Vintage TS9 and TS808 vs. Modern Variants

[Classic]

Years ago I had a TS9 which I lost somehow somewhere.

I bought a TS808 and didn’t gel with it at all. Tried the JHS Bonzai and didn’t gel with it either. I was gifted an SD1 for a birthday and it just worked for me.

Since then I tried a Klone and CMBAOD but went back to the SD1 which is now my go-to.

I recently bought a TS9 and it works really well for what I’m after. The SD1 is raspier and has a more focused mid point, which is higher than the TS9 which is smoother and a lower mid bump and more rounder sounding.

Will see how long the TS stays on the board.

 

[tallcoolone]

EQD Plumes is a good one that competes with my TS808 RI and Maxon OD820. Very articulate, lots of clarity and has a clean boost (no clipping) option. And it’s dirt cheap

 

[tallcoolone]

Did you forget what fucking forum you’re on? We do metal and high gain here. You can go to tan pants land for the clean bullshit.

Well, if you are looking for thump TS and Klones are prob not for you. All those pedals drastically cut bass. The SD1 would be a much better choice IMO for heavier tones out of a 2203/4

 

[glpg80]

Well, if you are looking for thump TS and Klones are prob not for you. All those pedals drastically cut bass. The SD1 would be a much better choice IMO for heavier tones out of a 2203/4

I plan to look into the VFT dragon or the highwind direwolf next as an option for more tunable boosts. I’m not against an EQ but they’re all so damn noisy.

 

[tallcoolone]

I plan to look into the VFT dragon or the highwind direwolf next as an option for more tunable boosts. I’m not against an EQ but they’re all so damn noisy.

I couldn’t agree more there. I’ve been loving the Thorpy Team Medic for about the past 18mos—I can use it as an ‘underdrive’ like a footswichable ‘clean channel’ that works like your guitar volume, or as you describe, as a tunable boost. As quiet an EQ pedal that I’ve found.

Honestly I could gig with two of those on a board in front of an old Marshall and be happy as hell.

 

[SteveGlitch]

Did you forget what fucking forum you’re on? We do metal and high gain here. You can go to tan pants land for the clean bullshit.

Fuck that shit, it wasn't anything to do with genre lmao But I'll play. I won't convert to metal head gay ass shit. Already been there, time to pass while the metal heads eat ass and pretend that they're Van Halen.


Now with that out the way...
The true tests for Tube Screamers isn't As a boost or on top of a pushed amp. And if we're being honest is to see how the pedal sounds without any gain in back or front of it. Using it as a boost would be a secondary concern. Even for a high gain player this should be true.

 

[glpg80]

Fuck that shit, I won't convert to metal head gay ass shit. Already been there, time to pass while the metal heads eat ass and pretend that they're Van Halen.

And there it is.

Nothing you have to say caters to what this forum provides for metal. You just added yourself to a lot of ignored lists including mine.

 

[tallcoolone]

The true tests for Tube Screamers isn't As a boost or on top of a pushed amp. And if we're being honest is to see how the pedal sounds without any gain in back or front of it. Using it as a boost would be a secondary concern

I’ve owned at least one tube screamer since 1985 and I don’t agree with this at all. Even SRV ran his green box with the gain all the way down—I haven’t had the gain knob on any OD up past 9:00 in years.


Honestly that’s why I don’t listen to YT reviews b/c they all insist on using them in front of sterile sounding, clean amps. Which I proudly own none of

 

[SteveGlitch]

And there it is.

Nothing you have to say caters to what this forum provides for metal. You just added yourself to a lot of ignored lists including mine.

Cool, so in other words you can write shit and I can't. Seems like a typical forum troll on a guitar forum. Cab dish but amp can't take, I get it.

If all the gay ass metal shit players here blocked me, I wouldn't be at any loss, don't have much interest in metal anymore anyway. You made a playful comment, I did the same. You got hurt,, move on.. don't be a bitch and scream about it ? ? ?

I’ve owned at least one tube screamer since 1985 and I don’t agree with this at all. Even SRV ran his green box with the gain all the way down—I haven’t had the gain knob on any OD up past 9:00 in years.


Honestly that’s why I don’t listen to YT reviews b/c they all insist on using them in front of sterile sounding, clean amps. Which I proudly own none of

Well, At least you are respectful and don't whine about playful comments. I respect you for that.

I also never went by youtube videos, I mean I post my own but what drives me to have interest in a pedal is what I read about it. Youtube demos can be misleading in various ways.

 

[Smash]

I feel like this is a pretty silly thread to get derailed

 

[SteveGlitch]

I feel like this is a pretty silly thread to get derailed

I think it's over, I've been blocked lol and the thing is, I know I'll get blamed for derailing it but I'm not the one. All I did was ask if there was a demo without a high gain amp and someone bitched. I'm not surprised, typical shit drama here.

