Tube Scream, or Not Tube Scream? That is The Question.

[Duane_the_tub]

My opinion is that buying pedals is significantly cheaper than buying amps.

 

[Big Monk]

If you are not gigging it, don;t sleep on the Behringer TO-800.

It has the goods and is only $30.

 

[Les Paulverizer]

In my experience a TS808 is the answer to most needs: whether the guitar’s a Les Paul, an SG, a Strat, a Tele…with whatever amp one’s using an 808 in between is invariably a welcome addition.
I've done tons of session, Blues, Hard Rock, Fusion, Reggae, Heavy Metal, and with a lot of them that’s all I brought with me, and I got called back. That says everything.

 

[bluesoul]

A clean used TS 808 reissue on the verb is about 120.00. That would be what I would go for.

I started using them back in the 80's...still do.
KOT, OCD,Timmy, Klons and klon clones....all good but....my old TS808 still is my favorite.

The RI btw is very good...pretty much spot on compared to an early version.

Tube Screamer in a band mix is where they shine! There is a reason that so many famous players have used them!

 

[cybermgk]

If you can find one used, grab an Ibanez Nu Tube Screamer. I think it works with Single Coils and Humbuckers alike better than the other TSs It's what I have. Specially when ran at 18V

 

[efstop]

If you can find one used, grab an Ibanez Nu Tube Screamer

Those were on sale a while back in Canada but I didn't want one, so... Now that they seem to be out of production, prices worldwide are going up some. Cheapest I've seen is $150 US for one at L&M. There's one on ebay.ca with no bids at $120 US, shipped. Otherwise the price for the few new ones left here is about $265 US.
Reverb prices are higher than ebay.

 

[ARandall]

^ I've got a joyo too. Sounds great. Their only problem might be the cheaper jack construction....but for home use where mine sits it's not even an issue.

 

[Deftone]

This morning I tried my mini TS > Boss DS-1 > JMP 2204 and was getting some really nice dirty blues tones.

 

[efstop]

This morning I tried my mini TS > Boss DS-1 > JMP 2204 and was getting some really nice dirty blues tones.

I got the TS mini, I got the DS-1, I don't got a 2204

 

[Deftone]

I don't got a 2204

I got three.

 

[matthew bear]

I’ve not been a user of tube screamer type pedals at all up until recently. My friend builds “storm noise effects” pedals, and he sent me his take on the pedal. Basically has some clipping options and a few bells and whistles, it makes a strat sound a lot better, and will decidedly CHUG if used in that application. I’m a fan now

 

[chrisuk]

I have the Ibanez RD mini. I did have the WH green rhino but it just took up to much room in my board. The pedal show guys discs great video.

 

[Garagemonkey]

It's totally a personal, subjective thing, but I just don't like them for my style of playing and the gear I have. I tend to gravitate towards a Klon clone (any really but I like the Archer Ikon) or King/Prince of Tone if I'm looking for that mid-lift.

 

[edro]

Best thing I could suggest is try as many different ODs as you can before settling on one. There is something for everyone in pedal world.

^^^^
THIS...

Speaking to the OPie's post:

I find the TS overrated..... At the time it came out, it was cool beans.... If you're looking for chainsaw notching concrete distortion, ok den....

Tons of choices out there..... I like the EHX pedals, my fav is Soul Food... Keep the dirt off and crank the Volume out of pedal to shove hell out of the front end of a good jug amp.... Righteous on Fenders.... Get the spanky stank without killing chilluns and small critters... Makes the amp itself do da stank a la Klon.... Boost hell out of the input and let the amp's preamp do the work.... EHX Crayon, Hot Tubes, and the Hot Wax are good.....

OCD peals are damned hard to beat..... I really like how a Mad Professor Simble pedal sounds....


Play a bunch..... You might find there is evidently some fairy tears and pixie dust involved with some.... Overpriced tweaked clones of an old Screamer... Overpriced clones of ridiculously overpriced as hell Klons... Reading some stuff and you might be curious as to how many folks wonder about the difference in how a black pickguard sounds vs. a cream pickguard. I am not being facetious....

Does one sound better than another? Depends on who is listening...

Personally, I like the input boost method to push the amp so the AMP provides the stank... Amp stank is mo better'n pedal stank....

There are attenuators that let you crank without peeling skin...

Or you could go the best old school... Get a Marshall stack, pull all the Celestions and put in vintage JBL 12"s in the cabs, and turn it wide ass open.... No pedal needed.... ABB Live at Fillmore East.... Zero pedals.... Just wide open Marshall through badass speakers... (Yeah, heresy in that I don't drool over Celestions...)

 

[redking]

If you don't already have a tubescreamer, and therefore no initial preference then the only choice is to get the JHS Bonsai

 

[Guithartic]

I got a good deal on this. Anyone know what year it might be from?

 

[efstop]

Could be 1981 if it isn't a reissue.

 

[skelingtony]

I've had lots of TS and TS types over the years, but with my other equipment choices I never really got on with them on my board for very long as a 'working' pedal. Personally I find other drives do the job for me better, as well as clean boosts or an EQ pedal if I want to add more volume and mids, but everyone has different tastes, playing styles, equipment and sounds!

With other guitars and amps I can see the 'magic' behind the Tubescreamer though so its always good to have one in the pedal drawer.

I've had various TS type pedals that were great, regardless of cost: TS9, TS7 (maligned but I liked it, and it takes mods very well), Bad Monkey (back when they were cheap!), Joyo Vintage Overdrive (surprisingly good), Lovepedal Eternity (this had impedance problems but sounded good), Son of Screamer... as well as some modified SD-1s which I also liked a lot. All very similar circuits, but all sounded different

If you want a Tubesceramer type on a budget I'd personally recommend the JOYO, if you can still find them for cheap. I found no issues with mine in terms of durability even on a working pedalboard.

If you want to build one for yourself I'd recommend the Son of Screamer, nice low parts count but sounds great.

 

[Guithartic]

Could be 1981 if it isn't a reissue.

The seller said he got it about 30 years ago, but I don’t think so. The label looks modern to me. What makes you think it could be from 1981?

 

[efstop]

The seller said he got it about 30 years ago, but I don’t think so. The label looks modern to me. What makes you think it could be from 1981?

The "1" at the beginning of the serial should mean it's an original 1981 although the label shouldn't have a CE mark. The TS-808 was reissued in 2004 with the black label and CE mark
It is likely a reissue with an '80s type serial.
Link below to lots of data

Tube Screamer history