The DS-1 You Know, Taken Further
There's a reason the Boss DS-1 has been on pedalboards since 1978 — it does what it says, every single time. Hard-edged attack, smooth sustain, and a Tone knob that actually works. The DS-1W takes that same foundation and rebuilds it from scratch with a newly revised discrete all-analog circuit, adding a second mode that addresses everything players have been modding the original to achieve for decades. It's still that orange Boss box, but now it has two distinctly different voices on tap.
If you've ever run a stock DS-1 and wished it had a bit more midrange presence and output — you're not alone. That's exactly what Boss set out to fix with the Custom mode here. And if you love the original sound exactly as it is, Standard mode has you covered. Two players with two completely different takes on the DS-1 can both find their spot on this pedal.
Whether you're tracking rhythm parts that need to cut, pushing a clean amp into saturated lead territory, or using it as a gain boost to drive other pedals, the DS-1W handles all of it with a straightforward three-knob layout that doesn't require a manual to dial in.
Two Modes, One Familiar Layout
The DS-1W keeps the classic three-knob setup — Tone, Level, and Distortion — and adds a small toggle switch between them to flip between Standard and Custom modes. Standard mode delivers the authentic sound of the original DS-1, complete with its innovative two-stage gain circuit that defines the fullness and definition the pedal has always been known for.
Custom mode is where the Waza Craft treatment really shows itself. It presents a unique new distortion voice while retaining the DS-1 personality and edge — a thick, mid-focused character with more fatness and cut, a tone control tuned specifically for the mode's richness, and an available level increase of 6 dB for a wider range of gain boost when driving amps or other pedals. With more input sensitivity in Custom mode, picking dynamics and your guitar's volume knob have a noticeably greater effect on the output.
All-Analog Circuit, Buffered Bypass
The DS-1W runs a discrete all-analog circuit throughout — no DSP, no digital conversion. The Waza Craft series is built around carefully selected analog components and refined circuitry, and the DS-1W is no exception. Every part of the signal path is analog, which is a meaningful distinction for players who want the immediacy and feel of a pure analog dirt pedal.
Bypass is buffered, which means your signal stays clean and clear when the pedal is off. Boss includes a premium buffer specifically to maintain tone integrity across a full pedalboard signal chain. If you're running long cable runs or multiple pedals, that buffer is doing real work for you. Power comes from a standard 9V battery or a 9V DC adapter (Boss PSA series, sold separately).
Waza Craft Build Quality, Made in Japan
Waza Craft pedals are manufactured in Japan and built to a higher spec than the standard Boss compact line. The DS-1W is a complete redesign of the original circuit by the engineers who built the DS-1 in the first place — Boss has been refining and revisiting these circuits since 1978, and the Waza Craft label reflects that institutional knowledge applied at a premium level. The DS-1W also comes with Boss's five-year warranty.
Product Features:
- Newly revised two-stage gain circuit with discrete all-analog components
- Standard mode: delivers the authentic sound of the original DS-1 with hard-edged attack and singing sustain
- Custom mode: fatter, mid-focused distortion with +6 dB increased output level and heightened touch response
- Versatile Tone knob provides wide-ranging frequency control, independently fine-tuned for each mode
- Toggle switch selects between Standard (S) and Custom (C) modes
- Buffered bypass with premium buffer for clean, clear tone when off
- Controls: Tone, Level, Distortion knobs + S/C mode switch
- Power: 9V battery or 9V DC adapter (PSA series, sold separately)
- I/O: 1x 1/4" input, 1x 1/4" output
- Made in Japan; Boss 5-year warranty
Brand: Boss
Model: DS-1W Waza Craft Distortion
SKU: DS-1W
Condition: New
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