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

[alex1fly]

It's a classic, instantly recognizable tone. It's cool to play with one just to go "oh, that's that sound!" Sounds cool for fusion-ey type leads into a clean amp, or really kicks the dirt up a notch into a dirty amp.

However, my favorite boost pedal is one that isn't very sexy but is incredibly versatile and can be tweaked to mimic the Tubescreamer sound. That is the MXR 10 band EQ: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amp...85000000000 | MXR Ten Band EQ Pedal | $129.99

Gain control before and after the EQ portion, and so dang much sculpting control with your mids it's not even funny. Use it as a clean boost (flat EQ), a Tubescreamer type (upper mid boost), not as a boost at all but to fatten up your single coils, slim down your humbuckers, the possibilities are crazy. On top of being a great boost pedal! And by playing with the EQ bands, you're training your ears as well.

 

[Aceman]

Making a screamer out of an EQ? Another deep thought for tonight...

And yes - the new look for those is bad@$$

 

[CaptainWhizz]

I had considered an EQ pedal (MXR or Boss), but was leaning towards a TS for simplicity. Maybe I was wrong.

 

[AcVox]

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.

I thought it was interesting looking at this impressive list of qualities that approximately 90% can be attained with a 7 band eq pedal.
I've no profound observation to make other than that.
However, the combination of a ts9 or sd1 combined with a Boss eq-7 for e. g. is a powerful combination that guitarists like David Gilmour have made the foundation of their live tone, allowing for the fact that Gilmour prefers the Pro Co Rat to the ts-9.

 

[dave74]

The mxr6 has slightly closer band-centers because it only controls the guitars most usable range. Within that frequency range it has the most control of the big brands.
It's my preference for doing the front-boost with an EQ.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

How does the MXR 6 compare to the Boss 7?

 

[Aceman]

I thought it was interesting looking at this impressive list of qualities that approximately 90% can be attained with a 7 band eq pedal.
I've no profound observation to make other than that.

Yes - but the observation IS profound. Interesting idea there...

I always say most people want a sustainer, not a compressor.
Maybe most people want an EQ, not an Overdrive?

 

[AcVox]

Thanks Aceman, for your response to my first post, much appreciated !

For many Yrs I used no pedals between my guitar and Marshall head and an Orange 4x12 cab.
It was my bass player who used a 7 band eq pedal in the effects loop of his bass rig. He used it to fine tune
his tone where the amps controls fell short.


It was voiced for bass so the frequencies on the 7 sliders were different to those of a Boss 7 band or MXR 6 band eq for example.
I, err.. "borrowed" his pedal over a weekend break and fell in love. Hours passed like minutes as I experimented with every eq curve you could imagine, and realised that one of these in front of my half stack was something I had to have, and have right now.

So... Late in the day I jumped on a bus to the nearest music shop and came away with an Ibanez 10 series 7 band eq.. The first pedal I ever bought..

That was 1989.. Its no longer on my board but its still working, and used in rehearsals all the time.. I couldn't live without it..

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Yes - but the observation IS profound. Interesting idea there...

I always say most people want a sustainer, not a compressor.
Maybe most people want an EQ, not an Overdrive?

I always figured the choice between the two was the versatility/ tweakability of the EQ vs getting a tried-and-tested EQ adjustment with minor changes from the tone knob, plus clipping (or not, in the case of boost pedals).

 

[64 Tele]

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.

I've got both the TS Mini and an East River Drive (EHX). One is on my mini board, other is on full size board.
The East River Drive paired with an analog echo (cheapie Mooer) sounds absolutely amazing thru my 68 Custom DR with my PRS Custom 24.
The TS Mini sounds good, but the East River Drive (in my experience) really shines in comparison.
My 2 cents.....

 

[Aceman]

Again - so many flavors of Green Machine - one for everyone. Get a few. Get JHS Bonsai and try a few....

Or someone make a green 7 band EQ with a gain slider/knob that runs from absolutely none to overdrive, and a level slider.

 

[jeremy]

that would be cool, graphic eq with overdrive built in

 

[Mincer]

I think an overdrive with a parametric would be a great idea, too.

 

[jeremy]

the palladiums parametric mid really allows tone sculpting in a great way. having even more control would be great but end up with tons of knobs really quickly which can also allow you to dial in some really bad tones