The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

[Bludave]

Some of you may know but Mike (XSSIVE) is a good friend of mine and last week he made a Monroe Drive for me and asked me to review it here for him. I actually got it on Monday and have been playing with it since I got it.

To Explain it simply it is a tubescreamer on steroids. As you know a normal TS9 has a drive, level and tone knob. The Monroe drive has the same adjustments, but it has 2 mini toggles on either side that offer a very large amount of tonal variations when flipped in any direction. The mini toggle on the left when up offers pretty much the same voice as a stock TS9 or 808, but when you drop it to the down position this increases the bass and takes out some of the mids. Its a great setting for more modern metal type of tones. The toggle on the right when in the down position is very similar to an original 808 sound. In the middle position it is less gainy but still has some decent drive, and in the up position it is very Marshall 800 sounding.


I used a 1968 Super Reverb, A 1987 57 RI Strat equipped with Texas Hots, and a 1990 Les Paul Standard which has the stock pickups in it.

The Super Reverb was set to give a real good clean tone with very mild breakup when you hit the strings hard.


I had three OD pedals all side by side to compare. The Monroe Drive, a TS9RI and a Boss Super OD.

I turned each one on and adjusted to get a decent sound out of each pedal. Then I started playing the Les Paul and playing the same combination of chords and solo notes as I turned one on and then the other. This gave me a real feel to how each pedal was responding to the way I attacked the strings and the way the guitar was pushing the amp. In a very short amount of time it was pretty evident that the TS9 RI was not going to compete with the Monroe drive. The TS9 just sounded thin and lacking by comparison. Now I like a TS9 and I have used one now for close to 10 years, but the Monro Drive just flat out cleaned its clock! I am also not a knob twisting kind of player. I like to dial in a sound and then work with it. But in every position I flipped the toggles on the Monroe Drive it did things tonally that the TS9 was not going to be able to do. I spent some time twisting the knobs on the TS9 trying to get it closer to the MD, but it was pointless. The MD was just kickin its but in every way. I then started making comparisons to the Boss Super Overdrive. The Boss SOD is another very underrated pedal. For $40 they sound amazingly good.......... or so I thought. Same situation. I kicked on the SOD and played for a while and it sounded really nice, then I turned it off and I turned on the MD and the sound was just so much more articulate than the SOD. It had more bottom, each note was clear and retained a lot of its harmonic overtones as well. The SOD just began to sound pretty thin by comparison. I flipped switches on both pedals and adjusted the knobs to give me the closest to each other I could get, but same thing the Monroe Drive was just more articulate and more natural sounding.

Then I moved to the Strat. I had to make a few adjustment due to the lower output of the Texas Hots as compared to the HB in the Les Paul, and again I played a very simple combination of chords and solo notes to get a feel for the tone of just the guitar and the amp. Then I started with the same process of turning one peal on and then the other. The TS9 sounded better with the Start than with the Les Paul, and so did the SOD, but again the Monroe drive kicked its butt. It was more ballsy and had more note definition at the same time. I was able to pull some really sweet harmonics out of this guitar with the monroe drive without trying very hard. The Neck position, which is one of my favorites on a Strat just sounded so right it was scary. Just like a Strat into a Cranked Marshall..... Very nice and warm. If I rolled the volume knob back just a little (to 7) it cleaned up really well. What a great pedal.

A couple of days ago I got to plug this into two very different amps also. A Komet 60 and a Bogner Shiva. With the Komet this pedal was just insane. I used different guitars, but same kind of thing. I adjusted the amp to give me a nice clean tone and then used the Monroe drive to push it and it was great! Same situation in the Bogner.

After a few days of playing with it I feel it does tend to have more balls with a HB equipped guitar, but even with a Strat it sounds really quite natural.



Bottom line is this is one smokin' overdrive thats foer sure......... Thanks Mike........

