The Boss DS-1 Distortion is okay i guess.

[Ro_S]

Well there's a hell of difference in price between a DS1 and The Elements, and a lot of distortion choices in between them.

Other distortions you might want to consider:
- a Rat of some kind or a Rat clone (such as the Mooer Black Secret, or the Biyang Mouse);
or, for more Marshall type sounds...
- Visual Sound Son of Hyde (based on the Marshall Shredmaster), or the dual pedal, Jekyll & Hyde.*
- MI Audio Crunch Box, or a Chinese copy of it (such as Mooer Cruncher, Danelectro Cool Cat Distortion);
- ZVex Vexter Box of Rock; or, ZVex Distortron (latter is the same as the Box of Rock but without the boost channel).

* The Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde v2 dual pedal can be had very affordably second-hand. It's basically a Tubescreamer and a Shredmaster put next to one other, independently switchable. It can coversa lot of drive and dirt bases.

[DarkAxel]

I'm actually thinking about getting a DS-1 for bass a lot

I play through a 1x15 speaker, so far my main od has been a Mini with the same settings I use for guitar - Gain at 1 o'clock, bias at 3 o'clock and both bass and treble at 2-3 o'clock. I play with a pick and I like my bass to be quite aggressive (mainly because we're a rock trio, so i don't want to lose time being subtle and shit, have to be pumping it right in your face, don't need round lows you know)... i'm sick of rotating pedals between boards, so i'm thinking about slowly building a second board.

been thinking either a DS-1 or the new Hot Tubes by EHX any ideas?

[spacelordmother]

I hated the DS-1 on bass - all my balls were gone! I used the ODB-3 for grindy ballsy bassy OD with guitar and bass and quite like it. Plus it's got a blend knob and stacks like a champ. YMMV.

[zRobertez]

The Boss DS-1 Distortion is okay i guess. I agree. Its fun sometimes. I though it sounded way better on bass though. But I just play bass for fun through my guitar amp so there aren't many ballz to lose adding a ds 1

[Mudfuzz]

I've only used it on guitar, but doesn't it kneecap all your bass frequencies?

run it with a chorus and you have the Type O- sound
Every now and then I think and bout getting one for fun...

[Ro_S]

Here's a distortion comparison shootout video. It includes a Boss DS1 (a Keeley modded one).

I think I like the ZVex Box of Rock best.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt8PzSQJeBI[/youtube]

[tuffteef]

i thought the ds1 sounded good too when i was 14.....

[tuffteef]

SELLLLL THE KIDS FOR FÜDDDD

[darthbatman]

i thought the ds1 sounded good too when i was 14.....

SELLLLL THE KIDS FOR FÜDDDD

hahah oh wow gosh me too, my sentiments exactly lol

I hated the DS-1 on bass - all my balls were gone! I used the ODB-3 for grindy ballsy bassy OD with guitar and bass and quite like it. Plus it's got a blend knob and stacks like a champ. YMMV.

huh, i might wanna try getting my hands on something like this.. how much gain is on tap with this? does it get into fuzziness or strictly overdrive?

i appreciate all the responses and suggestions and discussion in here. i like mine but will eventually branch out, when the time is ripe

[BitchPudding]

Parker from Cough/Windhand use(s/d) a stock DS-1 on bass for ever and ever in conjunction with a Big Muff

Shit yea, I used to do the same thing only on guitar. Sounded like a motor cycle getting run over by a ssstampede of elephants.