DS-1 wtf

[WGTP]

I have bread boarded dozens of Overdrives, Distoritons and Fuzzes and usually can get a pretty good/great sound (with varying amounts of tweaking).  I've had the commonly used DS-1 on the breadboard for several weeks and can't seem to get much out of it especially at high-gain settings where it starts sounding like a member of the FUZZ family.  It seems unresponsive to typical tweaks.  since I had never messed with a gain stage like the one before the op amp before (with the BMP type section prior to the buffer), I removed the buffer, leaving the BMP stage and GLANG there it was.  Sounds pretty good now (I especially like the GE/LED combo for the clippers).  It's almost like the buffer caused this HiFi-ish, Souless, Clinical, sounding distortion which reminded me why many people will only use tube amps.  I hypothesize, or is it theorize, that the buffer combined with the BMP type stage (there is probably an official name for it besides that, but I don't know it) overdrive the pee wadden (haven't heard that in a while, I guess it is too mild) out of the op amp.  I guess removing the buffer effects the way the op amp is (over) driven. 

Of course, it is possible that I got the buffer wrong, but I can't figure out how.  WTF. 

[Melanhead]

I know what you mean ... I've done lots of playing around with the DS-1 and it can get better, but have never managed to get it it to where I thought it sounded great.

I have a dead one on my desk and when I have a minute I'll revive it and try bypassing the buffer ...

Thanks ...