Better Guitar

player opinions

Name: Stan
Model Year: 90’s
Price Paid: $35
Performance
Works like any distortion pedal. I like Boss pedals 90% of the time, but Boss has never ever made a good distortion pedal in my opinion (except maybe the Blues Driver). I had a Boss DS-1 25 years ago, actually it was my first pedal. It was great at the time and was able to perform good enough for what I was doing. But today, there are so many other options out there. I do like the Boss pedal design though.
Performance Rating: 8
Sound Quality
Here’s the scoop: This pedal is flat out blah. It cannot produce a full rich distortion, nor can it overdrive cleanly. At pretty much any setting, once you switch it on, you loose your guitar tone. It does produce distortion and can push it pretty hard but in my opinion it’s not usable. I prefer the sound of the blues driver or maybe a Marshall Shredmaster for that full rich distortion sound.
Sound Quality Rating: 2
Construction
Of course, Boss makes about the best effects pedal cases there are, the switch design is perfect, controls are perfect etc. Never had any problems with boss anything. They seem to be rock solid in that regard.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Mike M
Price Paid: $28 on eBay
Performance
This is a good distortion pedal. It’s fairly easy to use. After messing around with it for about 20 minutes I was able to get some of the distortion I was looking for. It’s a classic pedal, does what it promises.
Performance Rating: 9
Sound Quality
The sound quality is good or bad depending on your setup, and how you set the pedal. Some of the settings sound like crap, some sound quite good. Overall you can get some good distortion.
Sound Quality Rating: 8
Construction
Like everyone else says, this is a BOSS. I can pound in nails with it.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Daniel Byrne
Band: The Brothers Late
Model Year: 2001
Price Paid: $35
Performance
I think anybody could figure out how to use this pedal. 3 Knobs, as simple as it gets. Tone, output, distortion.
Performance Rating: 9
Sound Quality
It’s not my idea of the perfect distortion, but if I want to pack lite and I’m not bringing an amp to a club or a practice I can basically tweak the thing to do what I want. Set the tone a little low around 9 or 10 o’clock, set the distortion around 1 or 2 o’clock and you can sound pretty beefy if you want. Set the tone accordingly to where you are and who you’re playing with.
Sound Quality Rating: 8
Construction
It’s a Boss stomp box. I think they’re invincible.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Ty
Band: Angry Beavers
Price Paid: $30.00 NOS (eBay)
Performance
It does just what it says, adds distortion. Simple to operate, One tone control, One Distortion control, and one output level control. The unit I have is a new, old stock Japanese made model. It’s tough to get the sound that you want out of it unless you play with it for a while; to my tastes the best tone is obtained with the Tone control around 10 or 11 o’clock, the distortion control between 9 and 12 o’clock. To keep up the volume level when we play in a live situation, the output level control is pretty much maxed out. (by yourself, it’s plenty loud, but gets lost in the mix when playing live with others. If the distortion level is turned up too much, you just get a lot of noise. I play it through an old Peavey Deuce (solid state preamp, 6L6GC power tube output, twin 12 inch speaker combo), so the tube-y sound is there, but too much distortion and the tone is really muddy — I think a Tube Screamer or Boss Turbo Distortion (I use both) offers better tone.
Performance Rating: 8
Sound Quality
As I said before, the tone is ok if the distortion is not turned up too high — I haven’t found many songs that this box is really useful for, I get better tone with the Tube screamer and the Boss overdrive. It doesn’t seem to be much of a “tone-sucker” either.
Sound Quality Rating: 7
Construction
The unit is basically bulletproof.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: John Watson
Price Paid: $40
Performance
Couldn’t be simpler. Just set the tone, distortion, and volume levels, stomp the switch, and go.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
This is the kind of pedal that people either love or hate. The sound ranges from harsh and brittle to a decent rock distortion (tone around 9-10 o’clock). It’s a great pedal to have around, and quite affordable.
Sound Quality Rating: 6
Construction
It’s a BOSS, I’m not sure that I could break it if I tried.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: xaphan
Price Paid: $50
Performance
Does what it says. Clicks on, clicks off, no problem.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
This was my first and only distortion pedal for years, this is not because I liked the sound though. It’s because I’m a bum. In order to get a decent sound you have to turn the distortion way up and the tone about halfway down and even then on bad days my cat can distort a better meow with little effort. I’m into metal though, so I don’t know what you classic rock guys will think, but I’ve been abusing my Fab tone and plan on getting an MT-2.
Sound Quality Rating: 4
Construction
I think the Ibanez soundtanks are possibly the worst constructed pedals, but Boss must be the best. There is no way that the battery door will ever come off like so many DOD pedals, great construction!
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Nico Galibeou
Price Paid: $55 dollars (US) in France (380 frs)
Performance
Works very well, 3 knobs to change your sound (level, tone and gain). Push the pedal and there it goes. I think this is a good distortion for beginner/amateur who wants to have a stack/punk sound but you can’t have a real tube sound.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
What the DS-1 is THE distortion pedal? Well, I had a Peavey Envoy 110 and the sound was not so bad: a bit fuzzy with fat bass. But I have now a Mig 100 Sovtek all-tube head with 2x12 Celestion cab and the DS-1 is awful for a lead distortion: it gives one type of distortion unuseful for me (it really sound like an amp without tube-not a bad sound but special for only 1 song) and you’re unable to have sound from overdrive to heavy metal distortion. My advice is: try it and try it with YOUR configuration, don’t buy it because of its reputation.
Sound Quality Rating: 4
Construction
Very solid, after 3 years it looks pretty new, the pedal is INDESTRUCTIBLE. I haven’t problems because it’s a Boss pedal.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Myles Long
Band: Pestrip
Price Paid: $40
Performance
What can you say, you step on it, it comes on and produces a distortion sound. So it works well. Now for the bad news. Next section.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
Sound quality is very transistory, for lack of a better word. The sound is like that of a wide open portable AM radio. I don’t understand why these are so popular. I could not tweek a sound that I actually liked out of the thing. I guess that’s what you get when you buy mail order.
Sound Quality Rating: 2
Construction
Like all Boss pedals, this this is built like a tank. There is no fault to be found with the construction.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Juan Maldonado
Band: 5 Mentario
Price Paid: $50
Performance
It works great. I love it along with my Metal Zone, Fabtone, and Ibanez Slam Punk.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
Dude, you want a nice lead guitar distortion or a heavy metal sound just turn down the tone and you have a nice fat distortion, turn up the tone and you have a nice “crunchy” distortion.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
What can I say, IT’S MADE OUT OF STEEL! Best stuff in the world!
Construction Rating: 10