Question for you vintage tube screamer TS808 and TS9 guys...

[EXPcustom]

I know enough about the vintage TS9 and got a 83 with a JRC4558D chip and this thing is in near mint condtion. I paid 325 but thats fine with me because I love the TS9 and have owned the reissues before.

My question is regarding the 808s. I know to get one with the JRC4558D chip but I noticed these are going for 500+ dollars on Ebay.

Today one showed up on Ebay with a buy it now of 450 bucks with JRC chip. I bought it right away. I figured the handwired ones are going for 350 so whats a 100 more bucks.

Later I was reading that the housings with the R are more desirable. So did I overpay for the 808 or did I do alright. Were the early (R) ones different boards or something?

Here is a link to the auction I won, wont be able to test it out till I get it later this week. This will be the first T808 I ever owned.

FYI I spoke with the seller before buying to confirm it had the JRC chip since he did not put a picture up.

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWNX:IT

 

[Chubtone]

I'm just shocked that someone was able to get $325 for an original TS-9. That's a surprising price in this day and age.

 

[EXPcustom]

I'm just shocked that someone was able to get $325 for an original TS-9. That's a surprising price in this day and age.

I had been looking for one for a long time in near mint condition so that is why I paid that.

They have been going for around 250 otherwise.

 

[blackba]

It will be interesting to see if you can hear a difference. I like tubescreamers, but my Maxon OD-808 and OD-9 do the trick for me. With the mods that are available an original TS-808 for anything over $200 is just not worth it.

Very curious to see what your findings are though. Maybe I will change my mind....

 

[eternal_idol]

It will be interesting to see if you can hear a difference. I like tubescreamers, but my Maxon OD-808 and OD-9 do the trick for me. With the mods that are available an original TS-808 for anything over $200 is just not work it.

Very curious to see what your findings are though. Maybe I will change my mind....

I feel much the same. I personally wouldn't even buy another tube screamer.

it you make a SD-1 true by pass and change a few componants.. you have a tube screamer..(plus true bypass)

not that a tube screamer is a sub par pedal...but the same can be had at a fraction of the price.
now a super tube 9.. thats a diffrent story!

Brae

 

[Mr. Willy]

What's the difference between the original TS-9/808s with the JRC4558 chip and the newer Maxon 808s with the same chip?

I love my TS-9, but I think it's a bit noisey/muddy, and I'm considering an upgrade.

 

[dstroud]

I'm just shocked that someone was able to get $325 for an original TS-9. That's a surprising price in this day and age.

Agreed. I have one from 82 or 83 w/ the JRC4558 opamp. I think I paid $30 for it

I sold a guy JMP - he was a buddy of mine. When he came over to buy the amp I gave him an original TS808. I was drunk and told him that pedal belonged to that amp!!! He was really happy But I had got the TS808 for $25 - didn't even know what it was when I got it. Went to the local guitar shop and said "hey I got this Tubescreamer. I have a TS9, but what I got is a TS808 - what is it" - guys jaw dropped on the floor because this was when they were going for big money. It did shound great with that JMP!

 

[Bad Brad]

For the money you paid for the both of them you could have got a Klon.

 

[HerbieTheRadDorklift]

I paid £80 for my new TS808 :3

 

[SFW]

I picked up my late 80s TS9 used for $15. I've done a few mods to it, and couldn't be happier with it. I don't know that I would pay what the originals go for now. Although, I'm a cheap bastard though... lol!

 

[Chubtone]

For the money you paid for the both of them you could have got a Klon.

That's true. And when you think of all the absolutely killer tones that have been recorded in lots of different genres with either a TS-808 or a TS-9 and compare that to a Klon, well.... you have to buy the Klon right?

Here's a list of all the famous recordings with killer guitar tones that inspire all of us that were recorded with a Klon:

 

[Hua and a tele]

Warren haynes uses a klon and so does nels kline

 

[EXPcustom]

Yeah I probably could of got original tube screamers for 20 bucks a piece but then again I was not born in 1939.

I keed, I keed.

The original TS9s were going for stupid money in the early 90's when the Ibanez reissues came out. The reissue were around a 100 bucks then, no internet really so if someone had one of the originals they were asking 300 for it sometimes if it had all the box and paperwork.

Ebay actually brought the price of these things down for a while.

 

[lolzgreg]

TS7=TS9 with a "hot switch." The schematic is 100% the same

808=TS9 but with "more pleasing chips"

The different chips make such a negligible difference, you could turn a mid knob two millimeters and it would affect the sound more.

The only tubescreamer that stands out from the bunch is the Maxon OD-820 pro. Give one a shot if you haven't.