This Is WAY Better Than The Tubescreamer (The Boss DS-1 Sound)

[@jhspedals]

Madison Cunningham shirt, DS1, hot licks, nerdy thoughts = A+

[@BetterCallJamie]

A+ really JHS did you see the sick burn when Josh first appeared.

[@RickMcCargar]

Series 3 fuzz has the most useful gain-sweep of any fuzz pedal I've owned...truly awesome design! Nerdy thoughts...rarely a bad thing...but sometimes...

[@donewithmodernlife]

I love the fact Josh seems to enjoy talking about other companies pedals more than his own. That’s a beautiful thing & I’ve learned a lot from him.

[@michaelragan5799]

Tube Screamer is far better AND more versatile

[@johnkruton9708]

Holy crud Rhett I thought Josh was playing and you were covering it!!! Love your attack and composition on this track

[@PintsofGuinness]

holy shit its cool to hear him break out of his typical blues-rock sound. that opening jam was dope.

[@cheezyridr]

YES! in all the time i've been watching, i think that's the rockinest thing i've heard from him, and it was easily as cool as the other stuff. i hope he does the rock thing occasionally, going forward.

[@tomnaumann2104]

Totally agree. There’s a general lack of killer riffage in pedal demos, but this delivered. Nice work!

[@ApolloSuns]

Sounded good 👍👍👍👍

[@dougdavis8986]

@@cheezyridr people still say dope???

[@cheezyridr]

@@dougdavis8986 i'm an old guy. gen x is my mother tongue.

[@BOSSinfoglobal]

Rhett, you are the man. Thanks for the DS-1/DS-1W love!

[@capnjagg]

I think my favorite thing about the DS-1 (aside from the tones) is that they are abundant and affordable on the used market. Pretty much every kid who even thought about trying guitar got one to go along with their Squier/Epiphone and cheap little practice amp before giving up a couple months later. Just like Jimmie Moore, “I’m reaping all the benefits…”

[@EarleMonroe]

That's how I ended up with one - an inexperienced college aged guitar noob poking around a pawn shop and dropping $35 on a pedal

[@Bikewithlove]

I bought the Ibanez Tube Screamer in 1989 (meh) and a DOD FX55 in 2003 (a one-trick pony). Long story short, I read that Trevor Rabin uses the DS-1 so I picked one up this year. Oh - hell yeah - it’s a keeper.

[@seanmcgoldrick1702]

First pedal I bought. £16 second hand on ebay. It's been on the shelf for years - but combined with the dirty setting on 2x12 fender deville - fuck it sounded unreal

[@danielpaz2609]

No kidding! That was my first pedal -other than the cheapo multi FX that I got with my guitar. I bought it from a friend who had it for years on a shelf. It turns out I got a 1982 pedal for 20 bucks (not that I think it's any better for that, it's just funny I have a pedal that's older than me).

[@JacintoVG]

My parents giving me a ds-1 was the savior of my guitar career, my tiny crap secondhand pack-in crate amp sounded horrible, but a ds-1 into the clean channel was more than enough to keep me from giving up.

[@shanedingz]

That opening jam is by far the coolest thing I’ve ever heard Rhett play.

[@severebash9153]

Check out the album Fantastic Planet by Failure, especially Pillowhead and Sergeant Politeness, it sounds incredibly close to what Rhett was doing here

[@coletimms4764]

@@severebash9153 Yes! One of the best albums of all time 🤟

[@coconutcrispy83]

@@severebash9153 Great album by a great band, but it sounds more like an IDLES vibe to me.

[@tylerdurden5122]

He must have learned that from josh Scott…..

[@shanedingz]

@@tylerdurden5122 Oh, I get it. It’s very clever.

[@rjw7032]

Dad bought me a DS-1 in spring of ‘78 as my birthday present so I could play rock through my practice amp. This is ‘78 and amps only distorted when they were cranked! I learned 100s of songs in my bedroom and could dial in so many sounds as you found out Rhett. Flipped a lot of gear but that DS-1 is still going! I got the waza version and it is very good enough to keep the original at home now.

[@RobReynolds-qt1hj]

Intro was smokin Rhett. Taking me back to gigging and recording in the late 80s and early 90s in the alternative rock genre, Small clubs, mosh pits, sonic youth, etc. You would have been thoroughly entertained from the stage if you unleashed that riff on the crowd, I loved listening to new/live music in my 20s, but it’s channels like this that sustains me, taking the time and energy to craft incredible pieces of music consistently is so impressive and appreciated. Well done once again Rhett.

[@americanpatriots4868]

I was completely blown away by the opening tune. I always associated Rhett with your standard blues rock for some reason, but that opening was insane! Maybe he should explore this new sound a bit more. It is much more interesting and original!

[@boofert.washington2499]

You're joking, right? I'm convinced most of you are bots. There's no way anyone thought that opening was amazing. Not possible. It was 3 chords and ambient feedback.

[@jadeblanco2896]

If it’s too loud you’re too old

[@XLTBlarg]

@@boofert.washington2499 Ahh yes, simple = bad, complex = good. Thanks for your enlightened opinion sir.

[@simonpsychosis2812]

I wanna whole album of this type of stuff! Amazing!

[@americanpatriots4868]

@@simonpsychosis2812I agree. That tune blew my mind!

[@big_ol_ball838]

running a ds1 on lowest tone and high distortion into a high gain fuzz sounds crazy. one of the best lead tones imo.

