TS-808 Mod

OK here's a sad story with a happy ending. I bought what I thought was an Aramat modded TS-9 from the local guitar store.  It had "aramat effects" and other things written on it in green magic marker.  Since the guitar store had no left handed guitars, he demoed it for me, and also a stock TS-9.  The "mod" sounded ok to me, it was hotter than the other, so I bought it.  Took it home and it sounded like shit.  I thought it was bad settings, thought it was the acoustics of my bedroom, tweaked knobs, played standing on my head, played in my underwear in the shower, still sounded like shit.  Even I don't play that bad. Finally I emailed Keith.  After determining that it was a fake, I sent it to him.  Got it back yesterday, plugged it in, and it sounded like I wanted it to, fabulous.  That was just before I blew my amp. I really can't compare it to another good pedal, just to what it was before, so maybe thats not fair.  Also I only played fifteen minutes. Anyway, the point is, when I get my amp fixed I'll be happy. BTW, I play an MIJ Telecaster through a '72 Blackface Twin Reverb (which I love, even though it failed me yesterday) if anyone cares.  I also have a Schecter PT Custom (love that as well) but I didnt get to try it out on the pedal because of the damn amp.

Um, see above... Doesnt matter anyway, I'm a three chord wanker who has too much money and plays in my bedroom (does that sound perverted to anyone?)

Ibanez TS-9, I think we're all on the same page here...

Here's the point of this review. If you're a real guitarist, you shouldnt be reading this review, for the reasons mentioned above, because I don't have a clue what I'm doing.  Here are some things I do know; Keith Vanderwhosit (aramat guy) uses printed decals on the back of the pedal, NOT green magic marker all over it. Keith rocks! He's very fast and prompt and wonderful and I can't say enough good things about him. The Real Deal sounded exactly like I wanted it to, you might say like I thought it would sound.

I really think I've said everything I need to already.  If it were lost or stolen, I would get another one, but I would do it a little different lol.  I payed way too much, but thats because I had to pay twice.  (Here's your sign dumbass) I didnt really set out to get an Aramat modded TS-9.  I just got it because it was there.  Then I figured I might as well contact him.  I'm really glad I did. Before the amp went, I was playing single string surf rockabilly country type stuff and it sounded really good to me.  (I was just about to break into "Eruption" when the amp went, damn!) I should point out before I close that I don't think the guitar store owner knew it was a fake either.  He only played it that once while I was in there, and it sounded ok. Well thats enough, you get the idea. For those about to rock, I SALUTE YOU lol

Sounds great!  I really like the warmer transparent tone that roars out of that little green box.  (Turn up your amp to really understand the magnitude of this tone).  I am using a semihollow body guitar with a 30W Peavey tube amp.  My amp's clean channel is its best feature and don't really care to much for the dirty channel, hence the TS9.  This pedal really allows me to keep the clear tone of the amp yet colors it with a warm boost of heavier gain.  I think that the pedal’s tone sound a lot more real than before too. I mean for $29 can you really say no?  I am happy with the money that I spent.  I could have paid a lot more via analogman or Keeley.

I had one small problem listed below but Keith took care of it.

Mine is the TS9DX, so I have a few more settings than the original TS9. Basically there are four modes that you can dial into; TS9, +, Hot, and Turbo.  I just like TS9 and "+."  The + setting works a lot like a boost, great for solos.  I like to turn the gain down and level up so that + mode can really shine. 

Keith rocks!  Somehow my TS9DX burned out a day after I got it back and so I returned it and got it back within a week.  Way to go!

Like I said for the money you can't go wrong.  Boutique pedals are so overpriced and this is a good way to stick to the man!