Boss DS-1 or Ibanez TS-9 Reissue? - Wich do you prefer?

[armindo__dias]

Hi,

I want to push the gain of my Marshall JCM 900 amp a little more for my solos. I was considering buying one of these pedals, since they've been the "standard" to push the amp distortion a little more.

I know that Steve Vai uses the DS-1 (the orange one) and a lot of other people uses the TS-9 (SRV, etc.). The TS-9 that i am thinking of is the Reissue, i can't find the original TS-9. I play with a Jem 7VWH and i was wondering what are your opinions between these two pedals.

Wich one delivers a more musical tone, doesn't altear the natural tone of the guitar and the amp? Wich one do you prefer?

Thanks,
Armindo

[gkelm]

Actually they are both very different pedals. *Both will, but I'd say the DS-1 changes the original charateristics of your tone less. *The TS9 adds a bit of an upper-mid boost (its trademark)...which for some is desirable. *There are easy mods to bring it back to original 808 specs, and there is one cap you can change to give it more bass oomph.

Whay you might do is just pick up a used DS-1 on ebay since they're quite cheap, and see what that does for you. *Or buy one of each from Musician's Friend or GC and return the one you don't like.

There are lots of other options...just a couple: I like using an old MXR Dynacomp set for high output and low compression for a lead boost (Boss CE-2 works well for me too). *Something quite neutral would be the Boss GE-7...great piece that also allows tone shaping as well as clean boost. *
Greg

[rgr]

The Boss SD-1 is also worth a listen.

[jeff l]

Yeah, I'll second the recommendation on the Boss SD-1. It works beautifully for driving a tube amp into a fatter, more sustaining lead tone. Crank the pedal's volume control, set the tone knob to taste and keep the O.D. control anywhere from 0-25% and you're there.

* *The tubescreamers are also nice but they are a slightly different flavor. I guess we're getting into the "ice cream" zone again.

* * *I've never played through a DS-1....I'm guessing here but I'd imagine it would have a slightly harder edge to it than the Super Overdrive. How similar are the two (SD-1/DS-1)? Does anyone here have both of these little beauties?

[carlos seo]

I really like the TS-9. It's perfect for me because of its pronunced midrange. The DS-1 (that I've already owned) gives a fatter tone and it's perfect if you like a more bassy sound (a la Slash, for example).

BTW, how do you guys set your pedal knobs?

[gkelm]

Now that you guys mention it, I think the SD-1 is great as well...I had one a while back and recently picked up another. *If you check Vai's website you'll see that he used one in his rig a few years back. *It does the boost thing nicely, as well as a stand alone OD into a clean amp. *

Jeff- As far as comparison, the SD-1 is much smoother and "rounder" than the DS-1, which is a bit more raw and fizzy sounding (to me anyway). *Technically the diff is that the DS is distoriton, and the SD o/d, and that pretty much sums up the basic tonal nature of each.
Greg