Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

[barbarianbrute]

alright, are there any tube screamers/tube drivers out there that beat the ibanez TS 808 or 9? any cheaper pedals that sound just as good or better? which one sounds most similar?

in a similar thread, someone stated that the bad monkey (a cheap priced pedal) is just as good. is this really so? any suggestions?

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

I think the Bad monkey is way better than an Ibanez ts 9 and at less than half the price....if you want foo foo, have John Spina mod a Sparkle Drive for you.

 

[millsart]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

+1 for me in wondering about the Bad Monkey. Its so darn cheap and I always hear great things I almost always put it in the cart whenever I'm placing an order from one of the online retailers but then always change my mind last minute.

Do these things really give the ts808 a run for its money ?

Also how does it compare to one of my other favorites the boss SD-1 ? Or the Blues Driver BD-2 for that matter ?

 

[Pierre]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

The SD1. Easy to mod to TS specs or to a kickass OD in its own right, very cheap.

The Bad Monkey is hard to mod due to surface mount components but it has a very smooth and warm sound out of the box. Real fun pedal.

 

[casblah]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

While the TS is a good pedal in it's own right....I think there are a lot of boo-tique pedals out there that will give it quite a run for the money...such as Fulltone, Banzai, Burress, Nick Greer...and countless others. Spend a little now, and avoid buying several "off-the-shelf" pedals, which may need to be modified to do what you want, anyways.

 

[Woodcutter]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

I'm a fan of the Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive. It's basically an improved TS-9 in my opinion. The clean control is nice addition. It lets you get more of a boost with less gain if you need it.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

The Bad Monkey is a good pedal. Being inexpensive just seals the deal.

I like it WAY better than the TS9 I had. I'd probably have one if I had not purchased a Twin Tube Classic before I tested the BM.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

alright, are there any tube screamers/tube drivers out there that beat the ibanez TS 808 or 9? any cheaper pedals that sound just as good or better? which one sounds most similar?

in a similar thread, someone stated that the bad monkey (a cheap priced pedal) is just as good. is this really so? any suggestions?

The Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive after I Mod one,is quite a bit better than the 808 or the TS9....Just my tonal opinion though!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

The SD1. Easy to mod to TS specs or to a kickass OD in its own right, very cheap.

The Bad Monkey is hard to mod due to surface mount components but it has a very smooth and warm sound out of the box. Real fun pedal.

The SD1/TS mods never make the SD1 pedal sound "just like" a Tube Screamer though....I always tell guys if you want a TS,just buy a TS....Makes sense right?

 

[Pierre]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

You're probably right, I never modded a SD1 to their specs so I wouldn't know :laugh2: Personally the thought of 'TS' is enough to make me run for my soldering iron and a bunch of caps. I do see your point. I had no idea they were that different in sound? Hell I always thought the TS9s and 808 were 99% the same in sound too so eh :dunno:

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

I like the Bad Monkey. Heck, I own one! But to my ears it doesn't do the dead-on Tube Screamer sound.

When I'm want the Tube Screamer sound, I reach for the real deal. The Bad Monkey's more of a solid all-around overdrive to my ears.

I own two Tube Screamers; a TS9DX modded by John Spina and a Keeley-modded TS9 Reissue. Both are fantastic pedals in their own right.

I like the TS9DX for a long three-set night where I'll need a few different sounds to work with. The ability to tweak and get different levels is an excellent option. But I just don't find it does the dead-on Tube Screamer sound like the Keeley-modded.

When I grab the Keeley-modded I'm looking for that classic sound and nothing else. I have to remind myself of that when I do reach for it. I've been insituations where I find it wasn't a Tube Screamer sound I wanted and it took me awhile of tweaking and swearing to realize it.

