Overthinking Screamer Pedals

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Another sleeper TS I've tried is the TC Mocambo. I liked it better than my actual TS808. Kinda does what the Maxon OD808 does (slightly less squishy and honky than the TS808), just cheaper.
 
OD9pro+ is a great variation too, but you'll need to add a bit of gain from the pedal for that compression because it's much cleaner on 0-gain than it's siblings. When you do that it is maybe the best of all the Maxon/Ibanez IMO. I often use it in standard mode with the gain around 10:00, or mid-boosted with the gain at 8:30.
 
dave74 said:
IMO vfe made some of the best screamer variations ever. Too bad he shut down operations.
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*removed*

For straight up boosting, I've been pretty happy with the Digitech Bad Monkey. I bought it a long time ago new for $50 on a recommendation from someone else. The guy who recommended it did some physical and audio comparisons to the TubeScreamer and he concluded that although it was a clone, the Bad Monkey had less coloring and the added benefit of High/Low EQ. :dunno:
 
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311splawndude said:
Was there some sort of scam regarding VFE or am I thinking of something else? I thought I remember some issue years ago regarding a Wah pedal? Maybe someone was copying a VFE wah circuit?

For straight up boosting, I've been pretty happy with the Digitech Bad Monkey. I bought it a long time ago new for $50 on a recommendation from someone else. The guy who recommended it did some physical and audio comparisons to the TubeScreamer and he concluded that although it was a clone, the Bad Monkey had less coloring and the added benefit of High/Low EQ. :dunno:
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You might be thinking of Vertex and a Robin Trower pedal they were selling. VFE had to close because of family obligations and simply not having the time to run the company anymore.

Nothing wrong with that bad monkey. Too bad they are not quite as cheap these days. people know their value now.
 
+1 to the Bad Monkey. I think if it had been released by a different company it would have been much more popular. Digitech isn’t exactly known for their overdrives.
 
^ agreed on both points


dave74 said:
You might be thinking of Vertex and a Robin Trower pedal they were selling. VFE had to close because of family obligations and simply not having the time to run the company anymore.

Nothing wrong with that bad monkey. Too bad they are not quite as cheap these days. people know their value now.
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Vertex. Yep. Thanks for correcting me. Last thing I want to do is spread a wrong rumor about the wrong company/guy.

Thanks for nipping that in the bud :cheers:
 
Rex Rocker said:
Another sleeper TS I've tried is the TC Mocambo. I liked it better than my actual TS808. Kinda does what the Maxon OD808 does (slightly less squishy and honky than the TS808), just cheaper.
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Thread bump . I finally picked up that TC Mocambo after seeing your post here. That is a legit TS style boost pedal for a great price. Slams the heck out of the front end of my Splawn and keeps the low end tight
 
My 2 favorites. Not a fan of the TS mid squish

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To me there are only two, Tube Screamer and SD-1. Some amps sound better with TS others with SD-1, some sound better without any overdrive pedals.
 
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hammered said:
Thread bump . I finally picked up that TC Mocambo after seeing your post here. That is a legit TS style boost pedal for a great price. Slams the heck out of the front end of my Splawn and keeps the low end tight
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I AB'd it with my actual TS808 which is what, like 3-4 times as expensive? I liked the Mocambo better 99% of the time. It's less nasal, has a cleaner, crisper high-end, and a tighter low-end as well while still sounding like a Tube Screamer.

I didn't AB with the Maxon OD808, but that's kinda like how I remember the OD808 compared to the TS808.

It's a killer hidden gem pedal, IMO. It's big, slightly ugly, and has a silly name, but man, what a killer sound, not just for the money. Built like a tank too.
 
Banned by IK Multmedia said:
To me there are only two, Tube Screamer and SD-1. Some amps sound better with TS others with SD-1, some sound better without any overdrive pedals.
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Try a Klon too! There are some amps that almost don't need an OD pedal, but they still kinda sorta do. A Klon does well in those.

Or well, a Klon-type, I mean.
 
Rex Rocker said:
Try a Klon too! There are some amps that almost don't need an OD pedal, but they still kinda sorta do. A Klon does well in those.

Or well, a Klon-type, I mean.
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i agree, mxr fat sugar fits nicely between those two
 
Greazygeo said:
Just recorded a test comparing 7 or 8 of my od / dist pedals…they literally all sound the same.
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IME, the biggest difference in most of the boost/ OD pedals is the way they look and what they cost. For straight up boosting/tightening an amp, the differences are pretty subtle.
 
I still have a few individual pedals, but after getting the HX Effects nearly all of my effects are covered.
 
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