software

brothers n sisters of tone,

i know many of you use ds-1. i read Lew's tip on using it. makes sense.
how about you ? how do u use it ? in front of a dirty amp? clean amp? tone/distortion settings?

Distortion 'spice'. With my amp at gig/practice volume and using a higher-output pickup i get enough distortion for what I want 60% of the time, and it cleans itself right up with weaker pups. I dial my DS-1 pretty bassy to counteract a trebley amp setting or vice versa and hit the pedal to add thick layer of distortion...

-X


Originally Posted by Empty PocketsDistortion 'spice'. With my amp at gig/practice volume and using a higher-output pickup i get enough distortion for what I want 60% of the time, and it cleans itself right up with weaker pups. I dial my DS-1 pretty bassy to counteract a trebley amp setting or vice versa and hit the pedal to add thick layer of distortion...

-X

you mean on a already dirty amp and only with low output pups?

Paperweight! I pull it out every now and then to try it and it goes back into the box of unused pedals! I keep pushing the Rocktron Rampage because I've been using it for 3 years, but even my drummer(yikes!) can tell it sounds better then the DS-1. Yes, I've heard the clips of all the modded DS-1's but still don't think they can touch the Rampage!!!!!!!!Guess I forgot to answer the question. I use it thru a clean setting only as I do alot of clean to distorted changes and it would be difficult to change both the amp channel and hit the DS-1 at the same time.


Originally Posted by saladinPaperweight! I pull it out every now and then to try it and it goes back into the box of unused pedals! I keep pushing the Rocktron Rampage because I've been using it for 3 years, but even my drummer(yikes!) can tell it sounds better then the DS-1. Yes, I've heard the clips of all the modded DS-1's but still don't think they can touch the Rampage!!!!!!!!Guess I forgot to answer the question. I use it thru a clean setting only as I do alot of clean to distorted changes and it would be difficult to change both the amp channel and hit the DS-1 at the same time.

thank you for the input. IMHO DS-1 is a love it or hate it pedal.

I use mine through the clean channel on my bedroom combo- the gain channel sounds like puke smells. I probably should get it modded because it is only useful to me fully cranked. I need more versatility out of it.

I use mine through a warm,round,clean channel with enough gain to get a sought of JCM 800 tone out of my amp.I only dial the drive high enough to where I can still clean up my distorted tone alot with my guitar's volume control..


Originally Posted by pac112you mean on a already dirty amp and only with low output pups?

on an amp that's slightly dirty with the low pickups and significantly dirtier with the hot ones. so there's layers of gain between the switches and pedals and i can get a variety of sounds.

but i'm definitely thinking my DS-1 is either needing a mod or a replacement...everyone says the SD-1 is cool, or a Big Muff Pi........whatever.

-X

I found a great way for using the DS1 as my main distortion source... It sounds great thru my Peavey's Classic 30's Clean Channel... I use a Boss Line Selector pedal and place a DS1 in one loop and a Danoelectro Fab Tone in the other loop. When i do this in front of a Classic 30 i can get a nice distorted rythym tone out of the DS1 and then switch to the second loop that has the Fab Tone that is set much louder and distorted, for a loud solo boost.. It is almost like having a 3 channel amp... clean, dirt, and solo....

In the amps loop i add a chorus and that is a great sounding compact rig... I use that rig much more then my big tube stacks. I also use a Godin with Piezo's thru the clean Channel of the Classic 30 so i guess i have every tone covered, Acoustic, Clean Electric, Dirt, Solo..... plus anytime i want i also have the amps own tube OD Channel. amazing little rig and so compact

WhoFan


Originally Posted by big_blackI use mine through the clean channel on my bedroom combo- the gain channel sounds like puke smells. I probably should get it modded because it is only useful to me fully cranked. I need more versatility out of it.

Fact, The stock DS-1 is a cheesy/cheep sounding pedal,IMO, you cannot polish this turd with any kind of mod. I recommenend the Marshall Bluesbreaker II pedal if you want pro tone.


Originally Posted by StratcatFact, The stock DS-1 is a cheesy/cheep sounding pedal,IMO, you cannot polish this turd with any kind of mod. I recommenend the Marshall Bluesbreaker II pedal if you want pro tone.

with most pedals it depends on the amp.... i have some pedals that sound good thru some amps and thru others they suck.. It's all about connections...

I use mine for straight up distortion on the clean channel of my amp.


Originally Posted by Empty Pocketson an amp that's slightly dirty with the low pickups and significantly dirtier with the hot ones. so there's layers of gain between the switches and pedals and i can get a variety of sounds.

but i'm definitely thinking my DS-1 is either needing a mod or a replacement...everyone says the SD-1 is cool, or a Big Muff Pi........whatever.

