It’s tough to improve on the classics — especially when you’ve got a back catalog as renowned as BOSS’ color-coded stompboxes! Nevertheless, whenever a new Waza Craft pedal makes its way through Music Experience’s doors, we can’t help but be blown away by the BOSS team’s ability to enhance, refine, and reimagine some of their most renowned pedals. Speaking of legendary, the DS-1W is a bold new take on the world's most famous orange stompbox, a pedal found on countless records — spanning Kurt Cobain’s grunge-rock fury to Prince’s funky flair. The stomp’s all-analog circuitry has been revised, sporting a 2-stage gain circuit, and you’ll also notice that this 3-knob wonder now has a 2-way switch built into it. What does it do? In standard mode, the DS-1W is classic DS-1, full of sharp attack and a smooth, saturated sustain; flip to the custom mode to unlock a more midrange-focused voice that fills out your tone’s bottom end while kicking up the output. From alt-rock attitude to heavy hard rock to just about anything else, the DS-1W is the ultimate take on arguably the most iconic BOSS pedal in history.

BOSS DS-1W Waza Craft Distortion Guitar Pedal at a Glance:

• Special edition Waza Craft pedal for the ultimate BOSS tone experience
• Newly revised two-stage gain circuit with discrete analog components
• Standard mode delivers the legendary sound of the original DS-1
• Custom mode provides fatter distortion tones with focused midrange and increased touch response
• Versatile Tone knob provides wide-ranging frequency control fine-tuned for each mode
• Two modes offer increased versatility when the pedal is used as a gain booster
• Premium buffer for clean and clear tone when bypassed
• BOSS five-year warranty

Dual-mode versatility

While we love the sheer simplicity of the classic BOSS DS-1, this updated Waza Craft version offers a whole new level of dirtbox versatility. A 2-way switch allows you to swap between standard mode — the standard DS-1 — and the new bass-enhancing, midrange-focused custom model.

• Standard (S) mode: This mode provides the epitome of DS-1 tone, beloved by guitarists for decades for its versatility, definition, and hard-hitting punch. Just like the original, the tone control affects both high and low frequencies, allowing you to precisely dial in your dirt tones for any sonic application.
• Custom (C) mode: The DS-1W’s custom mode is the ideal blend of old and new, combining the revered voice of the DS-1 with a fresh new dose of character for enhanced tonal utility. This setting’s enhanced midrange bark adds body to your sound, in addition to making it a must-have feature for guitarists looking to cut through a dense mix. To enhance richness and presence, the tone control has been slightly modified, and the overall level is pushed up by 6dB to better drive a hot tube amp. Finally, custom mode maximizes the DS-1W's dynamics for a touch responsiveness never before heard in your standard DS-1.

An incredible tonal legacy

What was your first guitar pedal? Ask around at Music Experience and the most common answer you’re likely to hear is the BOSS DS-1. It's reigned as an absolute mainstay for over 40 years due to its flexible utility, aggressive tone, and sheer affordability. Kurt Cobain, Joe Satriani, Prince, Steve Vai, John Frusciante, Robert Smith, Gary Moore: the DS-1’s mark traverses genre and era. If you’re looking to capture some of this little orange box's magic for yourself — plus a little bit extra — then there’s no better choice than the DS-1W.

Waza Craft: a higher art of stompbox design

The Japanese word “waza” means art and technique, an appropriate name for BOSS’s premium line of redesigned guitar effects pedals. You see, the pedal collectors here at Music Experience have seen more than enough special-edition stompboxes that are only a paint job away from the originals, which is why we’re so blown away by what BOSS has done with the Waza Craft series. Even in their Standard modes, Waza Craft pedals sound like idealized versions of the originals, offering the same sonic character that made them iconic but with less noise and a more consistent tone. And when you A/B the Standard mode with the Custom, the contrast is nothing short of astonishing.

BOSS guitar pedals: rugged, reliable, more than 10,000,000 sold

More than 10,000,000 BOSS guitar and bass effects pedals have been sold to players worldwide, including such top players as Yngie Malmsteen, Dave Navarro, John Petrucci, Marty Friedman, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani. You've also no doubt heard BOSS pedals recorded and onstage beneath the feet of bands of all genres, including Muse, The Killers, and Silversun Pickups. The reason for the success is clear: not only do BOSS effects pedals sound great - but they're also built like tanks and designed with serious use in mind. Each BOSS pedal is housed in a stomp-ready metal box and features a rubberized stomp area and base, to help safeguard against slipping. So, whether you're a fresh-out-of-the-gate beginner, an axe-veteran designing your dream pedalboard, or anywhere in between, you can depend on BOSS's proven line of pedals to craft your tone.

What BOSS Says...

Introduced in 1978 among the earliest models in the BOSS compact series, the orange DS-1 redefined the sound of distortion and remains as influential today as ever. Its hard-edged attack and smooth sustain have made it the best-selling compact effect to date, and its distinctive tone is behind the signature sounds of a long list of rock and alternative icons. With the DS-1W, this legendary stomp joins other BOSS classics in the Waza Craft series, fusing the look and character of the original with a newly revised discrete all-analog circuit for expanded range and versatility.

Timeless Distortion

The DS-1 instantly impacted the guitar world when launched, introducing a fresh new high-gain sound with aggressive, well-defined distortion rich in harmonic overtones. Over four-plus decades, leading players in hard rock, metal, grunge, and fusion genres have adopted the pedal for their core sounds. The classic edge of the DS-1 can be heard on countless famous tracks, both as a prime distortion for clean amp platforms and a boost to drive gained-up tube amps into controlled mayhem.

Two Modes, More Tonal Range

With its two modes and discrete all-analog circuit design, the DS-1W expands the DS-1 experience for a broader range of styles and applications. Call up Standard mode and play with the tight, hard-edged tone and singing sustain of the original pedal. Or switch on Custom mode for a bold new sound that takes the unmistakable DS-1 character to the next dimension.

Standard Mode: Classic DS-1 Sound

Standard mode on the DS-1W delivers the authentic sound of the original in every way. Its innovative two-stage gain circuit is a critical part of the fullness and definition that so many guitarists love about the DS-1. The versatile tone control affects low and high frequencies, simultaneously boosting and cutting each end of the frequency spectrum as the knob is turned. This lets you precisely dial in the sound for any application, from sharp rhythms and searing solos to maintaining low-end clarity when boosting amps and other drive pedals.

Custom Mode: Rich, Fat, and Dynamic

Custom mode presents a unique new distortion voice while retaining the singular DS-1 personality and edge. A thick, mid-focused character provides more fatness and cut to make your sound stand out in the mix, and the tone control is tuned to maximize the mode’s richness and presence. The available level has been increased by 6 dB, providing a wider range of gain boost for driving amps and pedals. And with more input sensitivity, you can conjure up all sorts of distortion colors with picking dynamics and volume control adjustments on the guitar.

Waza Craft: The Art of Superior Tone

Since the beginning, the engineers at BOSS have been committed to achieving the finest guitar tones using any technology necessary, from old-school analog circuits to high-tech DSP. This enthusiastic spirit continues on with the Waza Craft series, bringing you exceptional tone and touch response through carefully selected analog components, refined circuitry, and meticulous attention to detail. In Japan, “Waza” is the term for art and technique, and these special edition pedals proudly carry the Waza symbol to represent the pinnacle of BOSS design and craftsmanship.