 

[Bludave]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

I also have a Spina Modded TS9 and ran some comparisons against it. The Spina TS9 has been on my board since I have recieved it from John and it isn't going anywhere, but this Monroe drive is a little more versatile due to the switches it has. The Spina modded TS9 was the only pedal out of these that I feel could keep up with it. In the Komet they were both amazing, with the toggles the Monroe drive offered a little more variety of tones, but the Spina TS9 held its own. What I am probably going to do is keep both of these great pedals on my board. I will use the right pedal with the right guitar and amp!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

I also have a Spina Modded TS9 and ran some comparisons against it. The Spina TS9 has been on my board since I have recieved it from John and it isn't going anywhere, but this Monroe drive is a little more versatile due to the switches it has. The Spina modded TS9 was the only pedal out of these that I feel could keep up with it. In the Komet they were both amazing, with the toggles the Monroe drive offered a little more variety of tones, but the Spina TS9 held its own. What I am probably going to do is keep both of these great pedals on my board. I will use the right pedal with the right guitar and amp!

Awesome review about Mike's pedal buddy! Basically a TS is a mainstay pedal that has been around forever and will be around just as long...Guys are learning to "finally" go above and beyond the stock boring versions of a TS..Very cool indeed!

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

thanks for the review Dave! if anyone needs me to clear anything up just ask...Dave gets lost when you talk technical about pedal guts, he's just a monster of a blues player with a great ear for tone! thus why i was happy to have him review the pedal since i'm a metalhead who plays his blues with way too much gain LOL. it's nice to see what someone who plays another style of music has to say about the pedal. that was my goal also, to make a pedal with loads of options (toggles and knob combos) so that it can fit any style of player.

here's a pic of the pedal since we all like pics...this is also Dave's actual pedal since he got prototype #1

as of now i think there will be two versions available once i iron out a few last minute details...one as seen with the graphics and one plain jane solid candy apple red with creme knobs and no text or graphics at all for a bit less $$$ for those who just want killer tone and don't need the sexy good looks :9:

-Mike

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

thanks for the review Dave! if anyone needs me to clear anything up just ask...Dave gets lost when you talk technical about pedal guts, he's just a monster of a blues player with a great ear for tone! thus why i was happy to have him review the pedal since i'm a metalhead who plays his blues with way too much gain LOL. it's nice to see what someone who plays another style of music has to say about the pedal. that was my goal also, to make a pedal with loads of options (toggles and knob combos) so that it can fit any style of player.

here's a pic of the pedal since we all like pics...this is also Dave's actual pedal since he got prototype #1

as of now i think there will be two versions available once i iron out a few last minute details...one as seen with the graphics and one plain jane solid candy apple red with creme knobs and no text or graphics at all for a bit less $$$ for those who just want killer tone and don't need the sexy good looks :9:

-Mike

Love your graphics Mike! Good luck with that!

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

What are your prices going to run?

 

[jony]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

What exactly do the switches do?

 

[Bludave]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

The switch on the right has 3 positions. In the down position it is very much a 808 in the middle position its an 808 with less gain, more like a mild boost, and in the up position it sounds like a Marshall 800.

The switch on the left has 2 positions. In the up positions it is more of a stock 808 in the down position it adds bass and takes out some of the mids. Very versatile indeed!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

The switch on the right has 3 positions. In the down position it is very much a 808 in the middle position its an 808 with less gain, more like a mild boost, and in the up position it sounds like a Marshall 800.

The switch on the left has 2 positions. In the up positions it is more of a stock 808 in the down position it adds bass and takes out some of the mids. Very versatile indeed!

Dave....Tell us the overall vibe of Mike's pedal...It's not just another TS,or is it a TS and a Marshall type vibe? Can you compare the tonalitys to any other pedal you've ever used or tryed?

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

i can answer that and Dave can also answer that in his own way. it's NOT just another TS. it's easy to use the 808 as an example since the circuit is based off that and in certain settings with the knobs in certain ways you can get sounds similar (although MUCH better) to a vintage 808...it certainly does have it's own vibe though and fixes all the issues an 808 can have in the ears of some people. the chip is different, it has 3 different clipping sections along with a toggle to reduce mids and increase bass if wanted, it has more gain if wanted, it has different pot values, it has nothing but high end parts in it, it's true bypass. like i said though, it's just easy to say it' based off an 808 to give people a ballpark idea of the sound. however what it's actually based off is the $$$ Landgraff dynamic overdrive, which is also based off an 808. however i use different value parts in areas and add a toggle to alter the mids and bass. it was actually put up against a Landgraff for a quick side by side test with my buddy Mike Flyntz of the band(s) Riot and Faith and Fire on guitar (he owns the Landgraff and is a pro touring musician and a flat out AMAZING player) and the simple answer to that was....he's interested to know when i'm taking orders. my pedal IS different in quite a few ways to the Landgraff also, it's not a clone of that, nor is it a clone of the 808...i guess you can say it falls between the two.

