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Interesting OP-AMP for TS9 Modlification

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  • Interesting OP-AMP for TS9 Modlification

    Hey there-

    I've got one of the reissue TS9 tubescreamers (mid-90's), and wanted to mod it to the TS808 specifications. First I changed the two resistors in the output network as described elsewhere, and then I put an IC socket on the board in place of the TA75558P that was stock in my unit, to enable quick swapping.

    Since the op-amps are so cheap, I figured I'd buy a bunch of different kinds and try them out. Note that a NOS 4558 was not one of my choices, because I stuck to what Mouser had to offer.

    Some of the chips that I tried were not noteworthy, but the chip that I finally settled on was a TSH22IN, made by ST Microelectronics. This guy has a higher slew rate and much higher gain-bandwidth product than either the 4558 or the 75558. I make no assertions that this has anything to do with my liking it better. In fact, I didn't look at datasheets until after doing the sound test.

    As anyone who has done chip-swapping knows, the differences in most cases are pretty subtle. What I was looking for was something that made the TS9 sound less compressed and with a little more clarity than the 75558.

    Not only does the TSH22IN have better clarity, but for any given setting of the "DRIVE" knob, this chip gives a little more gusto.

    The NJM4558D came in a close second place - almost as clear, but a little less gain at a given setting. I should note that I tried two different NJM4558D chips, and they did not give identical sound - I can't offer a reason for this. It surprises me that the tolerances chip-to-chip would be big enough to hear the difference in new chips, but I'm only reporting what I heard.

    The RC4558 did not sound as good as either of the two NJM4558's that I tried.

    I tried a couple of others. TL072ACN was a little better (less compressed, more clear) than the stock 75558. And the NJM2068D was no better than the stock chip.

    If anyone is interested, I can try to provide a little more detail on the distinction between the chips, but it's so subjective, I wasn't sure it was worth it. Mainly just wanted to give a heads up on the TSH22IN for those who haven't tried it. Only $1.10 from Mouser.
    Check out the website for my band, Wilgus

    Remember... If you're not angry, you're not paying attention!!

  • #2
    Re: Interesting OP-AMP for TS9 Modlification

    Thats pretty cool man, for a buck ten, no big loss I'm definitely gonna order one when i get around to modding a ts9 for myself. Stratdeluxer I imagine will be very interested in this thread.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Interesting OP-AMP for TS9 Modlification

      I've changed lately and have been favoring the TI RC4558P opamps....I'm under the impression that this chip articulates better after my mods...I'm also tweaking parts of the circuit for more gain and more lows,so maybe the RC4558 chip works better in that application? Personally I'm not sold on the new NJM JRC chips not sounding as good as the 80s JRCs...I've tryed both and I don't hear it...Alot more hype between the 2 than fact in my opinion. The JRC4558D "normally" is the cat's meow in a Tube Screamer..in my SD1 mods I again favor the TI chip feeling it's smoother and more articulate...Funny what our ears and minds tell us huh?

      John
      Amps: 66 Fender BF Pro Reverb Combo,1973 50 Watt Marshall Head,Marshall 4x12 A/V Cab,Vox ToneLab LE,Vox VTH Valvetronix 120 Head,Vox AD 2x12 Cab,Roland Cube 20X

      Guitars: Several Stratocasters,2 Fender Telecasters,Gibson SG Standard,Tokai Love Rock Les Paul,Dean Acoustic.

      Pickups: SD SSL2,SSL5,Twangbanger,Antiquity Surfers,59N,Seth Lover N/B,Dimarzio Fred,Dimarzio VPAF N,Fender Fat 50s,Fralin SP43 Bridge,Brobucker,Antiquity Texas Hot.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Interesting OP-AMP for TS9 Modlification

        Originally posted by proxy
        Thats pretty cool man, for a buck ten, no big loss I'm definitely gonna order one when i get around to modding a ts9 for myself. Stratdeluxer I imagine will be very interested in this thread.
        Yep....I Love this stuff.. ;o)
        Amps: 66 Fender BF Pro Reverb Combo,1973 50 Watt Marshall Head,Marshall 4x12 A/V Cab,Vox ToneLab LE,Vox VTH Valvetronix 120 Head,Vox AD 2x12 Cab,Roland Cube 20X

        Guitars: Several Stratocasters,2 Fender Telecasters,Gibson SG Standard,Tokai Love Rock Les Paul,Dean Acoustic.

        Pickups: SD SSL2,SSL5,Twangbanger,Antiquity Surfers,59N,Seth Lover N/B,Dimarzio Fred,Dimarzio VPAF N,Fender Fat 50s,Fralin SP43 Bridge,Brobucker,Antiquity Texas Hot.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Interesting OP-AMP for TS9 Modlification

          Another cool op-amp to try is a Burr-Brown 8 pin DIP (I forget the name??? ).

