Easiest Boss DS-1 Mod [No Soldering] w/ Audio Examples
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- 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.
Check out the follow-up video here - • Boss DS-1 Mod: MOSFET ...
Coelacanth Sound is my recording studio and audio production/engineering business in Helena, MT. And now I suppose I make videos as well.
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
Rather the opamp becomes the hard clipping device. Higher clipping treshold = higher level and headroom with hard distortion.
I was looking for dark souls videos but this is cool too
Take the plunge, cursed one.
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!
Probably isn't the same but I you bought yours new they actually show you how to get a hard rock sound
Cameron Lavi- Jones, so by taking the D4 and D5 diodes out, does that eliminate that high pitched DS1 fizz? Because that is exactly what I am trying to eliminate. That high pitched fizz.
@@randyrazor6780
Probably, try..you can always solder them back if it isn't
Randy Razor just roll off the tone knob bro
That's because you made it an overdrive
Can someone mod your background music
i lold but also the background music is fire
@@choogiesaur me and the boys are fuckin killing it with that baclground music
Rocking the Nintendo?
Idk man it kinda slaps
Trippin bro, that shit slaps 🤟🏽
I think this is a personal preference thing. They both sound good, they just sound different
they both sound bad*, they just sound different.
@@andreguilhermediasarraiano9287 subjectivity strikes again.
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.
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 !
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...
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!!
I did this after watching your video. This mod took my ds1 from unusable to one of my favorite pedals! Thank you!
Im going for it. Thanks
Big Foot agreed. I hated my ds1 but now it sounds bliss
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!
If. You've kept one side of the diodes soldered in. Add a double throw switch to them and back to the circuit board. You can switch between the dyivk and modded.
@@stuartchapman5171 that's actually exactly what I did haha! Believe it or not, this simple little mod flung me head first into pedal building and now I build pedals and amps all the time! You were the start of it all my friend! Thank you!
@Mor-Gain Effects (Christopher Morgan) lol, thanks for the praise. This usnt one of my videos or mods, although I will be trying it when I eventually find a ds-1. I do however build pedals, I gave sold a few. I don't play guitar though. I'm one of those noise monkeys that abuse pedals, tape feedback loops, through big PA.
Most people use the DS1 the wrong way in the first place, it’s meant to be put in front of a valve amp that’s starting to break up or already overdriving. It works best on British type amps and as an always on type of pedal. The DS1 is not meant to turn a Fender twin into a jcm 800.
You turned a distortion into an overdrive. Sounds exactly like I expected.
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!!
You neutered it man! It can't have kids now, it's got no diodes!!! Haha
Bwahahaha... I was thinking the exact same thing. "Just a snip... here... and..." * I double over in agony *
Is it a Trans gendered device now?
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.
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)
Thanks. Just did this last night and wow it's such a better tone
Great mod and demo video. We can see the mod done, and hear a clear and definite change. Great work!
Such a simple mod to get an overall more controllable sound is worth the while kudos
Perfect mod, just did it with switches - on-off-on / so I now can change the clipping between 1n4001, original boss diode, and no-diode on both position i mean i did the same for d4 and for d5.
Smart
Can you send me a diagram or good photo how you wired the switches? Thanks for your help 👍
@@shannonthomas8894 hard to explain so I made a small slide show: th-cam.com/video/Mm2829Ek7V4/w-d-xo.html
Simple but noticeable mod; thanks for posting!
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.
I like the sound of the modded one a lot better! I was gifted one of these years ago and never really used it before, but I'm definitely going to try this mod out. Thanks!
Awesome video, thanks for posting! This is quite motivating for me to get my mod on.
ah yes ive done this mod but used a 3-way switch to select germanium/led or the geranium asymettric clipping as well. And i used a resistor change on the switch as it was double pole to change the amount of gain on the diode-less channel. The increase of gain caused a transistor or capacitor to clip aswell when the gain is totally maxed out created some strange octave-like effects
Sounds badass man
Can you send me a diagram or a good photo how you wired the toggle switch for that?
