Gear Review: Stratdeluxer97 Modded Ts-808 !!!

[59paul]

I got my Re-Issue Ibanez TS-808 back from John today. Thought I'd give an overview of the Improvements made to this pedal !!!

Gear used :
**Gibson Les Paul with Original Gibson PAF pickups
**Fender American Strat with Duncan SSL-1's neck and middle, SSL-3 Bridge
**1982 Marshall JCM 800 2204 Head ( no mods ), through a stock Marshall JCM 800 4x12 cab.
**Stratdeluxer97 modded Ibanez Re-Issue TS-808
** Original Ibanez TS-808's

The Findings:

Using the Stratdeluxer modded TS- 808 side by side with a couple old original TS-808's, I found myself going back and forth for over 2 hours,..tweaking knobs, listening, and really pushing these Babies. I came to a rather simple conclusion: The John Spina ( Stratdeluxer97 ) modded 808 SMOKED my original 808's in every category !!!! John took a pedal that was good right out of the Box, ..and made it something very special !!! The modded 808 has more lows, is more " open", has more gain, and is more articulate than my original's. The Overdrive, Tone, and Level controls on the modded 808 are Extremely responsive.

With the Les Paul, I found the modded 808 gave Rich, Thick, Warm Overdrive... in Buckets Full !!! Need more Low end???...no problem !!! Need more " openness and Breath " ???...You Got It !!! Clarity for Lead Playing???.....Tons and Tons !!!! John's modded 808 really pushes an old JCM 800 !!!!! Absolutely Fantastic !!!!!


With the Strat, this modded 808 is equally Impressive !!! Overdrive at 9 O'Clock, Tone at 12 O'Clock, and Level Full Up. WOW !!!!! FAT, FAT, FAT !!!!!! Loads of Bottom, Incredible Mids, and Singing Highs !!!! Sooooo Open and Alive !!!! Just Beautiful !!!!!


Soooo....Way to go Stratdeluxer97 !!!!!
I never thought I'd find a pedal I liked better than my Old 808's...until Now !!!!

For anyone wanting to know how John's mods stack up against Keeley...I've used a Keeley modded TS-9 ( the 808 mod ), and John's pedal is BETTER !!!!

John's mod has more lows than the Keeley. Both are very open and articulate, with Great Overdrive, but John's mod will give you a little more " OOMPH " over the Keeley.

In closing, I'd like to note that upon opening up the modded pedal, I found John's work to be Immaculate !!!!

Also,....John had the pedal back in my hands in just a couple of days !!!!





Thanks For Listening..........................................

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Gear Review: Stratdeluxer97 Modded Ts-808 !!!

I got my Re-Issue Ibanez TS-808 back from John today. Thought I'd give an overview of the Improvements made to this pedal !!!

Gear used :
**Gibson Les Paul with Original Gibson PAF pickups
**Fender American Strat with Duncan SSL-1's neck and middle, SSL-3 Bridge
**1982 Marshall JCM 800 2204 Head ( no mods ), through a stock Marshall JCM 800 4x12 cab.
**Stratdeluxer97 modded Ibanez Re-Issue TS-808
** Original Ibanez TS-808's

The Findings:

Using the Stratdeluxer modded TS- 808 side by side with a couple old original TS-808's, I found myself going back and forth for over 2 hours,..tweaking knobs, listening, and really pushing these Babies. I came to a rather simple conclusion: The John Spina ( Stratdeluxer97 ) modded 808 SMOKED my original 808's in every category !!!! John took a pedal that was good right out of the Box, ..and made it something very special !!! The modded 808 has more lows, is more " open", has more gain, and is more articulate than my original's. The Overdrive, Tone, and Level controls on the modded 808 are Extremely responsive.

With the Les Paul, I found the modded 808 gave Rich, Thick, Warm Overdrive... in Buckets Full !!! Need more Low end???...no problem !!! Need more " openness and Breath " ???...You Got It !!! Clarity for Lead Playing???.....Tons and Tons !!!! John's modded 808 really pushes an old JCM 800 !!!!! Absolutely Fantastic !!!!!


With the Strat, this modded 808 is equally Impressive !!! Overdrive at 9 O'Clock, Tone at 12 O'Clock, and Level Full Up. WOW !!!!! FAT, FAT, FAT !!!!!! Loads of Bottom, Incredible Mids, and Singing Highs !!!! Sooooo Open and Alive !!!! Just Beautiful !!!!!


Soooo....Way to go Stratdeluxer97 !!!!!
I never thought I'd find a pedal I liked better than my Old 808's...until Now !!!!

