NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

[UberMetalDood]

I read some reviews, watched some videos, and compared it directly to a TS808 before buying it. The reviews seemed to indicate that the difference between the TS808 reissue and the handwired were very subtle. I find the difference to be substantial, but both pedals essentially have the same flavor. The TS808 RI is hazy (or gritty if you prefer), more mid spike, bit more compressed, and a bit less clarity. The handwired sounds more open and smooth and very slightly less mid congestion. The handwired has a very natural and sensitive feel which compliments my amps nicely. I still get a lot of the mid hump though.

The ultimate test is how well it stacks up to my OD820 which I have been using since I started playing guitar. The OD820 is still my favorite pedal, but I'd say that it's more comparable to a Klon and the TS808 is obviously the Tube Screamer flavor.

There are some things I like about the TS808 reissue, and if you love that it offers a less refined overdrive, then you might find the TS808 handwired to be polite. In a way the handwired has a bit less personality, but it makes up for in feel and clarity. I don't mean less personality in the way that would mean that it's more sterile, but that it's basically a slightly refined TS808.

In comparison to a Maxon OD808 which is the original tube screamer that the TS808 is based on, I would have to say that the Maxon holds its own and for a lot less money. I don't have an OD808 to directly compare at the moment, but it could possibly rival the TS808 handwired because of its warmth and slightly more gain. In my mind, Maxon is the king. However, I really like this handwired pedal a lot so far.

This is the way my ears hear it so feel free to contribute your own opinions. Right now I'm using it with an Ecstasy 101B, Rivera Clubster Royale, and Blues Jr III. It seems to have a mid spike effect that's in between an OD820 (more balanced) and a TS808 (big mid hump).

 

[nedcronin]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

Nice review! I tried a reissue out a couple years ago, didn't blow my doors off that's for sure. I figured the HW would probably sound better but didn't find one around to try. I ended up just sending my old TS9 to Analogman for the 808 mod and that pretty much cured my TS gas. I'm glad you like that new pedal, what amps & guitars you using it with? How are you using it? Clean or cleanish boost, or gained up?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

I completely agree with all of your observations; nice review.

The OD820 is the King Of All Overdrives. As my current setup is already quite mid-heay, I never got along with the Tube Screamer.

Funny you should compare the OD820 to the Klon, because I feel exactly the same way.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

I've always hoped to find the 808HW used for a steal, but it never happens. Too pricey for me to buy new, and those who own them don't seem to sell them for less than $300.

For the TS sound, I get along fine with the Green Rhino on clean amps and sometimes the MXR Classic OD when it's run into a gainier amp. I still want an 808HW, just to have it before they're all gone.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

Nice review! I tried a reissue out a couple years ago, didn't blow my doors off that's for sure. I figured the HW would probably sound better but didn't find one around to try. I ended up just sending my old TS9 to Analogman for the 808 mod and that pretty much cured my TS gas. I'm glad you like that new pedal, what amps & guitars you using it with? How are you using it? Clean or cleanish boost, or gained up?

I've been using it mainly with my Rivera Clubster Royale, but I like it way it sounds on the clean channel of my Ecstasy 101B. It has too much mid hump to drive the blue channel of my 101B, so it ends up compressing an muffling everything on the lower 3 strings. With the clean channel, it adds a bit of color, compression, warmth, and a really dynamic mild drive that still sounds very clean. Basically, it does what the amp does except you don't need to turn it up real loud.

I use it to drive the crunch channel of my Rivera mainly. The crunch channel has about as much overdrive as the blue channel on my 101B, so I like to set the TS a bit under 12:00 to give the amp enough drive to do some Satch type solos.

By the way, the tone knob works better than the TS808 reissue. The level control also seems to agree more with the high input of my amps than the reissue. The handwired version also has true bypass and doesn't suck tone like the buffered reissue, at least in my opinion.

I completely agree with all of your observations; nice review.

The OD820 is the King Of All Overdrives. As my current setup is already quite mid-heay, I never got along with the Tube Screamer.

