Overview
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 PedalsThe 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 different level. Like all Boss products, it is a level of sound quality and durability that is unrivaled.