Boss Waza Craft DS-1W Distortion Pedal

Boss Waza Craft DS-1W Distortion Pedal Overview

The iconic distortion stompbox refined and upgraded with a premium buffer, new two-stage discrete gain circuit and renowned Waza craftsmanship.

The Icon, Upgraded

The BOSS DS-1, released back in 1978, is one of the best-selling and most influential pedals ever created. The legacy that this orange gain pedal boasts is immense, with legendary artists including Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Steve Vai and Prince using it on their classic tracks. Its versatile tone, singing sustain and affordability have made the DS-1 a favourite of professional and amateur guitarists alike. With the DS-1W, BOSS are adding the iconic distortion pedal to their acclaimed Waza Craft series. Whilst the DS-1W retains the signature look of the original, it’s under-the-hood enhancements elevate it to new sonic heights.

Timeless Distortion

Like the original DS-1, the DS-1W is an incredibly versatile distortion pedal. There’s a reason why it's been used in a variety of guitar-based genres such as Hard Rock, Metal, Grunge and Fusion for over four decades. Whether used as an aggressive high-gain distortion into a clean amp or as a boost to add extra crunch, the DS-1W will deliver a well-defined, harmonically rich tone.

Two Modes, More Tonal Range

The BOSS DS-1W takes the original’s versatile nature up a notch with its two gain modes. With Standard and Custom modes at your disposal, the DS-1W can handle a wider range of styles and genres than ever before. A newly-designed discrete all-analogue circuit and premium buffer ensure exceptional tonal quality whether the pedal is on or off.

Standard Mode: Classic DS-1 Sound

Standard mode gives you that classic DS-1 tone which helped define the sound of distorted guitar. It all comes down to the two-stage gain circuit, which is key to the definition and fullness that made the DS-1 so beloved. The single-tone control offers a simple yet powerful way to shape your sound. It affects treble and bass frequencies at once, emphasising highs and cutting lows as you turn the knob clockwise and vice versa. From fat, chunky rhythm tones to bright, searing solo sounds that cut through the mix, this mode can handle it all and more.

Custom Mode: Rich, Fat, and Dynamic

Custom mode adds a new dimension to the DS-1 tone you know and love. This mode presents a thicker, more mid-range focussed voice that retains the core of the original’s distinctive character. It’s perfect for rich, juicy guitar tones as well as boosting the front end of amps and pedals thanks to the extra 6dB of level on tap. With Custom mode engaged, the DS-1W’s input sensitivity increases, making the pedal more responsive to your picking hand dynamics and guitar’s volume control.

Waza Craft: The Art of Superior Tone

Since day one, the engineers over at BOSS have been conjuring up world-class guitar tones with the best available technology, whether that’s discrete analogue circuits or advanced DSP. This spirit of innovation is imbued in their Waza Craft series, which brings guitarists inspiring and responsive tone through choice components, carefully refined circuitry and incredible attention to detail. Like all BOSS effects that bear the Waza symbol, the DS-1W represents the pinnacle of the Japanese company’s design and craftsmanship.