Thanks!! I just modded my ds1 and I like way more than the stock one
I did this mod after watching this vid a few months back. Night and day, thanks.
This makes the DS-1 sound more like BD-2, slightly fuzzier. I'd say, if you're looking for this modded sound in the first place maybe it would be better to look at other pedals first.
I guess this was made for people that already have a ds1 and dont like them
The DS1 was meant to sound great with a warmer, slightly overdriven amp, i.e. Marshalls. Which it does. Esp with humbuckers. Bottom line, it's all about using the right pedal for the right set up.
Btw, same with the output. I like keeping unity gain so the DS1 is perfect for me. Peace!
I find it odd everyone hates this pedal today, when I was first playing in the 80s everyone had or wanted to have this pedal. I finally bought one last year and I love it.
@@jodyssey9921 It isn't that people hate it, they're just very basic pedals that sound fairly dated. Boss even released a better version of the pedal (the DS-2) and kept this one around likely because it's cost effective and perfect for beginners.
It isn't that it's bad, there's just much better out there.
@@lazrpo ..nope.wrong.
@@MrJackrockerman lol ok
Just did this mod for mine. I like it way better than the stock, especially the volume boost. It does lose some hair, but I’m willing to give that up to have a usable pedal. It does kinda make it into an SD-1 instead of a DS-1. Pretty sure the SD is more expensive so this saves money.
Sounds like ds1 into a sd1.
I actually like the stock sound. I’m using a Marshall amp and Humbucker pups.
If Boss watch this I'd imagine they'd immediately start (proceedings. Lol !!) drawing up plans for a new pedal that emulates your mod ( which's really fab btw) thus making themselves a shed load of dosh. They'll have a patent on the mod faster than a Jimi Hendrix lick. Thoroughly enjoyed the vid - thanx v much !! Rxx
just did this. love it. highly recommend it.
JUST did this mod 5 mins ago and HOLY SHIT what a wake up
Appreciate it man. Love the background music btw
Pretty much turns it into a tube screamer. If you want to have a lot of fun add a six way rotary switch (like the shack used to sell) with 6 different diode combos, asymmetrical, led, germanium and you pretty much get 6 pedals in one. The hardest part is figuring out where the switch should go. I used to do that to every solid state amp I had.
Underated comment
Grear Mod w/comparison VIdeo....Perfect
i came here bc i heard Whirr uses a modded DS-1 and well yeah lol sounds cool
is this the specific mod?
That sound at 7:00 makes me think of J Mascis. Awesome video!
Freak Scene....kinda.
Just did this to my pedal, and it sounds incredible. Wish I had done it sooner!
This could sound good in front of a hot Marshall amp. Nice video.
Awesome mod!!! Turns these horrible pedal into a boutique sound machine
Modded one sounds like an overdrive, not distortion anymore
Nice job. Just might try this. Being that they SUCK ASS stock you can find these pretty cheap. But you forgot the most important mod of all; the LED indicator light. How is anyone at your gigs going to know you modded this into a tone beast unless you put a super bright blue or purple on in there...plus it improves tone too.
Lmao the DS1 is one of the most popular pedals of all time. If you think it sucks, then you don't know how to use it properly. Keep working on it. You'll find the sound you like. I love my ds1.
@@youngsterjoey9038 amen bro
it feels like in playing the Sims with this background music.
the mod is a tad muddy but sounds awesome, a really cool thing to do is try to add a pot to blend the two if that's even possible , or an even easier mod is add a switch to bypass the diodes while still being able to have the stock sound. i just bought 2 of these!!! hell yeah
2023/08/29 14:15 Istanbul Time. I have detach with iron one ends of the both diodes. My experience so far is very very positive. I want to thank you for the tip.
