Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

[J Moose]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I like how the TS sounds sit between Fender guitars and amps, taming the extremes and giving them a good poke in the mids.

That's about the only place I dig a TS, between a Strat and an melting Fender amp. The mid-push of a Screamer really compliments the scooped nature of a blackface, balances out really well... ends up with some mids.

But generally speaking I'm not a fan of the green machines. Got an AnalogMan TS9/808 here that NEVER gets used, not be me anyway. I think they're weak & lacking... pushing a distorting amp or another pedal is one thing... and its ok for that, but into a clean amp its NASTY and unusable.

That whole "clean" under the grind thing is pure ugly.

So I'd say no, you don't need a Tube Screamer. But everyone should have one around for the one or two things it does well, if you ever need those things.

That's why I have mine.

Otherwise I use stuff like an MXR microamp, Boss EQ, and even a Zvex Distortron for boosts/distortion while the TS sits in a closet 90% of the time.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I have a maxon OD9 modded by keeley. I always have gain at 0, volume at 10, and tone around 6. On my clean channel it adds a very smooth consistent overdrive. Not like actual tube breakup which varies depending on how hard you a playing, the od pedal keeps it smooth and it sounds awesome when you are playing clean passages, it adds some sizzle. I don't have any use for turning up the gain on the pedal, if you do that I feel like you get a jackal/hyde type sound where you can hear distorted and clean sounds coming through at the same time, not my thing.

On your crunch/heavy distorted channel the od will tighten up a loose sounding amp and add more harmonics/sustain/mids. Some like this for metal style rhythm and some like this for leads, it all depends on your amp and sound you are going for I suppose. I noticed a few bands that use peavey 5150s like to run an od as well like Killswitch Engage. I have a peavy xxx, the od adds a lot of character to it if you're playing at low volumes. At high volumes it probably isn't necessary.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

Holy sh*t, I almost fell down of my chair. I'm totally shocked :eyecrazy:
I would recommend you a hearing test. Also a brain test, you talk too much bullsh*t. Being Danish would cost you nothing.
Well, each on his own.

Don't worry about his replies dude, his posts always sound condescending though I don't think that is his intent. He does own a million and one pedals and works(ed) for a pedal maker.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I feel a little like I'm missing something because I haven't tried ENOUGH overdrives. Should every guitarist own one? Probably not. I don't think they're for everyone. But should ever guitarist TRY one? Yes, and preferably quite a few more times than once.

I keep messing around with my modded SD-1, and I keep finding new tones, especially on the clean channel. On the gain channel, you get a big push, but I think there's only one additional tone I can get on that channel. Into a clean amp, there's a lot of variety available.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I keep a Analogman modded SD-1 (808 Silver) but it doesn't get a spot on the board. I used it for a few years into a Keely modded BD-2 and it worked great ..... I just got bored with it.

To be honest, I prefer any OD into my clean channel over the sound of my 'lead' channel.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

As a general rule I really dislike Tubescreamers and TS style OD pedals...they do lop off low end, there is a mid hump plus they are really compressed sounding.

However it is a very popular sound that a lot of people really like plus they do serve a purpose and can be very useful in some situations.

I have an AnalogMan modded TS-9 that sounds fantastic, and I do use if from time to time...it's hardly my main OD or even part of my everyday rig but it does get some use from time to time.

The AM TS-9/808 is the best classic Tubescreamer sounding pedal I've ever heard next to an original TS-808.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

^Analouge man fanboi

 

[Grandturk]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I had two tubescreamers once. An original and a Keeley modded one. I sold the Keeley and now my original is busted...

But no - you don't need a tubescreamer. In fact, a Tubescreamer does absolutely nothing in front of my Boogie MK II. It's like the amp says, "uh, yeah, whatever - I eat those little circuit boxes for breakfast."

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I have a Bad Monkey and use it amost as much as my amps distortion. They sound great through a lot of amps.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I have a Bad Monkey and use it amost as much as my amps distortion. They sound great through a lot of amps.

Use my Bad Monkey into my Keeley DS-1 into the clean channel, kind of compliment each other when both active. The DS-1 almost acts like the amp and the Bad Monkey juices it up. I'm not a huge fan of the bad monkey into the dirt channel of my amp, seems to had some high end sizzle, was hoping to grab a TS-? and give it a shot and see if I liked it better.

For $49, it's worth it but want something a little better now.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I've been using a Danelectro Cool Cat drive like a tubescreamer. the common opinion is that it's based on an OCD circuit. It doesn't seem to have quite the mids that a TS style has, but it's still there. Some decent gain on tap as well, but the magic is with the volume knob up and the gain back into a mildly dirty amp.
I can play my amp straight up with no pedals any day, but for $40 this pedal just kills for getting more clarity when pushing my amp hard.
I used to use a digitech tone driver, which is a digital pedal which kinda "morphs" between a DOD 250, a TS808, and a TS9 style sound. That thing just didn't have the smooth transparency of a decent analog pedal, so I had to ditch it.

 

[richard parker]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I've played through a number of TS or variants over the years and I didn't like them much. A friend of mine is a great player who I love to listen to in the various bands he plays with but I can't convince him that the vintage TS he uses for solos through his cranked vintage Orange amp turns his sound to mush. It's horrible. I didn't have an OD pedal for about 15 years after ditching the RAT2 which I thought was awful but I took a fancy for having a new one just to see if anything had changed. I also didn't want to spend too much. After a lot of internet research I got the Boss OD3 which I think is an incredible pedal. This should be the standard by which others are judged. Very versatile. A great clean boost and a good valvey overdrive. If I ever go to a jam I'll take this pedal, a guitar and two leads and I know I'll get a good sound through anything with a minimum of tweaking. I have other more expensive OD's for more specific purposes but the OD3 is a swiss army knife of a pedal.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I have RatherDashing's TS clone -I like what it does in front of my 18 watt clone. I'm really happy with it. I'm sure I'll continue to use it if I get any other tube amps (I hope to before I die).

 

[ES350]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I bought one new in the early 80's, used it live twice, and finally gave it away two or three years ago.

 

[Evan]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I've had a ts9, ts7, ts808 and i've compared them all to my trusty 80's mij sd-1 and i can say that it wasnt really even a comparison. That old sd-1 sounds excellent. I do agree that a tubescreamer sounds best into my hot rod deluxe vs. into my jcm 800. Sorry if this is a bit off topic but i think that my original fulldrive 2 is the best overdrive pedal made. Whether into the fender or marshall it always sounds great.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

Your Fulldrive is a fullblown fullcloned tubescreamer, so that is not strange, just has a booster and a few tweaks.
Eh endless tweaks

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I reckon vasshu just likes to wind folks up a bit...
but isn't that what these forums are for?

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I lurve my Bad Monkey --- I turn the bass and treble knobs (as well as the gain and level) all the time and get all sorts of sounds out of it, from clean boost (my favorite trick) to a thin-timbred Brian May tone, to a heavy, dirty, ballsy Audley Freed type tone.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

I reckon vasshu just likes to wind folks up a bit...

You guys are easy

 

[guitarded]

Re: Do you really need a Tubescreamer pedal.

A Boss SD-1 has a very similar circuit and essentially performs the same thing as a TS (added compression, mid hump, bass cut, high end roll off etc).
Change a few components and you have a TS-9 or TS-808.
Don't buy into the whole "BUY THE TS-808 COS IT'S VINTAGE" because it's basically a scam by Ibanez.
Buy a TS-7, change a few components that cost a few dollars and you have a TS-808 and you will hundreds of dollars

The stock SD-1 cuts a lot of low end. Bad Monkey is a lot better for that price range.