About time I reviewed my Spina DS-1

Well, I got the pedal back on Wednesday, and spent a couple days playing around with knobs. This pedal is a totally different animal than it was when I bought it. Before, it was a decent distortion box, but it was VERY sensitive to knob placement. There were only a few settings you could dial up that weren't overly fizzy, thin, and brittle. No longer.

The other reviews I have read of John's DS-1 mod are spot on, it sounds like a pissed-off Marshall. The first thing I did was put it in front of a clean channel on my Mesa Rectoverb head, with the volume set to a slight boost, tone around 1 o'clock, and I just played with the gain. You can dial in anything from a slightly raunchy gain a la AC/DC or ZZ Top, on into some pretty hefty gain. You could probably do some classic metal tunes quite easily. The pedal cleans up nicely with the volume control, though you'll never quite get all the grit out with the big balls John implanted into this pedal.

I was overjoyed when I ran the pedal into the drive channel on my amp. I had to keep the gain around 9 o'clock though, and just use it as a boost to avoid a swirling mass of feedback . The pedal really thickened up the tone, and gave it a different attitude. Gobs of gain on tap here, but didn't get too muddy or fart out, and it didn't ruin the dynamics of my playing.

I think what I like best about this pedal with my rig is that it adds a totally new flavor. Now I can get great cleans, bluesy grit, and those great Boogie rock and metal tones... PLUS I can get a pretty good rendition of that pissy Marshall crunch. Then if I use it in combination with my amp's gain, it can add a bit of coloration and distinction that has proven to be very useful.

Most importantly, it sounds great and is fun to play on! Thanks a million John, this one's a keeper!

EDIT: I should also mention that I owned a Keeley Ultra modded DS-1 for a few weeks, and it never really quot;got my goatquot; so to speak. I find John's mod to be much more musical and useable.

It is so cool that he is making so many members happy!
Awesome!


Originally Posted by RidIt is so cool that he is making so many members happy!
Awesome!

Great products speak for themselves, and he's a nice guy to boot . I just submitted a review to his Harmony Central section too, should be up in a few days to join Milkbone's Sparkle Drive mod review.

Yeah hype is just hype, John's stuff looks like it is the real deal, because if it is good, well you know how it goes then

Thanks for the reviews brother,and Rid,you're a buddy!

The idea in my mind behind the DS1 when I bought one,was it was to fizzy over the notes,the tone control had to stay at no more than 9 o clock or the pedal was too bright and it needed more lows and a more natural tone...I spent several hours with resistance and capacitance substitution boxes,looking at the schematic,and trusting my own ears so I could dial that pedal in....I think it really has a sought of JCM 800 meets the 900 in it's overall vibe...It's crunchy and pretty articulate like an 800,but goes almost into the gain area of the 900....It's nice to use the best components I can buy that fit on the small pcb....Not only the tweaks to the board make a difference,but using great components helps,plus the pedal is quieter...I also use a different inline opamp in my DS1 mods that I like alot...

The pedal is tweaked also for more gain on high drive knob settings...Even if you turn the drive knob off and crank up the volume knob,you're still talking some light quot;hairquot; over your notes....It's a cheap pedal,but it's also one of my favorites...I own 2 and 1 is a backup...I Like my DS1 best when it's driving a round BF Fender type clean tone...This gives me the crunch of a Marshall,but also gives me the lower mids and the round tones I Love about a 2x12 BF Fender amp..Thanks again for posting and enjoy the pedal...
John

Sounds like a very nice modification. Very cool to have such expertise around here. That goes to you as well, Rid.

Seems like you guys always give out good advice. Keep it up!

My number one pedal for distortion has been stock DS1's..... I use them on pedalboards with a Boss Line Selector pedal with a DS1 in one loop and switch over to a louder and fuzzier Danoelectro Fab Tone for really fuzzed solos..... The Fab tone has huge amounts of bass and i have always wanted to try and get a DS1 modified for extra lows..... They are bright and fuzzy..... I mostly use them for practice and jams thru a Peavey Classic 30 or an original 1965 non-reverb Deluxe amp.... Those amps always need help with more lows for a Marshalll type sound.... I maybe trying one of your mods soon stratdeluxer

WhoFan


Originally Posted by WhoFanMy number one pedal for distortion has been stock DS1's..... I use them on pedalboards with a Boss Line Selector pedal with a DS1 in one loop and switch over to a louder and fuzzier Danoelectro Fab Tone for really fuzzed solos..... The Fab tone has huge amounts of bass and i have always wanted to try and get a DS1 modified for extra lows..... They are bright and fuzzy..... I mostly use them for practice and jams thru a Peavey Classic 30 or an original 1965 non-reverb Deluxe amp.... Those amps always need help with more lows for a Marshalll type sound.... I maybe trying one of your mods soon stratdeluxer

WhoFan

Contact me whenever...


Originally Posted by STRATDELUXER97The pedal is tweaked also for more gain on high drive knob settings...

Yeah, when I dime that thing, it goes to 12. I've discovered that John's DS-1 mod is really sensitive to whatever pup you're using. I like it best with low output pups for Marshall emulation, but it's like a whole 'nother pedal with a hot pup. The closest thing I could compare it to would be the Sovtek Big Muffs that were more like distortions than fuzzes...tons of bottom end that works well with a bass (which I don't thing the Sovteks excelled at)!


Originally Posted by mridYeah, when I dime that thing, it goes to 12. I've discovered that John's DS-1 mod is really sensitive to whatever pup you're using. I like it best with low output pups for Marshall emulation, but it's like a whole 'nother pedal with a hot pup. The closest thing I could compare it to would be the Sovtek Big Muffs that were more like distortions than fuzzes...tons of bottom end that works well with a bass (which I don't thing the Sovteks excelled at)!Agreed....I Like to max the drive knob out and while using the neck or neck/middle position on my strat,I can get an amost fuzz pedal tone from the DS1...Normally I Like the drive knob around noon to 1 o clock and with the tone rolled back and the level at around mid point for when I don't use it as a fuzz...


Originally Posted by mridYeah, when I dime that thing, it goes to 12. I've discovered that John's DS-1 mod is really sensitive to whatever pup you're using. I like it best with low output pups for Marshall emulation, but it's like a whole 'nother pedal with a hot pup. The closest thing I could compare it to would be the Sovtek Big Muffs that were more like distortions than fuzzes...tons of bottom end that works well with a bass (which I don't thing the Sovteks excelled at)!I've only tried it with my Schecter loaded with a Pearly Gates set. I wonder what the Twangbanger in my strat will have to say to this pedal .


Originally Posted by FretFireI've only tried it with my Schecter loaded with a Pearly Gates set. I wonder what the Twangbanger in my strat will have to say to this pedal .

I use the Twangbanger in my blue strat...Works well...Works well with pretty much everything..