For anyone wanting to know how John's mods stack up against Keeley...I've used a Keeley modded TS-9 ( the 808 mod ), and John's pedal is BETTER !!!!

John's mod has more lows than the Keeley. Both are very open and articulate, with Great Overdrive, but John's mod will give you a little more " OOMPH " over the Keeley.

In closing, I'd like to note that upon opening up the modded pedal, I found John's work to be Immaculate !!!!

Also,....John had the pedal back in my hands in just a couple of days !!!!





Thanks For Listening..........................................

Rob....Thanks for posting...Responses like yours really,really makes me happy...Glad to be a part of helping you get great tone..You deserve it Rob and you're a buddy,BUDDY! :dance: I warned you that it was going to smoke the stock 808..The stock 808 has great tone,but it's a bit lacking in fullness when you step on it...Thanks again Rob..You've made my evening... :dance:

John

 

[59paul]

Re: Gear Review: Stratdeluxer97 Modded Ts-808 !!!

No Problem, John-O . This 808 you modded is BAD ASS !!!!!!!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Gear Review: Stratdeluxer97 Modded Ts-808 !!!

Great man!!
John you gotta do more of that!

 

[Curly]

Re: Gear Review: Stratdeluxer97 Modded Ts-808 !!!

cool, Rob!

darn, I didn't want to hear that! :sad:
I thought I was done buying pedals for a while!

Rob, you're probably one the best qualified to rate the mod, since you can actually compare it to an original

the trade off always seems to be getting the best fatness and harmonics without ruining the clarity that distinguishes tubescreamers

I love John's mods ... well, I already gave my SD-1 and DS-1, 9 out of 10 "hot chiles"!

 

[59paul]

Re: Gear Review: Stratdeluxer97 Modded Ts-808 !!!

cool, Rob!

darn, I didn't want to hear that! :sad:
I thought I was done buying pedals for a while!

Rob, you're probably one the best qualified to rate the mod, since you can actually compare it to an original

the trade off always seems to be getting the best fatness and harmonics without ruining the clarity that distinguishes tubescreamers

I love John's mods ... well, I already gave my SD-1 and DS-1, 9 out of 10 "hot chiles"!

Hi ya Curly.....
John's mods keep the Character that made the Tube Screamer what it is....but they IMPROVE upon those basic principals !!!!

The mod opens up the pedal, makes it more " Vital ", gives it more Life !!!!
It is by far THE BEST mod I have ever heard on a Tube Screamer !!!!
I still Dig my original 808's....But I'll be USING John's pedal...that's really the Best Indicator of how well I like this pedal !!!!

As you said, Curly, I've got original 808's, ..I've used the Keeley 808 ( which I really Dig !! )...BUT.....John's pedal Takes the Cake !!!!

I'll be sending him some more TS-9's to mod !!!!! .......

 

[Curly]

Re: Gear Review: Stratdeluxer97 Modded Ts-808 !!!

I'll be sending him some more TS-9's to mod !!!!! .......

uh.... me too!

and it's partly your fault .... but I didn't need a lot of encouragement

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Gear Review: Stratdeluxer97 Modded Ts-808 !!!

Hi ya Curly.....
John's mods keep the Character that made the Tube Screamer what it is....but they IMPROVE upon those basic principals !!!!

The mod opens up the pedal, makes it more " Vital ", gives it more Life !!!!
It is by far THE BEST mod I have ever heard on a Tube Screamer !!!!
I still Dig my original 808's....But I'll be USING John's pedal...that's really the Best Indicator of how well I like this pedal !!!!

As you said, Curly, I've got original 808's, ..I've used the Keeley 808 ( which I really Dig !! )...BUT.....John's pedal Takes the Cake !!!!

I'll be sending him some more TS-9's to mod !!!!! .......

Thanks guys....Bring em on Rob...The whole reason I started modding Tube Screamers was because I always thought they lacked the lows my styles needed...I don't change the tone stack or the way the pedal is EQd but just increase cap values to get the lows,more gain,and good tone...I Keep the character as Rob says,but just give it more of everything...Tube screamers are great pedals and I started using the TS9 in 83 and have always had one on my pedal boards..

John

 

[59paul]

Re: Gear Review: Stratdeluxer97 Modded Ts-808 !!!

Right On, John-O !!!!
Nobody is Touching my pedals now except YOU, Brudda !!!....

 

[59paul]

Re: Gear Review: Stratdeluxer97 Modded Ts-808 !!!

uh.... me too!

and it's partly your fault .... but I didn't need a lot of encouragement

LOL. Now Curly, you know you made me twist your arm........LOL.....