Boss DS-1 Distortion

The Boss DS-1 is one of the most popular distortion pedals of all time, and has been in production since 1978. It’s a simple design based around a single op-amp, with level, tone and distortion controls. The DS-1’s tone has been described as “heavy” and “harsh”.

The DS-1 was popularized by Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, and it’s tone is best summarised in the heavier sections of “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Other notable Boss DS-1 users include Joe Satriani, John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Chris Wolstenholme (Muse – use on some of the bass tones on the Showbiz album).

When looking to buy a second hand DS-1 many people prefer to look for the older Japanese made models as opposed to the newer Taiwanese produced versions. The Japanese models are said to be “smoother” sounding.