TS-9 Bling Alert

TR3B3L

Been gassing for a new overdrive pedal and came across this:

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Analogman sells them at a *cough* reasonable price and offers all the requisite mods, including illuminated knobs O.O

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http://www.buyanalogman.com/Ibanez_TS_9_Tube_Screamer_30th_Anniversary_p/am-ts930th.htm

DDR4LYF

This may seem kind of random, but I love those Ibanez switches. Those little silver blocks are so rad!!!

nicovlogg

Plenty better pedals out there for less money.

There, I said it.

arjunmenon

nicovlogg wrote: Plenty better pedals out there for less money.

There, I said it.

RJN

A friend of mine has a TS 808 and i must say that i am very impressed with it.

I however picked up a Fulltone OCD v3 to work along with my Marshall 1987x ( 1996, Pre FX Loop models ) , which im very happy with.

The Ibanez TS overdrive has a great sound , although i am not fimilliar with the new models.

TR3B3L

nicovlogg wrote: Plenty better pedals out there for less money.

There, I said it.

Hmmmm .... I think that it largely comes down to the amp, guitar and type of sound that you are after, I don't think any one pedal is the answer for all situations.

I recently had my Super Lead extensively serviced & modded by JP (Master Volume, added Clean Channel & FX Loop). Now that the amp has it's own useable gain I am finding that certain pedals that were my hot favourites before simply don't work now, and others that I haven't used in ages work very well (modded Boss OD-2).

I am very keen to try a few options like TS-9, TS-808, SD-1, OCD V3 & V4, MXR Badass '78 & OD, MXR ZW44 and Rockbox Boiling Point :O

I'm particularly interested in the difference in symmetrical / assymmetrical clipping and how it affects the Marshall's overdriven sound which, I might add, is absolutely glorious on it's own, thank you very much Mr. JP ?

I'd just like the option of being able to kick it over the edge when needed.

"uncle" and I will be trying a few options (including his vintage TS-808), looking forward to that.

Wizard

TR3B3L wrote: I am very keen to try a few options like TS-9, TS-808, SD-1, OCD V3 & V4, MXR Badass '78 & OD, MXR ZW44 and Rockbox Boiling Point :O

You need to go to a pedal party
?

arjunmenon

TR3B3L wrote: I am very keen to try a few options like TS-9, TS-808, SD-1, OCD V3 & V4, MXR Badass '78 & OD, MXR ZW44 and Rockbox Boiling Point :O

+1 about your comment on certain pedals working with certain amps. Also, as playing style/preference develops, so does the taste in pedals.

I might add the below to your already stunning list:

Vox Big Ben
Barber LTD (the black one - i've played one owned by Mojo Jojoe and yes, they're all that!) or the Half Gainer
CraigAmp Vintage G & Vintage R
Lovepedal Eternity Burst
Blue Boy

Or if your pockets are deep enough, you could throw in the Ethos Overdrive as well. IINM, RoyC on the forum has one.

StefStoep

+1 on the CraigAmp pedals.

TR3B3L

Wizard wrote:
TR3B3L wrote: I am very keen to try a few options like TS-9, TS-808, SD-1, OCD V3 & V4, MXR Badass '78 & OD, MXR ZW44 and Rockbox Boiling Point :O
You need to go to a pedal party
?

Eheheh! Great idea, so I managed to sneak out with these while Gav wasn't watching ?

Quick first impressions:

MXR Distortion + and Custom Badass '78: definitely not what I'm looking for, too noisy & thin (on top of the Marshall's overdriven channel)
TS-9 30th Anniversary: Very nice pedal, but I like the TS-808 more in every respect. I also prefer the standard TS-9's looks.
SD-1: Nice pedal, but my OD-2 is also better sounding in every respect.

Blue Boy: VERY nice pedal, but very noisy on switching ☹
MXR Custom Badass Modified Overdrive: Nice sounding pedal, quite flexible in terms of shaping, but NOISY. These new MXR's are not the same quality compared to the older ones.
TS-808 (RI): Ahhhh. Yummy ?

Buuuut I still prefer the OD-2 though. It's a MIJ model which used to sound rubbish, until the Pedalhacker mod (some caps / resitors / transistors changed & LED's added. It doesn't use any ICs at all). The OD-2 sounds more open and transparent, the TS-808 tends to emphasize the mids a bit more. But the TS-9 sounds very sweet over the clean channel, it's got a silky quality to the sound that I like a lot.

Another thing about the 808: It just feels a cut above all the other pedals in terms of quality, from the jacks to the pots and the LED (which is dim, but looks cool). The housing is bulletproof, it feels like you're holding something substantial. My only gripe is the switch, you gotta hit it squarely.

Fortunately I have a little Tubescreamer amp for "after hours" and I have to say that the built in TS holds it's own against the two pedals.

So GAS purchase averted for now :-\

I'll ask uncle to do a sanity check on my assessment, I'm really gagging to hear his vintage 808 now ?