Upgrade my Tubescreamer...any suggestions?

[MesaGod666]

I'm running a TS9 with my rig, and am looking for a different tubescreamer. Any suggestions? I guess I should ask, what does Hetfield use?

 

[Carpdawg]

http://www.guitarworld.com/metallica_death_magnetic_gear_rigs_james_hetfield

2008 James Hetfield Rig

1x Furman PL-Plus Power Conditioner
1x Behringer Multigate Pro
1x Shure UR-4D Wireless Receiver
2x Diezel VH-4 Amp Head


Rack 20A (effects/power amp)

1x Furman PL Plus Power Conditioner
1x Shure UR-4D Wireless Receiver
1x tc electronic G-Major Guitar Processor
1x DBX 1074 Quad Gate
1x 3sp Drawer –
Pedals
- 1x Line 6 DM-4
- 1x MXR Phase 100
- 1x Boss NS2 Noise Suppressor
- 1x Klon Centaur
- 1x ATI Nanoamp SUM 100
- 1x VooDoo Labs Pedal Power 2 Plus
4x Mesa Boogie Tri-Axis (custom)
2x VooDoo Labs GCX Guitar Audio Switcher
1x Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher
1x Mesa Boogie Custom Graphic EQ
2x Mesa Boogie Simul-Class 2: Ninet

 

[MesaGod666]

ok so lets hear some experiences with the Maxon OD808, Klon Centaur, and other boosts vs an Ibanez TS9.

 

[gonzo]

i'd strongly suggest a Barber SS

 

[gonzo]

here's the info:


http://www.barberelectronics.com/supersportdd.html

 

[Chris McKinley]

MesaGod666,

You might also wish to do a search of the topic. Often these very same questions have already been asked and answered in detail before, and you might find exactly the answer you're looking for more quickly that way.

 

[lerxst88]

Tubescreamers are some of the most commonly modified pedals because they sound killer once you tweak the circuit the way that you like. if youre interested in modding yours, PM me and ill give you some suggestions.

If you would like me to professionally mod it for you we can work that out too!

As far as TS9 clones I have two that I really like. One is the TS7. yes the crappy looking silver one. it has all the same parts as a TS9 except the enclosure is different and it has an added "hot" switch. after modding it it sounds amazing light distortion with bassy mids for a trey anastasio compressed over drive sound or set everything to 1 o clock and use it as a booster for your distorted channel and everything you play sustains forever and has that perfect singing feedback after each note. killer pedal.

the other TS9 pedal i have is a Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive. This one was modded as well with a switch for diode selection as well as a fat/thin swtch. same as the TS7 plus it has a clean blend knob and the fat/thin switch is useful for emphasizing singlecoils or humbuckers. the diode selector is just a matter of taste.

 

[Laskyman]

Maxon OD808 for sure. Most transparent and MIJ construction. I will have one for sale shortly, plus a bunch of other awesome stomps.....

 

[MesaGod666]

MesaGod666,

You might also wish to do a search of the topic. Often these very same questions have already been asked and answered in detail before, and you might find exactly the answer you're looking for more quickly that way.

I have and I didn't find anything that was truly that in-depth or informative. I still have many questions about how it stacks up against other boosts. I appreciate the suggestion though and I will continue to scour the forum for answers.

 

[dmt]

Here are my suggestions: (not in any significant order)

1. Ibanez Super Metal-9 (SM9) (Like 2 TS8 circuits in series, has 2x JRC chips in it)
2. Ibanez Sonic Distortion-9 (SD9) (A hairier version of the TS9, more gain, can be modded to be warmer, its like a Marshall in a box)
3. Keeley Modded TS9 or TS808
4. a EQ pedal as a clean boost (i use a Ibanex GEQ10)

I have used all of these at various times, and it really depends on the sound you are going for and what sound you are after and what amp you use.

 

[droptrd]

OCD or Timmy

Or the cheap knock off clone versions - Danelectro "Drive" (OCD) and "Transparent Overdrive" (Timmy)

 

[soundchaser59]

As far as TS9 clones I have two that I really like. One is the TS7. yes the crappy looking silver one. it has all the same parts as a TS9 except the enclosure is different and it has an added "hot" switch. after modding it it sounds amazing light distortion with bassy mids for a trey anastasio compressed over drive sound or set everything to 1 o clock and use it as a booster for your distorted channel and everything you play sustains forever and has that perfect singing feedback after each note. killer pedal.

the other TS9 pedal i have is a Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive. This one was modded as well with a switch for diode selection as well as a fat/thin swtch. same as the TS7 plus it has a clean blend knob and the fat/thin switch is useful for emphasizing singlecoils or humbuckers. the diode selector is just a matter of taste.

