Help finding the ultimate Tube Screamer?

[richedie]

Hey Guys,

I am using less gain on my Egnater Mod 50(all tube) than ever before, I tend to dial it down to 10:00-11:00 on most Marshall/Mesa based modules. I am not using my rack any longer and instead use a tube screamer type up front for added compression and a mid hump.

I am using a modded Keeley Voodoo Sparkle Drive right now> I like the clean option......but I am wondering if I could get away with something with less gain but still having a mid bump. I have the gain at like 9:00 to 10:00 depending on the song, Egnater module used, etc.

Keeley Katana? Analogman TS? Cusack Screamer?

Any you guys can think of that might give me better lead tones into an already dirty amp? Very natural sounding if possible. This is mostly as a lead boost. I am the only guitar player in this band

THANKS!

[b-squared]

I've got a Keeley modded TS-9 I might part with, if you're interested. It just might suit your needs.

Shoot me a PM if you'd like to talk about it.

BB

[Liam]

A lot of modded Ibanez TS pedals sound very good. I favour the TS-10 with my own little mod recipes (must have at least 4 with differing circuits), but the Keeley modded TS-9 is also an incredible sounding pedal. They thicken up really nicely with a bit of compressor in front of them.

I often wonder if the ultimate TS wasn't just a stock TS-808 from way back... but then we can't say that with all this boutique stuff on the market, can we?

Liam

[Beerdog80]

Originally Posted by Liam

I often wonder if the ultimate TS wasn't just a stock TS-808 from way back... but then we can't say that with all this boutique stuff on the market, can we?

The thing with the boutique stuff is that they just take the original TS design and add their own bit of 'flair', market it to get you thinking it's the best OD out there and control their production numbers to make folks really think 'hey, theres a XX OD' when they see one to make it seem like its something really special.

Not to take anything away from those brands but it still basically just a TS clone...pretty much anyway you look at it.

Keeley's TS-9 as mentioned above it a great choice. The TS-9 and TS-808 are nearly the same thing anyways and the TS-9 can be had much cheaper. A Keeley modded TS-9 makes it better IMO than the TS-808 of any year, chip, PCB maker, diode combination or whatever else folks droll over.

[needlespauls]

If I ever buy another OD pedal, it will definately be this CMATmods Signa Drive!!! Listen to this thing! Damn! I'm very very happy with my Bad Monkey believe it or not (try one!), but this Signa Drive is sick!!!

YouTube - Cmatmods Signa Drive versus Gearmanndude Luther Drive overdrive pedal shootout

YouTube - Cmatmods Signa Drive versus Gearmanndude Luther Drive overdrive pedal shootout

[richedie]

Is the Signa Mod a tube screamer pedal?

[RichCI]

Take your pick

[JM Vasek]

YouTube - BYOC Build Your Own Clone guitar effects pedal demo OD2 Overdrive 2 with Tele & Jaguar Twin

YouTube - BYOC Build Your Own Clone guitar effects pedal demo OD2 Overdrive 2 with Tele & Jaguar Twin

[kungpow!]

check this out...
Pedal Power - The Art of TS9 Modifications
mod your ts9 to 808 keeley specs... Killer! Its what I did

[mihaitarta]

YouTube - T-REX Alberta Overdrive Distortion Tube Screamer Pedal DEMO + Krank REV Jr PRO

YouTube - T-REX Alberta Overdrive Distortion Tube Screamer Pedal DEMO + Krank REV Jr PRO

I've had this for a while and it's a great TS like pedal

[TeleDog]

If I was you I'd contact B Squared now... Those Keeley modified TS9s are hot.

[matthornet]

I'm using the Maxon OD808 now... the alleged accurate TS-808 repro but analogman said the output section is more of a TS-10 instead but whatever, it works great for me. the smooth overdrive is easy to dial in too. very sweet.. try it out.

YouTube - Maxon OD-808 Overdrive Pedal

YouTube - Maxon OD-808 Overdrive Pedal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvEKdIoSnd8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvEKdIoSnd8

[ozone]

Originally Posted by kungpow!

check this out...
Pedal Power - The Art of TS9 Modifications
mod your ts9 to 808 keeley specs... Killer! Its what I did

Me too. My tubescreamer is on all the time. There are some ts 9 mod kits you can buy on Ebay. Here's another link you can refer to
tonepad -- photoessay

[TeleDog]

You know, I checked out some distortion boxes out there, boutique stuff, they're not as hot as you'd think. Most of them sound pretty much the same. I can't imagine it's gonna be different with an OD pedal.

Case in point. I checked out a coupe nice pedals at the local store a while back. Then I checked out the stock Boss distortion thing (orange box). The guy had his own modified one, a switch, and that thing was killer, best of the bunch. He laughed when I asked if the mod was difficult.

I didn't buy that damn Boss pedal right then cause I was short on the cash, and it was so cheap stock, I regret it!

Lots of hype with boutique stuff, you get a nice shiny box with some cool knobs and custom graphics, and many times the same juice you can buy at walmart. Of course, there are some pedals that'll make your jaw drop, but not every boutique pedal is superior.

