The Difference between tubescreamers ?

Jaden · #1 03-23-2008, 06:46 PM

having recently got another tube amp after years of solid state I want an overdrive pedal...
Ive got a Keeley DS-1 but its not really giving me all the sound that I want, im after driving the amp a little harder but after looking into tubescreamers im a bit confused...
there are loads of models, the TS7 is good value but the TS9 turbo nutter bastard looks awesome... just costs more..

does anyone have the low-down on all of these different models and how they stack up to each other ? - or should I just spend 20 quid on a danelectro

I use a laney VC50 and ibanez guitars (of course) with various pups..

toneboy · #2 03-23-2008, 06:58 PM

Google is your friend.

Tube Screamer history

Jaden · #3 03-23-2008, 07:06 PM

thanks man, thats a load of history for sure but no 'players opinion' on them...
I really need to know if the TS9DX is worth the extra money over the ts9 or if there is a better alternative...

losgatosrg350dx · #4 03-23-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaden

thanks man, thats a load of history for sure but no 'players opinion' on them...
I really need to know if the TS9DX is worth the extra money over the ts9 or if there is a better alternative...

it have more dynamic range
wich means other than the improved sound the only function best suited for it, is if you were using lots of compression before the pedal

other han that, you are seriously limited becasue of its four mode selection, youl also be limited to the tone based on the circuit, but you can do mods, and id say the old 808 moded is a great pedal

Andy43 · #5 03-23-2008, 07:56 PM

If you're just looking to boost your amp, then you'll find the other modes of the TS9DX useless. The TS9 is good, but you might want to replace the chip with the JRC4558 if do decide to go with that. Or you could buy a Maxon OD808 or OD-9 which already have the JRC4558 chip. The OD-9 is also true bypass.

losgatosrg350dx · #6 03-23-2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy43

If you're just looking to boost your amp, then you'll find the other modes of the TS9DX useless. The TS9 is good, but you might want to replace the chip with the JRC4558 if do decide to go with that. Or you could buy a Maxon OD808 or OD-9 which already have the JRC4558 chip. The OD-9 is also true bypass.

yes sir

MadRyan · #7 03-23-2008, 10:24 PM

The Boss SD-1 is almost a Tubescreamer. I usually just buy them as they're cheap and built really well and mod them to TS-808 specs.

losgatosrg350dx · #8 03-23-2008, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadRyan

The Boss SD-1 is almost a Tubescreamer. I usually just buy them as they're cheap and built really well and mod them to TS-808 specs.

how do you do that, just the chip or the whole circuit board

RSVampire · #9 03-24-2008, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadRyan

The Boss SD-1 is almost a Tubescreamer. I usually just buy them as they're cheap and built really well and mod them to TS-808 specs.

yeah, actually a Boss SD-1 is a Tubescreamer it just uses Roland's patent on the asymmetrical clipping instead of the symmetrical.

the different means a little more crunch and harmonics but it's still a tube screamer circuit.

a lot of guys like the SD-1 better modded to 808 specs over the tube screamers because Boss has a better switch to turn the pedal on and off.

and yes to mod the SD-1 to TS808 specs you basically just swap the chip.

MadRyan · #10 03-24-2008, 02:55 AM

There's some other stuff you can remove/swap too, but essentially it's the chip. The Boss pedals are built somewhat better.

Nice thing about modding pedals is you can do things like put in a socket so you can try different chips without having to solder/desolder them. If you want Symmetrical clipping you remove a diode and put in a jumper. There's a bunch of stuff you can do.

losgatosrg350dx · #11 03-24-2008, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadRyan

There's some other stuff you can remove/swap too, but essentially it's the chip. The Boss pedals are built somewhat better.

Nice thing about modding pedals is you can do things like put in a socket so you can try different chips without having to solder/desolder them. If you want Symmetrical clipping you remove a diode and put in a jumper. There's a bunch of stuff you can do.

id have to dissagree on this one based on a techicality
anytime you incorperate a break or a connection on a circuit you increase the resistance of that connection...wouldnt an all audio based circuit hinder from doing this, arent we trying to get every connetion perfect....wouldnt a socket actually degredate parts of the sound??

RSVampire · #12 03-24-2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by losgatosrg350dx

id have to dissagree on this one based on a techicality
anytime you incorperate a break or a connection on a circuit you increase the resistance of that connection...wouldnt an all audio based circuit hinder from doing this, arent we trying to get every connetion perfect....wouldnt a socket actually degredate parts of the sound??

in every application you're trying to make the connection as perfect as possable unfortunately it's never going to happen.

will putting a socket instead of soldering a chip make more resistance? sure, but it's only going to add like less than 1% something you won't be able to hear without something like a high end oscilloscope.

microdmitry · #13 03-24-2008, 05:20 PM

Dude, just skip the tubescreamer and get a Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive. It has both tubescreamer and clean boost in it and you can mix the two, to the point of using it as either 100% tube screamer or 100% clean boost or anywhere in between. In addition to that, it's made from quality parts.

Jaden · #14 03-24-2008, 05:47 PM

Doh !!!
thanks microdmitry, but about 10 mins ago I bought an SD-1

if it dont work out for me then a sparkle drive it will be !

MadRyan · #15 03-25-2008, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaden

Doh !!!
thanks microdmitry, but about 10 mins ago I bought an SD-1

if it dont work out for me then a sparkle drive it will be !

Get yourself a Monte Allums kit and mod that sucker. Those kits are nice because you don't have to do the legwork. I'd get the SD-1 808 kit and buy a couple different Opamps to try with your SD-1 to see what you like. I like the Burr Brown opamp myself.