Boss turns DS-1 Distortion pedal into USB mouse, changes the game forever

Any touring guitar player worth his / her salt likely owns a Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner pedal, and while he / she certainly balked at the MSRP at checkout, they probably couldn't live without it now. And this, friends, is yet another item that you surely cannot live without... but sadly, you'll have to. As the story goes, Boss was offering up this DS-1 Distortion USB mouse as a limited run item on its UK website, but at just £29.99 ($43), they unsurprisingly sold out in record time. Now, there's nary a trace of the device on the outfit's webstore, but at least you've got MusicRadar's hands-on images in the source link to soothe the hurt. What's that? It only makes things worse? Dim the lights, grab the eye-black and cue the Brand New, please.

[Thanks, Geoff]

[Oscarv77 Posted May 27th 2010 10:03AM]

And yet, still more ergonomic than the Magic Mouse...

I wanted one
;_;

[Ryan Trevisol Posted May 27th 2010 11:10AM]

@Oscarv77 Am I the only one who's confused about how to use it? Seems like the pedal part would have been the perfect place to click, but it rests under your palm. Do you click on the knobs? I like the thumb wheel.

[Realityism Posted May 27th 2010 11:41AM]

@Oscarv77

I'm totally modding my broken Ibanez TS9 into a wireless mouse tonight.

(Note: Engadget has eaten this comment 3 times already.)

[Beatnik Posted May 27th 2010 11:50AM]

@Oscarv77
Shame it doesnt double as pedal effect with pc connection via USB.
Imagine plugging this on the Orange OPC Computer Amplifier:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/07/orange-music-puts-pc-into-guitar-amp-ours-is-not-to-reason-wh/
http://www.orangeamps.com/features.asp?ID=163

[Beatnik Posted May 27th 2010 11:55AM]

@Beatnik
I WANT this:
AmpliTube iRig - plug your guitar into your iPhone and rock out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nod69aTzsM
But ANDROID VERSION.

[Tiptup300 Posted May 27th 2010 4:18PM]

"Any touring guitar player worth his / her salt likely owns a Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner pedal"

Lies, ever hear of the Polytune?

[InternetPolice Posted May 27th 2010 10:04AM]

This is the *Boss*

[JeremytheIndian Posted May 27th 2010 10:05AM]

Eh, I would prefer the Metal Zone MT-2. That thing is versatile.

[guitarkid Posted May 27th 2010 12:01PM]

@JeremytheIndian The moment I read the article, I thought the exact same thing.

[hezz Posted May 27th 2010 10:08AM]

Finally something to use that worthless pedal for!

[DustbinK Posted May 27th 2010 10:12AM]

How much of a tool do you have to buy a pedal that doesn't work as a pedal? Jesus christ.

[FAP FAP FAP Posted May 27th 2010 10:17AM]

How much of a tool do you have to be to buy a mouse that doesn't eat cheese?
Jesus Christ.
/s

[MarkAnderson Posted May 27th 2010 10:18AM]

@DustbinK

How much of a tool must you be to have no sense of humour?

This rocks. Literally.

[DustbinK Posted May 27th 2010 10:30AM]

@MarkAnderson I have a sense of humor but this just doesn't do it for me. When I think pedals I think "broke as hell" not "buying unnecessary mouse." I mean if musicians are buying anything unnecessary... it's more pedals. You know... gear acquisition syndrome.

[bolezhinkov Posted May 27th 2010 12:17PM]

@DustbinK

yeah . . . you've missed the point. its a novelty item.

[markolic Posted May 27th 2010 4:20PM]

@bolezhinkov how much of a tool does it take to realize it's moses not, Jesus Christ

[XCMeathead Posted May 27th 2010 10:12AM]

I want one so bad... except it should be wireless. If they make a wireless one, I'll buy it no questions asked! Assuming that doesn't sell out too...

[doug Posted May 27th 2010 1:09PM]

@XCMeathead

pfft...who wants to rock out a mouse that is more high tech than the awesomeness of one of the best pedals ever? such a great idea, i think they shouldve made the USB plug look like amp cables used to connect these things

[pod4711 Posted May 27th 2010 10:18AM]

guess who owns one :)

[InternetPolice Posted May 27th 2010 10:20AM]

@pod4711

Slash?

[pod4711 Posted May 27th 2010 10:26AM]

@InternetPolice no, me :)

[trogdor3222 Posted May 27th 2010 10:19AM]

What a waste.
Also, I love Brand New...I just hate their fans.

[orinjz Posted May 27th 2010 2:22PM]

@trogdor3222 No...really, it's not, the modern DS-1 is a junky, tinny sounding distortion pedal.

Give me a Russian Big Muff any day...

[justinofthemoss Posted May 27th 2010 10:53PM]

@trogdor3222

i love brand new as well. why does engadget keep calling them emo though?

[JohnnyK Posted May 27th 2010 10:23AM]

Is that a type B USB connection? How does that work?

[JohnnyK Posted May 27th 2010 10:23AM]

Oh wait.. I see now that it is just on its side.

[ai4281 Posted May 27th 2010 10:26AM]

I hate my DS-1. Only their vintage, japan-made DS-1s are worth buying. New ones made in Taiwan are too tinny sounding.

It would be much useful as a mouse...

[rederikus Posted May 27th 2010 10:37AM]

What an awesomly cool idea. My personal Boss favorite is the MT2 Metal Zone. However I WANT one of these.

[Kleptomaniac Posted May 27th 2010 11:00AM]

Ah I remember buying this pedal back when I was 14, still have it!

[RayVoid Posted May 27th 2010 11:08AM]

Still a fan of the Big Muff (leave the gutter people, I'm speaking of the pedal), but this is a nice adaptation.

[Imelijah Posted May 27th 2010 11:33PM]

@RayVoid well technically the big muff is a fuzz pedal.. But yeah they kick ass..

[OME6A Posted May 27th 2010 11:19AM]

Screw Boss' tuner pedal. The Korg Pitch Black is all she wrote:
http://www.korg.com/product.aspx?pd=295

[NaJaKwa Posted May 27th 2010 12:05PM]

Screw paying for the brand on the stompbox, make your own.
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/content/category/6/17/26/

[shishi Posted May 27th 2010 12:44PM]

niiiiice

Now I want a Flanger and a Delay mouse.