Is the TS7 a good pedal?

Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

the guy who invented fire said:
so is a Boss SD-1 and I'd rather have that...Boss pedals DO show up on touring pro's boards and for a good reason!
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I noticed that too. People obsess over botique effects and what not but I notice a lot of Boss pedals on players boards. At one point almost half of Joe Satrianis pedals were stock Bosses. Steve Vai has 2 DS-1s on the board, one modded (analogman) and 1 stock.
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

happy raisin said:
Hmm sounds like a good idea. What kind of mods are available? Are they easy enough to do on one's own?
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Just Google "tube screamer mods" and you'll come up with a ton of them. Most common and effective thing is to replace the clipping diodes with something else. Some people also like to replace capacitors for less noise or tonal changes. You can also increase the gain just by changing a couple of resistors.

How easy they are to do depends on how good you are with a soldering iron, and how patient and careful you are.
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

the guy who invented fire said:
my issue is the PCB holding up to mods...I know the Boss stuff cna handle it.

Also, FWIW...I dunno know if Ibanez uses the same switches in the TS-7 that they use in the TS-9 but if they do they are GARBAGE!!!!

I almost never use my TS-9 and it's only it's 3rd switch!!!

The 2nd switch didn't even make it 60 days!

My whole thing is this...cheep pedals are fine and I have plenty of them but the thing about them is that it's best to use them stock, not put money into them and when they stop working toss 'em and get a new one.

That said a new TS-7 is $39...so is a Boss SD-1 and I'd rather have that...Boss pedals DO show up on touring pro's boards and for a good reason!

Also, there are other low buck TS style pedals out there...

Look around...
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Yeah, the Ibanez switches are crap. They're also a beeyotch to replace if they die.

Once you factor in mods and the cost of either replacing the switch or putting the TS7 into a loop box to avoid the problem altogether, you might as well be spending money on a really good TS clone.

In the $100 ballpark, I'd be looking at a BBE Green Screamer or a Visual Sound Route 808. Both are basically TS clones, and both are rock solid and well put together.
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

yeah dude, you're in New York? My local Sam Ash music has Visual Sound stuff on clearance, I'm sure yours is pretty cheap too.

I got my Route 808 for $75...and i'm thinking of returning it for the Double Trouble cuz it's only $119.
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

Now I am freaking out . I didn't know about the Ibanez TS-9 switch. Now I want to get rid of mine. Just what IS the best TS_808m Clone. I don;t use BBE products, and won't-personal preference( plus I think they suck). I checked out the H-20, and they say its an accurate reproduction, but then they say its a interpretation, and there seems to be extra crap in the circuit ?
I want an EXACT clone, but with a good switch.
I WANT THE ORIGINAL JRD 4558 CHIP! thats he chip necessary for an exact sound of the old Tubescreamer. Now I know none of those 100 dollar ones have that!
My TS-9 has that, but now I want to get rid of it cause of the switch.
Ive never had any problems, but I took it apart and I see what you mean about it being a bear to replace.
So, what is the best TS-808 copy with a good switch, all riginal circuit with no "interpretation" or extra crap, and most importantly, the JR4558 chip?
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

First, i was talking about my TS-9 Ibanez Tube Screamer modified to TS-808 Specs with the JRD-4558 chip.
Second, It didn't take me long to find the Clone I need.
I won;t say the name here, as Its a competitor for the Duncan line, but the first part of the name rhymes with "Metro", and the second part of the name rhymes wiht "Phonic".
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

MetalManiac said:
Now I am freaking out . I didn't know about the Ibanez TS-9 switch. Now I want to get rid of mine. Just what IS the best TS_808m Clone. I don;t use BBE products, and won't-personal preference( plus I think they suck). I checked out the H-20, and they say its an accurate reproduction, but then they say its a interpretation, and there seems to be extra crap in the circuit ?
I want an EXACT clone, but with a good switch.
I WANT THE ORIGINAL JRD 4558 CHIP! thats he chip necessary for an exact sound of the old Tubescreamer. Now I know none of those 100 dollar ones have that!
My TS-9 has that, but now I want to get rid of it cause of the switch.
Ive never had any problems, but I took it apart and I see what you mean about it being a bear to replace.
So, what is the best TS-808 copy with a good switch, all riginal circuit with no "interpretation" or extra crap, and most importantly, the JR4558 chip?
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Just use the TS-9 as-is until it breaks...when that day comes you can either have it repaired OR you can have it modded...if you mod it for true bypass then the junk Ibanez switch gets replaced with a standard stomp switch and no more worries...if mine goes again thats what I'm going to do!

If you want to just buy a TS808 with a better switch the TS808 HW is a great pedal, all handmade, has a stomp switch and is dead nuts on the original circiut except for being true bypass vs the buffeer but it is not cheep...