[@carrterdinkins7977]

Tried a high gain fuzz into a high distortion ds1, one of the worst sounds 😭 can’t even describe it

[@big_ol_ball838]

@@carrterdinkins7977 yeah the reverse does not work unfortunately

[@severebash9153]

Tone rolled down on guitar all the way, plus tone on ds1 maxed out = instant Thee Oh Sees tone

[@big_ol_ball838]

@@severebash9153 I’ll try this. John Dwyer’s tone is something I hold in the highest standing

[@nintendoor1]

@@big_ol_ball838 John uses a DBA Fuzz War almost exclusively, but I’m going to try this next time I’m in front of a DS1!

[@jeffnobles214]

I'm always so impressed by how great these videos have become. Rhett is constantly raising the bar.

[@PaulSter]

Yes, let's all fawn over a KZbinr and contribute absolutely nothing to the subject matter. 🙄

[@jeffnobles214]

@@PaulSter lame. How much more do you need to discuss here? It's a Boss DS-1. I stand by being more impressed by the elevation in the production value and content on this channel I've seen over the past years.

[@PaulSter]

@@jeffnobles214 yes, because fawning over KZbinrs is always more valuable than actually discussing the gear in question. 🙄 There's a whole lot more to talk about when comparing a DS-1 to a TS-9, but I guess you don't have any useful content to share on the pedals themselves. Too bad.

[@auberginedreams00]

This opening track is soooo much better than the typical blues stuff I hear on most channels like this (including this one a lot of time) really cool stuff

[@sonoftherabbitpeople4737]

The DS-1 is an outstanding pedal. I always recommend that as a first pedal for newcomers. So easy to dial in a decent tone from warm blues overdrive to heavy metal distortion. And it's inexpensive to boot!

[@eclipsegaming8260]

My ds1 is much quieter then my amp with it off idk what to do?

[@Crowbar11115]

I'm a massive Type O Negative fan and the heart Peter Steele's bass tone was the DS-1. My favorite bass sound of all time. It literally sounded like that man was playing fire as an instrument.

[@revylokesh1783]

Don't forget the chorus, though.

[@d00kcan0e]

Time to rev up my Pete Steele rig haha

[@MetaphysicalMusician]

Type on Negative was the Bomb..it sounded like he was ripping a hole in the planet

[@HenritheHorse]

To me it sounds like he plays huge livewires full of electricity.

[@Dr.Jekyll]

Literally? Just what does “playing fire” sound like? I think you mean “figuratively” or “practically.” Otherwise, the meaning of the word “literally” is going to change to mean figuratively or practically. Then we’ll have to come up with a new word. It’s a lot of work to create and remember new words all the time. Let’s stick to the ones we already have, of which we probably use only 40% anyway.

[@rodmorgan7041]

It's great to see this DS-1 still in use because I bought one back when I started playing back in '79 and it's still going, and so am I. Love it 😀

[@chriscampbell9191]

Nice to see the 'lowly' DS-1 getting some props. Some guys say they get shrill on the higher tone ranges, but I think that the DS-1's tone control provides at least one decent tone for nearly anybody, even if you just find one setting and keep it there. I prefer the darker side of it. Works really well, especially on single coils. Excellent little box.

[@rachelandryan]

Joe Satriani actually used the DS1 as a catch-all distortion sound for both rhythm and lead. From Surfing to Crystal Planet he played his Marshall Jubilee super clean with the DS1 in front taking the role of an always on distortion bringer.

[@supernothing77]

Via used it too, but I think he just used it to smooth out his leads

[@juanforrester2283]

I heard he juiced those amps with the pedal,i use a gt2 & ge7 into any power section for that godly crunchiness. Ds1 is excelent as main crunch tough,i fully agree.

[@RomainBigeardGuitar]

@@juanforrester2283 I saw Satriani during the Super Colossal tour (circa 2006) and from my vantage point I clearly saw him going from clean to lead tone by pressing on the little orange box right in front of him so most of his dirt came from the DS-1. That was just before he got his Vox pedals.

[@MrDoobie12286]

Tubescreamer fan here, but I do enjoy your disdain for it and exploring other pedals! lol

[@zero318]

Same Pat...I've been rolling Tube Screamers since the early 80's. Sure the Boss DS-1 was around then too...but like so many subjective arguments over the years, it was always a tomato tomahto kind of thing. Some people rolled the Boss, some people rolled the Ibanez...no wrong answers. So, WAY better than a Tubescreamer? Nope...just different, sorta. hehehehe

[@tideslider664]

I have a tube screamer next too distortion pedal totally different sounds

[@mykhedelic6471]

LOL, Rhett's vendetta against the Tubescreamer continues. Again, excellent cinematography on introducing each version.

[@phillipallen3323]

Back in the 70s and early 80s when the Tubescreamers were showing up on the scene. They were considered crap by most of the players I came up with. It wasn't until one was spotted on SRVs pedal board that suddenly they were the holy grail. NOT. TS's are one trick ponies at best and not very good at that. lol

[@markn4526]

@@phillipallen3323 Yeah, I agree. I think Tube Screamers are best utilized to enhance an overdriven or distorted tone that's already there. It adds midrange while cutting the low end so lead lines or riffs are more prominent in the mix. Also, as Rhett said, they work best with a base tone that's relatively scooped...a la Stratocaster/Fender amp. SRV's style and tone exemplifies this which made the Tube Screamer so popular. Personally, I don't think they work well with a Les Paul/Marshall combination where an SD-1 or BD-2 might be better. DS-1's work well to produce your base overdriven/distorted tone thru a clean, relatively clean or overdriven amp.