I would have to disagree about the TS7. Your description of the post-mod sound is exactly right, but I didn't think they had the same parts or build quality at all. The TS7 is a far lesser pedal as far as build quality goes. I've modded both with Allums kits, and if you held a Black Shadow to my head and forced me to choose or else, I'd choose to work on the TS9 every time. The TS7 was a PITA to work on because of lower quality parts and circuit board, traces pulling loose, etc.......and I'm pretty good and pretty darn careful with my work. It's the only pedal I've ever had that much trouble with. After both mods were done I did side by side sound checks and the TS7 went on ebay 10 minutes later.

I've had an unmodded Sparkle Drive and it is a very nice sound. Love to try a modded one, but I dont wanna pay someone else to do it for me, and nobody sells a kit for it. Unmodded it is very good, but didn't stand up side by side with the modded Tube Screamers.

A modded GE7 is a great clean boost.

 

[MesaGod666]

i'd strongly suggest a Barber SS

Just bought one...I'll see what happens when I get it.

 

[MesaGod666]

Maxon OD808 for sure. Most transparent and MIJ construction. I will have one for sale shortly, plus a bunch of other awesome stomps.....

I'm interested in that OD808.

 

[gonzo]

mesagod-
that's awesome!

glad to see the barber love..


check this out:

Ready for 18 volt operation-The Super Sport operates from 9 volts to 18 volts, this allows use of higher voltage converters and supplies, for players who want to try higher voltage tweaks.

i run my DDSS at 18 volt, i love it.
comparing it against the normal 9 volt, well, i wont go back to it.

these pedals (in general) are all so touchy-feely, it's subjective a lot of times, but i think you'll dig the ability to actually MOLD the tone of this pedal with the interior trim pots.

when you first get the pedal, just play it factory...
then, after a while, take the back off, and leave it off, make sure you mark the trim pots somehow, to where they are to start.....
then start tweaking.
don't bother putting the backplate back on, til you've tweaked for a while.


you can actually go WITH or AGAINST the tubescreamer vibe with this pedal.
i've owned a butt-load of pedals (including keely-modified DS-1, a RAT, tubescreamer original, fulldrive II, bad monkey, original distortion+, Ross compressor, etc etc) but this has been my favorite to date.

 

[R_ADKINS80]

I bought a mod ki from ebay seller tubescreamerheaven and the TS9's for myself and my buddy. We like the way they sound now more than the Maxon pedals. Plus he sends it with 2 different chips. Depending on what chip your pedal has in it you could wind up with 3 different ones to swap in and out for different tones. I run the TexasInstruments chip that was used in the original vintage tube screamers. It sounds sweet no matter how much (or little) extra gain you dial in on it. I refuse to play my Triple without it.

 

[Drewtone]

mesagod-
that's awesome!

glad to see the barber love..


check this out:

Ready for 18 volt operation-The Super Sport operates from 9 volts to 18 volts, this allows use of higher voltage converters and supplies, for players who want to try higher voltage tweaks.

i run my DDSS at 18 volt, i love it.
comparing it against the normal 9 volt, well, i wont go back to it.

these pedals (in general) are all so touchy-feely, it's subjective a lot of times, but i think you'll dig the ability to actually MOLD the tone of this pedal with the interior trim pots.

when you first get the pedal, just play it factory...
then, after a while, take the back off, and leave it off, make sure you mark the trim pots somehow, to where they are to start.....
then start tweaking.
don't bother putting the backplate back on, til you've tweaked for a while.


you can actually go WITH or AGAINST the tubescreamer vibe with this pedal.
i've owned a butt-load of pedals (including keely-modified DS-1, a RAT, tubescreamer original, fulldrive II, bad monkey, original distortion+, Ross compressor, etc etc) but this has been my favorite to date.

Tell ya what, based on the demo's at ProGuitarShop.com, I'm not sure I don't like this better than the OCD, which I've been craving for a while.

Also, looking forward to trying the 18v on my Fulldrive.

 

[MesaGod666]

What about the Ibanez TS808HW? What do you gents think about this pedal? It's a bit spendy, but is it worth it.

 

[lerxst88]

Considering its true bypass they probably got rid of the output buffer which is what distinguishes the 808 from other Tubescreamers so it probably sounds a touch different and judging by reviews i read i bet they changed that .047uF to a .1 for more bass and less mids.

Personally I would NEVER drop $350 on such a simple pedal unless it came with daily lessons from the ghost of Stevie Ray Vaughn. The TS-7 can be found dirt cheap on craigslist (got mine for $25) and has the exact same circuit as the TS-9 albiet with somewhat cheaper parts (but you can replace those! ) Its up to you what you ultimately to but if you want one modded, myself and a bunch of other tech geeks out there would jump at the chance to buy and mod a tubescreamer for you with a spending cap of $350

 

[soundchaser59]

$350 bucks? No way......

If you had that and the modded TS9 side by side, you'd regret the extra cash loss. Mod a TS9 and call it a day. If you want to spend too much money for something only slightly better, look at the Barber stuff, as suggested above.