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Hey all you DS-1 Users, or guys who know stuff bout this pedal. Great pedal, but how the heck do you dial it up? ive been trying a few different things, Low gain, boosting the volume into my OD Channel on my amp. And all gain with lower volume, and I just cant seem to get a full solo\chord tone out of it . . . any advise?


Originally Posted by GandLManHey all you DS-1 Users, or guys who know stuff bout this pedal. Great pedal, but how the heck do you dial it up? ive been trying a few different things, Low gain, boosting the volume into my OD Channel on my amp. And all gain with lower volume, and I just cant seem to get a full solo\chord tone out of it . . . any advise?

See if you can find Lew's post about how he sets up his own DS1...

John

It depends on what guitar (pickups) I'm using. I go through the clean channel on my Vox Cambridge only. It is really a really hot channel, so the tone knob is only 1/8 or 1/4 of the way up. With my Blues-90s and P-90s, I usually put the gain all the way, those both sound awsome when pushed to the max. When I'm using my Kramer with the Super Dist. I put the gain about 1/2 of the way up. That thing is HIGH output. With my SG with the JB, I really go all over depending on what I'm playing. Not very much help I'm sure. Just mess with it, you'll find something.

I usually start with the controls on my DS-1 about 1/2 way up and then adjust them a little up or a little down. I just went and took a look at mine. It's still set from the last time I played through it...probably with my Tele. The Distortion and Tone were set to about 1 O Clock and the level about 11 O Clock. It varies though...

I try to find a setting where I can leave the DS-1 on all the time and then do everything with my guitar's volume control.

I like to be able to lower the volume on my guitar to about 5 and get a nice clean rock rock tone and then adjust the volume of my guitar all the way up for a killer overdriven tone.

I usually just plug straight into my amp...no effects. But I do love the DS-1 when I want a little quot;extraquot;.

The key to the DS-1 is not to turn the Tone Control past 9 o'clock. 7, 8 and 9 o'clock are good Tone settings. Level is just how you want to balance the volume of the DS-1 to match the volume of the channel you are using on your amp. Or you can set the Volume on the DS-1 a little higher so you'll get a boosted lead sound. I usually set the Distortion on mine either Max or around 3 to 5 o'clock and use the Volume knob on my Les Paul. Joe Satriani sets his DS-1's Distortion knob on maximum all the time.
BTW, the DS-1 on my pedalboard is Japanese made ( 1985 ) and sounds very different from the current Taiwanese models. The current models also sounds great but with more edge, aggressiveness and a bit louder. The older model is smoother, individual notes ring better even on high Dist. settings and the Tone knob is a little quot;Friendlierquot; than the more sensitive current models. I can turn it up a little higher than the current model without getting that ice pick highs too quick. I like them both.


Originally Posted by LewguitarI usually start with the controls on my DS-1 about 1/2 way up and then adjust them a little up or a little down. I just went and took a look at mine. It's still set from the last time I played through it...probably with my Tele. The Distortion and Tone were set to about 1 O Clock and the level about 11 O Clock. It varies though...

I try to find a setting where I can leave the DS-1 on all the time and then do everything with my guitar's volume control.

I like to be able to lower the volume on my guitar to about 5 and get a nice clean rock rock tone and then adjust the volume of my guitar all the way up for a killer overdriven tone.

I usually just plug straight into my amp...no effects. But I do love the DS-1 when I want a little quot;extraquot;.

Hey Lew. I don't understand how you can get useable sounds from a stock DS-1 with a tone control this high. You say you turn the tone control to 1 oclock? Whenever I put mine over 10 o'clock the pedal becomes unuseable with horrid trebble - and all bass gets taken out of it.

Like Old Ghost says - once you start turning tone past 9 o'clock you got Ice Pick highs. I observe this issue on my Keeley Ultra modded one, and my friend's stock one.

I do exactly what Old Ghost does to set it up:
for crunch: tone 10 oclock, level 10 oclock, distortion 12 oclock
for lead: tone 9 oclock, level 9 oclock, distortion maxed

That just happens to be how the DS-1 was set from the last time I played it. I don't remember what guitar or amp I was using. I just ran downstairs to take a look at it and that's how it was set. Like I said I usually start out at about half way on all the controls and then adjust up or down from there.Probably I was playing through one of my old tweed amps...maybe my '51 Super which is not an especially bright amp. Or my tweed Deluxe or Deluxe Reverb.

I don't own any amps with high gain channels...not my thing.Lew

I'll putz around this morning with my DS-1. The truth is, I haven't plugged into it in a long time. I'll also compare it and the new Duncan Pickup Booster.

Also, I don't mind the Taiwan made DS-1. Mine is Japanese but my buddy's is from Taiwan.

I've compared them side by side and I agree with what Steve Vai said about them. He said he didn't notice alot of difference but that he slightly prefered the MIJ version. I feel the same way.


Originally Posted by Old Ghost

Joe Satriani sets his DS-1's Distortion knob on maximum all the time.

Keep in mind Satch doesn't use a stock DS-1, he used a Keeley Ultra modded version.


Originally Posted by FretFireKeep in mind Satch doesn't use a stock DS-1, he used a Keeley Ultra modded version.

Really? That's interesting to know. But Satch must've been using this mod very recently as Keeley only started offering that mod just a few years ago. Satch had been using two stock DS-1's since Surfing with the Alien ( 1987 ). I'll talk to Robert about this to confirm when Satch started using this Mod. Thanks.

Vai uses a Keeley modded DS-1 too. But neither he or Satch used the modded versions on thier early records and performances...just the stock MIJ one.

I checked my DS-1, BTW, and did a little playing this morning.

I think what happened is that my nephew was staying with us for a few days and he's aguitarist too and I let him have a free hand in playing all of my stuff.

He must've been messing with my DS-1. I think he probably plugged every guitar I own into every pedal and every amp I own and had a good old time jamming while I was at work.

That's cool...I told him to.

Anyways, 12 o'clock for the tone control is to high. 9 or 10 o'clock is much better and what I usually set it at too.

Sorry for being misleading...like I said I just ran downstairs to see where my DS-1 was set last time it was used...but I forgot it wasn't me who used it last!

Lew

Ok Guys. I know there's going to be some disagreement here but I just spend 30 minutes wailing away with my DS-1 through a few differant amps and using my favorite Strat (Duncan Surfers and Texas Hot bridge) and my favorite Tele ('54 with Fralin Blues Specials).

There is no one setting that sounds great with every guitar and every amp.

For me, the tone needs to be 10 o'clock or less. No matter what.

The level can be anywhere from 11 o'clock to 12 o'clock.

The distortion needs to be anywhere from 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock.


Originally Posted by FretFireKeep in mind Satch doesn't use a stock DS-1, he used a Keeley Ultra modded version.

What's really funny is that after they had them modded they both took them off of thier pedal boards.


Originally Posted by FretFireKeep in mind Satch doesn't use a stock DS-1, he used a Keeley Ultra modded version.

I just talked to Robert and he confirmed that Joe Satriani is NOT using a Keeley DS-1 Ultra Mod.


Originally Posted by Old GhostI just talked to Robert and he confirmed that Joe Satriani is NOT using a Keeley DS-1 Ultra Mod.Yeah, I know his board is different now. Notice the past tense useD in my original post.



A recent pic showed he actually had a Zakk Wylde overdrive on his board, but the little orange Boss wasn't there.