[@dwaynemullett9462]

Tube screamers are the equivalent of an ice pick being jammed into my eye socket. I absolutely hate the tone of a tube screamer my boss sd1 sounds way better. And I'm starting to think I want a boss ds1

[@markn4526]

@@dwaynemullett9462 I think Tube Screamers have their place, but there are certainly better alternatives available now compared to 35 years ago. I have one from early-2000's that I had modified by Analog Man with the "brown mod", but I rarely use it as I primarily play Les Paul guitars thru Marshall amps. I've tried a SD-1 and BD-2 and they are really good pedals, but I parted with them because I already have pedals that do what they do and better. The Fulltone Full-Drive is a great alternative that works well with both Fender and Marshall-style amps and is more versatile than a Tube Screamer.

[@dunxy]

Yeah i never liked TS much, i got one in early '00's, cost me $130iirc and i had a ds1 (v1 iirc)n that cost me less than 1/2 that and i did prefer the ds1 for sure, but i did sell both not long after when i got a decent custom built amp with a footwsitch controlled high gain pre-amp in it and i didn't need od or distortion pedals any more for the tones i was chasing back then. I wish i still had that amp, they no longer made and i sold it when i stopped playing guitar around 2011. Recently got back into guitar, my tastes have changed and pedals have become more relevant again, considering my next amp (waiting for it to be built) is just a 5e3 clone, ive already started acquiring various pedals to feed it even though i probably will not be requiring much in the way of od outside of what the amp can deliver itself (at the end of the day power amp distortion is king) and i have little desire to play the kind of heavy distortion music i used to play 20 years ago.

[@gerberhouse7522]

I opened up the pedal and removed the D4 capacitor (or whatever it’s called) to give it a much warmer, smoother sound. Huge improvement!

[@mikestrauser2944]

How did you do it plz

[@Mark_Ocain]

The DS-1 was my first pedal back in 1981...I still have it! Great pedal!

[@ginopini6484]

Same here, first pedal DS 1 and a Blues Driver the same day late 80's I think, still use both but prefer used with humbuckers over single coils

[@-Pol-]

@@ginopini6484 Blues Driver was issued 1995

[@christopherdunn974]

Also a Tube Screamer or SD-1 into a DS-1 as a boost is a great sound!

[@hearpalhere]

Man, there are a lot of awesome things about this video! The little jab at Josh, calling him an amateur slide player, the playing examples and demo of the tone knob settings, the Black Sabbath and Khruangbin references, the intro song. Super cool Rhett, nice job!

[@sisuriffs]

Just dusted off and plugged in my old DS-1, after watching this. Fell in love all over again. Thanks!

[@oliverlangrall2014]

The DS-1 was my first pedal. I've gone through a dozen other distortions but I've never replaced it on my board. It just does it for me.

[@fluffytoaster427]

This little box was Ol Reliable for the better part of a decade for me. Love to see it finally get the modern respect it’s earned.

[@Tyrannosaurine]

If I’m being honest, my pedalboard is changing constantly BUT… I’ve been running my amp head as clean as possible as a pedal platform and then using a DS-1 as an always on basis to work from. Obviously you gotta keep the tone relatively low because it can get shrill, but it’s super easy to dial in a great distorted tone. Added bonus: it cleans up pretty well, so I can just rock my volume pedal back to get clean sounds. I own multiple Boss pedals and they’re all solid. The DS1 rules. The CS2 chorus is possibly the best chorus around. The DD digital delays are pretty good too. Their Space Echo looks great and I’m dying to get a super feedbacker.

[@justsumguy2u]

I have a DS-1, and I can't imagine guitar life without it. I think a lot of people associate this pedal with just metal, but it lends itself to a wide array of music and styles. Tonight I was just picking some chords in Dm, and it made them sound larger than life

[@satyanpatel6403]

I did the same thing you did. One of my first pedals, tried it, and was way too much distortion, and then shelved it. In my case I was still so new. Mint in the box sat for years, but I plan on pairing it now, because thanks to you, and explaining it in so much detail with the settings, I found a few flavors I can work with. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@TheDanson000]

I bought this pedal back off buddy in high school in 2004. It is still used to this day. Amazing sound. Cheers!

[@ryanthenormal]

I bought a used DS-1 something like three years ago and spent ages trying to get it to sound good. I have never, ever been able to, but I've been reluctant to let it go because of its iconic heritage. Then last night I decided to put it on my board for a jam night in a "make or break" intervention. Either I'd make it work or I'd sell. I discovered three things to be true. It it sounds a lot better in a mix than in isolation, it's easier to get it to sound good if you start with all the control low then turn them up rather than at noon and tweak them and it's easier to make it sound good if you're under pressure - like "get your rig ready, we're starting in 90 seconds" type pressure - than if you have three years to monkey around with it.

[@tricitytypebeat8622]

I had a nearly identical experience with the DS1 as you. I went into a guitar shop many years ago to check out pedals, plugged into the DS1, turned the gain up and thought, "My GOD, that sounds awful!" I never gave any thought to what amp I was plugged into (almost definitely solid state), the guitar, or the settings on the pedal. Thus began my 20+ years of unjust bias against the DS1 LMAO! More recently, after opening my eyes to several misconceptions about music I had formed, I watched a video about the best dirt pedals, can't remember the channel, but I was blown away by how amazing the DS1 sounded. I just received my DS1w recently and it's now my favorite distortion pedal.

[@TheZachCrouch]

Dude totally agree. Ran a vox ac30 or fender blues jr with either a strat or tele with the DS-1 as my “clean” boost, which in tandem with a really dirty fuzz sounds incredible, it beefs/cleans up a fuzz in ways I can’t describe. Huge fan, that pedal got me through years of gigs

[@BParker55]

The V3 was my first ever pedal. Thanks grandma ❤️

[@Wilsonite6]

When I got my first electric, I was given a ds-1 and had no idea on how to get it to sound good. I always had the distortion and tone cranked and thought it sounded terrible. After a few years, I started experimenting with the pedal, and now it's probably my most used pedal doing things from a slight overdrive rhythm sections to lead riffs. Took me years, but I finally appreciate how versatile the pedal really is.

