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Significant difference between TS9 and TS808?


doc oc

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If I was in the market for a tube screamer, I don't think that I would get an Ibanez or Maxon. There are plenty of better alternatives out there. This is not to say that Ibanez of Maxon are bad pedals.

The TS9DX offers more versatility. IIRC, in one setting it retained lows better than the TS9. Still, I sent both pedals to AnalogMan and got the brown mod. Stock, I found them harsh and nasal.

 

A TS-808 I used was smoother sounding, but IIRC only offered a light overdrive.

 

My favorite alternatives were a Banzai Fireball 2 and an MJM Blues Devil, but I have not used TS-style pedals in years.

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I'm looking to get a good SRV sound for covering his version of Buddy Guy's mary had a little lamb.

I really like the riff.

I currently have a bluesbreaker and damage control liquid blues to mess with.

Strat with texas specials into a twin reverb. I' have tried upping the mids on the amp but no dice. Not fat enough.

I'm trying to avoid 13's and e flat tuning but maybe that is the only way.

Suggestions?

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The closest to SRV that I got in terms of tone was with the MJM Blues Devil and a Melancon Pro Artist with Rio Grande (Half Breeds?).

 

SRV got his tone in a different way, though. A lot of volume, and many amps combined. Rene Martinez, his former tech, still sells the Signal Splitter as used by SRV.

 

SRV used TS pedals more as a boost, including the TS-10. I just checked and the MJM pedals don't look anything like the one I had. The Phantom is probably the one you would want. Check the sound samples.

http://www.mjmguitarfx.com/

I don't think that I would pay $179, though.

 

I had to sell my Liquid Blues so did not get to try it, but the Womanizer is quite versatile, with compressor, eq, boost, and overdrive. It replaced multiple pedals on my board. IIRC, the Liquid Blues also has some of this features.

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The TS9 RI is probably the only TS pedal that still doesn't have the right chip in it (nor does the TS9DX, IIRC). As a result, you get more gain, but everything sound raspy and buzzy, not the same organic crunch that most TS pedals and clones give you. Despite all the hype around TS-9/808 mods, merely swapping out this Op Amp for a better one is really all one needs to do to improve the sound. But I agree there are probably no less than 50 TS circuits out there, some true to the original, some heavily modded, but definitely something for everyone.

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I've had a TS-9, a TS-9 modded to 808 specs, and a TS-5 (the soundtank version). The 808 modded one I still have and it sounds the best, but there isn't a huge difference between'em.

 

I used the TS-5 for a long time and I thought it sounded good.

 

I've heard good things about the BBE Green Screamer. These can be had cheap and they have true bypass (although the TS-9's bypass is not bad).

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Which would you go for wyatt?

 

 

I've had an Analogman TS-9/808 mod for 15+ years, so I only follow the trend passively. Back then it was easy to find used TS-9RI's for $30-40 or so, even even with whatever he charged for the mod it was cheaper than the $129 they want for the TS-9RI new.

 

I was gonna recommend the BBE as well, if just on cost alone.

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I out of the blue one day found a good deal on a Keeley modded TS9DX, his '4x2' mod.

 

Basically has the best of everything. It is, however, totally rebuilt with the original 808 chips, and higher quality caps and resistors. ...and unless you find a good deal on one used, not cheap either.

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I have a Maxon OD9

Maxon made the tubescreamers back in the day before Ibanez took over production I think. The OD9 has the same guts as the TS808 I think and the OD808 has the TS9 guts?

 

anny whoo, for Maxon pedals, the OD808 is less gainy and coloring, more transparent overdrive and the OD9 has some more gain and changes the tone a little more. look on youtube for some demos. I would recommend the OD808 for you, great pedal and company. Also look at the sparkle drive if you want another alternative

 

Good link for more info

 

http://www.analogman.com/tshist.htm

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Just looked at one. Yikes. Pricey.

Also ran into another laughably priced "handwired" 808 reissue. Ridiculous.

I have tube amps cheaper than that.

 

 

There are plenty of tube amps that are cheaper than effects pedals.

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Don't waste your money.

 

Get a Behringer TO800 for $30. It sounds every bit as good as an Ibanez TS808 R.I.

 

I know. I have both.

 

Or get a Bad Monkey. Sounds just as great as the TS808 also....... but is a little more versatile with separate treble and bass controls.

 

Seriously. I'm telling the truth.

 

And yes......... I admit I wasted my money on a TS808........ but oh well........ its a cool pedal and I like having it in my collection.

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