The Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft is a Boss distortion pedal, currently around $136.28. Close alternatives include the J. Rockett Animal and the Friedman BE-OD. It pairs well with the Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet and the Mesa/Boogie Badlander.
Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft
Boss · pedal
The Boss DS-1W Waza Craft is the premium version of the legendary Boss DS-1 distortion, featuring hand-selected components and a Custom mode that adds 6dB of output, tightens the low end, and focuses the midrange for a more aggressive and defined sound. Standard mode retains the classic DS-1 sharp attack and smooth, saturated sustain. Custom mode eliminates the fizz that some players find limiting in the standard DS-1 at high gain settings. Made in Japan as part of the Waza Craft premium component series.
What stands out
“The Boss DS-1W Waza Craft is the premium version of the legendary Boss DS-1 distortion, featuring hand-selected components and a Custom mode that adds 6dB of output, tightens the low end, and focuses the midrange for a more aggressive and d…”
— from the listing
“Premium version of the Boss DS-1 distortion with improved component quality and an added Custom mode providing 6dB more output with tighter low end and focused midrange, alongside a Standard mode that preserves the classic DS-1 character”
— from the community notes
“Custom mode delivers a tighter low end that , a focused midrange that helps the distortion cut through a mix, and the additional 6dB of output that makes it a more effective lead pedal”
— from the reviews
“Standard mode is tonally identical to a well-made standard DS-1 with better components, which some players prefer for authentic vintage DS-1 character”
— from the community notes
“it takes the ds-1 circuit into more usable territory for high-gain lead playing by”
— from the community notes
- low end
- midrange
- distortion
- vintage
- high gain
- lead
- classic ds 1 character
- ds 1 character
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Grunge
- Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft
Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet
Laney
22% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie Badlander
Mesa Boogie
22% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Mesa/Boogie Badlander takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Peavey Invective MH Misha Mansoor Signature 20W Mini Head
Peavey
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Peavey Invective MH Misha Mansoor Signature 20W Mini Head takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
EVH 000
Evh
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put EVH 000 in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Revv Dynamis D20 MkII 20W Head
Revv
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into Revv Dynamis D20 MkII 20W Head and it comes out closer to tight
Suhr PT15 I.R. Amplifier Head
Suhr
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Suhr PT15 I.R. Amplifier Head pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Suhr Peter Thorn PT100 100-Watt Signature
Suhr
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Suhr Peter Thorn PT100 100-Watt Signature stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Revv Dynamis D25 25W 1x12 Combo
Revv
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Revv Dynamis D25 25W 1x12 Combo on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Pedals that stack with the Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft
Fjord Fuzz Fjaer Spring Reverb
Fjord Fuzz
28% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Fjord Fuzz Fjaer Spring Reverb layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Comes later in the signal chain
Fjord Fuzz Odin
Fjord Fuzz
25% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Run mid-forward into Fjord Fuzz Odin for more fuzzy on top
Comes later in the signal chain
Henretta Engineering Lake Effect
Henretta Engineering
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Keep Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft's full voice out front: Henretta Engineering Lake Effect goes after Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft in the signal chain so its ambient voice doesn't muddy it
Comes later in the signal chain
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2
Hungry Robot
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2's ambient voice goes after Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft's own full character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12
Electro-Harmonix
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Keep Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft's full voice out front: Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12 goes after Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft in the signal chain so its ambient voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Pico Deep Freeze
Electro-Harmonix
16% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Electro-Harmonix Pico Deep Freeze leans toward ambient, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Spaceman Spacerocket II
Spaceman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run mid-forward into Spaceman Spacerocket II for more fuzzy on top
Fuzzrocious Tyrannochorus
Fuzzrocious
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Fuzzrocious Tyrannochorus layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Cheaper alternatives
Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion
Boss
60% similarityShared character: high gain settings, noise, mix
Fender Hammertone Metal
Fender
55% similarityShared character: high gain settings, noise, attack
Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion
Ibanez
52% similarityShared character: distortion, vintage charm, high gain settings
MXR Super Badass Distortion
MXR
52% similarityShared character: high gain settings, sustain, bass
Sonicake MiniLane Shark Classic Crunch Distortion
Sonicake
50% similarityShared character: alternative, distortion, aggressive playing
Marshall Guv'nor
Marshall
49% similarityShared character: high gain settings, smooth, distortion
Boutique & premium upgrades
Ibanez SD9 Sonic Distortion
Ibanez
58% similarityShared character: alternative, distortion, vintage charm
Analog Man King of Tone
Analog Man
51% similarityShared character: high gain settings, mix, bass
Wampler Dracarys
Wampler
50% similarityShared character: high gain settings, noise, bass
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
J. Rockett Animal
J Rockett
62% similarityShared character: alternative, distortion, high gain settings
Friedman BE-OD
Friedman
54% similarityShared character: high gain settings, sustain, mix
Wampler Tumnus V2
Wampler
50% similarityShared character: high gain settings, bass, smooth
Black Arts Toneworks Dual Revelation Custom
Black Arts Toneworks
50% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing, vintage charm
JAM Pedals Rattler V2
Jam Pedals
48% similarityShared character: high gain settings, attack, alternative
Free The Tone IF-1D
Free The Tone
48% similarityShared character: mix, alternative, bass
See all alternatives to the Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft?+
The closest matches in character are the J. Rockett Animal, the Friedman BE-OD, the Wampler Tumnus V2. Budget picks: Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion, Fender Hammertone Metal, Ibanez SM Mini Super Metal Distortion. Boutique upgrades: Ibanez SD9 Sonic Distortion, Analog Man King of Tone, Wampler Dracarys.
What pairs well with the Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet, Mesa/Boogie Badlander, Peavey Invective MH Misha Mansoor Signature 20W Mini Head — Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight.
How much does the Boss DS 1W Distortion Waza Craft cost?+
Around $136.28 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).