Boss DS-2 Distortion

Of course, I cannot argue about personal preferences, but I just can't imagine why someone wouldn't give this pedal 5 stars.

It has just the right amount of features: two modes - regular and super distortion which in essence is just a switch between two types of tones. The volume and the tone knobs really help a lot with balancing its sound with the final tone of your complete setup.

This pedal is in fact so versatile, that I use it as distortion, overdrive, and fuzz. Super distortion mode, max distortion, and 3 o'clock tone makes it a perfect John Frusciante distortion for me, lowering the tone knob and adding a little bit extra gain in your pedal chain makes it sound like a fuzz. Regular distortion mode and distortion knob all the way down sounds like blues overdrive.

Recommend!

The Boss DS-2 is a perfect distortion pedal for the money for my use. While it may not be as instantly recognizable as the DS-1, it has a lovely warm tone at lower drive levels and can produce some of the boldest lead tones when driven hard.

It's a Boss pedal, so the build quality is outstanding, Boss produce some of the best-made pedals in the world, so no complaints there.

It looks great, I wasn't a huge fan of the orange colour scheme at first, but I have to say it's grown on me and now I think it's a really cool looking pedal.

The controls are easy to use and navigate, it doesn't take that much tinkering to get it to sound how you might want.

The turbo function is cool, however I don't find myself using it too often as the regular drive sounds so great. I do use the turbo function sometimes, but only when I'm playing some dirty drop D Metal riffs, which isn't all the time since I'm more of a soul / blues kind of axeman. However, I actually bought this pedal because it has the turbo setting as that adds extra dynamics. It can produce subtle blues drive tones, all the way to screaming Metal leads - Very versatile.

I can't find any cons to be perfectly honest, this little beast of a pedal does everything I need it to very very well.

Conclusion: If you're in the market for a distortion pedal that can produce awesome drive dynamics, buy it. You won't be disappointed.

I have to say that I first dindn't fully know what to expect from this pedal. I was familiar with the Boss brand before, of course, having had a Boss ME-70 Multi-effect board, but i hadn't tried out a single distortion stompbox before this one. However, I am happy to say that it lived up to my expectations.

It is easy to handle and the middle boost gives you enough options to play everything from Bluesrock to the shredding guitar solos of both Heavy- and Thrash-metal. If it's combined with a sustain pedal the distortion value also goes to another level.
The only not so positive thing worth mentioning is the sound quality, which sounds a bit digital at low volume level, but when turning it up a bit it creates a powerful distortion, worth playing with at your band practice, live and in the studio (Yes, I have made some home recordings using the Boss DS-2 pedal).

So, the conclusion is that; if you want a distortion pedal that is easy to handle, has a good tone for live playing and practicing etc. and still affordable, then the Boss DS-2 is one for you.