-Mike

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

i can answer that and Dave can also answer that in his own way. it's NOT just another TS. it's easy to use the 808 as an example since the circuit is based off that and in certain settings with the knobs in certain ways you can get sounds similar (although MUCH better) to a vintage 808...it certainly does have it's own vibe though and fixes all the issues an 808 can have in the ears of some people. the chip is different, it has 3 different clipping sections along with a toggle to reduce mids and increase bass if wanted, it has more gain if wanted, it has different pot values, it has nothing but high end parts in it, it's true bypass. like i said though, it's just easy to say it' based off an 808 to give people a ballpark idea of the sound. however what it's actually based off is the $$$ Landgraff dynamic overdrive, which is also based off an 808. however i use different value parts in areas and add a toggle to alter the mids and bass. it was actually put up against a Landgraff for a quick side by side test with my buddy Mike Flyntz of the band(s) Riot and Faith and Fire on guitar (he owns the Landgraff and is a pro touring musician and a flat out AMAZING player) and the simple answer to that was....he's interested to know when i'm taking orders. my pedal IS different in quite a few ways to the Landgraff also, it's not a clone of that, nor is it a clone of the 808...i guess you can say it falls between the two.

-Mike

Thanks Mike.....An 808 is a TS9 for all intents and purposes other than 2 output resistor changes and the chip? That's where I was confused?....Basically you went with an 808/TS style circuit and then changed the clipping characteristics(symetrical/asymetrical)....Resistor and cap changes via the switches....Sounds very cool Mike...An 808 is a Tube Screamer though....Just the early version and the one we all prefer..There's no room inside the stock cases of TS9s and 808s to add the extra stuff,but I built my buddy a really nice circuit in a Hammond BB box and we were able to add alot of the things you mention in your pedal...I've not gotten around to building myself one though! My buddie's pedal is also a TS style circuit,but I did some stuff like where you probably went on your pedal..As I said Mike,best of everything with your cool pedal...

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

that's where Dave got a bit mixed up and mixed others up by saying TS9. i always compare it to the Landgraff and the classic vintage 808 (with the correct parts)...NOT a TS-9...we all know the 808 is the better of the two thus why so many people mod the TS9 to 808 specs. it's also easier to type 808 rather than tube screamer over and over LOL. plus i rather not keep saying tube screamer over and over and just use 808 since if it must be compared to one of them i'd like people to think of the 808 and not the ugly step sister the TS9 it has 3 clipping sections which you can change to via the toggle, it also has different pot values and a different chip and the toggle to change between mids or a bass boost with more subtle mids. plus there's no crap parts in mine...no carbon film resistors, no ceramic disc caps only the best parts which adds to the tone. i built one with generic parts and you can tell, just like a screamer there's that added fizzle/junk lack of articulation in the tone that just isn't needed brought on by noisy carbon film resistors and harsh low buck caps. that was one thing i wanted to fix...which i did...get rid of unwanted noise in the circuit and let it do as close to what it should be doing without having added junk in the signal from cheap parts. when you a/b it to a screamer of any sort stock modded or whatever that's one thing you notice real fast how greatly improved the harmonics and articulation and just overall tone become in part to the better quality parts...along with the choice of values and other mods...it's a long list that all adds up to something i'm real hapy with and thankfully everyone else who has tried it likes also.

