STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lewguitar
  • Start date Start date
L

Lewguitar

Guest
Hi John, Just curious what you think of the new TS-808 RI really... :) You got me in a TS-9 frame of mind now, my man!

Lew
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Hello buddy....I Liked the 808 reissue right out of the box....And here's why,no secret really....The 808 has the correct output stage resistance that matches the pedal's impedence to the front end of a tube amp....The 808 also has the JRC4558D vs the crappy(I think) TA57778 chip used in the later TS9s..The early TS9s had the JRC4558D and some even had the TI RC4558P chip...Once you convert the TS9 over to the specs of the 808,you basically have 2 of the same pedals..The circuit boards for the 808 and the TS9 are absolutely identical...All components are in the exact same locations also...The only differences I ever see between pedals is resistance tolerences between pots and overall plus or minus of an entire circuit...The reissue 808 is identical to the original and there's an awful lot of hype between the 2...

Ibanez did a nice job on this reissue and I've compared them both...59Paul has done the same A/B ing as he owns more than 1 original 808 and a reissue like myself...I took my reissue and increased it's input cap by doubling it and put poly caps into the circuit to replace some 1 mfd can caps...After that it's a gain resistor,gain cap tweaks for more gain and more balls out of the pedal...It's just knowing where to change components to get the pedal to react differently....I try not to actually re eq these things because a TS is supposed to compress at high drive settings and it's supposed to have a cutting midrange "hump"....That's the nature of a TS...You can mod for gain,make it brighter,darker,etc..but you're still sought of locked into the restrictions of the circuit overall....I Love Tube Screamers and I own like 6 of them with the exception of the TS10....It's not that I dislike the TS10,I just never bought one....The TS5 is a sleeper with great tone after the mods...Unbelievable warm,rounded,singing lead tone with alot of sustain(Ask Midnite Man)about his...It's kind of like an old Boogie Mark1 in that the tone just sings....I Love these things Lew! I've been goofing with TS mods for probably 4 or 5 years or so and I sold a bunch of modded TS5s via E Bay...

John
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Thanks! I think I'll pick one up...just to have, I guess. I wish the Tubescreamer would allow me to get a cleanish rock tone when I turn the volume down on my guitar...like the Boss DS-1 does. Differant beasts!

What is it about the DS-1 that allows that?

My buddy AJ uses a BIG MUFF into a DS-1 and something about the DS-1 even allows him to leave both on and reduce the volume on his guitar and the tone cleans up decently...but the BIG MUFF has to be plugged into the DS-1 to do that.

Lew
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Lew..I need to jet and get some stuff done...I'm going to send you one of my personal modded DS1s for you to mess with...See if you like what you hear...Curly and I both love this pedal...I have your address already and I'll box it up right now...Later buddy,gotta run!

John
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Cool! Thanks alot...

I just bought a TS-808 RI BTW...It'll be fun comparing them all!

Lew
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Lewguitar said:
Cool! Thanks alot...

I just bought a TS-808 RI BTW...It'll be fun comparing them all!

Lew

Cool Lew....Stock the reissue TS808 sounds very smooth and sweet sounding..Ibanez did a nice job with it...I didn't feel like I Payed too much when mine arrived and I had some time to audition it...The on/off button is a bit of a pain in the butt at times because it's like half the size of the TS9's...But hey,nothing is perfect...

John
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

can you send me a pedal?
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Davey said:
can you send me a pedal?

:wink: I don't stock and sell pedals...Guys send their pedals to me and then I tweak em and send them back...

John
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Man, this place spreads GAS like a virus! I've been wanting one of those 808 Reissues, and this post has pushed me over the edge. There's another amazing pedal that's like a big fat fuzz/OD called the T. Rex Mudhoney. I've seen a few local guys like Scott Henderson using those, then tried one myself. Now, I's gots to gets me one.
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Hey John, nice post on the 808 vs. RI 808. And Lew, let us know what YOU think of the RI 808. I found it to be very useful, right out of the box. I've used TS-808's for years to push the front end of my old Marshall's. I found the RI 808 to be much smoother, and more pleasant to the ear than a RI TS-9. The RI 808 is very close in tone and feel to my originals. Not exact, as no two pieces of equipment are going to be 100% exact. But, nonetheless, I found the RI 808 to be very, very close ( Keeping in mind that I use old Les Pauls and old Marshall's, so I'm not after extreme amounts of Dirt, I'm after QUALITY !!! ). Anyway, looking forward to hearing what you think, Lew. .................:)
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

59paul said:
Hey John, nice post on the 808 vs. RI 808. And Lew, let us know what YOU think of the RI 808. I found it to be very useful, right out of the box. I've used TS-808's for years to push the front end of my old Marshall's. I found the RI 808 to be much smoother, and more pleasant to the ear than a RI TS-9. The RI 808 is very close in tone and feel to my originals. Not exact, as no two pieces of equipment are going to be 100% exact. But, nonetheless, I found the RI 808 to be very, very close ( Keeping in mind that I use old Les Pauls and old Marshall's, so I'm not after extreme amounts of Dirt, I'm after QUALITY !!! ). Anyway, looking forward to hearing what you think, Lew. .................:)

Hello buddy.....Rob,as you know the 808 and the TS9 aren't identical as far as circuitry because of the differences in the opamp and the output sections..After those changes are the same you're pretty much the same other than overall tolerences with components...The pcb is identical for both pedals also..

