Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

Axl H

Blowthebloodydoorsoffologist
Yeah, I have been realizing how much of a stupid sh1t I am today.

I wanted to give my SD-1 a try out today, after Rid modded it. So I got some volume happening and ran a AC/DC like Crunch on the SD-1.

First time I tried it, I had to check my channel switch to see if it was really the SD-1 making that overdrive.

It was AWESOME. Warm, fat but still could growl, and the dynamics are outstanding.

The best part is, that I can play both lead and rhythm with it, which I cant do with a TS-9 as it is too thin.


New gear rocks, but getting the most out of old stuff rocks more! :D
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

I love the sound of the TS9 (808 mod) in front of my Mesa DC-5 for an extra push. Even better, it sounds phenomenal in front of my Celtic Caitlin with all knobs at noon (a moderate amount of gain) and the Celtic volume around 9:00 or 10:00 (on the cleaner side).

I'll never give up my TS9/808.

- Keith
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

Saying a TS-9 is better than an SD-1 is like saying an Apple is better than an Orange.

They're different tools for different jobs.

I own both...I have a Spina-modded TS9DX and a Keeley-modded TS9.

I own two Spina-modded SD-1's.

I reach for them for different jobs. They fulfill functions almost totally different from each other.
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

they are fairly similar pedals but the boss has a little more gain and a little more teeth, maybe a little deeper bottom as well.
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

and here we go again. Get TS9 re-issue, send it to John Spina and you will never consider any other tubescreamer, simple as that.
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

HAAAAAALELUJIA!!!! HE HAS SEEN THE LIGHT!!!!!


Toldyousotoldyousotoldyousotoldyousotoldyousotoldyousotoldyouso...:D


Nah kidding hehe...

The SD1 is great because it's cheap AND it's that TS circuit. Which seems to be good as you can easily mod it for OD/cleanboost/TS808. And it's still only about 40 pounds.
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

Well, I still think I will get a TS-9 but I aint 100% sure. I love their sound though, as well as the SD-1 :)

The great thing about this SD-1, is that it sounds like a tube amp. Rid is extremely happy with it as well, and that says a bit :D

SD-1 is a great pedal.
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

You may want to try an unmodded SD1, a TS9 and the modded SD1 side by side. You may be surprised...

The SD1 has the same circuit as the TS9, to a couple of components, but sounds different due to the cheaper opamp, a lot of cheaper caps etc...modding it makes it entirely different. And based on what Rid told us, he really changed it, not to make it a TS9.
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

Niels never made it into a TS-9.

I like them both, they are quite different drives and they sound great.
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

Ahhh good. You said you loved the SD1, what I'm saying is that the one you have now is probably very different.


The SD1 was my first pedal. I used it to boost a POD (yeaaaaah don't ask). At first I liked it, then realized it wasn't that a good boost. I modified it for a flatter response and smoother gain of its own. It didn't sound at all like a SD1 after, but sounded MUCH better. I just replaced it with the route 66 because the latter has a compression side. I did some of the same mods on the route 66 too, opamp and diode changes. With the bass boost it has though it overcomes the TS' weakness.
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

The only thing I miss in it, is a bit more bass.

But I also had the toneknob quite high up, to get a sorta Sabbath like sound.

I cant make any clips of it, until in a year. I'll be going to the studio at my school for my project. The SD-1 will most certainly be used on those recordings. :)

It sounds so natural I might not even use my ENGL for those recordings :D
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

While we are on the subject of modded TSs... how much do the input and output buffers affect the tone? If I were to make a bare bones TS circuit with true-bypass(there are some schematics floating around), change the cap and resistor values to get more bass etc, would I have a good natural OD? As for cheap TS type pedals, I love my Arion Tubulator. Flimsy package, great sound :D
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

^No no..I am not emphasizing the true bypass here..I know its not the 'holy grail', causes signal loss and all that jazz..but the TS circuit has an input and output buffer in addition to the op-amp and clipping diode circuit. How much does this affect the 'TS' tone? Let the bypass be buffered or true, doesnt matter. I had seen some schematics with TB so it got mentioned in passing:D
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

Trooo myspass......dunno if you like the sound of loaded cables, prone to static sounds..etc etc....
Isnt all that solved using a good quality buffer (the boss ones arent the highest quality) early in the chain or even something like the pickup booster always on to get good signal? I have both true bypass and buffered (mainly behringer) pedals and the true bypass sounds slightly better especially compared to 3 non true bypass pedals plugged in.
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

Play with long cables, loud and with a band, several buffered pedals have no added effect, buffered is buffered!!!
But with TB....muffled sounds, load of long cables, prone to static noises, picks up radio stuff easier...a buffer sounds good if good transistors are used, and if they get enough juice as well:)
 
Re: Slap me now for wanting a TS-9!

The Boss buffered bypass is plenty adequate. Millions sold and used over the years says something. The only one that has had any issue as of late is the SD-1. There is a slight bleed-thru when bypassed and that's been attributed to design, but there is a quick and easy way to fix it with a couple extra components.

The Behringer's are cheap Boss copies so I'm not surprised you notice a sound difference between them and true-bypass.

Input/Output buffers are good because they allow the pedals to play well with other pedals before or after them. Without them, they can be picky about placement or just not want to play well with others at all.

I've got a few true bypass pedals as well only because I built them that way when I got in to DIY pedals (all perfboard stuff). I don't use them in my band rig though.

Now, what's this about Jr wanting a TS-9? Rid, you need to slap him around a little more....LOL.
 
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