Easiest Boss DS-1 Mod [No Soldering] w/ Audio Examples

A quick tutorial on how to do a simple Boss DS-1 pedal mod. Can be done just with wire cutters or a desoldering tool and turns the pedal from fizzy distortion into a lower-gain fuzz effect. Includes sound examples and comparisons with the stock DS-1.

Coelacanth Sound is my recording studio and audio production/engineering business in Helena, MT. And now I suppose I make videos as well.

[marcogiampa]

your just removing the clipping diodes, so instead of the signal being hard clipped by the diodes and being amplified by transistors, its just a transistor boost, the only thing making the overdrive is the transistors clipping out due to lack of headroom, you just turned your distortion into an overdrive

[Syncronizeable]

Just did this, 10/10 would recommend, I snipped both ends of diodes D4 and D5 and removed them completely, ran it into my Hot Rod Deville 2x12 with each eq ran at 6 (straight up/unity), stayed on the the clean channel, popped the modded DS-1 on and FINALLY found the hard rock tone I’ve been looking for!

Thanks so much!

[dannobman]

Hi guys !..I just did this mod to mine earlier . Before the mod ?. Too much fizzy top end on the distortion, a little too compressed sounding, note definition on chords was not very pronounced and lastly, unity can only be achieved with the level set at 2 O'clock . After the mod - Unity gain is now at 10'o clock , Huge volume increase, Top end fizz has dropped and distortion is reduced by 25-30% on distortion, Note definition has improved even with the distortion maxed out. This mod made the DS-1 much more pleasant and more usable for leads and chords....much warmer and natural sounding, I definitely recommend this mod..give it a try.

[JWBaz]

Found a DS-1 for about $20 and picked it up more out of curiosity than anything. After one test drive I put it back in the box and never looked at it again. Then I gave this mod a shot and now it's a usable pedal. Turn the distortion all the way down and toggle the tone knob to your guitar. Really useful if you're looking for a situational dirty boost to gritty up an otherwise low gain rig or if you're looking for that Freddie King, "Quad about to explode with the treble dimed" sound.

If you've got a set of clippers and 5 minutes, it's worth a look. Thanks!!

[lukadugonjic]

I was looking for dark souls videos but this is cool too

[Jayisafunkydude]

I did this after watching your video. This mod took my ds1 from unusable to one of my favorite pedals! Thank you!

[benjohnson]

Just did this!!. Added the DS1 back into my pedal board. Sounds great stacked with the Ibenez tube screamer and Mojo Mojo Pedals. But freakin aye. What a simple awsome mod!!

[Mor-Gain]

Wow! I was skeptical about doing this mod so I simply unsoldered one side of the diodes with a cheap iron and some solder wick, and stood them up off the board. What a difference! I have a 2000 model DS-1 with the signature "fizzy" sound. Now it sounds clean and more like a quality overdrive with some breakup. Definitely great for a neck pickup blues sound with the gain turned down, but still rocks smooth Satch style leads with the gain up. And here I was thinking about getting rid of this pedal. It's back on the board now to stay! Can't wait to try it with my Strat!

[marsattacks]

You only have to desolder ONE side of the 2 diodes then you put a small isolating shrinkable or an electric tape. This way, you can easily replace them as it was...
I like the resulting tone ! thanks !

[prodgozu]

Definitely a little fuzzier, definitely breaking up a little more. The stock configuration is thinner but tighter. Interesting option. Honestly I'd probably want one of each...

[scootinand]

I think this is a personal preference thing. They both sound good, they just sound different

[znestudio]

I have a tube amp with only a clean channel. After doing this mod, I like to run this pedal first on my pedalboard and it's always on. I set it so that it just get's a little breakup. Sounds great!

[lazrpo]

Holy cow, I just did this a few weeks ago and it sounds incredible! Thank you for showing this mod off, even if it is super easy, the end result is wicked.

[dialysistechtipstricks]

Great mod and demo video. We can see the mod done, and hear a clear and definite change. Great work!

[seanscott]

Thanks. Just did this last night and wow it's such a better tone

[TheChristafershawn]

I did this mod after watching this vid a few months back. Night and day, thanks.

[lexusmaxus]

Such a simple mod to get an overall more controllable sound is worth the while kudos

[binohendrix]

I just did this mod! Wow! I loved my DS1 but i could only use it on a overdriven amp. Now I can use it in a clean amp an go from clean to scream in a second! Top end fizz is gone. I can even use the tone knob at 12 oclock without sounding like a bee hive. Just wonderful. I liked this pedal before but now i can say is my favourite ever.

[WeaponsRemorse]

JUST did this mod 5 mins ago and HOLY SHIT what a wake up

[joseph-owhf]

Huge improvement (& listening w/ hi end studio monitors). Just a lot more clarity for one.Someone gave me one of these years ago & never use. Might be worth digging out and giving this a try. I use a Fulltone Fulldrive for my drive sound into single channel Mesa, but might be nice to have 2nd gain stage just for giggles (esp. if basically free)