-Mike

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

that's where Dave got a bit mixed up and mixed others up by saying TS9. i always compare it to the Landgraff and the classic vintage 808 (with the correct parts)...NOT a TS-9...we all know the 808 is the better of the two thus why so many people mod the TS9 to 808 specs. it's also easier to type 808 rather than tube screamer over and over LOL. plus i rather not keep saying tube screamer over and over and just use 808 since if it must be compared to one of them i'd like people to think of the 808 and not the ugly step sister the TS9 it has 3 clipping sections which you can change to via the toggle, it also has different pot values and a different chip and the toggle to change between mids or a bass boost with more subtle mids. plus there's no crap parts in mine...no carbon film resistors, no ceramic disc caps only the best parts which adds to the tone. i built one with generic parts and you can tell, just like a screamer there's that added fizzle/junk lack of articulation in the tone that just isn't needed brought on by noisy carbon film resistors and harsh low buck caps. that was one thing i wanted to fix...which i did...get rid of unwanted noise in the circuit and let it do as close to what it should be doing without having added junk in the signal from cheap parts. when you a/b it to a screamer of any sort stock modded or whatever that's one thing you notice real fast how greatly improved the harmonics and articulation and just overall tone become in part to the better quality parts...along with the choice of values and other mods...it's a long list that all adds up to something i'm real hapy with and thankfully everyone else who has tried it likes also.

-Mike

Sounds like a great pedal Mike! I'd love to hear one and I absolutely promise I'd not reverse engineer your pedal....I wouldn't want someone to do it to me and that's my promise,but I would like to hear one(Heck maybe buy one buddy?!).....If you'd like another set of ears,please send me one and I'll pay all shipping...I think alot of guys would "also" listen to my tonal opinions on the pedal...Either way....Best of luck with your pedal Mike..

PM me your prices on your pedals also Mike.

 

[Bludave]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

YA DA YA DA YA DA........... The pedal sounds great......... Thats the bottom line.

John I really can't compare to anything other than I already have. Over the years I have only used a TS9, a Super Overdrive, a Rat and a Marshall Bluesbreaker pedal. I had initially wanted to include the BB in this comparison because I thought it was in the same style as the others. Unfortunately I forgot to bring it home from rehearsal last week. Tonally it is similar to your TS9, yet different. It has a little bit more clarity to it and a lot more options. These options for some people may not really be what they want. As you know I am pretty much a blues player, so simple and easy is my favorite way to go.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

HI Mike, I'm gonna be looking for a drive pedal soon so I'm glad I've seen this review! I was thinking of a Crunch box or a Hotcake... but I like the spec/ description of yours. Could you pm me with your comparison to those pedals and a price delivered to uk please? All the best, Don.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

YA DA YA DA YA DA........... The pedal sounds great......... Thats the bottom line.

John I really can't compare to anything other than I already have. Over the years I have only used a TS9, a Super Overdrive, a Rat and a Marshall Bluesbreaker pedal. I had initially wanted to include the BB in this comparison because I thought it was in the same style as the others. Unfortunately I forgot to bring it home from rehearsal last week. Tonally it is similar to your TS9, yet different. It has a little bit more clarity to it and a lot more options. These options for some people may not really be what they want. As you know I am pretty much a blues player, so simple and easy is my favorite way to go.

I've had my eyes on the Crunchbox and so that's why I was asking about Mike's pedal...So far I Own a Sparkle Drive,an 808,a Vox Valvetone,and a TS5...All of these pedals are basically Tube Screamers...Wondering if I need another TS type pedal now? LOL.....all of these pedals I mention have a different tonality to them and I set them to do different things...

I Like the Crunchbox samples and I also own the CM Plexitone and so I'm always looking for some other great sounding pedal...Mike's pedal is intriquing!

YA DA YA DA YA DA........... The pedal sounds great......... Thats the bottom line.

Don't fault me on the info side of things,as the whole Tube Screamer line is pretty similar from the original 808 to the TS10 and everything in between...It's cool to let forum members be informed on the correct info..;o)We're talking 3 component differences between n 808 and a TS9,and I personally don't feel the 2 output resistors really make all that much difference..This leaves component tolerences and the opamp...

 

[Bludave]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

I've had my eyes on the Crunchbox and so that's why I was asking about Mike's pedal...So far I Own a Sparkle Drive,an 808,a Vox Valvetone,and a TS5...All of these pedals are basically Tube Screamers...Wondering if I need another TS type pedal now? LOL.....all of these pedals I mention have a different tonality to them and I set them to do different things...

I Like the Crunchbox samples and I also own the CM Plexitone and so I'm always looking for some other great sounding pedal...Mike's pedal is intriquing!



