TubeScreamer: Which one should I go for???

ZarK · 2010-09-29T12:48:51+00:00

Hi Guys I'm in the process of setting up a new effects rig. One of the pedals I've always wanted to ad for solo work is a decent TubeScreamer... My choices at present are one of the following: Ibanez TS-808; TS-9 and TS-9DX. (I have a TS-7 to fiddle around with.) I'm leaning towards the TS-9DX at the moment as it seems to offer the most. I know many prefer the 808... I'll be running the pedal into a Mesa Dual Rectifier. Any info/experience shared will be greatly appreciated as always.

ZarK

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Agree with the above comments. ? Modded TS9 is the best way to get a good quality TS sound without paying the earth. The HW is great if you don't want to mess with having your pedal modded.

One other option is the Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive, which is basically a high quality TS with the added option of mixing in a clean bypassed sound, which is magical for when you want to add some drive without completely changing the character of your sound. Not overly expensive either. The overdrive side of my Nova Drive has exactly the same feature (just with an added Distortion circuit and programmable patches).

Thanks, Alan.

The Voodoolab Sparkle drive will be investigated as in right this minute. I've just checked out the pedal's basic specs. Same JRC4558 circuit as the TS-808 + True bypass + the option to mix the overdriven and clean signal, everything for slightly more than a TS-9 and still less than a TS-808. Sounds like a great option!

aubs1

ZarK wrote I'd go for a HW if it was 30% cheaper... Do you know what they cost locally these days?

If something was rated BETTER than the competition, but cost 30% more than my current budget, I'd save up the diffs and get it. That way I never have to wonder what would have been if I did not have it. That's just me. ?

I have one, the HW, and as Brent says, it's the best out-of-the-box TS. Period! Have no idea what they retail at now, got mine on a sale at Marshall Music, Woodmead a few weeks ago. They only had one!

ZarK

Alan Ratcliffe wrote If you have the Nova Drive, you already have a good TS. ?

I have not fiddled around with my Nova Drive yet. (It's still in the box) :-[ If the ND can give me the same TS tone, maybe I shouldn't waste money by buying a TS over and above... Then again, maybe I should just try and get hold of a TS and see if I can match the OD before dismissing the idea of a TS altogether? Eish, I’m starting to play mental ping-pong again…

Thanks for the input!

ZarK

Aubs1 wrote
ZarK wrote I'd go for a HW if it was 30% cheaper... Do you know what they cost locally these days?
If something was rated BETTER than the competition, but cost 30% more than my current budget, I'd save up the diffs and get it. That way I never have to wonder what would have been if I did not have it. That's just me. ?

I have one, the HW, and as Brent says, it's the best out-of-the-box TS. Period! Have no idea what they retail at now, got mine on a sale at Marshall Music, Woodmead a few weeks ago. They only had one!

A HW costs more than 3x a TS-9 on the US sites. (Used as reference) It's even more expensive than the TC Electronic Nova Drive I purchased recently except that the Nova Drive offers 18 Distortion and Overdrives that are midi controllable... I can afford the HW. I just can't justify the retail price compared to a 'normal' TS and other boutique overdrive pedals... I'm sure it must be exceptional and I'd probably get one if/when the right deal comes my way… I totally agree with your logic if the margin was 30% but at roughly 70% (full price), I find it hard to justify...

inflames

Indeed there is 2 ways to look at this:

A: TS in front of of effects loop.
B: TS in effects loop.

I would go for the TS in front of effects loop. The TS was designed to push the pre amp tubes.
Rather get at EQ in your FX loop and scoop the mids.
The perfect scooped mids I have ever heard was running a EQ-7 in the FX chain with a TS9 in the pre amp ?

ZarK

inflames wrote Indeed there is 2 ways to look at this:

A: TS in front of of effects loop.
B: TS in effects loop.

I would go for the TS in front of effects loop. The TS was designed to push the pre amp tubes.
Rather get at EQ in your FX loop and scoop the mids.
The perfect scooped mids I have ever heard was running a EQ-7 in the FX chain with a TS9 in the pre amp ?

I usually run OD and DS in front of the preamp. I've also been toying with the idea of running A MXR Kerry King EQ somewhere... Thanks for the input! Food for thought in my quest to get the sound out of my head ind into my amp! ?

inflames

A MXR Kerry King EQ somewhere

That will be insane in the FX loop!!!!
I have never tried a Kerry King, would love to hear it when you get one!