I test it with HH configured guitar and my Peavey Studio Pro 110 Amp connected to 2X12 Laney Cab. A fizzy pedal that I didn't use maybe for 25 years become almost a preamp and a good one.What's left is again a proper mod to to Tone knob but even in this configuration it becomes more usable, but that's an option for now.. I have also a Boss OD-3 and I believe I can use it as a booster or solo channel.
I also insert directly to my sound card and I use Cubase and with Voxengo Boogex IR plugin and Spectre 2023 V30 Cab Simulation it's nice amp sound. I may go directly record with it With low gain settings it's a very touch sensitive Blues Combo. It becomes an inspiring tool.
I am not a guy try to chasing guitar heroes of 80's and more into blues, hard rock and modern country (guitars sound good and meaningful) and that's the mod like I have another amp in my tiny collection (A Randall 50 W, Blackstar HT5, Boss Katana MK2 Head). Thanks again for that and greetings from Çanakkale, Turkey.
Update: I bought and installed 47nF and 22nF for C12 and 10k for R17 and all I hate about this pedal came back. It's too fizy with R17 and 22nF capacitor has much better range than 47 nF. I will install socket for all 4 positions C12, R17, D4 and D5 to temporarily install diodes, Mosfets and Leds, but all removed is my what I liked most. Ok that tone knob doesn't do anything but doesn't need too. Like that is a nice overdrive channel of an amp.
These 2 videos changed my DS-1 for good, Thanks again.
The modded version took on sort of a Neil Young/Crazy Horse type feel.
I did this and I actually installed sockets so I could try different diodes but I eventually settled on nothing because it functions more like an overdrive with a ton of boost.
please do the video for the TONE MOD ..
You can add a switch so you go between the diodes and no diodes, and if you want to change how it gets fizzy and fuzzy change a the cap that controls the cutoff frequency.
JimijaymesGuitarist I'd like to see the tutorial.
Hey dude, definitely gonna try out this mod. Thanx!
"Easiest Boss DS-1 Mod [No Soldering] w/ Audio Examples" *proceeds to use soldering iron*
Nope. That was a desoldering tool. I don't know anything, so maybe that's essentially a soldering tool with a special attachment or something, but regardless, it isn't necessary for this mod, it's an extra consideration which was clearly explained in the video.
BRPerry3 it is lol
You can just clip the leads on the diodes man. Same result.
Or just remove them at one side and tape up the wires, then it would be easier to reconnect them
the title needs modding.
the volume jump is because the diodes clip the voltage which reduces the volume. if you want good clipping, try using LED's in place of those, you'll be shocked.
You can't do this on the newer models. They changed the board.
Yea! Just found that out. Wonder when they changed it and if there’s a way to know with out taking the back off.
This is actually transforming distortion pedal into overdrive pedal with a lot of boost options
I'd like to see the capacitor mod. Those fizzy trebly high ends are a problem
I agree. Any ideas of what cap I should use?
nice mod! The stock Ds-1 sounded like it was 'choked'. The modded ds-1 sounded open
love the background music
did cut d5 at my 93´ (latest japan version) ds-1 and it turned louder but sounded a little bit like a dry fart.
i put d5 back again.
I had a ds and my friend accidentally use a wrong voltage then one of the components burn is there any hope to revive
Good and interesting! I have same issue weak output volume on my Boss Turbo Overdrive.
If it is not too much disturb would You please suggest me how increase volume on it?
Thanks in advance!
I dunno but the modded sounds like nasal, i like the sharpness of stock pushed with preamp
Louder warmer still fizzy.
Analogman or Keeley mod best
Do I need to only remove the diodes or also to connect the cuted wire?
No. Just remove
I would have liked to see you move the tone knob around and see what other sounds you can get out of the modded one.
Did you remove or replace the Capacitor and if replaced ,what with?..Thanks
Ah, so this is the curious Snip-Snip or D4-D5 mod! How does it compare with more expensive mods such as Keeley one? Do we need to remove both? If not, which one, D4 or D5 first? What happens only one diode is removed? I am curious about Rat2. How do they compare after DS-1 gets modified like this? My stock DS-1 is not that satisfying so I have been wondering if I need to buy a Rat2 - but I already have too many pedals :(
Looking forward to hearing anything!
