Tube Screamer types- is there any reason not to have one?

[CaptainWhizz]

I don’t have any boost, overdrive, or distortion pedals (unless you count Big Muffs as distortion).
Is there any reason not to pick up a Tube Screamer? I’m thinking either a TS Mini or an EHX East River Drive.
I have space for one more pedal on my board, and thought an overdrive, boost, or EQ would be good, to hit the amp harder and sculpt the tone a little.

 

[Mincer]

I'd say every guitarist should have one. But if it ends up on your board or not depends on if it is something you need for the music you are playing. I had never put pedals in front of me because I might use them- I would absolutely need them if they are going to end up there. My favorite TS pedals have more expanded tone controls, rather than just a single tone knob.

 

[Aceman]

There are a few pedals you should own on principle. That's one of them.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

I’ve seen/ heard so many examples of people using an always-on pedal to put more into the amp, getting a little more definition and sparkle, I guess that’s the main driver behind this.

 

[devastone]

I prefer the Boss SD-1, basically a TS with asymmetrical clipping. But yeah, some kind of overdrive is good to have around and most of them are a variation on the same feedback clipping circuit.

 

[Aceman]

Things you can do with one:

1. Add gain for leads
2. Add level for leads
3. Add mids for leads
4. Use as a line driver w/ mid boost
5. Ad Gain and Level for leads
6. Use a as a low volume mid gain practice tool.
7. Add moderate dirt to a clean amp
8. Push an amp that is overdriven already
9. Use as an always on tone conditioner.
10. un scoop / even out a scooped rhythm tone
11. Goose a distortion or another Overdrive pedal with level

We can go on. You may prefer a Boss SD1 for all the same things.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

What I think I’d use it most for would be to add some tone colouring, some high mids/ treble, as I love the dirt sounds from my amp, but it could have a little more sparkle.
I run my channels as clean, rock, and metal, with my clean channel pretty crisp and bright, so the ability to push that into a mild crunch would be good.
Plus, I have AMT B1 and P1 preamp pedals, so something that did the cliche “tube screamer into 5150” wouldn’t hurt either.

 

[Mincer]

In that case, then sure. They are cheap and plentiful, and worth experimenting with adding them to the 3 channels you already have giving you 6 different ones.

 

[Bogner]

Why not have one or a few? Heck, you can get an SD-1 new for under 50 bucks retail. It's a great pedal. Certain pedals work slightly better in certain situations and with certain amps and sounds etc but it makes sense to have a little color if needed.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Why not have one or a few? Heck, you can get an SD-1 new for under 50 bucks retail. It's a great pedal. Certain pedals work slightly better in certain situations and with certain amps and sounds etc but it makes sense to have a little color if needed.

I’m planning to have all my pedals (except my preamps, they’re going on a lightweight amp mini-board) on one board, so I think I only have space for one pedal. I figure I’d use something like a tube screamer more than expression pedals/ additional controls for something I already have.

 

[NegativeEase]

I don’t have any boost, overdrive, or distortion pedals (unless you count Big Muffs as distortion).
Is there any reason not to pick up a Tube Screamer? I’m thinking either a TS Mini or an EHX East River Drive.
I have space for one more pedal on my board, and thought an overdrive, boost, or EQ would be good, to hit the amp harder and sculpt the tone a little.

What kind of music are you mostly playing? I think a mid hump gain pedal is never a bad idea -doesn't have to be a TS though -could be a MXR D+ of course -they are almost the same thing.

also a little klone or similar transparent boost may be preferred -as a Klone cranked to 3 oclock adds is kind of magic

or both -get a Tumnus Mini and a MIni TS! -winning at life!

 

[devastone]

What kind of music are you mostly playing? I think a mid hump gain pedal is never a bad idea -doesn't have to be a TS though -could be a MXR D+ of course -they are almost the same thing.

Specific of the circuits, no, not at all alike. Tonewise, they sound completely different to me, but YMMV.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

What kind of music are you mostly playing? I think a mid hump gain pedal is never a bad idea -doesn't have to be a TS though -could be a MXR D+ of course -they are almost the same thing.

also a little klone or similar transparent boost may be preferred -as a Klone cranked to 3 oclock adds is kind of magic

or both -get a Tumnus Mini and a MIni TS! -winning at life!

Most often, I play pop-punk, stoner rock/ sludgy stuff, and southern hardcore.