Cannon

I have owned the TS808,9 & 10 and have gigged plenty with all 3 pedals.
To me the TS9 comes out on top. It tonally just breathes better than the 808 & 10! (hows that for new lingo)
As far as a handwired pedal is concerned....i think you really have to have bionic ears to pick up a difference in sound with such a small device....mmmm....in the imortal words of Jimi Hendrix: "Gimmicks.....yes we do!"

PS: if u want a really versatile TS with great tone get a Blue Boy! 8)

ZarK

Cannon wrote I have owned the TS808,9 & 10 and have gigged plenty with all 3 pedals.
To me the TS9 comes out on top. It tonally just breathes better than the 808 & 10! (hows that for new lingo)
As far as a handwired pedal is concerned....i think you really have to have bionic ears to pick up a difference in sound with such a small device....mmmm....in the imortal words of Jimi Hendrix: "Gimmicks.....yes we do!"

PS: if u want a really versatile TS with great tone get a Blue Boy! 8)

Thanks for the input!

I had my mind set on the TS-9dx in the Ibanez range. Now I'm also looking at the Voodoolab Sparkle Drive, Fulltone OCD and MI Audio Blue Boy deluxe... And I already have a TCE Nova Drive that has 18 midi controllable Overdrives and Distortions... To be honest, this is starting to get a little confusing... So many great choices...

[deleted]

Cannon wrote As far as a handwired pedal is concerned....i think you really have to have bionic ears to pick up a difference in sound with such a small device....

Its not the handwired part that is better ? That is the sales part, I mean it comes in a fancy tin, painted in the same colour as the pedal etc etc...

They just have no expenses spared with the parts inside the pedal.

Same as you hear the difference, between the TS808 and the TS9

The HW TS beathes more than all of them, I find the midrange to me more transparent.. for lack of a better word.. that when it seems to win out for me.. Not as 'muddy' as the the others. and they are still good too...

+1 On the Blues Boy

Lets face it.. There are some amazing overdrives out there. the selection is just about endless...

Why not snap up that Tim pedal that came up on Gumtree. The guy wanted R1800 for it... Those are raved about all over the world as "THE BEST'. I havn't tried one...

ZarK wrote Do you know what they cost locally these days?

If I recall the last retail price was.... R4.5k ?
But remember its a limited edition ? haha
This pedal is going to be selling on Ebay for $1000 one day! Its collectors stuff and sounds AMAZING on top of it ? I hope

ZarK

@Brent:

I'm definately getting a Timmy. It's a very low gain boost/overdrive pedal though. Much lower gain compared to Tubescreamers and the mentioned OD pedals I'm considering. Also, I can get a new Timmy from the States for much less than the advertised one incl. shipping and Vat! Theres a waiting list though...

[deleted]

ZarK wrote @Brent:

I'm definately getting a Timmy. It's a very low gain boost/overdrive pedal though. Much lower gain compared to Tubescreamers and the mentioned OD pedals I'm considering. Also, I can get a new Timmy from the States for much less than the advertised one incl. shipping and Vat! Theres a waiting list though...

Ah cool, ok let us know how it is! Would love to hear some recordings.. and not Youtube videos...

You just need to buy them all.... ? TS808RI TS808HW TS9 TS10.. I know you want to ?

ZarK

Brentcgp wrote
ZarK wrote @Brent:

I'm definately getting a Timmy. It's a very low gain boost/overdrive pedal though. Much lower gain compared to Tubescreamers and the mentioned OD pedals I'm considering. Also, I can get a new Timmy from the States for much less than the advertised one incl. shipping and Vat! Theres a waiting list though...
Ah cool, ok let us know how it is! Would love to hear some recordings.. and not Youtube videos...

You just need to buy them all.... ? TS808RI TS808HW TS9 TS10.. I know you want to ?

Sho.... I actually want to buy as little as possible. Deciding which is the right one for me without buying a few and testing them on my rig is the biatch... Maybe I should start fiddling with my Nova Drive first... ...but then again... ? ?

ZarK

Do you guys reckon a MI Audio Blue Boy is be a better option than an Ibanez TubeScramer???

