Tubescreamer TS-5 question

toneseeker

toneseeker

New member
Does the tubescreamer family have an overdrive sound running through a clean amp?

I just got a TS-5 the other day off of ebay, and i'm running it through my Trademark 10. I'm using my Les Paul with a Custom in the bridge and a Jazz in the neck. When I try to run it with the amp clean, there's hardly any overdrive at all, very weak. Now when I get a little grit with the amp, and kick on the TS-5, it works but there's not a lot of drive to it.
Is this normal?

Yeah, yeah I know, I got the cheap stepchild Tubescreamer, but i've read where it still is not that different than a TS9.
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

actually, the TS5 is a darn good pedal for the $$

I'd set the amp for a warm fat tone, then set all the knobs on the pedal about halfway, then adjust from there

you should be able to get a fair amount of OD
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

I've dimed the drive knob and it still doesn't get enough drive, nowhere near the SD-1, which gives the drive i'm looking for.

Here's the rub: A lot of people say that the SD-1 is a lot like a Tubescreamer (i've played through the SD-1) and I came across the TS-5. I bid on this on ebay thinking someone would outbid me, and if they didn't, i'd have a decent pedal to play with until I got an SD-1. It does sound cool, but the amp needs to be up just to get it to work. Ain't enough gain, maing. Nowhere near the SD-1. I was wondering if there is something wrong with this pedal.
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

the TS5 has as much gain as any TS I have tried. The SD-1 has a bunch more.
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

Thanks Curly and Mincer.
I think i'll keep the TS-5 and use it as a boost behind an SD-1.
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

the TS7 has a hot switch which adds quite a bit more gain. But in a very good way.
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

Hey toneseeker.. Try running the level on the pedal up more to kick the amp harder!

That gets more drive going...

As for the TS7.. I acquired one yesterday.. Those limited edition coloured ones. Got to learn how to use that Hot mode.. It has alot of low mids/bass around 150.
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

I shot the input and output with a little contact cleaner, and that helped it out. I think it's working right, now. I was expecting it to have a bit more gain than it does, seeing how a lot of people just love the TS.

It does sound good, now.
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

I'm glad you got that straightened out... I have the TS-5, the SD-1, and the DS-1 all in on my pedalboard for different types of gain, but they all kick the cojones pretty good...
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

Part of how the TS circuit, and even the SD-1 circuit (yes, they are very very similar in design) is that the way the clipping is arranged allows you to hear the clipped signal AND the unclipped signal. The signal is clipped in the feedback loop of the opamp, and this is called "soft" clipping. Circuits such as the Rat, DS-1, Distortion + and circuits like that have what is called "hard" clipping which is where the signal is clipped in the signal path with diodes to ground.

Part of the beauty of soft-clipping is how it works with already overdriven amps. It just adds more and makes for a great goose out front, hence the TS and SD-1 popularity.

Pure distortion or "hard" clipping is better going in to a clean amp unless you need massive amounts of distortion.

But what you are hearing is completely normal for the TS family. It's more than you probably wanted to know but it's good to know.
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

ErikH said:
Part of how the TS circuit, and even the SD-1 circuit (yes, they are very very similar in design) is that the way the clipping is arranged allows you to hear the clipped signal AND the unclipped signal. The signal is clipped in the feedback loop of the opamp, and this is called "soft" clipping. Circuits such as the Rat, DS-1, Distortion + and circuits like that have what is called "hard" clipping which is where the signal is clipped in the signal path with diodes to ground.

Part of the beauty of soft-clipping is how it works with already overdriven amps. It just adds more and makes for a great goose out front, hence the TS and SD-1 popularity.

Pure distortion or "hard" clipping is better going in to a clean amp unless you need massive amounts of distortion.

But what you are hearing is completely normal for the TS family. It's more than you probably wanted to know but it's good to know.
Click to expand...

Great info Erik, thanks!