My main amp is a Mesa Boogie Nomad, and I have a Katana Mini to play in the living room, plus Amplitube to play around with on my computer. But the pedalboard is more for the Nomad. Channel 1 is pushed-clean; 2 is for 70s-style rock; 3 is the tighter, more modern channel. Reverb built in, and a solo volume boost too.

Pedals are:

Polytune Dark
Whammy DT
Boss LS-2
-Crybaby in loop
-Rotovibe in loop
Bass Big Muf
Deluxe Big Muff
EHX Worm
Rubberneck in effects loop


As it’s a 2x12 and a bit heavy, I’m working on a lightweight alternative for when I play in places where there’s a cab to use and I don’t want to lug my Boogie.
Current leader for the setup is Orange Terror Stamp with AMT F1 and either AMT B1 or P1, set up to switch so I have the F1 as my clean, Terror Stamp as classic rock, and B1/P1 as my modern. But that’s not certain yet, and tone isn’t vital with this setup.

 

[NegativeEase]

Specific of the circuits, no, not at all alike. Tonewise, they sound completely different to me, but YMMV.

Yeah, all good points -I guess I mean they solve the same problem with doing a mid boost -honestly -I haven't used an actual D+ in decades -I don't have a great command of the differences form A to B -except using a Custom Badass -which is similar -but more broadband of a hump than a TS

 

[Aceman]

In that case, then sure. They are cheap and plentiful, and worth experimenting with adding them to the 3 channels you already have giving you 6 different ones.

I don't know about 6 he LIKEs, but definitely can get a 4th, and maybe a 5th with careful dialing in...

 

[devastone]

Yeah, all good points -I guess I mean they solve the same problem with doing a mid boost -honestly -I haven't used an actual D+ in decades -I don't have a great command of the differences form A to B -except using a Custom Badass -which is similar -but more broadband of a hump than a TS

The CBA is very different from a D+ IMHO, other than both being hard clippers, the CBA (we are talking about the '78, right?) is closer to a DS-1/Rat kind of thing. But, if you want to get technical, they are souped up D+'s with some buffering and a tone control.

 

[NegativeEase]

The CBA is very different from a D+ IMHO, other than both being hard clippers, the CBA (we are talking about the '78, right?) is closer to a DS-1/Rat kind of thing. But, if you want to get technical, they are souped up D+'s with some buffering and a tone control.

Funny you say that -I can totally see hear a Ratish grit in the CBA -

 

[devastone]

Funny you say that -I can totally see hear a Ratish grit in the CBA -

Can't imagine where the name comes from...

Oh yeah, from googlin'

"In 1978, "The RAT" was being built as a custom-order product. Only twelve of these pedals (including one prototype), commonly referred to as the "Bud Box" RAT, were produced. Each pedal was built in a standard project box, hand painted, and hand drilled. In 1979, Pro Co began mass-producing them."

Granted, the CBA is SMT and doesn't use an LM308 as far as I know, but still. Most (not all) of these old distortion/OD boxes are pretty simple and they are all very similar, just a few cap resistor changes and you can change the tone, but the operation is pretty basic.

 

[NegativeEase]

Can't imagine where the name comes from...

Oh yeah, from googlin'

"In 1978, "The RAT" was being built as a custom-order product. Only twelve of these pedals (including one prototype), commonly referred to as the "Bud Box" RAT, were produced. Each pedal was built in a standard project box, hand painted, and hand drilled. In 1979, Pro Co began mass-producing them."

Granted, the CBA is SMT and doesn't use an LM308 as far as I know, but still. Most (not all) of these old distortion/OD boxes are pretty simple and they are all very similar, just a few cap resistor changes and you can change the tone, but the operation is pretty basic.

Ha.... the Rat circuit is pretty original for it's day all things considered.

 

[Dudeman7]

The only reason I might choose not to own a TS would be if I only played Marshall amps. IME, the mid-boosted OD from a Tube Screamer circuit just doesn't sound good into an amp that already has a complex midrange character.

TS into a Blackface Fender? Absolutely. It's a classic pairing and for good reason.

The caveat though is if you like stacking dirt pedals. I often use my TS clone (Homebrew Electronics Power Screamer) into a Big Muff clone, Fulltone OCD or Vick Audio Tree of Life. That's a lot of fun and it makes lead lines leap out of the speakers like they're on fire.

I was late to the Tube Screamer party but I can't imagine not having one in the bag of tricks now.