TS9 vs. TS808

B

B2D

SDUGF Riffologist Supremö
Well, it finally happened! After years of not being affected, I finally have been bitten by the Tubescreamer bug. Their sound has been appealing to me lately. I'm looking into buying one or a variant of one.

I've mainly been looking at Maxon. I recorded my band's demo with Jeff Dunne's Maxon OD808 in front of the amp I was using (5150 or Legacy) for a lot of the tracks, and I liked the little push it gave... a little bit smoother than my OCD. Unfortunately due to time constraints I didn't really have time to actually play around with the pedal on it's own or test different settings.

I've read a few threads here on the board regarding TS variants... what I want to know is what the general sound differences are between the TS9-style pedal and the TS808-style pedal.

I like my overdrive pedals mainly for a boost but I like a little of the pedal's coloring of the sound in there as well.

As I said I've been looking at Maxons... I'd like something around the $150 range. Is John Spina still modding TS9's?

Tell me what the word is, mayne!
 
Re: TS9 vs. TS808

I think besides cosmetic differences, the only real difference is the chip used inside. The TS808 having the more vintage spec one while the TS9 has the most generic one. I have a lot of experience with tube screamers and I really fell in love with the Keeley Modded stuff. Tried one of his TS9s and a TS808 (which the way he mods them, I think are the same exact thing). The reissues have a nasty midrange spike that just sounds weak and bland to me in most cases. I dont know how much these keeley ones go for, check out his site though, there is a lot of great stuff there.
 
Re: TS9 vs. TS808

Gunny47 said:
I think besides cosmetic differences, the only real difference is the chip used inside. The TS808 having the more vintage spec one while the TS9 has the most generic one. I have a lot of experience with tube screamers and I really fell in love with the Keeley Modded stuff. Tried one of his TS9s and a TS808 (which the way he mods them, I think are the same exact thing). The reissues have a nasty midrange spike that just sounds weak and bland to me in most cases. I dont know how much these keeley ones go for, check out his site though, there is a lot of great stuff there.
Click to expand...

So is the TS9 generally more middy or trebly or gainier? Is the TS808 smoother?
 
Re: TS9 vs. TS808

B2D said:
So is the TS9 generally more middy or trebly or gainier? Is the TS808 smoother?
Click to expand...


I am still modding pedals....Basically the identical pedals except the 808 has the JRC4558D opamp and 2 lower resistance values in it's output section...After that it's purely component tolerences...

If you want the pedal tweaked,buy the TS9 and save yourself about $70,plus the TS9 has a wider footswitch.
 
Re: TS9 vs. TS808

STRATDELUXER97 said:
I am still modding pedals....Basically the identical pedals except the 808 has the JRC4558D opamp and 2 lower resistance values in it's output section...After that it's purely component tolerences...

If you want the pedal tweaked,buy the TS9 and save yourself about $70,plus the TS9 has a wider footswitch.
Click to expand...

So besides modding the TS9 to make it sound better, you can take an 808 and turn it into the TS9 and vice versa?
 
Re: TS9 vs. TS808

B2D said:
So besides modding the TS9 to make it sound better, you can take an 808 and turn it into the TS9 and vice versa?
Click to expand...

Everyone turns a TS9 into the 808 specs,but I enhance the pedal alot further from there...You can search for others reviews if need be?:13:
 
Re: TS9 vs. TS808

STRATDELUXER97 said:
I charge so little to mod a guy's pedal and I don't really like sharing my own mod secrets....:13: Sorry! :13:
Click to expand...

I won't be asking for mod secrets. I might be asking for a job quote though.
 
Last edited:
Re: TS9 vs. TS808

Hey B2D, I own both a stock Ibanez TS08 and a japanese made TS-5 "sound tank" tubescreamer that Spina has modded to an improved 808 for me. From what I understand, all the tubescreamers are basically the same circuitry with different components and chips.

Both these pedals are great. You will read a lot of complaints about the stock 808 reissue - the midrange spike and lack of bottom end. Really this is all based on personal taste. Remember the 808 was the first and made the "tubescreamer" famous. It is great stock. It does have a midrange spike and lacks bass, but it has great character. It's awesome for giving your amp extra push and gives it a cool lead character. This pedal has it's own personallity. The Spina modded TS-5 still keeps that same personallity, but has more bottom end, still has good mids but aren't spiky like the stock version, the highs are more defined. It's basically a more balanced, more transparent, and fatter sounding pedal then the stock 808. I don't think I like either pedal better. They're both great boost/overdrive pedals. However, I play through an EL84 amp through Celestions. The mid spike and lack of bottom in the stock 808 would probably be a lot more noticeable with a brighter Fender amp, which is what most Tubescreamer users are playing through. When I get my Fender I may be a more fond to John's pedal.

Good luck!

-Cory
 
Re: TS9 vs. TS808

Thr Britt Mag, GUITARIST, AB'ed the Maxon OD9 & OD808 on their CD a year ago, and what i can remember (listened to the CD again about a month or so ago), is that the OD9 is smoother to my ears, and the OD808 has a bit more grit to it.

That is why i liked the 808 over the OD9 !

The OD9 is tooo smooth for my style of playing !


My 2cents
 
Re: TS9 vs. TS808

STRATDELUXER97 said:
I am still modding pedals....Basically the identical pedals except the 808 has the JRC4558D opamp and 2 lower resistance values in it's output section...After that it's purely component tolerences...

If you want the pedal tweaked,buy the TS9 and save yourself about $70,plus the TS9 has a wider footswitch.
Click to expand...

Wait a minute! You are John Spina?
 
Re: TS9 vs. TS808

Wow... I thought Spina was one of those legendary dude's you hear about that mod a pedal every once in a while for a few hundred bucks in a boutique... :smack:

Cool.
 
Re: TS9 vs. TS808

LSP said:
Wow... I thought Spina was one of those legendary dude's you hear about that mod a pedal every once in a while for a few hundred bucks in a boutique... :smack:

Cool.
Click to expand...

Not sure where the few hundred bucks comes from? :laugh2:
 
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