Funny you should compare the OD820 to the Klon, because I feel exactly the same way.

Thanks for that because coming from someone whose playing and knowledge I respect, it gives my opinions some validation. I love the tone you get from some of those low wattage amps by the way. Any new audio clips?

I've always hoped to find the 808HW used for a steal, but it never happens. Too pricey for me to buy new, and those who own them don't seem to sell them for less than $300.

For the TS sound, I get along fine with the Green Rhino on clean amps and sometimes the MXR Classic OD when it's run into a gainier amp. I still want an 808HW, just to have it before they're all gone.

To be honest, it's worth the money. I mean, let's face it. You get a slightly refined TS808 tone with true bypass and a unique look. It's pricey, but if you want a great original TS808 sound then I think it's worth the money for a pedal you can keep for many, many years. Personally, I have been so spoiled by my OD820 that no overdrive pedals impress me too much. This one is a nice flavor to have and it contrasts with both of my OD820 and OD808. It's different enough from the OD808 to justify keeping it in my opinion.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

Thanks for that because coming from someone whose playing and knowledge I respect, it gives my opinions some validation. I love the tone you get from some of those low wattage amps by the way. Any new audio clips?

Thanks, bro, I appreciate that!

Here's a really raw work in progress I have going on right now. I still have to add bass, finish the rest of the arrangement after the 9:30 mark, and mix the thing -- but it's getting there!



The guitars for the first 5 minutes are Tele Thinline/SunFace/Champster; during the 'war' section, it's Thinline/BB Preamp/Studio 2; for the funk section it's Strat/SunFace/Champster.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

Thanks, bro, I appreciate that!

Here's a really raw work in progress I have going on right now. I still have to add bass, finish the rest of the arrangement after the 9:30 mark, and mix the thing -- but it's getting there!



The guitars for the first 5 minutes are Tele Thinline/SunFace/Champster; during the 'war' section, it's Thinline/BB Preamp/Studio 2; for the funk section it's Strat/SunFace/Champster.

That was cool. Do you use the BB a lot? Have you tried the BB Plus? I've been using it for several months and like it way better than the original because it has two sides that not only have different flavors and react differently to your amp, it also has controls for compression and mids that the original doesn't.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

That was cool.

Thanks.

I also realize that I made a mistake in my liner notes; it should read:

The guitars for the first 5 minutes are Tele Thinline/Beano Boost/Champster; during the 'war' section, it's Thinline/BB Preamp/Studio 2; for the funk section it's Strat/Beano Boost/Champster on the right side; Strat/SunFace/Champster on the left.

Do you use the BB a lot?

Probably about 1/3 of the time.

Have you tried the BB Plus? I've been using it for several months and like it way better than the original because it has two sides that not only have different flavors and react differently to your amp, it also has controls for compression and mids that the original doesn't.

Interesting, I will have to check it out. I didn't care for the BB with the Mid control.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

Interesting, I will have to check it out. I didn't care for the BB with the Mid control.

Yeah I actually bought the BB custom shop with the mid knob but went back and exchanged it for the BB+. I love how the left side sounds with different amps or mixed in with the right side, and having some control of the compression is great for clean and overdriven sounds.

 

[Bludave]

NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

I bought. Maxxon 808 last year at a guitar show. I played with it for about a month and finally put it back in the box and shelved it. I was torn because I had 2 TS9's, one modded and one stock. I sold the stock one and used my modded one. The Maxxon just seemed less gainy and had a lot less character then my Ts9. I wound up buying another TS9 that was modded with a chip holder but I've never changed the chip. It sounds fine the way it is. I would really like to try out s TS808 but as others said they are pricey and hard to find

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

I bought. Maxxon 808 last year at a guitar show. I played with it for about a month and finally put it back in the box and shelved it. I was torn because I had 2 TS9's, one modded and one stock. I sold the stock one and used my modded one. The Maxxon just seemed less gainy and had a lot less character then my Ts9. I wound up buying another TS9 that was modded with a chip holder but I've never changed the chip. It sounds fine the way it is. I would really like to try out s TS808 but as others said they are pricey and hard to find

