Boss Distortion DS1 Demo Tutorial

If you're only allowed to have one pedal, what pedal would that be? My answer would be Boss Distortion DS1 pedal. It's the most versatile pedal but also the most difficult to tame or set.

During the 90s, this is the only pedal I got and it wasn't even mine. I only borrowed it from my friend "Daboy." There was one time, during a battle of the band, where I was just pulled to join the band that I mentored and I don't have any gear that night. So I borrowed a guitar and borrowed an effects pedal. Guess who I borrowed the Boss DS1? My good friend Badong is a cousin of Barbie Almalbis and he borrowed the pedal for me. Barbie Almalbis lend me her Boss Distortion DS1. They were also joining the event that night. Barbie played Cranberries songs and Love will keep us alive by Eagles. We played Pearl Jam's Yellow Led Better and one composition and I can't remember what was the other one. I think it was Black by Pearl Jam because we were dubbed as The Pearl Jam of Capiz that night. We came second. Barbie Almalbis won first during that Battle of the bands.

To cut the story short, I fell in love with this Boss Distortion pedal. I used it when we play Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, Guns n Roses, Pearl Jam, STP and other Filipino bands like Eraserheads, Rivermaya, Siakol, The Youth, Yano, Color It Red, Introvoys, After Image, Teeth, etc.

There are tons of good settings with this pedal. It's just finding that sweet spot between your guitar, amp and the pedal. Here's my demo, review and tutorial of this pedal. Hope you will pick up something from it.

Boss Blues Driver BD2 demo and review

My mate Dave, lend me his Boss Blues Driver BD2. I was really pleased with this guitar effects pedal. Very versatile from pop, jazz, blues to classic rock. Also is it my first time to try pedal. My first impression is that this is my best Boss stomp box effects pedal that I've tried and didn't struggle to find its sweet spot and tone. I just simply set the level and tone to my liking and balanced with my clean sound and then fiddle with the gain. Even if I put the gain to zero the pedal still sounds great and also if I put it on max, still it delivers a great sound. You really can't go wrong with this pedal. As always with Boss pedals, it is build to last. I can't help to point out all the good stuff from this pedal. Don't have much to say really because it does the job on its own. I think this pedal is a must-have on your pedalboard. No matter what genre of music you're playing. I really recommend this pedal.


If you like Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Mayer, Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Eric Clapton..... almost any blues player that you can think of.... this pedal is surely the answer.

Behringer GDI 21 vs Boss Blues Driver Comparison

Behringer Guitar GDI 21 is a stompbox and an amp simulator in one. It can work as an effects pedal on your pedalboard or can be used as DI box if you don't have your amp with your during gig or recording session. Also it has lots of features from Ground Lift to minimize or get rid of unwanted interference or hum to how a mic is placed on the amp and types of amp to gain or drive settings. There's lots of combinations to get the tone that you wanted from this pedal. 

On the other hand, the Boss Blues Driver is quite simple settings, just three knobs; volume, gain and tone. Even with just these three knobs, you can still get a good tone out of it. It's really a beautiful pedal for blues and crunch sound. To be honest, I prefer this pedal than the Boss Distortion. I can't explain it more, but this pedal is a must have. 

Cheap vs Branded Keyboard Comparison

My top 3 affordable branded keyboards:

1. Yamaha PSRF51

A starter keyboard for anyone who wants to enjoy playing music.61 keys, 100 Voices, 120 Styles
Not touch response
Built-in reverb, fixed in voice, non-controllable
No sustain pedal input only on panel.
Can be used with batteries

2. Casio CTK1500AD

120 tones, 70 rhythms, 100 built in songs, 61 Keys
easy to use 'Step-Up' lesson system and 'Voice Prompt'
Dance Music Mode, you can combine and play multiple type of pattern phrases
No sustain pedal input.
Not touch response


3. Alesis Melody 61 MKII

61 Keys, 300 builtin tones, 300 rhythm
40 play-along demos or record your own
Dual or split mode.
No sustain pedal input
Not touch response





My top 3 cheap but does the job keyboards:

1. MK1000 Gear4Music 54-Key

54 keys, not touch sensitive
20 voices
10 rhythm
record and playback
Battery option


2. RockJam 54-Keys


54 keys, 100 sound effects, 100 rhythm
8 demo songs and record/playback option
Sustain on panel but no sustain pedal
Can be powered with batteries


3. Shayson Kids Piano Keyboards


61 keys
It's a kids toy piano
16 Timbre or Tone,  8 percussion, 10 rhythm
6 demos with a mini microphone
Powered by 4 AA batteries or USB




Now the question of which one to buy is entirely up to you on how you're going to use it. If it's for you child and you don't have the budget for the branded keyboards, then go for the cheap one that does the job. There are three choices, just select the one that your budget suits or the one that appeals to you. Anyway, your child will learn how to play using it or if it's you who is going to use it, you will still learn how to play the keyboards whether it's a cheap or a branded keyboards.

On the other hand, if you got the budget and you can afford a branded keyboards, then it's a lot better because it durable, it always sounds better than the cheap one and it feels a lot better as well as looks better.  Hope this helps guys.