Boss DS-1 - MIJ versions

[adam79]

I've been reading about the MIJ Boss DS-1 pedals, and learned that there
were a couple different versions of the MIJ pedal.. ET-28E and ET-28F.
According to the serial #, mine is from '84 and says "ET-28F" on the PCB
board. I'm curious about what changes were made to the pedal during the
MIJ years.

Thanks,
-Adam

[Jim]

Post by adam79
I've been reading about the MIJ Boss DS-1 pedals, and learned that there
were a couple different versions of the MIJ pedal.. ET-28E and ET-28F.
According to the serial #, mine is from '84 and says "ET-28F" on the PCB
board. I'm curious about what changes were made to the pedal during the
MIJ years.
Thanks,
-Adam

FWIW, found at: http://www.bossarea.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6637
I can't verify the accuracy.

---
There are two changes between ET-28E and ET-28F:

The protection diode, D1, has moved. Circuit-wise it's still in the
same place but it's been relocated on the board.

The LED driver transistor Q9 along with D9 and R34 has been removed.


None of the changes will affect the sound of the pedal.
---

Personally, I think some of the differences in the SIMPLE circuits are
over-hyped.

In your case, it appears that the difference is in the LED, not the
signal path. These pedals are really very basic. The main value is to
collectors, so I wouldn't pay much for one unless it was MINT. The
components are few and cheap.

For example, I remember playing an early gray DOD 250 in one of my first
bands. I looked them up, and they sell for STUPID money. So I bought a
yellow reissue used for $20, yanked the circuit board (uses a different
OpAmp, you can't just drop in the old one), and build the original
circuit on perfboard. Gave me something to do for an hour or so, and
saved myself over $300!

Many retro mods are far simpler (like TS9 to 808), mine was complicated
by the fact the the chip had different pin outs.

And that DOD? I like it, but I plan to further modify with different
clipping options (including asymmetric). I already added an LED. You
wouldn't want to do either on a high dollar "original."

[adam79]

You wouldn't want to do either on a high dollar "original."

I actually lucked out and bought a MIJ DS-1 on eBay for $50 this past
week. I got to the auction right when it was listed. The seller didn't
know what he had and put it up for a "Buy It Now" price. I had just sold
my MIJ DS-2 the day before for $100, so I ended up getting payed $50 for
the DS-1!

I also have one of the newer, MIT DS-1s. I A/B'd it with the MIJ DS-1
and found the MIJ DS-1 to have a much warmer tone than the MIT DS-1. I
assume this is due to it's analog circuitry; I'm now in the process of
selling the MIT DS-1.

I also have a MIJ CE-5, which is far superior to it's newer, MIT,
digital counterpart.

Thanks,
-Adam

[Jim]

Post by adam79

You wouldn't want to do either on a high dollar "original."

I actually lucked out and bought a MIJ DS-1 on eBay for $50 this past
week. I got to the auction right when it was listed. The seller didn't
know what he had and put it up for a "Buy It Now" price. I had just sold
my MIJ DS-2 the day before for $100, so I ended up getting payed $50 for
the DS-1!
I also have one of the newer, MIT DS-1s. I A/B'd it with the MIJ DS-1
and found the MIJ DS-1 to have a much warmer tone than the MIT DS-1. I
assume this is due to it's analog circuitry; I'm now in the process of
selling the MIT DS-1.
I also have a MIJ CE-5, which is far superior to it's newer, MIT,
digital counterpart.
Thanks,
-Adam

I don't know that much about Boss distortions, but I'm pretty sure that
all of the standard types (read: not multieffects or the two pedal unit)
are all analog. They're just so simple that it doesn't make sense to go
digital. They may be SMD (miniature surface mounted components), but
the distortion is just a couple of diodes after an OpAmp gain stage.

[Paul]

Post by Jim

Post by adam79

You wouldn't want to do either on a high dollar "original."

I actually lucked out and bought a MIJ DS-1 on eBay for $50 this past
week. I got to the auction right when it was listed. The seller didn't
know what he had and put it up for a "Buy It Now" price. I had just sold
my MIJ DS-2 the day before for $100, so I ended up getting payed $50 for
the DS-1!
I also have one of the newer, MIT DS-1s. I A/B'd it with the MIJ DS-1
and found the MIJ DS-1 to have a much warmer tone than the MIT DS-1. I
assume this is due to it's analog circuitry; I'm now in the process of
selling the MIT DS-1.
I also have a MIJ CE-5, which is far superior to it's newer, MIT,
digital counterpart.
Thanks,
-Adam

I don't know that much about Boss distortions, but I'm pretty sure that
all of the standard types (read: not multieffects or the two pedal unit)
are all analog. They're just so simple that it doesn't make sense to go
digital. They may be SMD (miniature surface mounted components), but
the distortion is just a couple of diodes after an OpAmp gain stage.

exactly, it would cost too much to go digital. multieffects it's
different of course.

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