MIJ-style Distortion

Everyone has a legendary DS-1, your brother, sister, granny 😅. The modern variant of DS-1 by Boss has several critical disadvantages for a current rig. In my build, I've addressed all of them in the modified original '78 MIJ circuit:

• The first transistor gain stage has control for amplification level. It gives you an option to adjust your instrument's level with high output pickups, prevent the effect from "fuzziness", and get more variations of a drive.
• Mid scoop is moved from ~500Hz in original DS-1 to a more pleasant 700Hz.
• Has added mids control to pass from scooped to boosted mid frequencies. It will allow you to sound better in a band.
• Original MIJ used an obsolete TA7136PA pre-amplifier was replaced with Hi-Fi OPA604 low-noise op-amp.
• Two clipping options: "Crunch" and '78 style silicon diodes clipping (a higher threshold than post-94 versions).
• Three-way toggle switch to adjust high frequencies distortion amount.
• True bypass instead of the buffered one used in Boss pedals.
• High-quality components that the original DS-1 never had. No ceramic capacitors or cheap resistors.

• Level - effect output volume.
• Drive - the amount of gain.
• Input - the amount of gain on the first transistor-based stage. Up (clockwise) gives you an original MIJ DS-1 setting.
• Tone - controls the balance between low and high frequencies.
• Mids - controls mid frequencies (~700Hz) scoop/boost. Counterclockwise gives scooped mids like the original DS-1, clockwise boosts mids for a better fit in a mix.
• Clipping toggle - "'78" for original MIJ silicon diodes clipping (~1V threshold), "Crunch" more open LED/silicon diodes clipping (similar to MXR Custom Badass '78 Distortion).
• Hi-Cut toggle - sets the number of high frequencies to be distorted: '78 is MIJ DS-1 value, Dark - more muddy sound, '94 - post-94 modern DS-1 value.
• LED brightness trimmer - placed on the PCB trimmer allows you to adjust the status LED brightness.

9V DC adapter (Boss-style negative center) not included. No batteries. They are bad for the environment 🌲.

Voltage: 9V

Current draw: 12.0 mA

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