-X

Just my opinion because plenty of folks like a stock DS1...I find the MIT versions to be too bright(even with the tone control off)and there's this horrible buzzy stuff that rides over your notes,and I feel the pedal lacks the lows and balls a modded pedal is capable of...But that's just me...


Originally Posted by StratcatFact, The stock DS-1 is a cheesy/cheep sounding pedal,IMO, you cannot polish this turd with any kind of mod. I recommenend the Marshall Bluesbreaker II pedal if you want pro tone.


Sorry buddy,but I'll still have to disagree with you on this one...Did I ever mod a DS1 for you yet George?


Originally Posted by WhoFanwith most pedals it depends on the amp.... i have some pedals that sound good thru some amps and thru others they suck.. It's all about connections...

In all fairness,the DS1 is a love/hate pedal...Some of us love em and some of us love to hate them.. It is only a $40 pedal new also though,so...??

I don't use pedals very often, but when I do I use the DS-1 more as a quot;rock guitar tone conditionerquot;. I leave it on all the time, the way Vai and Satriani do, and then adjust it so when I reduce the volume on my Strat or Tele to about 1/2 way my tone cleans up for a nice quot;rock rythymquot; tone. Then I turn the guitar back up again when I want a more overdriven tone for soloing. Works beautifully.

I think the DS-1 is one of the best pedals ever created for getting a great rock tone and it cleans up in a way that TS-9's and TS-808's and other overdrives don't.

I think the guys who hate 'em just don't know how to use 'em because virtuosos like Vai and Satriani sure get a great tone with the DS-1...that about says it all right there.

I also like the Duncan Pickup Booster alot.

when I use my (Spina Modded) DS-1 I run through my trusty Twin Reverb which is nice and clean, then with the stomp of the DS-1 it's like a nasty Marshall (much closer to an 800, not like a Plexi). Like John I keep it pretty nasty but not so nasty that I can't clean it up a bit with my guitar volume.

To be honest, I have found that more often that not the 3 controls stay pretty close to high noon...depending on the amp, the club, the guitar and my mood I might tweak the controls a bit, but mostly right around noon.

I also want to say this...you can't make Chicken salad out of chicken ****, but you can polish a turn, and Mr. John Spina is the man with the polishing cloth!!!

John, that sort of came out wrong, but I thiought it was kind of funny so I left it...what Im getting at is that the MIT DS-1 can be turned into a high gain tone monster with the help of John, and a very small amount of money from your wallet!

John's mods come highly recomemded by myself and others, and the DS-1 is a great place to start...


Originally Posted by LewguitarI don't use pedals very often, but when I do I use the DS-1 more as a quot;rock guitar tone conditionerquot;. I leave it on all the time, the way Vai and Satriani do, and then adjust it so when I reduce the volume on my Strat or Tele to about 1/2 way my tone cleans up for a nice quot;rock rythymquot; tone. Then I turn the guitar back up again when I want a more overdriven tone for soloing. Works beautifully.

I think the DS-1 is one of the best pedals ever created for getting a great rock tone and it cleans up in the way that TS-9's and TS-808's and other overdrives don't.

I think the guys who hate 'em just don't know how to use 'em because virtuosos like Vai and Satriani sure get a great tone with the DS-1...that about says it all right there.

I also like the Duncan Pickup Booster alot.

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...


Originally Posted by the guy who invented firewhen I use my (Spina Modded) DS-1 I run through my trusty Twin Reverb which is nice and clean, then with the stomp of the DS-1 it's like a nasty Marshall (much closer to an 800, not like a Plexi). Like John I keep it pretty nasty but not so nasty that I can't clean it up a bit with my guitar volume.

To be honest, I have found that more often that not the 3 controls stay pretty close to high noon...depending on the amp, the club, the guitar and my mood I might tweak the controls a bit, but mostly right around noon.

I also want to say this...you can't make Chicken salad out of chicken ****, but you can polish a turn, and Mr. John Spina is the man with the polishing cloth!!!

John, that sort of came out wrong, but I thiought it was kind of funny so I left it...what Im getting at is that the MIT DS-1 can be turned into a high gain tone monster with the help of John, and a very small amount of money from your wallet!

John's mods come highly recomemded by myself and others, and the DS-1 is a great place to start...

Thanks buddy...Stratcat is a friend of mine and I Know his words weren't meant against my modded DS1s...He's also very entitled to his opinions,I mean the DS1 isn't for everyone! It's all good...I can't recall if Stratcat has one of my modded DS1s or not? I'm hoping he hasn't though! LOL...

If I had an extra modded DS1 I'd surely let SC play through it,but the only 1 I do own,is on my pedal board..

As a paperweight =P Clean's the way to go! XD