Keeley stuff is great but I guess they're dropping the ball now with the compressor. I love their compressor but there are alternatives now that absolutely do not color the tone one single bit, you just get more sustain. But if you're talking about hot-rodded pedals, I still wanna see something better than the Keleey modified Blues Driver.

52' Tele with Antiquities + Vox Wah Reissue (Keleey) + Blues Driver (Keleey) + Marrshall 18W = Tone heaven.

[st.bede]

here is an idea....this will not give you a mid hump but, for some reason this is what came into my mind: an old DOD OD type pedal...as I said that just came into my mind

[needlespauls]

Originally Posted by richedie

Is the Signa Mod a tube screamer pedal?

All I know is that its a killer sounding overdrive pedal!
Listen to the clips on the cmatmods.com site too. This thing just destroys!

[Liam]

Originally Posted by TeleDog

<snip> ...if you're talking about hot-rodded pedals, I still wanna see something better than the Keleey modified Blues Driver.

52' Tele with Antiquities + Vox Wah Reissue (Keleey) + Blues Driver (Keleey) + Marrshall 18W = Tone heaven.

+1 One of my favourites is '55 LP Junior > Blues Driver > Silverface Princeton Reverb. But the Keeley BD-2 seems to work for almost any style and any guitar / amp combination.

But getting back to Tube Screamers, many of the boutique makers and hot-rodders seemed to appear as a consequence of the article below. It certainly was what started me into tinkering with pedals. A good read if you want to hot-rod your own, or even just learn a bit about analogue signal path technology of the 1980s.

The Technology of the Tube Screamer

Liam

[st.bede]

Originally Posted by Liam

+1 One of my favourites is '55 LP Junior > Blues Driver > Silverface Princeton Reverb. But the Keeley BD-2 seems to work for almost any style and any guitar / amp combination.

Liam

keeley BD-2 is a very nice pedal....it has not been as universal for me but, when it works (which is very often) it works excedingly well....very nice pedal...if I remember right it really helps to give my PRS into a 1965 princeton a calrity with out sounding buzzy or harsh...

[angusvanfrehley]

G'day Guys,

Am new to forum....love it!

Interesting topic this one which can be distilled down to one possible outcome, to boutique or not?

Did everyone have rubbish tone before the guitar geeks with soldering irons came along?

I have tried, and own many boutique boosters/overdrives, and love their tones....but guess what, my live rig is a Route 66 and an MXR Distortion +. With the right guitar, amp and good touch and ears we can make most things work to our advantage.

Also I prefer stock gear I can purchase from basically any guitar shop in the world, a replacement is close at hand to purchase or borrow.

I have seen many professional rigs in live situations (as I assume we all have) and I am still impressed with these guys sounds, and how basic their rigs are!

Example being a good friend of mine who is a cameraman for the BBC here in London, he works quite often on 'Late with Jools Holland', and says most of the top players are still using unmoded TS-9s, BB-2s, SD-1s and DS-1s. However one of the most common pedals is the Crowther Hotcake.

Les Paul, Vox V847, MXR Distortion +, Route 66, 71 Marshall 'artiste' 40 watt combo.

[tonyg73]

Originally Posted by richedie

Hey Guys,

I am using less gain on my Egnater Mod 50(all tube) than ever before, I tend to dial it down to 10:00-11:00 on most Marshall/Mesa based modules. I am not using my rack any longer and instead use a tube screamer type up front for added compression and a mid hump.

I am using a modded Keeley Voodoo Sparkle Drive right now> I like the clean option......but I am wondering if I could get away with something with less gain but still having a mid bump. I have the gain at like 9:00 to 10:00 depending on the song, Egnater module used, etc.

Keeley Katana? Analogman TS? Cusack Screamer?

Any you guys can think of that might give me better lead tones into an already dirty amp? Very natural sounding if possible. This is mostly as a lead boost. I am the only guitar player in this band

THANKS!

Like one of guys already said, Analogman is great...particularly the Maxon OD-9 with the silver mod. Also recommended is the Fulltone Fulldrive 2 MOSFET with the "vintage" switch on. The vintage switch on gives you mid hump. The switch off gives you transparency.

[Liam]

Originally Posted by angusvanfrehley

G'day Guys,

Am new to forum....love it!

Interesting topic this one which can be distilled down to one possible outcome, to boutique or not?

Did everyone have rubbish tone before the guitar geeks with soldering irons came along?

Not sure your ideas hold water completely. People like Mayer and Cornish have been modding pedals and building one-offs for professional guitarists for about as long as effects pedals have been available. The "boutique" craze is just a logical extension of many players wanting something a bit different.

Example being a good friend of mine who is a cameraman for the BBC here in London, he works quite often on 'Late with Jools Holland', and says most of the top players are still using unmoded TS-9s, BB-2s, SD-1s and DS-1s.

How does he know they are unmodified? Plenty of techs have the know-how to tweak a pedal, and most wouldn't feel the need to make the mod obvious externally.

Liam

[Standard 64]

If I modded my pedals I probably wouldnt tell anybody.None of your business on my personel tone secrets!!!!

[Lampens]

I use the maxon od 808. I like it.