[@gund2281]

This video kind of hits on a subject that is central to my musical/guitar life. The DS-1 is an amazing pedal and I happen to have a V1 by almost complete accident. I don't know if anyone will find this story interesting or not, but here goes anyway: In the late 90's, I was in high school and was very involved in music. I had been playing trumpet in the band since I was old enough to start. Well of course, as high school rolls around, just about every dude my age wanted to play guitar. The guy I took trumpet lessons from, also was the municipal band director that I played in, happened to own a music store in town and always hired a couple kids from the music program to help at the shop during the busy times of the year. So I started working there my sophomore year. But shortly BEFORE I started working there, I got the itch and the shop was having a HUGE sale on guitars. There was a green starburst Les Paul that they had marked down by about 50% and I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. So I started begging my mom to let me, or rather HELP me buy it. She resisted for about 5 days of me bugging her every day. Finally she said ok and we went to the store to get it...but it was gone. I ended up with a Yamaha Pacifica instead because I wasn't leaving without SOMETHING in my hand. It was actually a pretty good guitar and I did like it, but it wasn't the Les Paul. I do actually have a real LP now but I also have that Pacifica lol. ANYWAY After I had been working for the store for about 8 or 9 months, I realized things weren't going terribly well for the store and eventually my paychecks stopped coming every week and were more like every couple of weeks. Then it became whenever he could get to them. Being the age I was and really not having any financial responsibilities yet, and the fact that we were friends in general, I wasn't super concerned about WHEN I got the money, I just knew he owed me. So eventually I did get a little frustrated and decided if I couldn't get paid with a paycheck, I'd just grab something I wanted and do it that way. The Boss DS-1 was one of the first things I took home with me. The owner did confront me about it and I actually did feel bad about it, but I also kind of flipped out on him and said "hey, you can't pay me any other way!" We ended up making kind of an agreement that if I saw something I wanted and he could afford to let it go, then we could supplement my pay in that fashion. I just needed to make sure I talked to him about it. So in the end, I still have that DS-1, a Boss chorus pedal, and a few other goodies that I'm forgetting from that time. The store, and my former teacher/boss are long gone (he died in a house fire in the mid-2000's), and actually the things I ended up "trading" my work for never amounted to nearly what he would have owed me in paychecks...so I guess he made out ok lol.

[@andigisler]

I used a DS-1 for many years but switched to the Analog Man-modded version at some point. A truly KILLER pedal, especially with the added midrange-knob option.

[@fredsystra7584]

Both tubescreamer and ds1 are amazing. You gotta learn to appreciate both. So many songs and bands you love used a tubescreamer

[@almostliterally593]

What about þe MXR Diſtortion +?

[@alexpyle6647]

What about the ZFD distortion fuzz chorus compressor pedal?

[@sundaynightdrunk]

Bought mine in 1988, about six years into playing guitar and it was a freaking revelation. Lots of sneaky tones in that little box. I had zero budget for anything else, so I'm really glad I chose it. It still has a sharpie mark on it to remind me to keep the input level low and crank the amp up for a whole different tone (and my amp was cheap solid state), which is another trick it hides.

[@daviddent4492]

Bought my DS-1 in 1982 as a kid. Still have it. Rediscovering it. As an X'er that gave up guitar for a career and now taking it back up as a hobby, I've been educating myself about the craft (a huge thanks to a bunch to guys like Rhett and Josh), and I've purchased several dirt pedals to try and find tone. I have to agree with Rhett on this one that my 1982 DS-1 still is on top of the heap, but I have an assortment now to play with. Thanks for the video and an homage and shout out to the sound of my youth. Looking forward to the renaissance of the DS-1.

[@BittenHand19]

Nice to see someone confirm what I’ve know forever. I use two versions of this pedal on my board for two different settings. One is an All Seeing Eye mod and the other just a factory made from a few years ago. I didn’t know they went full surface mount too. Opened my newer one up and to my surprise it was surface mount! Still sounds amazing. I figured it was quieter cause the modded one was a project and not done by a pro.

[@nowhereweareagain]

I'm a bit of a nirvana nerd, so here's a couple of extra things about Kurt and the DS-1. 1) He actually switches over some time during the tour for nevermind, early enough that by the time they play paramount on Halloween 91, he's using a two in mode I for that show. 2) the DS-2 mode I is very similar to the DS-1, but there a distinct difference in both the highs and the amount of level on tap. The DS-2 can go slightly above unity, where as the DS-1 tops out slightly below unity, which is why they really need to be run into amps that are already compressing/clipping to sound good. 3) On the album in utero, Kurt clearly uses a decent bit of mode II, which is pretty different. It sounds like he's also using mode II at Reading in 92'. Live he still uses the DS-2 for the in utero tours, but it becomes supplemental. If you really dig Kurt's 93' live sound then what your more likely hearing is a Sans Amp Classic, which they currently make a re issue of, albeit it's a lot more expensive than a DS-1 or DS-2. Lastly and unrelated to Nirvana, if you like the DS1 sound, but wish it was a little more flexible then look into the 78' Custom Badass Distortion by MXR. It's got a pretty similar sound and is like $80. It's and absolutely killer pedal for the money.

