Boss DS-1 Distortion compact pedal

Distortion compact pedal, the icon of guitar effects that has shaped rock, metal and punk - Orange

The DS-1 Distortion is an icon in the world of guitar effects. introduced in 1978, it was the first distortion pedal from BOSS and offered a rich, never-before-heard sound, edgy attack and smooth sustain that has inspired guitarists for generations. The DS-1 is the best-selling BOSS compact pedal of all time and its unchanged design continues to inspire the creation of great music today. The famous sound of the DS-1 has shaped the sound of numerous rock legends - and today it's your turn. Most distortion pedals before the DS-1 produced a harsh, buzzy sound and blurred tone when the knobs were turned up. in 1978, BOSS engineers broke with this tradition and developed a unique circuit for the DS-1 that produces a clear, edgy gain with overtones while preserving the unique tonal characteristics of each guitar and playing technique. In the seventies and eighties, new musical styles such as hard rock, metal and punk developed, which were strongly influenced by the sound of the DS-1. The DS-1 has influenced generations of musicians and even today guitarists all over the world swear by its classic sound. Despite its simple interface with only three controls, the DS-1 can be used to create a wide range of different sound colours. Its pioneering two-stage circuit contains both transistor and op-amp amplification stages. This is crucial for the characteristic full sound of the DS-1, even at low frequencies, which is particularly appreciated by guitarists of heavier genres. The distortion control offers the entire range, from a little more pressure for shallow flowing amps and pedals to extreme distortion for powerful rock riffs. In contrast to conventional tone controls that simply cut away the highs, the DS-1's tone circuit has an innovative design that offers significantly more room for manoeuvre. Turning the knob clockwise boosts the highs and cuts the lows, turning it in the opposite direction does the opposite. This allows settings for sharp, cutting rhythms as well as for rich, soft lead voices. With conventional distortion pedals, the low frequencies often become dull and fuzzy when used with vintage-style amps. The DS-1 offers the possibility to avoid this unwanted effect via the tone control and to obtain clear low frequencies.