OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

[bulb]

So i am just getting into these pedals, and maybe for my purposes it wouldnt make as much of a difference, but i have a 6505 and i want to stick one in front since i hear nothing but good things about using them as a front end boost for those amps.
What is the difference between them for my purposes and which would you reccomend?
Also what is the cheapest/best place to buy them from?

Thanks a lot!

 

[B Bent]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

If your are savvy enough w/ a soldering iron I highly recommend the BYOC screamer clone for $75!!!!

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

Hey Bulb, DSS3 from the Sevenstring.org forum here!

I'd go with the OD808 from Maxon - it's what I run into the front end of my 5150, with amazing results.

I thought you were looking for a Powerball, though? The 5150's are my favorite amps - are you just looking for more versatility?

 

[bulb]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

haha just bought the powerball which is how i ended up on this forum, and then i took a look around and it seemed interesting so i joined up here too!
Thanks man!
The 5150 has a certain sound that it does well, but every clip i have heard of the powerball leads me to believe that it is the closest to that certain "sound in my head" if you know what i mean!
I want to experiment with recording both the powerball and the 5150 (i have the 6505 + aka 5150 II), and layering the tracks, but for that extra front end oomph i wanted a good boost pedal, it looks like the regular od808 is the ticket tho!

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

Yeah, I haven't found an OD with as sweet a midrange or clean a boost, aside from maybe the OD820... but once you get a drummer pounding away and some guy growling over the top... those little nuances just get lost in the mix, you know?

What kind of setup are you running, mic/pre wise? I want to get a Recto to blend with the 5150, but might look into something like a Screamer or Fireball.

 

[bulb]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

Well up until now i have been getting great results from just the podxt. (clips at www.soundclick.com/bulb), but i want to experiment with miking and layering espeically. I am running an Audio Technica 4033CL thru the pres on my presonus firepod. And i have to say im a big fan of the presonus pres in general, very clean!

One thing, i was trying a Fulltone OCD out today. I was trying it in front of a recto, and it completely transformed the sound into something i like and i can use. So i was very impressed, have any of you ever tried one? How would you say it compares to the maxon?

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

I could let you know in 3 weeks, B2D is comming up and will be bringing his.

That said, it's guitar center, why not get it and return it if you're not happy with it?


OT: Would you recommend the Firepod? I've been debating between that an a MOTU, but think I'll go with the Firepod, as I've heard it's converters and pre's are quite good and clean, better than the MOTU's actually. Were you running the XT into the firepod, or via firewire on that stuff? I've found that running the XT through a good set of converters changes EVERYTHING.

 

[Soujurn]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

I play mostly Stratocaster.
I own an Maxon OD-808, and a original Ibanez TS-9.
I have also played a original OD-808 and a reissue. They sounded the same to me. No difference. The TS-9 is more midrange boosted and a little thin on the top end, but the bottom to my ears is tight and punchy, which is why I keep it.

If I had to choose though, I'd stick with my TS-9 and my RAT, since I can get the same thing out of my RAT as my OD-808.

I also love my AC Booster from Xotic. Very musical and transparent when you dial up the gain.

 

[Jeroen]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

So far, I've only tried the OD808 reissue, but didn't really like it. I've not used it as a boost for an already overdriven amp though, I've only tried it on a clean amp (a Koch Twintone). I absolutely loved the distortion character I got from the OD808, but I think it narrowed down the tone a lot. All that beautiful high end sparkle from the Koch just disappeared as soon as I stomped on the OD808, and the midrange just got a lot thicker. The tone lost a lot of clarity. This was with my own Japanese E-series Strat, but also when a salesman plugged in a Fender Custom Shop '70's reissue Strat. I really didn't like what I heard.

I really want to try one once more, on my own amp. I wonder what difference it'll make.

 

[bulb]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

Jeff, i was looking at the motu as well, and i people seemed to agree that the firepod was not only better value but had cleaner pres. Now im really just taking their word for it since i dont have a ton of experience comparing pres, but i DO know that the pres are VERY clean.

I really want to A/B the od808 and fulltone, i guess i should just run over to guitar center and do that tho they only have the ibanez ts808, but maybe ill pick up both and return one...

 

[jmh151]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

I have a TS-9. I bought a mod kit off e-bay that included the TS-808 chips and and upgraded resistors to mod it to 808 specs. The TS-9's a different beast now, alot clearer, I would never buy a stock TS-9 reissue.

The Maxon OD808 is supposedly a faithful recreation of teh original TS-9 and needs no modding.

You could also get a pre-modded Robert Keeley TS-9

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

The TS808 re-issue will be like the Maxon with a bit less of a natural feel, and mids not as sweet.

I'm dying to hear an OCD ifnront of a 5150 now, though.

 

[timorousme]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

I know that I suggest this a lot, but I use a Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive. Same chip as a TS808 but with a clean knob for an amp blending effect. Turn the clean all the way up, and you get a sweet clean boost too. Great pedal.

 

[bulb]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

well today i tried out a TS9, TS808, Bad Monkey, and the OCD.
I walked home with the OCD. Definitely had the best feel and response out of all of them, and i liked the treble boost frequency especially since i dial my treble in very low on my amps. The ts9 and ts 808 had more of a midrange boost and a little less gain (ts808 especially), but the midrange frequency that was boosted wasnt exactly the freq i was looking for, and i couldnt really adjust it or dial it out. The bad monkey was suprisingly good for 40 bucks! The only thing is it lacked feel completely, it was very tweakable and had good bass and treble controls, but just something about it when a/b'ing the ocd made it feel cheap, it also just didnt sound as good even though i would say it was second best all things considered! And thats too bad, cuz i would much rather have walked out of the store spending 40 bucks! Maybe good as a backup or a secondary pedal...will have to look into that..

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

How's the OCD fare with the 5150, eh? Can't wait to hear some clips!


Also, have you tried a 57 on your V30 cabs? I know you're from the Meshuggah/Acle school of condensors on cabs, but I've never really dug a condensor on high gain guitars as much as a good ol' 57.

 

[bulb]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

Well i dont have a 57 haha, maybe i will steal one from my bassist. But i bought the 4033 because people were raving about its uses not only as a vocal mic, but as a guitar mic, its very clean and clear. I will have to try a 57, and maybe do both!

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: OD808 vs. OD808 reissue vs. TS808 reissue

Very nice! I actually think I'll be picking up an AT4033 as a vocal mic next month.