The Other One
The boss of the orange distortion pedals since 1978
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The Other One distortion pedal compares to the original MIJ Boss DS-1 Distortion. This is a popular effect, as well as a very popular effect for modifications. Although we offer only one base configuration, the plethora of options and customizations we offer result in a wide variety of rocking distortion tones.
Description
Players have been stomping the Boss DS-1 Distortion for more than 40 years, and probably will continue to do so for another 40 years. In 1994, players got a surprise when they stomped their orange pedal. That's when production moved out of Japan and they switched to a different op amp. The opinion of many is that the new version was not nearly as good as the old. As a result, the older MIJ versions bring higher prices, and there are now many mods available for the new version to improve its sound. Of course, we want you to make the choices about your tone, not us, so we offer both versions of the pedal, along with an array of options.
Configurations
- The Other One - compares to original MIJ Boss DS-1 Distortion
Options
- Custom Op Amp - The original op amp was the TA7136A. As long as we can find them, that is what we will use by default. Subsequent versions of the circuit used BA728N, M5223AL, and NJM2904L. None of these sound very good, so we don't offer them. If you do not want to use the TA7136A, you can select any 4558-compatible op amp.
- Custom Transistors - The circuit contains three transistors, two of which are used as buffers. We will use 2SC732GR, like the original circuit, unless you ask for something else. There's nothing special about the 2SC732GR - any quiet medium gain transistor will be fine.
- More Bass - Change several components to allow more bass through the circuit
- More Distortion - Change some components to provide a slightly wider range of distortion.
- Fat Mod - Allows more mids and lows through the circuit. Slightly reduces the distortion and treble. Not intended for use with the More Bass or Ultra options.
- Ultra Mod - This mod includes the More Bass and More Distortion Options. It will also require a change to the hard clipping diode config or the inclusion of a red LED, 1N4148 / red LED, 47pF capacitor diode config as a Hard Clipping switch option.
- Seeing Eye Mod - This mod is a hard clipping diode configuration. If you don't have a Hard Clipping switch option, then this will change your only hard clipping configuration. If you have a Hard Clipping switch, then red LED / 1N4148 becomes one of the diode configuration choices. The flashing LED won't be visible - bummer!
- Input Level - Add a control to allow cutting down the input signal level after the gain stage but ahead of the distortion. Full on is the stock circuit setting. This gives you some control of the gain before the distortion.
- Muff Mod - The circuit contains a transistor gain stage between the input buffer and op amp distortion. This stage is very similar to a Big Muff gain stage. This option adds the Big Muff clipping to this stage and changes a capacitor value to make it into a Big Muff clipping/gain stage. This changes the character of the circuit a bit, adding some soft clipping. The configured Big Muff stage will have the usual components with these values: (2) 1N914 diodes with 100n cap, 470K feedback resistor, and 470pF feedback cap. You can select other values for your favorite Big Muff stage.
- Muff Switch - Same as the Muff Mod, but on a switch. You get the stock circuit on one setting, and the Muff Mod on the other setting. Recommended if you choose the Muff Mod.
- More Mids - The standard circuit has a mid scoop. This mod gives you flat mids response.
- Mids Switch - Lets you switch between the original circuit scoop or the More Mids option flat mids.
- Shrill Cut - The stock circuit can be shrill, sometimes noisy. This mod reduces the treble and high noise level.
- Shrill Cut Switch - Same as Shrill Cut option, but on a switch. The other setting is the stock circuit sound.
- Hard Clipping - change to a custom hard clipping option, such as the Ultra Mod or Seeing Eye Mod. The original circuit used a pair of 1S2473 diodes. These are expensive and hard to find, and nothing particularly special, so they are available as an option. A pair of 1N4148 is the default.
- Hard Clipping Switch - Allows you to switch between (2) different diode configs, plus optionally no diodes in the middle position.
- Dual Hard Clipping Switches - Add a second switch and two more diode configs (total of 2 switches, 4 configs) for hard clipping choices. Both switches will be no diodes in the middle position.
- Components - We use metal film resistors and a selection of capacitors that provide good tone and low noise.
Front Panel
- On/Off indicator LED
- Volume
- Tone
- Distortion
- (optional) Input Level
- (optional) Muff switch
- (optional) Mids switch
- (optional) Shrill Cut switch
- (optional) Hard Clipping switch
- (optional) 2nd Hard Clipping switch
Rear Panel
- Audio In
- Audio Out
- On/Off Footswitch
- On/Off Override
- DC Power
- DC Power LED
Module Width
- 1.5" standard
- 2.0" with options
- 2" left wing available for standard 3-4 control configuration
- 1.5" right wing available for standard 3-4 control configuration
Power Consumption (aprox)
10 - 20mA
Base Configurations
| Part # | Description | List Price |
| MOD-OTHER | The Other One module | $229 |
Options
| Part # | Description | List Price |
| MOPT-OTHER-OPAMP | Custom Op Amp | $0-TBD |
| MOPT-OTHER-TRANS | Custom Transistors | $0 |
| MOPT-OTHER-BASS | More Bass | $0 |
| MOPT-OTHER-DIST | More Distortion | $0 |
| MOPT-OTHER-FAT | Fat Mod | $0 |
| MOPT-OTHER-ULTRA | Ultra Mod | $0 |
| MOPT-OTHER-EYE | Seeing Eye Mod | $0 |
| MOPT-OTHER-INLEV | Input Level Control | $19 |
| MOPT-OTHER-MUFF | Muff Mod | $0 |
| MOPT-OTHER-MUFFSW | Muff Switch | $19 |
| MOPT-OTHER-MIDS | More Mids | $0 |
| MOPT-OTHER-SWMIDS | Mids Switch | $19 |
| MOPT-OTHER-SHR | Shrill Cut | $0 |
| MOPT-OTHER-SHRSW | Shrill Cut Switch | $19 |
| MOPT-OTHER-HCLIP | Hard Clipping | $0-TBD |
| MOPT-OTHER-HCLIP1 | Hard Clipping Switch | $19-TBD |
| MOPT-OTHER-NCLIP2 | Dual Hard Clipping Switches | $39-TBD |
| MOPT-OTHER-CC | Component Changes | $0-TBD |