Boss · DS-1 · late 1980s–present
When Boss moved compact production from Japan to Taiwan in the late 1980s, the DS-1 kept its circuit at first. The big change came in 1994, when Toshiba's TA7136AP preamp chip ran short and Boss redesigned the gain stage around a Rohm BA728N op-amp, then a Mitsubishi M5223AL from 2000. Reviewers blame the post-1994 design for a volume drop and a fizzy, waspy top end. That's a big reason the DS-1 became a favorite of modders, and shops like Analog Man and Keeley made their names fixing it. In 2017 Boss switched to tiny surface-mount boards, usually built in Malaysia, and Analog Man says he can't mod those. None of that stopped players. Steve Vai's tech says it was Vai's main pedal from 1999 on, Mike Stern has used one on all his records, and John Frusciante used it on Stadium Arcadium. For the older sound, hunt a pre-1994 Taiwan unit. For a mod project, get any through-hole Taiwan board. Otherwise any working one does the job.
Lots of DS-1s have been modified, and a home mod can be listed as a name-brand one. Scratchy pots, worn jacks and corroded battery clips are the usual wear.
Buying guide
Any working Taiwan DS-1 does the job, and we'd buy the $53 one titled tested with its box and papers. About 149 are for sale and most ask $50–75 delivered, and a title saying vintage or giving a year like 2001 shouldn't cost more, since anything from 1994 on has the later op-amp board. The one worth paying up for is a pre-1994 unit with the Toshiba TA7136AP chip, the same chip as Japan DS-1s asking $130–220, so if a title claims it, ask for a gut shot before you pay the $122 asked here. Lots of DS-1s have been modded, so ask for a board photo on any of them, and skip the $124 one from Canada titled vintage, about $50 over the band.
$40.00est. delivered
The lowest delivered DS-1 right now at $40, but it's an auction with 12 bids and a day to go, so it'll climb. We'd stop around $50 delivered, where the fixed-price ones start.
Boss DS-1 Distortion Effects Pedal Used
$53.07est. delivered
Titled tested with the original box and papers, for $53 delivered from a US seller, right at the bottom of the band. The box won't change the sound, but here it costs you next to nothing.
BOSS DS-1 Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal – Original Box & Papers – Tested
$52.70est. delivered
Titled tested and in nice shape, from a US seller, for $53 delivered. That's the bottom of the band for one you can plug in and play.
Boss DS-1 Distortion Guitar Effect Pedal, Nice Shape- Tested
$122.09est. delivered
Titled PSA and Toshiba IC, which would make it a pre-1994 Taiwan unit with the same TA7136AP chip as Japan DS-1s asking $130–220. Ask for a gut shot to confirm the chip before paying $122 delivered with the box and manual.
Vintage Boss PSA DS-1 Distortion Pedal Toshiba IC with Box/Manual!
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 10, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 10, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$40.00est. delivered
$35.00 + $5.00 shipping
Auction · 12 bids · ends in 1d 3h
Good buy
Auction with 12 bids and a day left. No test claim.
Seller: woodward07
100% positive
Used$53.07est. delivered
$45.00 + $8.07 shipping
Buy It Now$45.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled tested, with the original box and papers.
Seller: leedrum21
100% positive
Used$52.70est. delivered
$40.00 + $12.70 shipping
Buy It Now$40.00
Good buy
Titled tested, in nice shape.
Seller: slappysvintage
99.7% positive
Used$122.09est. delivered
$115.00 + $7.09 shipping
Buy It Now$115.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled PSA and Toshiba IC, with box and manual. Ask for a gut shot.
Seller: applejaxccbb
100% positive
Used$58.99delivered
$58.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$58.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled tested. Ships free from Japan, same 9V pedal.
Seller: noenemy
99.4% positive
Used$63.27est. delivered
$55.00 + $8.27 shipping
Buy It Now$55.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled vintage, September 2001, Made in Taiwan. That's a post-1994 board.
Seller: stillcoolthreads
99.6% positive
Used$50.03est. delivered
$44.00 + $6.03 shipping
Buy It Now$44.00
Check the seller
Seller feedback is 97.3%. No test claim.
Seller: bayleromanell_0
97.3% positive
Used$123.67est. delivered
$88.60 + $35.07 shipping
Buy It Now$88.60
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Titled vintage, with $35 shipping from Canada. About $50 over the band.
Seller: dontblin-61
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 10, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchPlenty of used pedals turn up without a power supply. Check the power line in the specs above, then match the voltage and plug before you buy one. This searches Amazon for the usual kit.
Search power supplies ↗Amazon search
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