[@ricardopereira9262]

Kurt was not a reference in tone neither as a guitar player. I dont get why some people care so much about what mode he used in what distortion pedal

[@nowhereweareagain]

⁠@@ricardopereira9262Josh referenced Kurt around 5:30 and I think my fun facts are in same spirit as man showing you a computer mouse that looks like a pedal, which is to say, I only tangentially relevant, but interesting to some none the less.

[@CreepyHouseMusic]

The Ibanez Tube King is my pedal of choice. It used to be a Tube Screamer or a DS-1 but when I discovered the Tube King it was like a perfect blend of both pedals with a warm tube tone..!!

[@roxspeedg]

I've been into Boss pedals since starting out on guitar growing up idolizing John Frusciante, the DS-2 being a mainstay of his board. The guy is in one of the biggest bands ever and he's had Boss pedals all over his board for years. Don't sleep on Boss pedals. BTW a video on Frusciante's tone might be a good idea my friend! ;)

[@HarvestBreedmusic]

Prince used exclusively boss pedals!

[@Vkiller711]

I forgot who said it but they said they used boss pedals the most cause you could find them anywhere in the world

[@perniciousreaper4393]

Never understood the hate for Boss pedals other than people think if they're affordable starter pedals they must suck. There are a few (the DS-1 included) that shine above just about any boutique pedal out there, such as the BD-2 Blues Driver and the CE-2 Chorus.

[@roxspeedg]

@@perniciousreaper4393 The BD-2 circuit is a great example, so many clones out there, for good reason!

[@jasonbates2687]

@@Vkiller711 Steve Vai

[@PeteKaltsa]

I have a ‘78 and a ‘79 and they sound more like a cranked amp. Just gotta back off the gain a quarter, and it sounds fatter when the volume is 3/4 to full. Gary Moore with a Strat and Marshall used it on Victims of the Future recording. Listen to the start of MURDER IN THE SKIES. Wow! It’s one of the greatest guitar tones ever

[@zechs5079]

Meh

[@simonjonasmusic8410]

Tremendous work, Rhett. I think more and more people will turn away from strictly "boutique" pedals, whatever that means, and realize, that Boss offers some incredibly capable and versatile options at a great price (even the Waza craft series seems very affordable when you compare it). They just had it right from the 70's and never stopped.

[@davemarriott9332]

LOVE this video. I played in early punk rock bands from '81 on and this V1 was my total tone even out of an old Yamaha amp which was my first amp. Killer tone and back then...We didn't have anything else not able to afford the Marshall.

[@knutsenneundorf116]

Haha, Exactly! We had an okayish guitar and a mediocre transistor amp, but with the DS-1 we sounded like those bands that had pictures of Marshall amps on their album covers.😊

[@davemarriott9332]

I remember I’d time hitting the pedal on the 3 of a 4 count in on any given song and there would be pretty much the 4 count would be my DS-1’s feedback screeching to begin the song

[@RobertNolan]

I love the DS-1 so much, it's an absolute favorite and fun to mod if you're into that!

[@caleshtcincredibles]

Yeh man DS-1 is The Boss for distortion love all those very cool tones . Truly versatile and needs to be on my pedalboard ! Been thinking about it for a long time , its time to make that happen thanks to Rhett and Josh ! Cheers!

[@potatoheadhaoy]

For those who don’t enjoy the ds-1: try running one into an od with your preferred eq profile or try cutting 1.6-3.2k by a few db. It doesn’t seem to like clean amps with headroom as much as something with a bit of compression/drive to it. Alternatively you could just attenuate the sibilant frequencies but I prefer stacking drives over an eq

[@sethydenberg3818]

The little jabs back and forth between you and Josh always crack me up. True friends.

[@JesseLeeKing]

I loved the tips on setting the pedal for different tones... You're very good at teaching and giving instructions. So yeah Keep the great guitar advice coming and yeah you do these type of videos just about better than anyone else on the tube.

[@cmdrargo4448]

You should really try the BOSS OS-2 which gives you Overdrive/Distrotion in the same pedal... pretty versatile, been using it for years... I picked it up in 91 and it's still going strong, I know that model was released somewhere around 1990

[@CorbCorbin]

I used one for awhile. Turn the knob left, for crunchy, right for distortion. I actually kept one on my board for awhile, because I could get controllable feedback with it so easily, when doing intros, trippy stuff and outros to songs, live. *Mine is a 90’s one too, that has never even needed to be re-soldered. A buddy has it now, and uses it with an acoustic. 😆

[@gkol69]

I have a '90s OS-2 but I later bought an SD-1 and a DS-1 and I found out that they have a more immediate, in-your-face sound. The OS-2 sounds more refined and subtle in either the od or the ds side, like a "recorded" version of the SD-1 and the DS-1. But the OS-2 excels when you have them mixed at 12 - 1 o'clock of the Color knob.

[@BenState]

My point exactly. The OS-1 in fact. A DS-1 with a OD and clean function - same box but yellow.

[@RogerBergqvist]

A 45 year legacy from a pedal. Wow! That´s amazing. And they still look the same.

[@The_austinmiller]

I’ve just started out doing some studio work out in Nashville and I’m shocked with how well I can make a DS-1 fit into the different genres I’ve been playing in. I’ve done some indie-pop, singer/songwriter music, and soon I’ll be using it for some dreamy alt rock. I just got around to watching this video and it’s warming my heart

[@cmd_f5]

Very cool. I prefer the SD-1 (overdrive) in front of a Marshall, but the DS-1 (distortion) gave me more snarl in front of that same Marshall. Kind of a different feel and character, + the dials are super versatile. I pointed out the OD vs dist because I used to get confused. Awesome jam / video!

