Tube screamers

[mremic01]

Re: Tube screamers

I love the OCD as a standalone overdrive, I'm not a fan of it as a boost. Fulltone's stuff tends to have a looser woofy low-end that can make things muddy. Especially with Rectos, those things really need a TS to keep them tight. It might work well with OP's 6505. Though a lot of people boost with OCDs and seem to love it. I've found Klons (or at least clones) do a good job of boosting without any mud, but also without any loss of low end that the Tube Screamers have.

I'm going to throw out Visual Sounds Route 808 out there as another TS option. I've heard nothing but good things, and their redesigned switches are supposed to be very robust. No true bypass, but after a few years of pedal-building, I've come to prefer a good buffer in my pedals if it'll fit.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Tube screamers

I recommend the OCD. It is a darker pedal than the tube screamers, but I could find SO much more to do with it. It can get get dirtier and raunchier while preserving how your guitar responds to your fingers. And it gets better when you use an 18v adaptor. More headroom and high end.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Tube screamers

Regarding the issue of paying for mods vs DIY, soldering tiny pin contacts on a small PCB is not something "everyone" can do, regardless of whatever reason there might be (and they are as varied as fingerprints).

IF you have the skill to do such work without bjorking the entire board (burning a hole in it, melting nearby joints, and the one next to that when you try to fix it, and the one next to that when you fix it, etc to the edge of the whole damn board, dropping a molten solder ball across two runners without noticing, then blowing the chips when you put a battery on it, etc), by all means, give it a go. I refused to pay some guy $15 to mod my CryBaby, and when I finally found the info online on how to do it myself, I did it myself. Came out great. Didn't see what the hype was about, and thought my own mod of adjusting the sweep range was a much better pursuit, but those who paid the $15 are happy with their purchase, and that's what matters.

Of course, swapping out the inductor for a JB was a bit over the top, but I don't look at it as having killed a CryBaby, I see it as having a sturdy project box with a treadle. Now where did I put the EMG AfterBurner... :lol:

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Tube screamers

I would suggest checking out the BBE Sound "Green Screamer." Seems to be the same 808 chip (though I could NOT verify that with 100% certainty). It's about 1/2 the price, built solid as could be.. comes with an AC Adapter.. and is ultra quiet even with full on gain settings. Also, it's a TRUE BYPASS switch. You can search YouTube for demos/reviews of it.. don't think you could go wrong with it.

Peter

The Green Screamer does indeed sound good, but the battery adapter they use is garbage. Mine broke the very first time I tried to change the battery...that's why there's an AC adapter included with the pedal. I only paid $37 for it, so I still consider it a great deal.