So... Tube Screamers.

Re: So... Tube Screamers.

Exactly how do you want to use an overdrive?
I.E. are you going to use it through a clean channel as your dirty sound or are you going to put it in front of an already dirty amp for a way ballzier sound?

The Maxon OD820 is amazing if you want your amps tone....but more.

Lovepedal makes completely twisted sick overdrives. The Kalamazoo is a great transparent OD that will give you your tone....but more. Either the White or Black Kanji pedals are great through a clean channel or in front of a rock amp like a Marshall but get a little whacky sounding in front of a high gain amp.

If you can find one, The Jersey Girl Fulltender or Plusdriver are completely sick in front of everything.


Good luck with your search.
 
Re: So... Tube Screamers.

Best TS I have used is a TS9 modded by Analogman to 808 specs. Sounds like I think a TS should sound. The TS9 was way too harsh for me before he worked it.

^This

I have the silver mod TS-9. Keeps chime and cut without tanking your low end and harshing your mello.
 
Re: So... Tube Screamers.

Quick vote for the Way Huge Green Rhino. It's not outrageously priced and it has enough eq options to make it as transparent as you want, but can be a significant tone modifier if need be. I use it pretty much for straight-ahead boost, and it works wonderfully. The distortion side of the pedal is a little too gritty for me.
 
Re: So... Tube Screamers.

The MXR Classic Overdrive is the one to get. It's low noise, road worthy, and can do both TS and SD-1 style clipping by switching an internal switch on the pc board.

IIRC the difference between the two is 1 silicon diode (symmetrical vs. asymmetrical clipping)

Thread Summary:

1. There are lots of them

2. Try them all....

And thank you for playing :)

This. What you get from a tubescreamer pedal really depends on what you want from them. They are not transparent, they are not a good 'dimension' pedal in the same was a klon or an EP boost are (arguably the EP and klon differ in function but they both are tone enhancers). What they do brilliantly is cut through dense mixes and make your guitar stand out.

It doesn't have to have the separate treble and bass controls, but what I would like is for it not to have too much gain, so I can use it as a clean-ish boost at the lower end, then the overdrive ramps up gradually as I turn the drive control up, rather than the all or nothing effect of some pedals that have too much gain too low down on the knob.

I think bass and treble controls rather miss the point of a tubescreamer, though they are nonetheless appreciated. But, if you're using a tubescreamer you probably don't wnat bass. You probably want a gentler treble. By and large, you're just looking for a good place to put your guitar in the mix so it sounds good and you don't step on anyone's frequencies.

There are literally some tubescreamers out there. How many, I have no idea. But, without any knowledge of audio engineering in any capacity, and with extremely limited first hand knowledge, I can say I like some of the guitar sounds I make, that come from a boss SD-1. Modified of course.
 
Re: So... Tube Screamers.

My vote is for the Bad Monkey. I absolutely love mine. Instead of one tone knob, it has a low and high, and that plus the gain and level make it very versatile. I've been thinking of sending it off to be modded, but I may wait until I buy another one, in case I don't like the modded version as much.
 
Re: So... Tube Screamers.

Got the standard TS9 which does the job to push my 6505+ nicely. Tightens up the flubby sound and gives more bite. Have thought about the Maxon OD808 but content with the TS9.
 
Re: So... Tube Screamers.

I am using a TS7 before my Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Blue into my Fender Super Champ X2 which sounds excellent.
 
Re: So... Tube Screamers.

I'm a Tube Screamer-guy. I have a bunch of Maxons and Ibanez versions. Yes, I am biased, but I have to say, the new Seymour Duncan 805 really is all that.
 
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