[@SxTxD_KY]

@Heavy metal chainsaw THANK YOU. The title of this video kinda puzzled me. It might as well have been "Oranges are SOooo much better than apples!!"

[@donald-parker]

I used two DS-1's together (in series but not necessarily engaged at the same time) for years. One with the distortion at the min setting, and the other with distortion at about 3/4 (single coils mostly - HBs react like a completely different beast with this pedal). Adjusting level to suit. I always found the tone worked best between 1/4 and 2/3. Any more and it seemed too harsh. But the basic lesson is always, try all settings with your gear. Forget what the experts say. If it sounds good, it is good.

[@johndotcue]

Do you turn both of them on at the same time? That sounds wild lol

[@Varone26]

I have a Keeley DS-1 on my board. Playing through a Suhr Badger 18. When ever I need something with modern drive, I use the DS-1. Whether it's the distortion on full, or as a boost when I wanna use the Badgers amp drive. The DS-1 is simply incredible. I am glad more people have finally woken up and are starting to see how important this orange box of dirt really is.

[@lancemusgrave7087]

I also have a Keeley DS-1. It’s my favorite distortion pedal. My understanding is he started by modifying DS-1 pedals. To the best of my knowledge, they still modify them, if you send them one.

[@ronnythompson9115]

@Rhett Shull - Yep had a mini Marshall stack, DS-1 and BOSS HM-2 since 1983. Bought them brand new. Never used any other pedals and they both still work. Which I can't say that about other electronics. BOSS doesn't go obsolete or break after that much time has passed.

[@VernsHobbies]

Had a DS-1 when I was 16. Traded it for a DS-2. Still have the DS-2 today 20 years later

[@phillipallen3323]

I got my first DS 1 in 1982. I have several of them now from over the years. They are all very close in sound. They are also very easy to mod as there are several good mod kits available for them. They are practically bullet proof. I have never had a boss pedal fail.

[@mattw.6726]

Killer track at the beginning! A lot heavier and faster than I was expecting. You're truly turning into a Swiss Army knife guitar player, sir!

[@RhettShull]

Thanks Matt!

[@iadorasjourney]

Dear Rhett, thank you for this interesting and clarifying video. I really like your explaining the various sounds and versions of the DS-1 as you play. IMHO there is no denying that the Tuebscreamer has inspired (and continues to inspire!) a slew of other pedals that over time have become a standard in the overdrive world. Look, for example, at Fulltone's Fulldrive 2 or the Duellist, which is one of the best pedals in production today. To me, we should think in terms of sound and sonic performance which is involved with them. The tone (character, voice of the pedal) of the DS-1 is not the same as the TS, so many guitarists chose the latter because of its distinctive voice which would have been eventually combined with certain amplifiers like Fenders and similar (see SRV, right?)... I recently bought the DS-1 Waza and have been trying it out since yesterday (never had one before, but the Custom feaure has defintely fascinated me in terms of openness and sonic airiness); I have to say that if one has a set up where a Strat and a Les Paul is used in the same gig, there is always a disparity in the amount of gain between the two guitars. Well, with the DS-1 I have definitely solved that problem. In fact, for the LP I use the OD-3 as a boost before the Duellist, while instead for the Strat now I use the DS-1 as a boost and it's fantastic, if set properly (tone at 11, volume at 13, dist at 9 in the custom mode); it really brings out the character of the instrument, of the single coils, also because the tone remains unchanged if I roll down the volume of the guitar. So basically, let's not denigrate the TS because for me it's a complementary and indispensable effect (along with the others I mentioned) in shaping the tone and personality of a guitarist. By the way, I am curious now to use a set up consisting only of Les Paul, Strat, DS-1w in combination with my Blues Jr. with Celestion Ruby speaker and reworked tubes to see if I can use it as an overdrive/distortion and play Blues, Hard Rock and Funk!

[@beannie60]

I bought one in 1982 and new Gary Moore used one and as a big fan I had to get another one! Thanks, great video!

[@YasserCuan]

Man that intro was sick⚡🔥

[@rayprevailer8454]

Never tried the DS1. I use the SD1 for lead stuff. It tightens it all up and gives a volume boost. Simple, cheap and effective. I have always liked the Boss pedal design. Big no miss switch. Built like a tank. They got it right from the start.

[@luiscontreras2832]

It is pretty amazing all of the things that you get to learn by watching these kinds of videos! I´ve owned a DS-1 for a long time and it truly was one of my favorites (along with my Rat Proco). But this video brings my beloved DS-1 to another new level of appreciation! Thanks Rhett! what an amazing video my friend!

[@ICY95]

Was just gonna comment that I usally have my RAT at like minimum gain just for compression, then bossting with my DS-1, and I love it

[@ICY95]

lmao great typo

[@Jay_Wilson]

I was given one of these in a gear trade and I let it sit for like 10yrs. I pulled it out a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised how well I could shape tones with it. Great video.

[@danielmonson9939]

Glad to see Mark Speer being mentioned, probably the most innovative guitar player today.

[@BenState]

big call.

[@spiegelkind2387]

He’s solid but he’s no Nels Cline or anything like that.

[@CJRamos-jv3pb]

I'd heard a lot a folk bad talking the DS-1, then I tried my brother's last year and immediately recognized it's beauty and potential. Needless to say, it is now on my board.