I'm surprised. That's the first time I've heard the OD808 described that way. I think it's a pinch warmer than the TS808, and not grainy like my TS808 RI. It feels tighter, or not as loose of a response than my TS808 RI or TS808HW, but overall pretty sweet. I don't really notice a difference in the amount of gain. Mainly in the feel and overall tone. I want to say the OD808 is slightly beefier. In fact, writing this post makes me remember that I was going to mod my TS808. I tried a Keeley modded TS808 and TS9, and I liked both of them a lot and they both increased gain significantly. Which mod do you have?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

who makes the od820? (or made?)
Nice review btw!!

 

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

Cool review
I still stick with a totally stock TS-9, does what I need

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

who makes the od820? (or made?)

Makes. Maxon.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

who makes the od820? (or made?)
Nice review btw!!

Maxon still makes it. They have two versions actually. The only difference is the casing, one is the larger vintage look and the other has the compact pedal casing. The compact on is called the VOP9. The best overdrive pedal there is in my opinion. No mods ever needed.

 

[Bludave]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

I'm surprised. That's the first time I've heard the OD808 described that way. I think it's a pinch warmer than the TS808, and not grainy like my TS808 RI. It feels tighter, or not as loose of a response than my TS808 RI or TS808HW, but overall pretty sweet. I don't really notice a difference in the amount of gain. Mainly in the feel and overall tone. I want to say the OD808 is slightly beefier. In fact, writing this post makes me remember that I was going to mod my TS808. I tried a Keeley modded TS808 and TS9, and I liked both of them a lot and they both increased gain significantly. Which mod do you have?

You know when I was doing this it was maybe 7 or 8 years ago so I really don't remember, but John Spina(Stratdeluxer97) did the mod for me and since I have had that particular pedal It has not left my pedalboard. It sounds so natural and has just the right amount of gain for me. BUT here is how I use it. I use it in my Bogner Shiva, mostly as a clean boost in the clean channel. I have the gain almost all the way down(most of the time) I have the volume adjusted to give me a bit of boost and the tone adjusted accordingly. Now on occasions I crank the gain up to make it sing a bit more and I also use it with the drive channel. I am more of a blues/blues-rock kind of player so when I look for a drive pedal I want something that keeps the notes character and clarity is important to me.

My second TS9 is on another board and I used it last night for the first time in about 6 months. My board is pretty basic with a CE2, DD3, TS9, Wah & tuner. Initially I thought something was wrong when I was setting up. It sounded really bright and I was lijke WTF?? Then I realized my Wah was on and all the wah down:smack: Once I turned it off it sounded great. Playing through a DRRI it was just what the doctor ordered. Of course my 335 had a lot to do with it too..... The Maxxon is a very cool pedal but I think my ears have been tuned after so many years of the TS9 that thats the sound I am looking for.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

This is a follow-up to my review. Now that I've had my TS808HW for a while and have been using it with different amps, I think that I can be pretty definitive now. At first, I knew it was a good quality pedal and had features and tone that seemed to surpass the TS808 RI. However, now that I know the pedal really well, I would go as far as to say that it is easily one of the best pedals I have ever owned. Maxon is my thing and probably always will be, but I have developed a lot of love for my BB Plus... and now, my TS808HW. Probably the best things, among other improvements, about the TS808HW is that it's transparent and has a looser feel than my other pedals. It feels looser than my OD820 which has a very natural feel, and my BB Plus has a slightly dryer feel than the OD820. It's a bit pickier with amps than my OD820, but it is fantastic for loosening up the feel of a very tight or dry feeling amp. People have made a big deal about the price and I can definitely understand that, but now I say that it's a very fair price considering what you get. I have no idea what use the metal box will make, but I'm starting to think that some foam can turn it into a great box for transporting tubes.

 

[nedcronin]

Re: NPD Ibanez Handwired TS808

Nice review. You described the tones so well I can pretty much hear it in my mind.