Young Choe Rat2. Do it.
Great demo, thanks!
i did this mod with a pair of mini scissors and its much louder and cleaner almost like a clean warm crunch instead on the digital distortion type of sound it use to get it sounds much warmer and cleaner not as much distortion but nice
Great vid. Thx
I did this and instantly hear a difference. I like the overall tone more of mod but I am hearing more of a crackly uneven break up more then a nice even break up like an overdrive. I don't know if id recommend this mod quite yet or not.
this video should have way more views! very well done and informative :)
+Samuel Pinkerton Thanks! This is the first video I've posted on this channel so it's understandable that it's taken a while for it to get some views. I'll be posting more in the near future!
You can also try and add 2 red LED's instead of the silicon diodes. Silicon diodes are known for reducing the output volume of a distorsion's clipping circuit. That´s why many boutique pedals and vintage pedals preferred the red LED's as clipping diodes.
3yrs later, so this is a long shot, but swapping out the silicon diodes with 2 red LEDs will keep the stock DS-1 sound, but give it more volume capacity?
@@n0cturnalsurfer Would test out in terms of the tone characteristics, but in theory when applying 2 red LEDs the distortion is more mid to high focused with. a little bit more punch and level. Also we need to take in consideration the gain reduction that happens at the tone circuit, but should increase the level a little bit more than silicon diodes.
Better late than never haha
@@karlmontenegrothank you! I’m not looking to lose any gain, so I think I’ll just run it stock and crank the level to 10
that is incredible
how is your output sad when your level knob is at 9 o’clock?
Would this be a good mod for bass?
Which DS1 chipset is this? Presumably not the original Japanese one.
Great video. The modded pedal sounds like it would be perfect for a Green Day - Brain Stew sound.
Interesting... And I love the background music
Did this to my pedal a few months ago and it certainly beefs up the sound, apparently the stock ds1 has a weak output? Because my clean sounds are louder which is annoying even with the pedal boosted full, it sounds much better taking the diodes out but it weirdly takes away feedback which I happen to love
Hmmmmm. I like the stock unmodded sound better.
gmlasam me too🤔
That's the beauty of music... it is all in the ear of the beholder.
Yes. Stock sounds much better for me
Just add in a switch to give you the option of taking out the diodes. I added a 3 way switch and it gives the option of taking out one diode or replacing it with an LED.
@@lachlan1971 how did you do that
How about just replacing the stock 4148s with a vf of 0.7V with LEDs with vfs of 1V and higher. More output volume, still clippers.
Nice playing man!
if one sounds "better" than the other thanwhy doesnt it come stock as the "better" version?
hey man thanks a lot I'm going to do that to my DS1 really helpful
+Joshua Furness My pleasure!
Hello Thank you for the tutorial !
Actually my DS-1's circuit doesn't look like yours... Mod is still possible on my model ?
Thanks
Questions: You removed the diodes from the circuit. Is there not an open circuit condition on the PCB? Why does the effect still function? Was the diode pathway in parallel with another pathway in the circuit?
Awesome, thanks!
What's the desoldering tool? Looks like a soldering pencil with something attached? Thx
Turn it the output up on the pedal if its not loud enough my guy
did it tonight :) it's way better like this !!! kudos !
thanks again man
I was wondering if you can just break them off
Sounds good. My question was does this make my DS 1 sound like a Blues Driver pedal ? Mostly some drive with some dirt, but not so much as stock?
finally someone who does a demo without playing those stupid blues riffs
Would removing one diode give you an in-between sound? Considered modding my DS-1 as my first mod too, but both sounded too much on either side of the spectrum for me.
Turned a distortion pedal into a fuzz pedal. Ok. What's your next trick?