DS-1 Distortion

The BOSS DS-1 Distortion is an analog distortion pedal introduced in 1978 and one of the most widely used distortion pedals ever produced. Its unique gain circuit delivers a sharp attack, rich harmonics, and smooth sustain while preserving the character of different guitars and pickups. The Distortion control ranges from low-gain boost to high-gain distortion, while the distinctive Tone control simultaneously adjusts both treble and bass response, providing a wider range of tonal shaping than a traditional high-cut control. The DS-1 maintains note definition at high gain, cleans up naturally with the guitar's volume control, and can also be used as a boost to drive amplifiers or other pedals.