DLS Effects BGS (Boost-Gain-Sustain) Pedal

DLS Effects Booster Driver (BGS) — Custom Boost-Gain-Sustain, Designed for Alex Lifeson

Made in USA (hand-built, boutique)

A genuinely rare piece of gear history: this is DLS Effects' custom Boost-Gain-Sustain (BGS) design, built at the request of Alex Lifeson and his guitar tech for the Rush R40 Anniversary tour. Lifeson's brief was boost and sustain without compression, full tonal purity, and breakover into Rush-style distortion near max gain — DLS delivered, and Lifeson ended up using this exact effect on roughly 60% of the setlist for the tour.

Two fully independent channels — Normal and Boost, each with its own Volume and Gain — can be switched on the fly, even while the pedal is bypassed, with the Normal Channel's Volume acting as a master volume feeding into the Boost channel. An EQ switch engages full-range Bass and wide-range Treble (or bypasses them flat), and a Sustain switch adds fatness and sustain on top. An Attack switch dials in brighter/higher attack or a rolled-off, reduced-attack response. True bypass switching via a high-quality 3P3T switch means zero tone suck when off, and an internal voltage charge pump boosts headroom to 15VDC for a warmer, tube-like drive character without harsh clipping. Compact die-cast aluminum enclosure, powder-coated finish, accepts 12–14VDC of any polarity.

• Model: DLS Effects Booster Driver (BGS) — Alex Lifeson custom spec
• Controls: Bass, Treble, Boost Volume, Boost Gain, Normal Volume, Normal Gain, EQ switch, Sustain switch, Attack switch
• Footswitches: On/Off (true bypass), Boost
• Power: 12–14VDC, any polarity (USA wall adapter included)
• Size/Weight: 3.7"W x 4.7"L x 1.7"H, 1.5 lbs
• Condition: Excellent — includes original box, power adapter, and original manual with Alex Lifeson's exact tour settings and 8 additional sample setting diagrams

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