Re: TS-808 or TS-808 Reissue: CLIP please
Mincer said:
Don't fall into the hype, where similar pedals cost hundreds more. Buy a TS5 or TS7, either mod them yourself with $2 worth of parts or keep them stock and they sound great. No way a reissue TS808 is worth what they sell it for.
Mincer...Sometimes I take your posts like they're directed at me?
Hope not? Anyway....I need to shed some light on your TS thoughts.....The TS5 doesn't compare to the 808 or the TS9 for alot of reasons,but these are the main ones...The TS5 has components all assembled in Taiwan and uses cheaper 1/8 watt resistors and the TA57778 just like reissue TS9s....The TS5 has a good tone,but the switches are terrible(intermittent)and the TS5 doesn't sound exactly like the TS9 and is noisier due to it's lack of a metal case...
The TS7 is a step or two above the TS5 because they fixed some of the problems I mention about the TS5,though the TS7 still shares the cheap switch of the TS5....An un-modded TS7 is thin sounding and anemic compared to a modded version which has better components,the 808 output resistors,and cap values and resistance values tweaked so the pedal has more lowend balls and more gain...Luckily the TS7 has the JRC4558D chip and a boost switch that I like alot...
The reissue 808 is great,yes it is pricy and if you change 2 resistors and the opamp in the TS9,you then have an 808....The 808 and TS9 use identical pcbs....Any difference folks say they hear between today's 808 and an original,is hype..The only difference between the 2 is pot and overall circuit tolerences of plus or minus 20%....Some early 808s sound great and some don't...Some had the TIRC4558P opamp and others had the JRC4558D chip..
One of the biggest bummers with any of the Tube Screamers in the line,is a loss of lows when you step on your pedal and a midrange hump which is designed and eq'd to cut through...I'm glad you like your TS7 stock and you are within the minority,but if you haven't actually heard anyone's mods on a TS7,there is no comparison...Just wanted to check with you and make sure we're on the same page....I thought we started out that way,so I just wanted to set the record straight by giving you some TS facts...Tube Screamers are great,but I Must say that I've yet to hear any of them that didn't benefit from some changes to the circuit using good quality caps and metal film resistors and the right opamp...Unless you have your great tech "Ed" doing your mods,if any,you'd need to know that you can improve these pedals quite a bit by knowing where to make some changes..The hype and prices guys charge is not just for the $2 in parts but for the time and knowledge involved in modding a pedal...Takes me about 1 1/2 hours to do one and when mine is done you can't tell from the solder side of the board that the pedal was modded..Are you with me brother? :dance: :wink:
It's all good buddy,but I Just wanted to check in with the tone of some of your recent posts on the subject,as I can offer alot of knowledge on it...Ask Curly or Fresh Start if their TS7s sound like they did stock...Ask Midnite Man about his TS5 or Lew about his TS9s and several other people that have modded Tube Screamers and see if they agree buddy? 2 resistors and the opamp is just a basic start as far as the mods...I'm cool with the posts but I just want to make sure you aren't directing anything at me? :wink: :dance:
John
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