Don't fault me on the info side of things,as the whole Tube Screamer line is pretty similar from the original 808 to the TS10 and everything in between...It's cool to let forum members be informed on the correct info..;o)We're talking 3 component differences between n 808 and a TS9,and I personally don't feel the 2 output resistors really make all that much difference..This leaves component tolerences and the opamp...

You know me John, I don't understand all the tehno stuff anyway. I look at the outside of the box and if it says tubescreamer on it...... I'll try it. I've always liked the TS9. Yours in particular was/is the best I've ever used and as I said earlier it will remain on my board. The delima I have now is I have a Komet 60 and a Bogner Shiva, I am thinking of building a new board so I can A/B these amps. The question I have to answer is wheather I want to have both of these great pedals available in both amps or one for each amp?????? I have to play a little more with them before I decide.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

You know me John, I don't understand all the tehno stuff anyway. I look at the outside of the box and if it says tubescreamer on it...... I'll try it. I've always liked the TS9. Yours in particular was/is the best I've ever used and as I said earlier it will remain on my board. The delima I have now is I have a Komet 60 and a Bogner Shiva, I am thinking of building a new board so I can A/B these amps. The question I have to answer is wheather I want to have both of these great pedals available in both amps or one for each amp?????? I have to play a little more with them before I decide.

No problems with me regarding your TS9 buddy! You can always sell the TS9 reasonbly to another forum member....It's funny cause most of my pedals are Tube Screamers....Like yourself I'm always looking for a new tone or something new and exciting to play through...The MI Crunchbox is a pedal I Like from hearing the audio samples,but is this going to be like my Plexitone or even my Marshall Jackhammer? Ever feel like some of the pedals we use start sounding alike or act similar? That's my dilemma...Sometimes a particular pedal sounds great today and then it just sounds kinda ok tomorrow night? Last night I played through my BF 66 Pro Reverb and it was complete tonal heaven and this always reminds me of how nice a great tube amp can be!....

Maybe don't sell the TS9 cause if you pull it off the board,I gurantee that after you've not played through it for a short time,you'll love playing through it again upon returning it to your board as our ears are ever changing ;o)....I have several different overdrive pedals on my own board though and if Mike's pedal is true bypass,and you have the room on your board,keep them both on there...

Last year or maybe it was 2 years ago,I built like 6 pedals,1 was a Vintage Rat that I took to a much higher tonal place,plus I built the BSIAB,The Marshall Guv'nor,and some other pedals that I now can't remember the names of?:9: LOL....I remember they sounded really great and it was cool cause I built the pedals and all....Some of those pedals I still circulate on and off my board,but some I just don't really like the tonality of....My ears and my thoughts changed on me I guess...There are quite a few pedals that I sold and wish I still had today...There are also pedals like the TS9 that I sold and then re-bought several years later! :9: :nono: The first TS9 I bought in 83 for like $45 and it had the 4558D chip and all in it....I then bought the reissue TS9 in 93 at Sam Ash in Huntington LI and it had the newer chip and didn't sound as good as the 83 pedal from memory...I now had payed $100 for the TS9 because I sold my original one for probably around $30 in the mid 80's....

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

for price info and such, please PM me, i don't want to spam the board with that type of stuff.


as for sounds and getting tired of them i hear ya that's why i decided to do this pedal with 3 clipping modes, a 2 way toggle to adjust bass and mids and also add a bit more gain than the typical 808 if wanted (to be clear you don't have to use the extra gain, just don't crank the knob lol) so that way it would be very hard to get tired of since there are several sounds.


-Mike

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: The Monroe Drive... Trow Away That Ts9

for price info and such, please PM me, i don't want to spam the board with that type of stuff.


as for sounds and getting tired of them i hear ya that's why i decided to do this pedal with 3 clipping modes, a 2 way toggle to adjust bass and mids and also add a bit more gain than the typical 808 if wanted (to be clear you don't have to use the extra gain, just don't crank the knob lol) so that way it would be very hard to get tired of since there are several sounds.


-Mike

I hear ya Mike....I've never given out mod prices on the forums and have always asked that people PM me for furthers! Maybe best to wait and see what the other forum members have to say?