The standard TS808 reissue is also really good and can be modded with a stomp swtich pretty easily and with good results...

You can also send your TS-9 to AnalogMan and get his TS9/808 mod swhich impriove the tone of the pedal by leaps and bounds IMHO and have him mod it for true bypass as well which will do away with the junk switch...again, if my switch dies again it will be going back to AM for the true bypass mods!
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

MetalManiac said:
First, i was talking about my TS-9 Ibanez Tube Screamer modified to TS-808 Specs with the JRD-4558 chip.
Second, It didn't take me long to find the Clone I need.
I won;t say the name here, as Its a competitor for the Duncan line, but the first part of the name rhymes with "Metro", and the second part of the name rhymes wiht "Phonic".
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you can mention any companies here you want, no worries!

The RS Overdrive is a pretty solid pedal...most of their stuff is!
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

ratherdashing said:
I like the SD-1, but it doesn't sound the same as a TS. You can, in theory, mod an SD-1 to TS9 specs, but it still won't be exactly the same. It's a great mod platform if you're into trying that, and a very useful pedal even without mods.
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Not questioning you or anything, but just curious as to why modding an SD-1 to TS-9 wont make them sound exactly the same
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

Petrovsk Mizinski said:
Not questioning you or anything, but just curious as to why modding an SD-1 to TS-9 wont make them sound exactly the same
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Most SD-1 to TS spec mods don't take it as far as you can take it...Boss and Ibanez pedals use different clipping and most guys don't change the Boss to Ibanez style clipping but it can be done...and doing so makes them even closer!

The biggest thing is that an SD-1 modded to TS808 specs CAN have the SAME tone but everytime it seems like the SD-1 has a hair more grit on ta...not sure why, it might be a pot value thing but the tone can be dead on if you want it and are willing to take it all the way.
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

the guy who invented fire said:
Most SD-1 to TS spec mods don't take it as far as you can take it...Boss and Ibanez pedals use different clipping and most guys don't change the Boss to Ibanez style clipping but it can be done...and doing so makes them even closer!

The biggest thing is that an SD-1 modded to TS808 specs CAN have the SAME tone but everytime it seems like the SD-1 has a hair more grit on ta...not sure why, it might be a pot value thing but the tone can be dead on if you want it and are willing to take it all the way.
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Ahh, that makes sense.
I thought it was just assumed that when one mods the SD-1 to TS specs, they would definitely change the clipping to symmetrical anyway.
My plan was to get a mod kit,probably the Monte Allums SD-808 Mod, so I could change the op-amp, various other components and to get symmetrical clipping in there.
I figure if that mod makes it sound 99 per cent the same as a TS-808, that will be great, because especially in Australia, it's a far cheaper option than buying a stock TS-808 brand new off the shelf.
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

Petrovsk Mizinski said:
Ahh, that makes sense.
I thought it was just assumed that when one mods the SD-1 to TS specs, they would definitely change the clipping to symmetrical anyway.
My plan was to get a mod kit,probably the Monte Allums SD-808 Mod, so I could change the op-amp, various other components and to get symmetrical clipping in there.
I figure if that mod makes it sound 99 per cent the same as a TS-808, that will be great, because especially in Australia, it's a far cheaper option than buying a stock TS-808 brand new off the shelf.
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I'm not sure what is included in those kits but I say go for it...you can always change the clipping even if it's not part of the kit!
 
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Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

Empty Pockets said:
yeah dude, you're in New York? My local Sam Ash music has Visual Sound stuff on clearance, I'm sure yours is pretty cheap too.

I got my Route 808 for $75...and i'm thinking of returning it for the Double Trouble cuz it's only $119.
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Oh wow it's that cheap near you? Yeah I think I'll definitely do that now
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

the guy who invented fire said:
Are they worth talking about?!
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It does buy the pedal more time....Honestly with all of the TS mods I've done,I've not had to replace the switches in the TS9 and 808 series...The TS7 and TS5 both use the same switch,and they are terrible,cheap,crappy plastic switches...I've fabricated better switches to work on the TS5 series..The TS5 is a great sleeper pedal in a plastic box,but inexpensive and they have a slightly warmer tone than the Re-issue TS9 and with a slight bit less gain...I loved modding the TS5 cause it was instant Santana/Eric Johnson singing,sustaining tone in a box...
 
Re: Is the TS7 a good pedal?

I hear ya...when I had my TS9 modded by AnalogMan he had to replace the switch then that switch dies and Mike hooked me up with another one so I'm good right now but I don't expect too long...when it dies next time I'm going true bypass with a stomp switch...it looks funny but it'll last!
 
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