[@sleevelessace]

Rhett idk what ur saying bro, i was listening to u (im a beginner and i bought the ds1 first) i messed around with it for hours n 2 weeks and it didnt sound as good as i wanted n u made it seem i used it on multiple amps to , 2 weeks later n i bought a TS9 and im just gonna say its everything everybody says it is... im not a pro here it makes my fender mustang presets sound 100x better it makes my Vox Pathfinder sound 100x better when im playing blues on my 50s standard les paul dialing in woman tone (which ur video helped me do btw Thank u so much :) ) or when im using a evh 5150 preset for metal it boosts it and i can chug like crazy!!!! i love a Ts9 im so happy i bought it , im happy i have a ds1 to but i put a ts9 into it and it makes it way better but they r 2 waaay diffrent pedals for waaay diffrent uses u cant replace a ts9 with a ds1 man...

[@cpamiseso]

Indeed, I tried DS-1 multiple times, be it in a digital aka amp-sim or pedal-sim situation, or when in the analog world, I also found that DS-1 is hard to deal with unlike how Rhett showed in this video. I probably got something not right (my pickups, or my amps, or my cabinets, or my other things). But the thing is, I can't be bothered to replace and check all those things just to get the DS-1 sounds right, sigh... So back to ProCo Rat or TS-9 to me it is compared to DS-1... It's lovely, but it's surprisingly limited in my usage. I wonder why.. bad cable perhaps? (again more things to check/replace to get the DS-1 sounds okay).

[@sleevelessace]

@@cpamiseso yeah man i feel the same way i thought for myself maybe i put the ds1 on a diffrent standard like i thought it was gonna give me metal zone tones... it did not (my ignorances fault) but after owning both now for 2 months i use my ts9 whenever i have a tone i wanna make sound even better! the ds1 i plug in as a battle to crack a enigma code. im like okay im gonna get it to sound like ___ tonight im just gonna try till i get it. and the only time i got close is if i used other pedals to help it.... like the ts9, or a evh 5150 overdrive, but stand alone i do not like it... thats just me, but if its the best selling pedal it must be good for something and i think thats why i keep going back to it lol

[@Alex-cw7xf]

DS-1 was my first guitar pedal that I purchased over 20 years ago and after tons of use/abuse, bumps & bruises, it's no wonder to me why it's legendary bit of kit. With years and years of twisting the knobs around, I find my favorite settings are LEVEL: all the way up, TONE: 9 o' clock, DIST: a little before 12 o' clock for a crunchy distortion, somewhere close to max for some fuzz-ish sounds, good for leads and thrashy chords. Use the volume knob on your guitar to roll off some distortion to clean up the sound, or crank the volume all the way and have fun. Paired with a true fuzz pedal I feel like I have a pretty good range of sounds without needing to get an overdrive, blues, or tubescreamer. Cheers!

[@guitarsingerx]

Bought mine in 1988 and I still use it. BEST pedal ever !! ❤️

[@getulioprates]

Amazing video! I use the DS for too long. Sometimes I prefer to use it with humbuckers, but it is great in stratocasters as well, controlling the gain in the guitar's volume knob. Once I heard someone say : "You test everything to come back do DS-1". I agree. Maybe it's not my favourite, but it's my top 5 (or 3)

[@sonoftherabbitpeople4737]

I agree, there are other pedals that do what they do better, but few pedals do as much as a DS-1.

[@blues62751]

I bought mine in the late 90s used from a family friend for only $20. I run it the same way you do in a slightly overdriven amp to tighten it up. 👍🎸😎

[@michaelmassaro3483]

Great video. Love the DS-1, but love the DS-2 twice as much! Gets you those amazing Frusciante tones.

[@Jonh548]

which one is better bro?

[@michaelmassaro3483]

@@Jonh548 Gotta have both! But def DS2 if I had to choose one.

[@Jonh548]

@@michaelmassaro3483 thanks bro, I really like Frusciante's tone 🎸🔥

[@cliftonwright7081]

I hear and feel the difference between my 78 DS-1 and later models particularly for lower gain stuff. I liked that exploding fuzz lead you were getting. Gunna try that out.

[@MuchachoC]

strat neck pickup + Marshall style amp + DS-1 with low distortion is a hidden gem

[@DaydreamVacations]

Thanks to JHS for supporting this video. I think you nailed it at the end… your guitar/pickups and amp determines the best pedals to match the rig. My single coil strat and fender amp loves the TS808…. But my Les Paul / Humbuckers in my Marshall prefers the DS1 or the Blues Driver.

[@doubled5383]

I give Josh A+ for not only his encylopedic, scholarly knowledge of pedals, his ability to make fantastic pedals, but also for his sense of humor. He just seems like such a great guy. Rhett is awesome as well. Love the comic relief between these two guys.

[@elgen0314]

Is a hammer better than a screwdriver? TS-9 & DS-1 are both tools. Different tools have different uses. If you know how to use different tools for different uses you can be successful with both. Neither tool is a swiss army knife. I happen to use both pedals to great success. I guess I'm just special in that way. A multi pedal narcissist some may say.😎

[@davidarich2]

Thanks Josh and Rhett for the DS1 love it was my first pedal and is in my rig to this day. I have a late v1. Every one of the settings Rhett showed are my same go to settings but the first setting showing the EQ at 11:00 distortion and 1:00 volume at 1:00 is my main setting. I run it in front of the tube screamer. Gotta have both to be honest.

[@elvan12581]

I do that too... And then kick in delay and man the tone... It's heavenly for lead.

[@r33th]

Dude the production value of your videos is through the roof at this point

[@bjornlarsson7624]

It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on the RAT - the original and the later models/mods.

