I recently bought a DS-1 distortion pedal. I tried it out, and it sounds extremely grainy, and I have to set my settings in really weird places in order for it to sound okay. My amp's clean sounds just fine, and the distortion does too.

So has anybody else used a BOSS DS-1 distortion pedal before? Do you think my amp is just weird, or is the pedal not made for soloing?

__________________

I have a boss DS-1 and I don't like how it sounds with my bandit. IMO it sounds pretty damn good with my peavey XXX. I'm pretty sure the boss DS-1 was made for tube amps. I think the DS-1 is made for soloing...Joe Satch used the DS-1.

as a stand alone unit... i hate them... as i do most pedals. it's hard to get a good sound that way.

but for a boost on a tube amp, i think it does a great job. especially a modded one.

__________________

What kind of amp are you running it into?
Jerry

It's not too great, a Fender Champion. I bet that's the problem. Also, I'm playing on a Strat... that could be a problem too. If Satch used it, then I'm sure there's nothing wrong with the pedal, just my other gear.

__________________

Two of my friends uses the DS-1 but i prefer the MD-2. It's more distortion and bass in that one. And you can get more variation with it. For example, you can use it to create everything from easy overdrive to really nasty distortion.

Mt - 2 is not very good even as a boost to a Tube Amp... Ds - 1 into good tube amp = good MT - 2 into tube amp = bad Although you said MD - 2 i assumed you had a typo, if not i am a retard and ignore me

__________________

Nah, the MD-2 is another sucky boss pedal. Very muddy.

__________________

Mega distortion. it even says it in his signature.

__________________

well, I think I could still return the pedal, so I'll try for a Mega Distortion 2. I saw it for a pretty good price at Charles Music. If that doesn't work, I'll have pick up a foot pedal.

__________________

Do you realy want that pedal? Basicly its a muddier version of the MT-2 without sweepable mids.

__________________

I know this opinion is useless, but I prefer the "post gain" knob on my 5150II over both of these pedals

try out the ibanez tubescreamer, great for boosting, but also works for a stand alone distortion, much nicer than the ds-1.

__________________

I have a ds-1 and an md-2 i like them both very much. if you turn the gain all the way up and the tone to 11 o'clock on the ds-1it sounds pretty good.

__________________

Maxon OD-808!!!

__________________

I know nothing about that, is it good? Sorry if that was sarcasm, because then I'd sound like an idiot.

Well, I think I'll use the '30 day return' policy to my advantage, try out a few of the pedals people have suggested, and then buy a FS if they fail to satisfy me.

Thank You Very Much

__________________

The Mazon OD-808 is an awesome pedal, Killswitch Engage and Unearth both use it to boost their Framus Cobra's and their 5150's.

__________________

though it wont do much for a fender champ

__________________

DS-1? are you sure those are still in production?

I'd just keep the ds-1 for now. Just start to save up for a decent amp. As others said, get a tube amp so you can boost it with the ds-1.

I guess I'll just keep it, and try to repair my old foot switch input.

Damn Fender Champ Amp!!!

__________________

my apologies that was the HM-1 i was thinking of. yeah, just grab yourself a tube amp once you've got the dough, if you sell the pedal you could end up regretting it later.

Why did they discontinue the HM-1 (heavy metal) pedal?

because it sucked...

__________________

pretty much... it has ONE sound, and that sound is a horrible shrill 80's cock rock sound.

blah

__________________

Pedals don't sound like a great idea right now. I'm gonna test my DS-1 out one more time, and if I'm still not satisfied, I have a chance to return it by Saturday. I have a feeling I'll be keeping my amp for quite a long time. Maybe a new one could be my only birthday present.

__________________

Hmm...old thread...but well, I got a question.

I own the boss ds1 distortion pedal...I usually like to put some reverb on my distortion. So, should I rather buy a second pedal for the reverb or buy a multieffect pedal like the boss me 50?

A friend has an MXR overdrive pedal, which he runs into his Fender tube amp.(some 2x12). Sounds really nice.

__________________

What do you mean by a stand alone pedal? Just with the distortion pedal going into the amp?

__________________

yes...well, now its like this amp+ds1 ...but the ds1 has no reverb...so, should I buy a reverb pedal and do it like ds1 ---> reverb pedal ---> amp ...or should I just buy a multi effect pedal (which has distortion and reverb + many other effects anyway)?

if all you need is reverb and distortion... i don't see much reason to buy a multi fx unit. it's like buying a value meal at mcdonalds if all you want is the fries.

hell, with a decent amp, you shouldnt need the ds-1, and you could just buy a reverb pedal... or if you're lucky, the amp might already have reverb on it.

__________________

Hehe...well...the problem is: im talking about an amp which has no effects at all...no distortion, no reverb - just the vol and lows, mids, highs...

so buy a reverb pedal

__________________

Or get a more versatile amp.

I think that would be more expensive than a reverb pedal!

getting a good sound isnt cheap...

__________________

Word.

Hmmm...do you think that "amp-effects" are better than effect pedals?

if by effects you mean distortion, usually. actual "effects", usually not.

__________________

ok, well...are there any reverb pedals to recommend?

I only had boss products until now...im afraid to buy something by zoom! :X
but has some of the most expensive pedals...

dont buy zoom!!!my zoom pedal is a sack of horse shit!!!

__________________

if your amp is single channel, clean only, its much better have your reverb as a stand alone pedal anyway. you should place it at the end of the chain, after the distortion pedal, for a relistic room sound.
You can experiment with placing it in front of the disortion for a weird exploding effect (listen to some tracks by cog @ www.cog.com.au for some great use of different reverb and delay techniques), you shouldn't sell your pedals.... ever.
even if you eventually get an amp with distortion, you can then use the reverb pedal in the effects loop to retain a realistic reverb sound... or again, keep it in front of the distortion to scare the SCHITE out of your band members.