Boss Distortion Pedals Through The Years (DS-1, DS-2, DF-2, MD-2, DA-2, DS-1x, DS-1w)

The Boss DS-1 and it's successors have graced the pedalboards of pro players and amateurs alike. They have featured on iconic records, inspiring us mortals to play with sizzling, raw distortion. In this video I track the development of Boss' orange compact distortion pedals, from their origins in the 1970s to today.
I used a Marshall DSL40CR on the clean channel (unless otherwise stated on the video), the EQ control remained the same for all examples. It was miced with a Shure SM57 and RODE NT3. The guitar used was a 2005 PRS Custom 24.
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0:00 intro
0:35 OP amp
1:07 Boss DS-1
6:32 Boss DF-2
9:03 Boss DS-2
12:11 Boss MD-2
14:16 Boss DA-2
16:14 Boss DS-1x
18:10 Boss DS-1w
20:29 What do you think?

[@ivantorres7661]

I like how you explain and inform about from old to new boss pedals and the way you show how every pedal sound good job in your series about boss pedals please keep doing more content like this I'll wait for a boss flanger through the years video

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

It's coming, I'm going to get my hands on a BF-1 for that video

[@JBASH2011]

BITD we all (mostly) figured out these od and distortion pedals sounded like shit unless the amp was already cooking. Gain low, level high, tone around 10-11 oclock (on a DS1). I was turned on to them by Gary Moores earliest 1980 work- Corridoors of Power. He used them with his single coil strats into already cooking 4 holer Marshalls. One of my faves to this day. Thanks for the vid.

[@markpickardlife]

always well-made videos. Thanks.

[@ontherhodes8088]

Awesome content Jas. Many thanks.

[@pablomusicgear7288]

I am just saying thank you for this! 😊

[@JamesTaylor-yw2rg]

I myself own the mega distortion and I like the sound of it playing through the Crate Blue Voodoo really boost the distortion

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Crate, now there's a name I haven't heard for a while. I used to own one too.

[@ktuluboy]

Great video! You need to add the PW-2 and XT-2 to the test…. A Part 2 maybe? Keep it up, love your videos!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I have a special video planned for them (I have both).

[@adamgs82]

I went on a bit of a tear recently to pickup a bunch of older Boss pedals and the MD-2 was fairly cheap... I've heard a lot of people hating on it, but I quite liked it for what it was. That Bottom control is HUGE. Maybe not for everyday use, but not a bad sounding pedal, despite the massive amount of criticism I've read...

[@NewFalconerRecords]

In 2019, for an album track, I used a DS-1 to achieve an early Kinks-like riff (think 'All Day and All of the Night') by rolling back the tone control on my Les Paul style guitar. For the solo I managed to achieve a more Yardbirds-y Jeff Beck fuzz sound. and they both turned out great. At the time I wished that I had a proper fuzz unit though. Then a thing called COVID-19 happened and that's when I became obsessed with finding the perfect fuzz unit. I still don't know how many I bought between 2020-22, but I've got a cupboard full of them, and most of them are just sitting there doing nothing. Anyway, I'd always loved a certain EP called '25 O'Clock' by a band called the Dukes of Stratosphear. It turned out that they were actually XTC in disguise. Their whole mission was to try and replicate the sound of late '60s psychedelia with organ, mellotron and, of course, fuzz guitars. I always assumed that they used vintage gear to achieve what was an incredibly authentic sounding record, but do you know what guitarist Dave Gregory used to replicate the perfect 1960s fuzz guitar sound? A friggin' Boss DS-1 It's no accident that this is the greatest selling effects pedal in history. It's so versatile and it cuts through a mix like nobody's business.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

That's right, it cuts through a mix. It's a great example of something that may not sound good on its own, but works in a mix.

[@christianhernandez1286]

I cant wait for you to review the ch-1 and sd-1, sd-2! and pedals like the digital delays

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I have those ones you mentioned. Videos will be coming

[@arjanhurkmans9190]

great video, very informative. It would be cool to have a no talking , one riff comparisons (10 sec each or so). Maybe for YT shorts? 🙂

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I put out a short a couple of days ago, just not with the same riff.

[@arjanhurkmans9190]

@@JasonAyalaSpare Thanks! Just watched it, very helpful!

[@bradleyberdahl6148]

cool

[@eoinjennings519]

FB2 is a great - useful as a boost with added fun

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I've never tried it.

[@eoinjennings519]

@@JasonAyalaSpare just seen it’s discontinued and more expensive 2nd hand than the new bp1w ! I use as a solo boost mainly

[@eoinjennings519]

Nice one - I did like the WAZA when I got it - got the DS1X as well as liked the ODX but not really bonded with that as much or used it in the right way

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I really liked the Adaptive distortion

[@eoinjennings519]

@@JasonAyalaSpare DS2 also covers a lot of ground - that's a sleeper

[@michaelfowler3187]

Never owned one and don't love the general sound it makes but as usual your playing technique and tones are pleasant. Though I've never had one I'm sure I've had pedals based on that design. I find the sound to be a bit "stiff" and gritty in more treble content less bass content where I want to hear it thicker I guess. Stiff in sound, but not in feel- as you're showing us it has a certain compression and sag to it under heavy picking- I think that can be irritating for some players but anyone could get used to it over time- the sag in a pedal is just part of the feel and a way to make it your own. I know it's a totally different pedal but when I first got an OCD I felt like I finally found something for "me" since it could be so clean and so dirty just from pick attack. Sorry for the ramble- just wanted to share:D

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Can't say I've ever been a die hard fan of the DS-1. My first distortion pedal was a Guyatone Zoom Box, which I proffer to this day.

[@Aqua_1014]

DA-2 sounds great! so it's a multiband distortion?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Apparently so..

[@gcvrsa]

The DS-1X is by far my favorite. I'm surprised if the DA-2 is really fetching high prices, because the DA-2 is clearly inferior to the DS-1X, The DS-1X is really more or less the same pedal, but with a better algorithm and better aesthetics. It's not that the DA-2 sounds bad, but that the DS-1X sounds so much better that there's no reason to own a DA-2, unless you are a weird "collector".

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

The DS-1x sounded more scooped to me, a bit like an original but less compressed and more bass. The DA-2 had more mids, it depends on what you like.

[@xwasssabix2347]

Damn, I didn't know how much the price went up on them. I've had one since it came out, and it was my first pedal.

[@afxtwinreverb]

Nevermind was recorded with the DS1

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I've seen photos of him live from 91/92 using a DS-2 and small clone.

[@afxtwinreverb]

@@JasonAyalaSpare yes he switched to the DS2 when nevermind was released around september