Easy Mod for Boss DS-1 Distortion

A couple of weeks ago I posted about a Boss DS-1 circuit bending video. That video caused a lot of discussion and questions, which I absolutely love. When I’m not making cables, I do like to pass the time working on pedals – either with repairs or having fun with mods because it’s so fun to learn.

With pedal mods things can get over your head very fast. Over your head with electrical knowledge or over your head in terms of not having the right gear to pull off the modification. For those of you that are interested or just getting started in modifications, the Boss DS-1 is really hard to beat. A brand new Boss DS-1 is only $50, so if you completely screw the pooch.. it’s not that bad. Also, you can find used Boss DS-1 easily on craiglist/ebay too. You might even know of a friend or two that will give you theirs for free.

Anyway, I came across a great little video this morning showing a very easy.. and great sounding modification and all it requires is wire cutters. This is the diode cut mod, basically, you’re removing a pair of diodes to generate a lower gain / fatter sounding distortion – and in my opinion, way better sounding pedal. This is an opportunity to get your desoldering chops up too.