[heffergm]

Well, I just got my Keeley'fied DS-1. And while he obviously does good work, here are my thoughts:

I play through a JSX head/Avatar 2x12 cab w/V30's:

- it sounds like ass through the clean channel. I pretty much expected this, since the stock DS-1 sounds like ass through the clean channel as well. I guess it sounds like better ass, but it's still ass if you follow.

- when I drop the gain on either the ultra or crunch channel and dial it in to a sounds I like, I get to a point where I think "yeah, that's nice". Then I put my original settings back on the JSX, turn off the DS-1, and think... well damn, that sounds just as good, but with more clarity.

I do hear some of the harmonic overtone to the distortion which is nice, but the JSX, driven hard, especially on the Ultra channel, exhibits a bit of the same.

Bottom line, I don't really know if I should have bothered. Between the Crunch and Ultra channels on the JSX, I think I've got things covered.

Anyone else using a DS-1 as overdrive care to share opinions? Or if anyone wants to buy a brand new Keeley DS-1, feel free to chime in as well.

[starsnuffer]

Proper way to use a boost through a high gain amp:

Gain 0, Tone 5, Level 10.

Try that and get back to us.

-W

[heffergm]

Originally Posted by starsnuffer

Proper way to use a boost through a high gain amp:

Gain 0, Tone 5, Level 10.

Try that and get back to us.

-W

Sorry, but YUCK. Although it does smooth the distortion out, it also seems to put me on the verge of uncontrollable feedback and if it wasn't for the noise gate, I'd be deaf from the static.

I played some more... if I cut the level and tone down, I can again turn the crunch channel into the ultra channel. But I already have a button that does that...

The tone is somewhat different. I'll have to play some more and decide I suppose.

[noodles]

I have a couple of thoughts...

1) The Ultra channel on the JSX and XXX add a diode clipping circuit to the Crunch channel. Adding a pedal in front of this is like running two overdrive pedals, one in front of the other. As you observed, it doesn't sound very good.

2) The DS-1 is a distortion pedal. For boosting a tube amp, you really want an overdrive pedal, like an OD-1 or TS-9. A distortion box works better with lower gain amps, used as the primary source of gain.

I used to own a XXX. I was never really happy with any pedal I put in front of it. I feel pretty much the same way with my limited experience with Engl. Mesa and Marshall, however, almost require it.

[starsnuffer]

I'm curious as to what your gain and EQ settings are on your amp if you're getting feedback that easily.

-W

[heffergm]

Originally Posted by starsnuffer

I'm curious as to what your gain and EQ settings are on your amp if you're getting feedback that easily.

-W

I run everything at straight up except the bass, which is at 8 or 9 depending on which channel we're talking about.

Gain is 8 on the crunch channel, 7 on the ultra channel.

[starsnuffer]

That's an awefully lot of gain on the amp. I'm interested in why you felt you needed a boost pedal?

My bandmate has a XXX, which is what the JSX was based off of. The gain is usually around 4 or 5 and that seems to be more then enough. Amps actually sound heavier with lower gain settings before they fizz out. If I put the XXX gain on 8 it'd be a fuzzbomb. I know the JSX supposedly has slightly less gain, but that still seems like a lot. I'm not surprised you get noise when you boost.

-W

[noodles]

^ You're running a ton of gain. That is your biggest clarity problem right there. I felt my XXX made more gain than my Road King, and I run the gain around 5-6 on the Mesa.

[heffergm]

Yeah, here's the thing. With the gain pumped on the amp, no DS-1, I get a very similar sound to the DS-1 set as a boost and the gain dropped down.

Now I confess, there is a bit of a tone difference, and the sound of the attack changes a bit. So I can see the appeal. Thanks for the suggestions.

[noodles]

Hey, whatever works for you is all good. It's just that that much gain usually sound awesome in the bedroom, but muddy and indistinct in a band setting.