how do u use your DS-1 ?

[WhoFan]

I know the DS1 is not perfect but i still use them.. New Ones and Old ones. My main ***** is i want more lows. Beside Modding a DS1 pedal has anyone found a pedal that would turn a small combo into a bassy stack sound that is close to the DS1 sound?

WHOFAN

[Lewguitar]

Lew...I love the SFX-01 also..The DS1 actually sounds better with the level up and the drive backed off quite a bit...If you dial in too much drive,the DS1 starts acting almost like a crappy fuzz pedal and it takes on a muddy character that I dislike...The other trick on my own DS1 is too have the drive at around 9 o'clock or a bit less,the tone at about the same,but crank the level up all the way...This gives a full round ballsy sounding boost that cleans up pretty well on a clean channel and with single coils..

I can use mine either as a boost(Normally I don't) or with enough gain to get a sought of JCM 800 vibe through a clean dialed channel through a BF style clean tone..

Again...best $40 cheesy pedal out there today...

Yep...I concur!

[Guitar Toad]

Does Joe Satriani use a modded or stock DS-1?

[Frantic_Rock]

I use it with the tone on 9 oclock, level on 9 oclock and distortion on 4 o'clock. I use it for heavy leads. I turn it off to play the rhythm. If its a heavy rhythm, then I keep it on and just roll the guitar volume to 1 or 2 for an overdriven tone. The only problem with this is the volume becomes so loud on 2 already, that you lose a lot of volume control - its either full blast or off.

[Lewguitar]

Does Joe Satriani use a modded or stock DS-1?

He used a stock MIJ DS-1 for a long time but I don't know what he's using now. Vai used a stock MIJ DS-1 for a long time too but from what I've read he also likes Keeley's modded DS-1. I like the way Stratdeluxer mods the DS-1 too, but he mods it for more overdrive/distortion and a bigger low end which, IMO, compromises the clean tone of a stock DS-1 a little and THAT'S what I like best about the DS-1: the way I can turn my Strat or Tele down to 1/2 and get a great rock "clean" tone. Just depends what you're looking for from the DS-1. With 12 O'clock being thought of as mid-way, I tend to set mine with the level up from there and the distortion down from there...and the tone wherever it sounds good to me. Experiment. Lew

[Robbiedbee]

I tend to use mine on my clean channel to play heavy lead/rhythm, but to be honest I'm not all that stuck on it.

[TheArchitect]

I don't. Sold both of them. At profit to boot.

[D-EJ915]

DS-1 sounds like crap if you're using it for metal, and has no "tapping power" lol.

I use it when I want some bass-light, tight-ass rock sound.

[Guitar Toad]

DS-1 sounds like crap if you're using it for metal, and has no "tapping power" lol.

I use it when I want some bass-light, tight-ass rock sound.

I won't be doing any metal with it. I think it'll be fine.

[STRATDELUXER97]

No one can expect anything more from a $40 pedal....Best $40 pedal out there though!

[Guitar Toad]

No one can expect anything more from a $40 pedal....Best $40 pedal out there though!

I've heard that you turn them into $200 pedals. Is that true?

[midnite_man]

I've heard that you turn them into $200 pedals. Is that true?

I can attest to John's ability in the electronic field. He likes to tinker around with those circuit boards until he hears what he likes, and he uses all high quality components whenever he replaces something.
I don't know if you can exactly put a dollar value on that, but if your ears like what Johnny does inside the DS-1, and a few other pedals as well, then that's cool.
I agree with those who said the DS-1 has a love/hate tag on it. It's definitely not for everyone, but after my 'ol buddy John gets through with 'em they could be, IMO. There's a few different ways to use it as outlined above in other posts. Every pedal that John has modded for me (several) has been improved immensely by what he did inside. I'm surprised I haven't seen an auction at ebay with the header saying "John Spina Modded DS-1**MINT!**"
....LOL
If your interested in having him do one for you, get ahold of him and talk to him about what you want to hear out of the pedal. He's got a good ear and can really pin down a tone.

Good luck!

....Bob

[Metalman_666]

I've spent awhile with a stock DS-1 at home trying to add more gain for solos (it then started feeding back all the time ), and to use it as a stand alone distortion. I was highly disappointed. I guess tubes would improve the sound quite a bit. That or I should get a Spina modded DS-1

[Guitar Toad]

I just got mine this week. How do I use it? I plug the guitar into it, out cable to amp and Shazam. It does exactly what I want it to do. With my strat, it gives me great overdriven tones without blasting the whole house. My son can still watch TV without yelling "Dad turn that rock n roll down!" Now I can easily do Clapton or Sammy Hagar with my strat and with the kick of the DS-1.

It sounds great as it is. It must be phenomenal after a StratDeluxer mod.

[strat_master]

i know this thread is a tad old but i thought i would add something seeing as i just bought my ds-1 today. I think perosnally its a great pedal, especially for the money. 65 canadian. I do realize its limitations though. Too much dirve causes it too sound muddy and just plain trashy. I from the last hour tinkering witht he knobs seem to really enjoy the distortion at minimum level, while i tend to have the level rather high and the tone is usualy near to 12 o clock sometimes 1 or 2 o clock. It turns my strat into something much more versatile now! all in all i think its an awesome pedal and for the money it can't be beat! Lets the pedal obsessions begin for me! Weeeeeeeeee!

[callous_frigid_chill]

i don't

[The Golden Boy]

I only use my DS-1 when I need an BIG, fuzzy "whoomp."