It's important to remember that the TS series of pedals are made for low gain,, so if you were looking for higher gain it might not have been the best idea to get that TS-5. Of course, pushing the front end of an already dirty amp with it should get you the desired result, which is what I think lots of people love the Tube Screamers for. Is there anyone that actually uses TS pedals into a perfectly clean amp?
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

I use a TS7 set to TS9 mode.. Is that counted?
Somehow I like it.. The mid boost.. Helps me in the mix in church..
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

Metalman_666 said:
Is there anyone that actually uses TS pedals into a perfectly clean amp?
Click to expand...

I do... a la SRV, to get that transparent overdrive.... You can still hear the clean amp AND the overdriven tones!:dance:
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

There's an even cheaper TS like pedal out there. The Arion Tubulator is a great pedal and it costs $13 at musicians friend. It doesn't sound cheap. It just looks and feels cheap. It holds up pretty well, but the knobs do tend to fall off and get lost. For $13, it's an outright steal. I personally think it's superior to the TS in tone. It fits me better at least.
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

ErikH said:
Part of how the TS circuit, and even the SD-1 circuit (yes, they are very very similar in design) is that the way the clipping is arranged allows you to hear the clipped signal AND the unclipped signal. The signal is clipped in the feedback loop of the opamp, and this is called "soft" clipping. Circuits such as the Rat, DS-1, Distortion + and circuits like that have what is called "hard" clipping which is where the signal is clipped in the signal path with diodes to ground.

Part of the beauty of soft-clipping is how it works with already overdriven amps. It just adds more and makes for a great goose out front, hence the TS and SD-1 popularity.

Pure distortion or "hard" clipping is better going in to a clean amp unless you need massive amounts of distortion.

But what you are hearing is completely normal for the TS family. It's more than you probably wanted to know but it's good to know.
Click to expand...

Thanks Erik, good info. I knew some of that, but I didn't know exactly how to say it.
I went and googled the Tubescreamer and the SD-1 schematics to see what was the differences. I'm not the best at reading schematics, but I could plainly see that even though the SD-1 is using practicially (if not outright copying) the same circuit as the Tubescreamer, there are vast differences in the values of a lot of the components.
I had never used a Tubescreamer, but because I always hear that the SD-1 is based on (some have even called it a clone; doesn't make sense) I figured that the two pedals would sound more similar than they do.
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

toneseeker said:
Thanks Erik, good info. I knew some of that, but I didn't know exactly how to say it.
Click to expand...
No problem.

toneseeker said:
I went and googled the Tubescreamer and the SD-1 schematics to see what was the differences. I'm not the best at reading schematics, but I could plainly see that even though the SD-1 is using practicially (if not outright copying) the same circuit as the Tubescreamer, there are vast differences in the values of a lot of the components.
I had never used a Tubescreamer, but because I always hear that the SD-1 is based on (some have even called it a clone; doesn't make sense) I figured that the two pedals would sound more similar than they do.
Click to expand...
That's part of the beauty of that design. Two different pedals that sound completely different from one other that share that design. And those two aren't the only ones either. There's loads of clones out there using the same design. The TS and SD-1 just started it all. The clipping is different between them as well, assymetrical vs. symetrical. The component differences alone change how each sound. I could make my SD-1 in to a TS easily if I wanted to, but I won't because I like the SD-1 better.

I designed a OD for myself using the same circuit design. It didn't start out that way at first but it ended up that way, and it too sounds completely different from a TS and SD-1.
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

The downside of Arion, Behringer, Danelectro, and other less expensive pedals is that they are plastic. I am just a hobbyist, so all my gear stays in good shape in my bedroom, but I can't come to buy a plastic stompbox. The DigiTech goes for about $35, and it is in a solid metal enclosure.
 
Re: Tubescreamer TS-5 question

toneseeker said:
Really? I thought I was the only one!
Click to expand...
Nope, you're not. There's lots of players that prefer the SD-1. Mine is modded like all get out but it's still got that SD-1 character, only better. Coincidentally, the MXR Wylde Overdrive is a SD-1 clone, just with more gain and low end, another one of my favorites.
 
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