John
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Gearjoneser said:
Man, this place spreads GAS like a virus! I've been wanting one of those 808 Reissues, and this post has pushed me over the edge.

It's John's fault...I'd lost interest in Tubescreamers until I got these modded TS-9's. :dance: Lew
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

59paul said:
Hey John, nice post on the 808 vs. RI 808. And Lew, let us know what YOU think of the RI 808. I found it to be very useful, right out of the box. I've used TS-808's for years to push the front end of my old Marshall's. I found the RI 808 to be much smoother, and more pleasant to the ear than a RI TS-9. The RI 808 is very close in tone and feel to my originals. Not exact, as no two pieces of equipment are going to be 100% exact. But, nonetheless, I found the RI 808 to be very, very close ( Keeping in mind that I use old Les Pauls and old Marshall's, so I'm not after extreme amounts of Dirt, I'm after QUALITY !!! ). Anyway, looking forward to hearing what you think, Lew. .................:)

I've never owned a real TS-808 so this'll be new for me. I just ordered it so it'll be a week or so before I can give it a try. How do you set yours up 59paul? Have you tried the SRV method of cranking the level and keeping the drive fairly low? That's the way I use the TS-9's. Gives me kind of a cleanish to gently overdriven violin tone with great sustain. Thanks! Lew
 
Last edited:
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Hi Lew, I usually run mine with the drive set about 2 or 3 o'clock, and I set the level to just push past the clean volume on my 2204 heads.( I set the heads up rather clean ). I've used em this way for years. ( with the Les Pauls ) I'm not really a Strat player, but when I do use em with a Strat, I roll the drive down to around 10 o'clock, and punch the level up to almost full. ( this is with SSL-1's and an SSL-3 in the Bridge. I rarely ever use the Bridge Position on a Strat ). I usually run the tone knob at around 9 o'clock, and leave it there whether I'm using a Pauly or a Strat. .........:)
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

59paul said:
I'm not really a Strat player, but when I do use em with a Strat, I roll the drive down to around 10 o'clock, and punch the level up to almost full. ( this is with SSL-1's and an SSL-3 in the Bridge. I rarely ever use the Bridge Position on a Strat ). I usually run the tone knob at around 9 o'clock, and leave it there whether I'm using a Pauly or a Strat. .........:)

Me too. That's about how I set my TS-9's with my Strat's and Tele's. I use a little more treble than you...maybe 11:00 or a little less. I start at around 12:00 and just adjust it to what I'm feeling that day...and what my ears can take! LOL! Lew
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Lewguitar said:
It's John's fault...I'd lost interest in Tubescreamers until I got these modded TS-9's. :dance: Lew

Sure buddy....Blame your excessive G.A.S.(Bloating) on poor John you're bestest buddy! :) I have other GAS thank God! The kind that isn't costly...It'll clear the room though... :burnout: :smack: :dance:

John
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Yeah, Lew. The reason I turn the tone knob back is because I use JCM 800's. ( which can be a bit bright with a Strat ). Through a Fender amp, I'll roll in a little more treble. Sounds like we're on the same page, Brudda !!! ...:)
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Is it really worth the bones to buy, when you already have an OD? Better question, with a Rectifier (which has enough gain as it is), all I need is a smooth, light flavoring to tighten up the sound a bit, so do you think a OD pedal costing over $150 bucks is really worth it? My sound is great as it is, but there's nothing like improvement and the feeling of new gear! Thanks alot!
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

59paul said:
Yeah, Lew. The reason I turn the tone knob back is because I use JCM 800's. ( which can be a bit bright with a Strat ). Through a Fender amp, I'll roll in a little more treble. Sounds like we're on the same page, Brudda !!! ...:)

Robert? Have you ever tryed snipping that .001 cap off of your 800's preamp volume control...That .001 is there to retain highend at low volume settings..It makes the 800 very bright...It's either across the master volume knob or the preamp knob..Can't remember without looking at my schematics these days? :smack: I used to have a Marshall 4104 83 JCM 800 that I Learned most of my Marshall tricks on...That amp only sounded good once you got the volume up past about 4,but man was it loud... :13: Mine had the 65 watt Celestions and I converted it over to EL34s and then never really stopped tweaking on that amp...Wish I still had it but oh well... :smack:

John
 
Re: STRATDELUXER97: ever compare the TS808 RI to your modded TS9?

Hey ya John. With the old JCM 800's and my old Paulys ( remember, I'm using original 59 and 60 PAF's ) the brightness isn't an issue. It's only there with a Strat, which I hardly EVER play. The reason I started using the 808's was a matter of taste. After using non-master volume Marshall's for awhile, I found that by using an 808 to push the JCM 800, I could better control my overall volume, and achieve a tone more in line with my playing style. I like the JCM 800 pretty clean, like the old non-master volume heads, but the 800 doesn't get away from me volume wise like the other heads did. That's why I use ONLY the 2204. I've never been a player to need an attenuator ( I don't play that Dirty ), so...the 808 is right in line with what I need to achieve, overdrive wise. I've been using this amp and pedal combo since 1982. Never found any reason to switch from it. It does exactly what I want.

Guitarist: The only way I can answer your question is this> If you like what you have now, stick with it. If you feel you need a smooth boost, I would highly recommend a TS-808. Only you know what you want to hear. Trust your ears. My set-up isn't for everyone, that's a given. I don't use as much gain as most Rock Players these days. If you're interested in the 808, try one. That's the only way you're really going to know if you like it, or need it. ...:)
 
Last edited:
Back
Top