Vick

T-rex alberta......check out a demo or to on youtube man....t-rex's 808 semi-clone thingy...realy,REALY,awsum

Vick

Blue boy wastes all tubescreamers iv ever heard in person.....no contest (I havint heard the HW in person yet thou)

Cannon

Vick wrote Blue boy wastes all tubescreamers iv ever heard in person.....no contest (I havint heard the HW in person yet thou)

Absolutely!!! No contest!

ZarK

OK… I've done some research and it does seem like the Blue Boy is a better option than the Ibanez T-9dx at this stage. I've also re-researched my Nova Drive and also re-realized that I'm sitting with 18 analogue Over drive and Distortion pedals in this unit already + I can run both OD and Dist together in whatever sequence I prefer... Excellent sound quality and flexibility... Now to decide if I should get a Blue Boy on top of the 18 OD's of the Nova I already need to figure out...

Thanks again for all the input!!

kayDUB

ZarK wrote Now I'm also looking at the Voodoolab Sparkle Drive, Fulltone OCD and MI Audio Blue Boy deluxe...

I'll add the fulltone Fulldrive into the mix, sounds great for leads, nice sustain and "roundness" (mid hump ? ) Plus it has a seperate boost switch which adds more sustain than volume really. IIRC the OCDs not really a TS type pedal, but it gets good reviews.

The Tubescreamer would probably only be used for high gain lead to tighten things up a little and just change the voicing a bit; maybe add a little drive depending on what sounds the best

I think a fulldrive will be great for this.

Brentcgp wrote Lets face it.. There are some amazing overdrives out there. the selection is just about endless...

Why not snap up that Tim pedal that came up on Gumtree. The guy wanted R1800 for it... Those are raved about all over the world as "THE BEST'. I havn't tried one...

Yes, so many TS options, sometimes I think its just splitting hairs! I already snapped the Timmy up (it wasn't the Tim) ?

ZarK wrote I'm definately getting a Timmy. It's a very low gain boost/overdrive pedal though. Much lower gain compared to Tubescreamers and the mentioned OD pedals I'm considering. Also, I can get a new Timmy from the States for much less than the advertised one incl. shipping and Vat! Theres a waiting list though...

I was surprised with the gain available on the Timmy, there's quite a bit in there! But i'm not really a hi gain person.
I didn't pay the advertised price ? Plus there's a waiting list and it was sitting right in front of me - who was I to argue! Second hand ones go for more than new!
It is definately very "transparent" - no TS mid boost. Its great having the timmy and the fulldrive together for their different strengths.

ZarK

kayDUB wrote
ZarK wrote Now I'm also looking at the Voodoolab Sparkle Drive, Fulltone OCD and MI Audio Blue Boy deluxe...
I'll add the fulltone Fulldrive into the mix, sounds great for leads, nice sustain and "roundness" (mid hump ? ) Plus it has a seperate boost switch which adds more sustain than volume really. IIRC the OCDs not really a TS type pedal, but it gets good reviews.

The Tubescreamer would probably only be used for high gain lead to tighten things up a little and just change the voicing a bit; maybe add a little drive depending on what sounds the best
I think a fulldrive will be great for this.

Brentcgp wrote Lets face it.. There are some amazing overdrives out there. the selection is just about endless...

Why not snap up that Tim pedal that came up on Gumtree. The guy wanted R1800 for it... Those are raved about all over the world as "THE BEST'. I havn't tried one...
Yes, so many TS options, sometimes I think its just splitting hairs! I already snapped the Timmy up (it wasn't the Tim) ?

ZarK wrote I'm definately getting a Timmy. It's a very low gain boost/overdrive pedal though. Much lower gain compared to Tubescreamers and the mentioned OD pedals I'm considering. Also, I can get a new Timmy from the States for much less than the advertised one incl. shipping and Vat! Theres a waiting list though...
I was surprised with the gain available on the Timmy, there's quite a bit in there! But i'm not really a hi gain person.
I didn't pay the advertised price ? Plus there's a waiting list and it was sitting right in front of me - who was I to argue! Second hand ones go for more than new!
It is definately very "transparent" - no TS mid boost. Its great having the timmy and the fulldrive together for their different strengths.

I'll look into the pedal you mentioned. Thanks!

I'm looking forward to getting a Timmy asap. Congrats on getting yours. I did make an offer on the one you purchased. Slightly higher than what I'll be paying for a new one soon. I don't mind waiting a bit. Enjoy yours and tell us what you think of it> Timmy's are highly regarded abroad.

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