Fizzy, loud and nasal

Not for everyone, it's a very unnatural distortion but if you want THAT sound (nirvana and others), use it

Disgusting

It's absolutely nasty, earpiercing and loud - exactly how you want it to be. I wish it generated less noise on standby though because it sounds like a microwave when you're not playing.

A legendary pedal used by countless artists

It would be quite unfair to attribute to one of the first mass-produced distortion pedals, used by countless artists such as David Gilmour, John Fusciante, Kurt Cobain and many others alike and, to this day, what is said to be the best-selling effects pedal of all time, anything other than a solid 5 stars.

While this pedal stood the test of time and its capabilities have been proven for over four decades, it still faces some criticism online and, regarding those, it's important to figure two aspects: first, its ideal uses and limitations - this pedal can pump so much distortion until it gets a bit out of hand, so you should think of it as a pedal best intended for Hard, Punk and Pop Rock, rather than Metal. Unlike other distortion pedals that can boost more distortion, this best works in complement to your amp's own tone, achieving the best results if its gain is in that point where it's beginning to clip, rather than having it achieving the dirty tone all by itself.

Secondly, all the artists who have used it over the years give you a great base ground to its capabilities, and so if you like the tone of a particular DS-1 user and want to enter into that territory, a DS-1 is an affordable and plentiful pedal you can get, and then make use of the widely available resources online regarding specific settings to achieve different tones out of it, given its sensible nature (one of the reason some players give it bad credit is exactly due to setting it up poorly, given the more sensible controls), and then experimenting from that point. In the same sense, that info also gives you an idea what sort of tones it's best suited for, and whether a different distortion pedal would be more appropriate for your intended use.

Finally, it's worth mentioning the DS-2, usually priced just a bit over the original DS-1, that can emulate it, as well as taking advantage of the "turbo" functionality. Before purchasing this one, I had tested its sucessor from a friend and while the DS-2 can definitely pump out more distortion, allowing you a whole new range of possibilities, if you desire to play among the tonal range of the many aforementioned players, the regular DS-1 would serve you just fine.

awful

look I'm a Negative Nancy when it comes to this pedal but Jesus you can get something so much better for not a lot more $$. the DS-1 I owned was a hand-me-down from my dad from the 90's so that's probably why it was so awful, but it had this high pitched buzzing noise that only got worse the more I used it. I had to stop using this pedal because the buzzing noise was becoming more audible than the notes I played! and beyond that, the tone is just garbage. I LOVE Boss pedals and they are in my top 3 favorite pedal companies, but the world has progressed beyond the need for the DS-1, and the DS-1 has progressed beyond the need to be on your pedalboard.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Cheap, sounds good stacked with other pedals

I'd been after a DS-1 for a while and found one in a used bundle with a TU-2 for cheap so they went on my board.

On its own, as others point out, it's pretty awful. But used stacked with other pedals and preamp gain it's a great way to add a different colour to your palette of distortion/overdrive.

Am using it stacked with a Bad Monkey and a Deluxe Big Muff for when I want to go overboard. Pretty much covers all my needs.

my taste, sweet spot

I was postponing getting one besides knowing I like its clones. Finally got one and I am not the biggest boss fan, but this one is special, it has a tone, a melodiousness that is instant home for me. will test how well it works with old reverbs and delays, but it gives me that sweet 90s feeling.

Reliable.

I have had mine since 2021. It has taken some beatings, but it continues to do what I need it to do. It gives me the sound I desire. Crunchy and bright.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

8/10 I honestly don't know how anyone can dislike it.

Maybe I bought some magical version (20$ used - stock - made in taiwan), but as far as I hear it, DS-1 is an absolute beast of a distortion. Some people say that you need to set it right to get good results, but I use it with a DIST all the way into Hot Rod Deluxe, and it rocks. The thing is Boss DS-1 was invented in the 1978, when "the brown sound" started (the same year "Eruption" was released). And if you ever heard that sound in real live, DS-1 sounds exactly like that. Thick bottom, really sharp and bright, compressed and a bit fuzzy. And I think that was the reason people started to hate it. "Brown sound" became synonymous with "basic", "unimaginative" and "boring" really quickly. BUT... DS-1 does have some problems, which can be traced to the 70's state of guitar technology. 1: It doesn't really take hot pickups well. One of the complains is that DS-1 is quiet. Too quiet. Suspiciously quiet. Kinda "broken design" quiet. I thought the same, back when my only axe was a double-Duncan-humbuckered 90's machine. But recently I discovered something. When plugged to the vintage telecaster, DS-1 with the volume at 12 is... just... perfect! Around 10db boost and fully marshalled. With a modern Les Paul though I have to put volume at max and the fizzy-fuzzyness happening really early on (I like that too - sounds kinda like a Proco Rat). I thing Roland made the pedal for people with weak guitars and weak amps to feel the brown sound, and it really wasn't meant for stage use. Which leads to the second problem. 2: It's way to bright. It is, but only when played through a modern equipment, or with any loundness. When played on a room level into any, but especially old, amp every pedal sounds too dark. And the real "brown sound" is known for being really bright.

I bought my current Boss DS-1 a month ago, after years of not hearing one. 10 years of buying and selling pedals, and Boss DS-1 still is the only one that makes me go "My amp is on fuckin' FIRE!".

Alright

Sounds fine as an extra gain stage into other drive pedals but not great by itself. The gain also becomes too noisy and mushy in the second half of the dial. If you're buying your first distortion pedal I'd recommend a RAT instead.

From Gear Setup

Classic sound.

Bought it of a friend at community collage and used it as my main bass drive for the rest of that year. Since then I got a ProCo Rat and that became my go-to drive for bass. Now it just lays in my jam-room and collects dust. A great first pedal though!

Preferred Settings + Usage:

From Gear Setup