Compairing differant year Tube Screamers.

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64Firebird

64Firebird

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I've had a TS-9 reissue for a while and I've been pretty happy with the way it sounds. Last weekend, I bought an old TS-10 and I think this one sounds MUCH better than my TS-9 reissue. The TS-9 Sounds a little harsher than the TS-10 to my ears. I've heard people singing the praises of the TS-808, but I've never heard one, or at least I can't remember what they sounded like. Maybe now that I'm happy with my TS-10 I'll see if I can convert my TS-9 to a TS-808.
 
What Guit are you running through it? And what are you running it into?
 
I'm running it into an old Fender Bassman 50 watt amp and 2/12 cab. I'm using a lot of differant guitars, Gibson Les Pauls and Firebird, Epiphone Dot, Fender Jap Strat. But, what does that have to do with the way the differant year Tube Screamers sound?
 
64Firebird said:
I'm running it into an old Fender Bassman 50 watt amp and 2/12 cab. I'm using a lot of differant guitars, Gibson Les Pauls and Firebird, Epiphone Dot, Fender Jap Strat. But, what does that have to do with the way the differant year Tube Screamers sound?
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Absolutely nothing. :D
 
That ties in with my experience too. I was really curious to see which side you came down on - the TS9 or 10. Although maybe I'm not too clear on the 9 - does it have 2 or 3 knobs? The 10 has 3; drive, tone and level. Anyoo - the one I compared the 10 with had too. And the feel of the 10 was definitely better. Kind of less crackly if that means anything. And the gain saturation seemed better too. I used it with a Gordon Smith (h/bucker) and a 50 watt JCM800, plus a Marshall 4x12" 25 watt slope front. The crunch was astounding. While those old JCM800s aren't very virsatile, they kill on full gain. Amazing.
 
It's mostlyin the OPAMP IC that the effect uses. The original
TS-808 used JRC4558 while the reissue uses some other brand/type that I currently can remember. COnverting a TS-9 into a TS-808 involved replacing two resistors and getting the JRC for it. I've done such a mod but I must say the difference is very subtle.... Strange that you find the TS-10 better maybe is has a better IC in than yuour TS-9.
 
trevor machine said:
That ties in with my experience too. I was really curious to see which side you came down on - the TS9 or 10. Although maybe I'm not too clear on the 9 - does it have 2 or 3 knobs? The 10 has 3; drive, tone and level. Anyoo - the one I compared the 10 with had too. And the feel of the 10 was definitely better. Kind of less crackly if that means anything. And the gain saturation seemed better too. I used it with a Gordon Smith (h/bucker) and a 50 watt JCM800, plus a Marshall 4x12" 25 watt slope front. The crunch was astounding. While those old JCM800s aren't very virsatile, they kill on full gain. Amazing.
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Yes, the 9 has three knobs. But, as I said, I have the reissue of the 9. I'm pretty sure that they all had three knobs.

Also, have any of you guys looked at what kind of prices the old TS-808's are bringing on ebay? Almost $500.00! It would cost less to hire somebody to make one for you.
 
Ya, those vintage prices are crazy-go-nuts! From everything I've read, it's the op-amp that is the biggest deal. The JRC4558D is supposedly the magic component, but I've even heard some say that there are others that are better, like the Texas Instruments one.
The link above is great, but gets pretty techy. I'd look at the analogman site or the keeley site. I think Keeley is the one that prefers the TI op-amp.

There are a lot of other TS knock-offs out there that are preferable, IMO. The Sparkle Drive and the Green Machine are two. The tubescreamers are well -known for their switches crapping out.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com
 
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