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          • #6
            Re: Interesting OP-AMP for TS9 Modlification

            Originally posted by mrid
            Another cool op-amp to try is a Burr-Brown 8 pin DIP (I forget the name??? ).
            You got it right...The Burr Brown chip...I've heard it's clean and kinda hi fi sounding? It's pricier and I haven't tryed it....

            John
            Amps: 66 Fender BF Pro Reverb Combo,1973 50 Watt Marshall Head,Marshall 4x12 A/V Cab,Vox ToneLab LE,Vox VTH Valvetronix 120 Head,Vox AD 2x12 Cab,Roland Cube 20X

            Guitars: Several Stratocasters,2 Fender Telecasters,Gibson SG Standard,Tokai Love Rock Les Paul,Dean Acoustic.

            Pickups: SD SSL2,SSL5,Twangbanger,Antiquity Surfers,59N,Seth Lover N/B,Dimarzio Fred,Dimarzio VPAF N,Fender Fat 50s,Fralin SP43 Bridge,Brobucker,Antiquity Texas Hot.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Interesting OP-AMP for TS9 Modlification

              ive actually found that i like the ti chip better too, not by trial but by using a bunch of tubescreamers and liking one better than the others. the difference??? the ti chip was installed in the one i liked best

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Interesting OP-AMP for TS9 Modlification

                Originally posted by jeremy
                ive actually found that i like the ti chip better too, not by trial but by using a bunch of tubescreamers and liking one better than the others. the difference??? the ti chip was installed in the one i liked best
                Hello Jeremy....Here's my recent spin on the two chips...If I do a stock TS9 to 808 mod and leave all caps and resistors etc..the same,I Like the JRC4558D chip....I feel like this chip is gainier and warm but not quite as clear....it's a great chip though for nice warm singing lead tones...

                If I Mod a Tube Screamer for quite a bit more gain along with more overall lowend,then I Like the TI chip...It seems like the TI chip isn't as woofy to the tone,is smooth,but the note clarity seems better to me? Call me crazy,but if jeremy,myself,and Keeley thinks so,maybe there's something to it...Sometimes I'll think 1 chip would work better after a mod and I find the opposite chip saves the day. Pretty much I use either of these 2 chips,but there are many many others that can literally be placed within a chip holder and tryed...

                John
                Amps: 66 Fender BF Pro Reverb Combo,1973 50 Watt Marshall Head,Marshall 4x12 A/V Cab,Vox ToneLab LE,Vox VTH Valvetronix 120 Head,Vox AD 2x12 Cab,Roland Cube 20X

                Guitars: Several Stratocasters,2 Fender Telecasters,Gibson SG Standard,Tokai Love Rock Les Paul,Dean Acoustic.

                Pickups: SD SSL2,SSL5,Twangbanger,Antiquity Surfers,59N,Seth Lover N/B,Dimarzio Fred,Dimarzio VPAF N,Fender Fat 50s,Fralin SP43 Bridge,Brobucker,Antiquity Texas Hot.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Interesting OP-AMP for TS9 Modlification

                  as much of a guitar tweeker as i am, i dont do much with pedals except try them and see what i like.
                  ive played lots of tubescreamers over the years and my buddys '79ish ts9 with that ti chip is my favorite. i really like the visual sound rt66's tubescreamer side as well. any idea what chip is in that or anything else you know about it?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Interesting OP-AMP for TS9 Modlification

                    FWIW, I have two SS Fender amps, that have 4558's in them, one has the RC4558P, and the other 4558s (don't remember off hand whose) ... well the one with TI chips sounds really good, the other, very lifeless,not warm, and like something is missing ... even though essentially it's still the same sound.
                    I do love the JRC4558DD, and although I haven't tried them, most people report that they find the NJM lacking. So, I definitely agree that the TI version does it's job well, and sounds better than the NJM chip.
                    The TI chip tends to work a bit better in the SD-1 type circuit were the mids are emphasiszed a bit, for the old OD-1 (different filtering, and no tone stage) the JRC tends to work a bit better. The TI tends to have a little more response in the upper harmonics, I don't know, maybe that's just the way it sounded to me. It's also not surprising that other opamps have better bandwidth and slew rates, as the 4558's were originally marketed as better versions of the 741's , which of course were kinda cheesy for audio uses, well as far as fidelity went.
                    There seems to be rumours that JRC 4558DD still show up in new BOSS pedals ...probably just a rumour, but then they did buy a ton of them from JRC when it was JRC. Slightly off subject, but does anyone know what they personally have seen showing up in the current production BOSS SD-1's? Anybody?
                    Seems everytime this subject comes up, that somewhere on some forum people mention the Burr-Brown OPA something or other. I've got it in my notes somewhere, never tried it though.
                    Kent S.
                    Volume Enhanceologist
                    Last edited by Kent S.; 06-12-2004, 08:24 PM.
                    ::::To sound reinforcement engineer::::
                    ... What? ... ::::snicker:::: ...Yes, ... Right, ...
                    Could we please have everything louder than everything else ? ...

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