or two later.

Sound:
It sounds like a very straightforeward distortion. Not so much ugly hiss like some other pedals (especially on multi-effects) and I have used a LOT of different stompers. There are others with more specific tone characters to them like the Muff or the Screamer, but this is just what it says it is... very basic. Like distortion 101.

Ease of Use:
Its a distortion pedal. step on it. I turn the gain all the way up and the tone around halfway maybe a little brighter, and just fix the level so there is just a slight volume boost when it kicks in. Distortion isn't meant to make it louder, just to sound louder. Like I said, I don't experience any loss of low end when I put my bass into it.

Support:
I never talked to them about this pedal, never had to, but the guy at the BOSS website was quick to answer a question I had about a recorder I used from them.

Overall:
It's simple, durable, cheap, and does what it says it will do.

Submitted: 3/31/2008

Style of Music: live heavy rock drum-n-bass

Read all reviews...

Additional Images:

Main
Main
Application Shot Back
Application Shot Back
Application Shot Front
Application Shot Front

30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Applies On This Item - Buy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!

About This Product!
Description
Docs, Multimedia
From Our Catalog
Perhaps the quintessential effects pedal for the guitar, or any other instrument that needs to be "heavied-up," the distortion pedal reigns supreme. Boss's version of this classic is one of the most popular and longest lived. This pedal was first released over 20 years ago, and as such, transcends the "retro" craze by remaining a vital instrument today.

Music trends may come and go, but it seems that no matter what fad may evolve, a guitar with a good, smooth distortion tone is going to figure into it sooner or later. You can crank the DS1 up to a brutal stonk, or dial it down for a more subtle effect. Spin the tone control to tailor your sound from the bottom-rich tones so cool for harder jams to the trebly, cutting edge, closer-to-a-60's-fuzz tone. Stop anywhere in between to suit your own taste.

A distortion pedal is not a substitute for a good amp, but, in the same breath, amp distortion is not a substitute for a good distortion pedal. If you play guitar, you're going to need a good distortion pedal sooner or later. The DS1 by Boss is a very, very good distortion pedal.

About Boss Pedals
The history of Boss reads like the history of guitar effects. From their legendary CE-1 chorus pedal (the big gray box that started it all) to the world's favorite line of compact pedals, they've been responsible for more guitar innovations than just about anyone else.

Boss's compact pedal line-up began in 1977 with the classic OD-1 Overdrive. Its warm, smooth overdrive sounds and breakthrough Boss pedal features (heavy-duty construction, rubber pads on top and bottom, recessed control knobs, silent switching, a built-in LED, and easy battery replacement) immediately set it apart from other stomp boxes on the market. It established the masterful design for all other Boss effects pedals since.

Throughout the years, Boss has continued to define the cutting edge of guitar effects. Double-layer circuit boards allowed pedals like the DD-5 Digital Delay to deliver studio-quality effects comparable to rackmount units. They recently brought bassists and guitarists the first bass synthesizer in a compact pedal, the SYB-3. On their 20th anniversary they proudly introduced the OD-3 Overdrive, a pedal that takes the smooth, dynamic overdriven tones of the legendary OD-1 to a whole new level. Like all Boss products, it is a level of sound quality and durability that is unrivaled.

Technical Info

Uses 9-volt battery or PSA-120 adapter (not included).

Audio Samples

multimedia

  • Boss DS1 Interactive Demo

x close

Using just 3 controls, the classic DS-1 can deliver jazzy warmth, rhythm grit, singing leads, and metallic grind with ease.

what our customers say about zZounds

"zZounds is highly trusted" - customer on February 24, 2008

Free Catalog

First Name Last Name
Address 1 Address 2
City State
Zip Email

Would you like to receive periodic email notices of new items, special buys, and promotions? WE WILL NOT SHARE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH ANYONE ELSE. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Tell us

Is there something you want to tell us? How can we serve you better? Want to see different products? Is this shirt ugly? Let us know!