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Boss DS-1W Waza Craft Distortion Pedal – A Hands-On Review

06/04/2023

A legend reborn. We got our hands on the new DS-1W Waza Craft Distortion Pedal and put it through its paces. Let’s find out what it can do!

In a nutshell…

Cut to the chase! Here are our quick-take thoughts on the DS-1W:

  • The +6db boost and mid-range bump of the custom setting are instantly noticeable and very welcome!
  • Rapturous and raspy tones fire out from both the standard and custom settings.
  • The hard-edged attack of both the classic DS-1 and new Waza Custom mode remains present even at cranked distortion levels.
  • Your tone will stay clear, clean, and consistent when the guitar’s volume is rolled off.
  • Overall, the new Waza mode complements, rather than replaces, the classic Standard DS-1 voice.
  • As you might expect from any Boss product with the Waza badge, it’s incredibly well-built. Just from handling the DS-1W, it’s obvious that it’s built to last.

Boss DS-1W Waza Craft on an amp

Check out the sound yourself!

You don’t have to go trawling through YouTube or TikTok to get a good sense of the DS-1W, simply head over to our TonePedia article to give it a try yourself! You can sample it with single coils, humbuckers, and a range of different amps!

Why is the DS-1 so popular?

Boss DS-1W Waza Craft Distortion Pedal plugged inThe Boss DS-1 is the best-selling pedal of all time. Think about that for a moment – there are probably more stompboxes in the world than there are guitarists to play them, and yet the DS-1 stands proud above them all. It’s simply one of the most popular pedals ever created!

And that’s probably because it’s just so simple – no frills and no flowery or overly technical language for describing its complex sonic interactions – just a hard-edged distortion with plenty of attitude. That might be why it’s powered the sound of countless big-name artists since its launch in 1978.


So, what does the DS-1W bring to the table?

Introduced as part of Boss’s acclaimed Waza Craft series, the DS-1W features an entirely new all-analogue circuit to push its sonic versatility even further. This new “Custom” mode adds a +6db boost and a strong mid-range bump to really throw your guitar to the front of a mix.

That’s in contrast to the standard DS-1, which scoops your tone and won’t naturally add extra volume. That’s not to say that one mode is better than the other per se, but rather the Custom mode expands your toolkit significantly.

The setup

Here’s what we used to give the DS-1W a go:

  • Fender SuperSonic 22W valve combo amp
  • Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster (SSS)
  • Epiphone Les Paul (HH)
  • Lastly, we put a Tube Screamer in the chain to see how it plays with drive pedals, how far you can push the sustain… and, y’know, just for fun!

We should mention that the SuperSonic combo amp has both clean and drive channels, so we tested it on both to see how they each interacted with the DS-1W.

Boss DS-1W Waza Craft Distortion Pedal – the verdict

Wow. This pedal packs a lot of punch. The instant I switched it on, it was belting out raspy, screeching high-end distortions with an extremely in-your-face attitude. That’s with all the dials set at noon on the clean channel of the amp and hooked up to the single coil-Strat.

It could just be my particular amplifier and guitar, but the high-end was ferocious on both the standard and custom settings, so it needed to be reigned in a little by rolling off the DS-1W’s tone dial.


Is the DS-1W worth it?

A resounding yes – with some caveats. You’re getting both a DS-1 and a custom Waza voice, so there’s just more to love about it. One of the most common mods performed to DS-1 over the years is adding extra midrange and boost to thicken the tone, so it’s no surprise that Boss followed popular demand with the Waza revision.

They’ve done all the hard work for you and installed a discrete all-analogue custom circuit to let you modify your distortion on the fly. With this circuit activated, the DS-1W launches out fiery and volcanic-clipped sounds, with plenty of presence and character.

However, if you’re just after a simple distortion stompbox or you’re on a budget, then the ordinary DS-1 might be sufficient.


Is the custom mode noticeable?

Definitely. The effect is pronounced. With both humbuckers and single coils, there’s a visceral impact in switching from Standard to Custom as that extra volume and mid-range heft give your tone much more weight.

This extra firepower really helps cut through a mix and help your guitar stand above an ensemble. Or if you’d prefer to have it always on as a base tone, the mid-range bump will give your rhythm chords additional character.

FAQs

As the DS-1 has been around for a long time, we’ve answered some of the most common queries that crop up for it.


Is the Boss DS-1 a good pedal?

Boss DS-1W PedalYes, the Boss DS-1 is the best-selling effect pedal of all time. Originally launched in the ‘70s to give rockers a grittier tone, it’s only become more and more popular since. Its affordable price and huge sonic influence make it a standout choice for any player who needs extra oomph in their music.


Why is Waza Craft better?

The Waza Craft improves on the original DS-1 by adding an additional discrete all-analogue circuit to the pedal. This discrete pedal provides mid-boosted tones that the original DS-1 lacks, giving you the flexibility to switch between a classic DS-1 voice and a more prominent modern style. On top of that, the Waza Craft series boasts top-quality componentry and construction.


Who used Boss DS-1 distortion?

So many artists have used the Boss DS-1 over the years, including notable figures like Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Even virtuoso guitarists like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani are known lovers of the DS-1 circuit to spice up their gnarly lead lines. These names prove that the DS-1 is well worth the space in any setup!

Final thoughts

It’s been a blast playing around with the DS-1W. Its brand new custom circuit and delightfully thicker tone profile really help you stand out from the mix, lending your notes a satisfying bump that the original could sometimes lack. And of course, if you ever want the crackly character of the DS-1, you can get it with the simple flick of a switch!

This versatility will make the DS-1W a permanent fixture in my setup. Paired with a Tube Screamer, it delivers some truly uproarious sounds, providing a great base tone for rocky chords and searing leads alike.

If you’re on the fence for the DS-1W, think about your specific tonal needs. Check TonePedia to get a sense of the sonics and decide whether or not you want a more characterful, mid-pushed distortion to power your rig.

All in all, you’ll have an immense amount of fun with both the DS-1 and DS-1W!

 

Content Writer (Guitars)

Mark has been a guitar aficionado for around twenty years. A lover of all things 6-string, he spends his days putting pen-to-paper about all manner of interesting instruments. From entry level Squiers to the most coveted Custom Shop desires, Mark's written about them.

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