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Posted by: Hardtail Jan 22 2011, 05:46 AM

I have never played an original DS-1 from Boss... but I saw a local guy was selling a Keeley Modded DS-1 for $40US and couldn't pass it up. It looked completely un-gigged and is in perfect working condition.

The pedal has a switch that goes from "Ultra" mode to their "Seeing Eye" Mode. The Ultra mode runs the signal through another LED which in my opinion clips the signal just short of being noisy... leaving you with a creamy fat distortion. Almost no mid-scooping with this pedal (a huge problem for me with the Rick Franklin SD-1). The Seeing Eye Mode is a bit noisier on chords but gives you that wicked sweet screech and squeel when soloing... very metal/rock versatile.

Here's the wild part. The ultra mode distortion sounds good on individual notes, strumming chords, and even on open chords! I've never owned a distortion pedal that didn't sound like poop on open chords... maybe it's just me.

Anyway... this isn't a full review... just a new cool toy I thought I'd share with you all. Anyone else play around with the Keeley DS-1?

Hardtail

Posted by: Bear Rose Jan 22 2011, 04:55 PM

Robert Keeley does some amazing work. I have a Keeley TS9 mod plus that I will keep forever, and I've used a Keeley compressor and a Java Boost. Never tried the DS-1 as I'm more of an overdrive guy, but you pretty much can't go wrong with his stuff. He was the first guy that I discovered that really opened up a new world of boutique effects pedals.

Glad you like the pedal! That is a great price, too! I'd probably have bought it for that much. If you ever get tired of it, you can probably flip it for more than you paid for it!

Posted by: Brandon Earman Jan 25 2011, 04:11 AM

Never played a DS-1.. I feel I need to as it's such a legendary pedal. However my Keeley modded TS-9 is awesome and was well worth the investment.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jan 25 2011, 08:32 PM

I heard DS-1 many times in action and its a very good and legendary pedal. But I never heard the modded one. Maybe you can do a full review with video clips or sound samples?

Posted by: Hardtail Jan 26 2011, 05:03 AM

I'll do a full review on it after the band audition and when things settle down a bit. I am afraid to record anything though since my skill is laughable... who wants to hear me rip a bunch of chords? lol

Nah... i'll wait till I can shred something resembling skill before I record anything I think... we'll see.

So far I am loving it though... it really has become my go to pedal for rock and the few little riffs I know.

When I want to add a level of "Hardness", I run the Blues Driver (which I leave set to just a slight overdrive) and the DS-1 Distortion and I end up with some thick yet responsive tone. I'm inching closer and closer to that tone I have always wanted. I think I need to consider a compressor though... especially to help articulate my slides, bends, pull-offs, and hammers.

Hardtail

Posted by: Laszlo Boross Jan 26 2011, 02:19 PM

i also have a Keeley modded DS-1, but I use it together wit an Ibanez ts9 dx (modded ts9 of course)and they have an awewsom sound.
One of these always only a booster, it depends on which one is ahead. Worth to try it!