If you want a versatile overdrive there are plenty out there. If it's going to be your only overdrive pedal it might be a good diea to get something like the Jekyll and Hyde or the Wasabi Overdrive that has multiple and varied tones in it. Having some choices in your pedals adds another dimension to them that I quite enjoy, especially for gigging out and going between different amps and guitars.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

You're probably right, I never modded a SD1 to their specs so I wouldn't know :laugh2: Personally the thought of 'TS' is enough to make me run for my soldering iron and a bunch of caps. I do see your point. I had no idea they were that different in sound? Hell I always thought the TS9s and 808 were 99% the same in sound too so eh :dunno:

The TS9 and the 808 are very close in sound and that was my point actually....It's just that alot of folks don't realize that total component tolerences(especially with the pots)can make a pedal(s) sound different from each other...Electronically though,the pedals are the same...Again..the 808 used a 100 ohm and a 10k resistor in it's output section and a better sounding chip(to my ears)...The reissue TS9 used a different chip and a 470 ohm and 100k resistor in it's output section...After that the 2 pedals are the same..

Not all of the original 808s or the original TS9s used the same chips and I've seen quite a few different opamps used in these earlier pedals..

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

To me the SD1 has a tight crunchy sound in an early Marshall kinda way at high drive settings...A TS is compressed,smoother,and sustains in a compressed way much like an amp with a rectifier tube cranked up to 11 at the high drive settings...The tone stacks are different,as is the distortion characteristics of both pedals...The SD1 has alot more components on it's board and generally can give the pedal more overall gain...I'm comparing stock versions of the 2 pedals...Both pedals have a midrange hump,but the TS9 is more pronounced...Both pedals suck lows away when engaged..

 

[wahwah]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

If you want a TS type pedal with a broader gain range and greater tonal flexibility, without buying something that is cheaply constructed, check out the MI Audio Blue Boy Deluxe. It has the classic JRC4558D chip, but it has also been designed with the IC mounted in a socket so you can easily experiment with different IC's. I had an original late 70's TS-808 Tube Screamer, so that is always my point of reference, and the Blue Boy instantly gives the 808 experience without need for modification, and also goes beyond an original 808 in its versatility. The other pedal which nails it is the Ulbrick 12AXE, but Dave Ulbrick is now exclusively building amps and only makes pedals for special clients. The last guy to buy one was Robben Ford when he was here about 3 months ago.



Cheers...........................wahwah

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

It has the classic JRC4558D chip, but it has also been designed with the IC mounted in a socket so you can easily experiment with different IC's. I had an original late 70's TS-808 Tube Screamer, so that is always my point of reference, and the Blue Boy instantly gives the 808 experience without need for modification, and also goes beyond an original 808 in its versatility.



Cheers...........................wahwah

That sounds like a guitar player's pedal. What IC's do you experiment with ?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

I was the one who mentioned Monkey Love. I can clone my TS7 sound, but I get way more control over the EQ. And for $40, it just seals the deal.

 

[viewaskew2k5]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

Hey wah wah, the only way ive found to get an Ulbrick 12AXE is here in perth!! A mate of mine is best friends with the owner, and i swear the Ulbrick is worth every penny!

 

[wahwah]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

That sounds like a guitar player's pedal. What IC's do you experiment with ?

You can try any of the compatible IC's that have been used in other TS type pedals. I haven't bothered experimenting because the JRC that it comes with sounds so good.


Cheers.......................wahwah

 

[wahwah]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

Hey wah wah, the only way ive found to get an Ulbrick 12AXE is here in perth!! A mate of mine is best friends with the owner, and i swear the Ulbrick is worth every penny!

I've got mine right here bro, and I wouldn't leave home without it. I've been blessed to have Dave Ulbrick as my guitar/amp/pedal tech for the past 15 years, the man is a genius and a very good guitar player in his own right. He custom built this 12AXE for me, using original NOS 808 components. It's the sweetest thing. His amps are unbelievable too. When Robben Ford and Larry Carlton were here a few months ago, they left their Dumbles in the truck and used the Ulbricks, and then they both bought them to take back home. Robben bought a 12AXE as well. He's just too busy with the amps now to be making pedals, but if you can find one, buy it. I have a couple of other Ulbrick pedals as well, including the Middleman treble booster, Dave's take on the Dallas Rangemaster. But the 12AXE is the one, just stunning, and as you say, worth every penny!



Cheers...............................wahwah

 

[viewaskew2k5]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer vs. X

Argggg your making me cry wah!! Although i am in the market for a 15w combo!!