| Author |
Message |
JohnS
| | Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:06 am: | |
So I see TS808s going for $300. I know there's a vintage effects craze going on, but are they worth it? I've got a Peavey SS amp with a distortion channel. It's not my favorite sound. I'm in search of a cleaner (not a lot of background hum) distortion with lots of sustain at low volumes. Is this even possible?
I also have a Digitech RP7. It has so many presets, it can be hard to find what I want. (I know I'm not using it to it's full potential.) Would a Tube Screamer get me closer to the sound I want, or just make it easier to dial in than the RP7?
Next what's with the modification kits? Are they worth it? Looks like you can get them to mod TS5s, 9s and 10s into TS808s. Is this too good to be true? It looks a LOT cheaper. So, if I was going to go with a TS what are your recommendations?
Thanks,
JohnS |
Jake
| | Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:06 am: | |
John,
I'm posting the bulk of what you want to know under another entry here, but suffice it to say I have used a bunch of different overdrive pedals and played a bunch of gain/master volume amps and I much prefer a good pedal to the amp (too nasal sounding with the preamp distortion). I currently have a TS-9 RI, an FD-2 and a UE400 (the subject of my other post) which has the circuit for either the old TS-9 or 808 (I believe it's the first) and not oly can I tell the difference between it and the RI, but I can finally see what the fuss is about.
The good OD boxes will retain the character of your guitar and amp but simulate the sound of your amp as it approaches too loud for your purposes levels. I find they're not of much use in front of a solid state amp compared to a tube amp and that a gain/MV on a SS amp is a better bet.
Jake |
Elecktrokatt (Elecktrokatt)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 7:11 am: | |
John,
Jake is right. Tube screamers work great..in front of a good tube amp. The COMBINATION of a TS (with the circuits internal tone modifications, before and after, the clipping stage) PLUS a tube amps natural compression, gradual-onset asymmetric clipping, even-harmonic production and frequency response, all COMBINE to produce an overdrive that many people find sonically pleasing. I've been a playing electronics engineer for over 20 years. I've built uncounted effects boxes, including TS clones. Regardless of what you use to "clip" your signal (solid state, tube) the most important factors to the tonal quality of your overdrive are the pre and post distortion EQing of your signal. If you've got a solid state amp a TS isn't gonna sound too much better-or worse-than an MXR Distortion+. Whatever you end up using to clip your signal, try putting an EQ (ie; Boss-GE7) after it, and experimenting. TSs are great, but not that great...I can build one in an afternoon, for about $10.00 in parts. I get a kick out of people paying a couple hundred dollars for one, rather than putting part of a new guitar into their collection. That's enough ranting...
PS. I apologize if I've stepped on any toes here.
Ekatt |
Munch (Munch)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 7:33 am: | |
I am NOT a fan of the Tubescreamer sound. To me that pedal chops off all your tops and bottoms and leaves you with this big ugly mid hump. The guitar's tone (frequency response as reproduced by the amp)is significantly altered.
This type of sound is probably going to work for you if your tone is already quite mid focussed. However, if you use a clean, chimey, twangy sound and want a pedal to keep that sound but get it to break up a touch with some volume boost, the tubescreamer and many other similar pedals are not going to do it.
I have discovered the Menatone Top Boost In A Can, and this my friends is the answer to my prayers. It can do very low gain with heaps of level boost beautifully. Using my Gretsch, Tele, and Ibanez guitars through it, I find they all retain their character and my basic tone does not change when the pedal is switched on. This pedal is transparent and and makes your boosted tone sound like you gave your amp steroids!
Cheers,
Mark
Cheers, |
Craigjc (Craigjc)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 1:34 pm: | |
I like the Tube Screamer - actually, I have a Super Tube (with treble and bass controls). This is not the new enhanced tube screamer but an older one from, oh, about 15 years ago. I haven't heard much about this model, but I can say that for added overdrive and sustain, it does well at high volumes. Most pedals don't retain clarity and tend to smear the notes of your chord into one sound. The Tube Screamer retains most of the note-to-note clarity.
I agree is gives you a bit of a midrange boost, but that's something most people like.
I also have an Ibanez Mostortion. It, too, does overdrive well but is a bit fuzzier. You also can dial out the midrange boost (add treble and bass) beyond the natural sound of your guitar. It's a good alternate flavor to the smooth Tube Screamer. |
Elecktrokatt (Elecktrokatt)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 1:54 pm: | |
Here's a link to-more than anyone ever wanted to know about-the Tube Screamer.
Enjoy.
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/TStech/tsxtech.htm
Ekatt |
Blues (Blues)
| | Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 3:18 am: | |
Guys,
I am starting to dial in a great Blues Tone using my Ibanez TS9 reissue. I sometimes play a 1970's Fender Super Reverb (with Blackface Mods) and use just the TS9 reissue and an early 1980's Tokai ES335 copy. I set the Volume on the TS9 to "Maximum", the "Gain" to One O'clock and the "Tone" to One O'clock. I love the way the pre-amp in the TS9 adds more life and beauty into my overall sound. The Tokai ES335 copy still sounds like a killer ES335 but with added power because of the pre-amp in the TS9.
I also have an original Ibanez TS-808 that I use every now and then. I've not had time to experiment with the TS-808, yet!
Peace!
BLUES |
Linus
Username: Linus
Registered: 02-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 12:11 am: | |
Guys, I have an original TS808 and I must say they are great. Dunno if I'd pay $300.00 for it, (mine cost $65.00 back in '85. I have two standing offers to buy it for $500. (Don't think so)
Doesn't sound that great thru a solid state amp, but then what does? (An old, Sunbury vintage, Strauss 60 Watt quad box is my current beast but I find more and more I just use my Pignose)
I think they're overpriced (not overrated), simply because SRV and a few others have used them. |
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