[@dougc84]

I can't help but hear Steve Vai's early playing and albums when *anyone* plays a DS-1. Not a knock to the pedal - it's a fantastic sound, and one of the reasons I bought one many years ago. That said, if you love it but you're looking to tweak it a little bit, there are DS-1 mods that exist that are awesome. For that matter, there are BD-2 mods as well. I've done them with kits from Monte Allums (who has been around forever), but there's others out there. You just need to find an older, non-surface-mount pedal. And, yeah, the DS-1 isn't talked about much these days, but neither is really anything in Boss's lineup. It's not because they're bad - they're great - but they're stable, secure, easy to find, and relatively inexpensive. A lot of people start with them and move away because they want more control or something different, or because they don't feel "pro" enough (which is silly). Their sounds are classic, but some people want something different than what they've heard on the last 40 years of records. That's why there's a new sexy overdrive from some boutique maker every 6 minutes - they're all trying to make the next DS-1 or BD-2 or TS or Klon or whatever. Few succeed, but, for some players, finding that little, unique company with a drive pedal that fits exactly what they need is enough to sway them away from their Boss drive of choice.

[@zedcarr6128]

You, Rhett, introduced me to Khruangbin and for that, I'm eternally grateful. Khruangbin soothe the soul. 🥰

[@stevenshmkr]

Great timing. I was cruising YouTuibe this morning and ran across this video. I'm searching for a sound for a song my friend is recording that I'm playing on. There is a DS-1 that someone gave me years ago sitting on top of an amp, while I wait for 10:00 AM so I can make some noise around here. This particular rig is an AC15, and a G&L Strat. We'll see how it goes.

[@syntheticsun]

I love the DS-1, I’ve had it for 15 plus years in my board. I keep shopping around for that warm smooth distortion tone, and I can’t find anything I like better than the ds-1 into my peavy classic 30. Think poor man’s Fender Blues Deluxe. I can get it to chug and growl as well. Great jams at the beginning. Very nice!

[@bushleague3472]

The new Refused album, War Music, was largely recorded just using a DS-1 run through a Twin Reverb... as was Nirvana's Bleach album. That in itself should be all the endorsement this pedal should ever need. Listening to both those albums there is a pretty wide variety of tones, often considerably distorted and at times downright sludgy. The note clarity is always good though, and the attack stays sharp and precise... often tough quality's to retain at high gain.

[@countvond233]

Love Kurt's tone on Bleach. Got to stand a few feet from him and his rig on the Bleach tour (my band opened). His tone was scary heavy - doom-laden. I thought they sounded like Sabbath on a few tunes. The man could play and he had excellent control of that rig. Soundboard tape is on youtube - Milestone Charlotte 5/2/90.

[@bushleague3472]

@@countvond233 Yeah, Bleach has always been my favorite. You should check out that Refused album, great album and the guitar tone is awesome. Hard to beleive the ground they can cover with such a simple rig.

[@onevoiceinc]

Check you out. You've rocked out before, but this really (really) rocked. Love it. Your playing was vicious. Cool video overall. (Can't believe how good you made that pedal!) Rock on, Rhett! :)

[@blakebracht4758]

Boss distortion and drive pedals in general are *chef’s kiss*, I run a Blues Driver for a slightly dirty rhythm sound and kick on the Super Overdrive for my leads

[@JeffStrickland]

"..and then we go to the year 2000. The year I graduated high school. I didn't enjoy any of that."💀Day made. I had a DS1 years ago and sold it. I picked one up again about 7 years ago on Craigslist. It has the Keeley mod (was that way when I bought it), which adds another flavor to the stock tone, via a toggle switch. Honestly haven't used it much, but may have to take another dive into it now. Thanks for another great video.

[@LaMarrBrewster]

Rhett - your content deserves much more than Clickbait inspired titles. the content is top notch but the titles are a constant turnoff.

[@thegeardad]

Agreed, it’s a turn off for me personally... yet here I am. It’s just kinda the game he’s gotta play. If he’s getting more views because of it, I can live with it.

[@dylanlahman5967]

I'm curious how you would use this in comparison to the Proco Rat. I don't have a fancy amp and the Rat seems so much easier to get a diverse sound out of

[@riffgroove]

Justin Chancellor uses a RAT. That's good enough for me.

[@StephenGallacher]

For the last few years I've been using an OCD as my main drive, but for well over a decade it was a DS-1 into a clean amp - Tone at 9:00, Volume all the way up, gain around 2:00. I've actually added one to my 'small' board again and I'm still loving it. I love how well it cleans up when you back off the guitar's volume control. These days I own 4 or 5 of them, some clones, some modified. I struggle with a tube screamer, I have one and I like it, but it's never gonna be my main thing.

[@harrybaughan6331]

New to the world of pedals and now I have to get a DS-1. Thanks for the demo of its potential. That really helped me decide that I "need" this pedal.

[@SeriouslyLarry]

Wait, you don't like the Tube Screamer?!! Well how were we supposed to know that? Maybe you should tell us how much you hate it in every single video you do from now until the end of time.

[@HoytFergus]

You need your own channel so no one can like you there instead of here.

[@ronaldadams3230]

Just an excuse for Ibanez hate

[@megatherion2695]

Diarrhea Milkshake

[@sschmidtevalue]

I've had a DS-1 since around 1981. Still have it, but I upgraded to a DS-1X a few years ago. I like it a lot.

[@michela8924]

After years of watching pedal videos, you are the first person that doesn't just play either blues or metal riffs when showing pedal demos. Thank you so much, you are a breath of fresh air. Subscribed!

[@jamz312]

You are right about that !! I have used a ds-1 since the very early 80s and I play Marshall 50-watt 1987 amps and 2204 -master volume Plexi and they sound fantastic with the ds-1 !! The more I see your show the more I like your style. There is hope for you young guys carrying on. Keep up the great work !!!