Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm about to have a show in a week, and am looking for a new pedal for the board. I recently updated the board with a Janglebox (best compressor around) and this pedal I got really cheap called an Austin Gold Overdrive. That pedal works well enough for my ears, but I would like to get a Tube Screamer, just to round out my sound (hope I'm using those words right). Is there a specific type of Tube Screamer that's the bee's knees or do they all sound the same? How versatile and efficient is a Tube Screamer?

There have been several versions throughout the years, from the original TS-808, to the TS-9, the TS-10, the TS-5, and probably more that I've missed. The TS-808 is reputedly the smoothest of the bunch, and original ones are prized. I own a "Soundtank TS-5" and have never been bowled over by the sound. It seems to work best into a loud, breaking-up tube amp or when it's "pushing" another distortion pedal. Its distortion into a clean amp seems mushy and midrangey to me.

- Scott

I have to say that I was disappointed with the tube screamer pedal when I had it in my set up.
To me it sounded a bit thin and 'fizzy' (Thin Fizzy, good name for a band ), and I also completely lost any characteristics of my rickenbacker guitars when it was used.
It was much better with a Les Paul with humbucker pick ups, but I never use one for gigging.
The last straw was that it was a major tone sucker too, so it had to go.

Try this little sucker. It's the Mutts Nuts.
http://www.catalinbread.com/SuperChargedOD.html

I've owned and played quite a few, My favorite is the TS-10 (which aparantly so was SRV's) many others sound weak or fizzy in comparison. The trick with a TS is to turn the volume up (not the gain) until your percieved bass volume is the same in bypass or on. There will be a mid boost, if you keep the volume down so the mids are the same on or off they sound as if they lack bass.
If you have an amp with a decent overdrive setting you dont really need a screamer....

emac.

I have a small assortment of dist and OD's. For the tube screamer specifically, I would recommend the MAXON OD9. It's more transparent, has a little more gain and it's true bypass. You can get them for about $100 used.
All of the tube screamers I've tried were dull and lifeless (even the coveted vintage models).

My "pedal of the day" is sub-decay's liquid sunshine.

A big 2nd on the dull and lifeless, tone robbing, and fizzsy. Other than that I love Tubescreamers.
Having said that, I have heard many a fine guitar player get a great sound using one with their rig.

I've used the same ts-9 since 1985. sounds great to me!

schoolside wrote:I have a small assortment of dist and OD's. For the tube screamer specifically, I would recommend the MAXON OD9. It's more transparent, has a little more gain and it's true bypass. You can get them for about $100 used.
All of the tube screamers I've tried were dull and lifeless (even the coveted vintage models).

My "pedal of the day" is sub-decay's liquid sunshine.

+1 on the Maxon. Look for a used one with the mods by Analogman on Craig's list or e-Bay if you need to keep the $$$ down.

It uses the original chip for the original TS-9's (because they were the original builders of the TS9), plus it is true bypass.

Nice and gritty!

I use amp distortion!

I've been using a modded TS-9 for about six years and I'm staring to tire of that infamous mid-hump. Looking to possibly get a Fulltone OCD to replace it (looking for more gain and more bite), or, after recording with an Orange AD-30 this past week, one of those. There's no substitute for pure tube amp distortion!

weemac wrote:I've owned and played quite a few, My favorite is the TS-10 (which aparantly so was SRV's) many others sound weak or fizzy in comparison. The trick with a TS is to turn the volume up (not the gain) until your percieved bass volume is the same in bypass or on. There will be a mid boost, if you keep the volume down so the mids are the same on or off they sound as if they lack bass.
If you have an amp with a decent overdrive setting you dont really need a screamer....

emac.

I have a TS10 as well. It's supposedly just a TS9 in a "cheaper" box, but I haver never been disappointed by it. It does a lot. The spring on the switch "failed" at one point, but I read "analog man"'s (IIRC) website how to fix it, which was to carefully open the spring part of the switch and bend a couple of tabs back into place.

Here's my suggestion....though you'll go on a waiting list (like good restaurants, that's usually an indication of what you're getting).

http://duhvoodooman.com/miscimages/musical/zys.htm

I have a modded TS9 with the original JRC (sp?) chip and changed resitors for "the brown sound". It does sound better than it did stock but you really need to put them side by side to hear the difference as most people have poor audio memory. I only use it when I want to push my Boogie over the edge a little more.

JakeK wrote: Is there a specific type of Tube Screamer that's the bee's knees or do they all sound the same?

If you're really looking for the "bee's knees", it would probably be the TS - 808's, which seem to get a little more praise, although they all seem to sound similar. If I'm hearing correctly, it sounds like the intro of Mary Jane's Last Dance is played with a TS-9 (although it could also be a fuzzy sounding cranked amp...).
Personally, if I was in the market for a Tube Screamer-type overdrive, I would probably buy one of Gearmanndude's Luther drives. They sound like an 808, but with more highs and a little less mids. (Somewhere in between a TS-808 and a TS-9, I think...) I think they are only $107, which is another plus.

sloop_john_b wrote: Looking to possibly get a Fulltone OCD to replace it (looking for more gain and more bite), or, after recording with an Orange AD-30 this past week, one of those. There's no substitute for pure tube amp distortion!

I used to have a Fulltone OCD, and, while it did have more gain and more bite than the cheap Tube Screamer clone I have, I found it sort of puny sounding for lead guitar, if that's an issue... just sayin' ... It turns out there truly is no substitute for pure amp distortion.

Matthew

sloop_john_b wrote:...or, after recording with an Orange AD-30 this past week, one of those. There's no substitute for pure tube amp distortion!

+1...both on the Orange and tube distortion.