- Build Rating
Appreciation of the DS-1 is relatively new to me. By the time I picked up an axe in the late 90s, I equated that $40 orange pedal to awful tone. I’ve learned a lot about pedals since then. I knew there had to be something special about it since I like recordings featuring the DS-1.
This is my 2nd one with the TA7136PA. I removed the clipping options switch, and the clipping doides. I also bumped up Q2’s emitter resistor from 22 Ohms to 1k. Details about that change are in section 9 of the DS-1 article on electrosmash.
With single coils, I was getting a nice clean boost up to noon on the GAIN. The full travel on GAIN is useful, it doesn’t just max out after a certain point. Fully clockwise, there’s still enough to do some chuggy palm muting. And it’s way louder- the way I like my gain pedals.
When I was taking the diodes out, I melted two film caps together. That’s a first!
The enclosure is Alexandrite from SBP. I like the way it looks so I didn’t add any art. It looks way cooler in person, like the gemstone it’s named after. Also, 3 knob gain pedals don’t need labels.
I love the way this sounds. I recommend giving the mods a try if you’re curious.
This is my 2nd one with the TA7136PA. I removed the clipping options switch, and the clipping doides. I also bumped up Q2’s emitter resistor from 22 Ohms to 1k. Details about that change are in section 9 of the DS-1 article on electrosmash.
With single coils, I was getting a nice clean boost up to noon on the GAIN. The full travel on GAIN is useful, it doesn’t just max out after a certain point. Fully clockwise, there’s still enough to do some chuggy palm muting. And it’s way louder- the way I like my gain pedals.
When I was taking the diodes out, I melted two film caps together. That’s a first!
The enclosure is Alexandrite from SBP. I like the way it looks so I didn’t add any art. It looks way cooler in person, like the gemstone it’s named after. Also, 3 knob gain pedals don’t need labels.I love the way this sounds. I recommend giving the mods a try if you’re curious.
Last edited:
)