Anyways, back on topic. From what I've always been aware, the Tube Screamer circuit has always been used to push the amp or stacked with other pedals, specifically single coiled guitars through a Fender clean amp. Boosting a Marshall amp (John Frusciante or Metallica style) was secondary nature that did become popular.

I've always been interested in TS circuits that are equipped with a clean blend of sorts. A TS with a 3 EQ baxandal style would also be useful.


And this one popped up:


It's hard to know exactly what a pedal is doing without a capable clean amp.

 

[Bad Brain]

I’ve owned at least one tube screamer since 1985 and I don’t agree with this at all. Even SRV ran his green box with the gain all the way down—I haven’t had the gain knob on any OD up past 9:00 in years.

Yup. Boost + eq contour. Maybe a little OD on top.

 

[Bad Brain]

Can’t remember if this came up in this thread, and I don’t know who Mike is, but:

 

[harddriver]

Grabbed an OD9pro+ and have it being shipped my way. I didn’t know these weren’t made anymore so it was hard to track a good one down.

That's great... Glad you found one! Let us know how you like it when you get it!

 

[SteveGlitch]

Can’t remember if this came up in this thread, and I don’t know who Mike is, but:

View attachment 337347

Mike is the original designer of the most popular overdrive pedal in history - the Klon and the owner of Analog man, one of the first boutique builders in the industry he was. This is again, why I don't care for or like stock TS circuits.

And I don't doubt it. Just recently, the Lightspeed was found to be the same exact circuit as the Timmy - only difference being that the treble and bass knobs from the Timmy were replaced by the one Tone knob on Lightspeed.

 

[tallcoolone]

Mike is the original designer of the most popular overdrive pedal in history - the Klon and the owner of Analog man, one of the first boutique builders in the industry he was. This is again, why I don't care for or like stock TS circuits.

And I don't doubt it. Just recently, the Lightspeed was found to be the same exact circuit as the Timmy - only difference being that the treble and bass knobs from the Timmy were replaced by the one Tone knob on Lightspeed.

Didn’t Bill Finnegan design the Klon? Analog Man (is that Mike?) designed the KoT which is a fantastic OD as well. I’ve been on his list for the better part of a decade—been using a copy until I get called.

My orig Timmy is cutting out so I need to get it checked but iMOit’s a little ‘soft’ for my taste

 

[Shask]

I’ve had a standout for years and it’s a great pedal, but always wished i could have a bit of clipping added in like a tubescreamer ads (some of my amps don’t get along as well with a pure-clean boost)

about two months ago I got the Dragon from Peter’s recent run of pedals, i really should have got one years ago, it’s not been turned off since I got it, it’s the most tweakable and best sounding ts-style pedal I have. I would highly recommend it.

I have been considering building a clone of the Dragon. Seems like a TS/Standout hybrid.

I just wish they didn't have all the extra switching stuff that makes them twice as complicated as they need to be.

 

[Classic]

Mike is the original designer of the most popular overdrive pedal in history - the Klon and the owner of Analog man, one of the first boutique builders in the industry he was. This is again, why I don't care for or like stock TS circuits.

And I don't doubt it. Just recently, the Lightspeed was found to be the same exact circuit as the Timmy - only difference being that the treble and bass knobs from the Timmy were replaced by the one Tone knob on Lightspeed.

Mike from Analogman designed the Klon Centaur? I thought it was a tech friend of Bill F? Could have been Mike I guess. Mike definitely owns Analogman.

 

[SteveGlitch]

Didn’t Bill Finnegan design the Klon? Analog Man (is that Mike?) designed the KoT which is a fantastic OD as well. I’ve been on his list for the better part of a decade—been using a copy until I get called.

My orig Timmy is cutting out so I need to get it checked but iMOit’s a little ‘soft’ for my taste

Mike from Analogman designed the Klon Centaur? I thought it was a tech friend of Bill F? Could have been Mike I guess. Mike definitely owns Analogman.

Sorry, yeah, meant the King Of Tone.

 

[tallcoolone]

Well, At least you are respectful and don't whine about playful comments. I respect you for that.

I also never went by youtube videos, I mean I post my own but what drives me to have interest in a pedal is what I read about it. Youtube demos can be misleading in various ways.

Meh, bunch of alphas in here who respond to shit talking with shit talking. Nothing wrong with some slurs being thrown around, all in good fun I say. Not the place for snowflakes lol.

Hey use your gear how you like, me doing it different doesn’t make anyone wrong. I just came back from Nashville and saw guys with teles a TS9 and practice amps sound massive. I like low/no gain ODs in front of breathing half stacks cause I’m a dinosaur .