Tried a tube screamer for the first time last night.

  • Thread starter Thread starter BrentSSL
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BrentSSL

BrentSSL

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So I finally tried out a tube screamer in this case it is the mini one. I do have a DigiTech bad monkey but I always thought it compressed and I made things sound too tingy. I'm loving the tube screamer mini thinking about picking up one of its bigger Brothers. There's the maxon od808 and obviously the ts9. I'm just wondering what you guys think compares to this mini version the best.
 
Love my TS9 mini.

Turn the drive all the way down, the tone and level all the way up for a nice clean boost.
 
dude you can't lose with the 808. It's money. I snagged the 808x as Fluff said it is the same but a little more hi fi clarity and increased boost ability.
 
As far as I can tell so far the Mini is pretty transparent and noiseless I don't know about the others.
 
If you like the mini, stick with the mini.

AFAIK, there's nothing really standout about the design of the mini. It's just an 808 with SMD components for the smaller footprint. Not to say it's a bad pedal. I mean, if it works, it works.

FWIW, I like my cheapie TC Electronic El Mocambo better than my TS808 and the OD808, OD9 and TS9 I used to have. The Duncan 805 can be dialed in to sound more transparent, I just wish it had more output volume on tap. The Boss SD-1 is another good cheap option. It's slightly thinner/tighter/more aggressive than the standard TS. The MXR GT-OD is kind of a cool dirtier/beefier/looser hybrid of the SD-1 and TS808.
 
I have tried lots of TS varieties and keep a few on hand just to mix things up from time to time. Currently around are a Cusack V2 Screamer, SD1, EQD Palisades, TS9, and a Way Huge Camel Toe :) which has a Green Rhino in it.

Using it with a Marshall DSL, Randall RM100, or 6505+ my thoughts are:

- SD1 is my least favorite. People rave about them but I find this one to cut way too much low end and to lack some width to the tone that the others have. Not really sure how to describe it.
- V2 Screamer is really cool. A bit on the bright side but keeping the tone knob low fixes that and the 3 position clipping toggle is a nice touch.
- TS9 has the most noticeable mid bump. It does one thing but it does it well. Still don't use it much.
- The Green Rhino side of the Camel Toe is great. Good tweakable EQ options.
- The Palisades has only been around for a day and has had 5 minutes of low volume "does it work" type of playing time so not much to say yet. Super versatile (which I usually hate in a pedal) but feel like I will find one setting on it that I really like. Sounded a bit bright but should be able to work that out.

Wish I had kept the MXR BAOD and a MXR Classic OD that Guitar Center sold a small lot of for $40 or something like that. Stock setting was the GTOD and a switch inside turned it into the ZWOD. Liked the GT side a lot.
 
fek":gr0eut5x said:
I have tried lots of TS varieties and keep a few on hand just to mix things up from time to time. Currently around are a Cusack V2 Screamer, SD1, EQD Palisades, TS9, and a Way Huge Camel Toe :) which has a Green Rhino in it.

Using it with a Marshall DSL, Randall RM100, or 6505+ my thoughts are:

- SD1 is my least favorite. People rave about them but I find this one to cut way too much low end and to lack some width to the tone that the others have. Not really sure how to describe it.
- V2 Screamer is really cool. A bit on the bright side but keeping the tone knob low fixes that and the 3 position clipping toggle is a nice touch.
- TS9 has the most noticeable mid bump. It does one thing but it does it well. Still don't use it much.
- The Green Rhino side of the Camel Toe is great. Good tweakable EQ options.
- The Palisades has only been around for a day and has had 5 minutes of low volume "does it work" type of playing time so not much to say yet. Super versatile (which I usually hate in a pedal) but feel like I will find one setting on it that I really like. Sounded a bit bright but should be able to work that out.

Wish I had kept the MXR BAOD and a MXR Classic OD that Guitar Center sold a small lot of for $40 or something like that. Stock setting was the GTOD and a switch inside turned it into the ZWOD. Liked the GT side a lot.
Click to expand...

The Cusack is the best TS9 variant I've had. Warm and punchy.
 
Guys with the Cusack Screamer: Do you guys think it cuts less low-end than the average 808? Also, how is the output volume? I gripe I have with TS's that I don't think is often talked about is I find the standard 808 just barley has enough output volume to reach unity gain with hot pickups and the level cranked. Barely.
 
I've been perfectly happy with the Bad Monkey. It is proven to be less transparent than the T/S with the added benefit of a tone control.
 
IMO this horse has been kicked over and over. The right tubescreamer variant boosting the right amp into the right cab at the right volume in the right room will sound majestic. But change any of those things and a different variant sounds a little better. That said my favorite was the green side of an old Jekyll&Hyde OD pedal...and I think I modded that. :D
 
I am going to stick with the mini for now however I may be going down the rabbit hole next week. I wanted to know what do you guys think of the soul food or the fulltone OCD. I did try the zakk Wylde I did not like it I wish I could get my hands on the berserker.
 
BrentSSL":2ttesb61 said:
I am going to stick with the mini for now however I may be going down the rabbit hole next week. I wanted to know what do you guys think of the soul food or the fulltone OCD. I did try the zakk Wylde I did not like it I wish I could get my hands on the berserker.
Click to expand...
Haven't tried the Soulfood. The OCD is a totally different beast compared to Tube Screamers. The clipping is harder and edgier, and it doesn't blend the clean signal in. It's also not as mid-focused.
 
The soul food is nice. I used it with a 6505+ for awhile and really liked the results. I also had a RYRA the Klon which was really great too. Im using a OD808 until my VFE Standout gets fixed. Glad I have the 808. It always works. Check out the Tumnus mini was well which is a Klon type pedal. If you are getting really crazy grab a Horsebreaker from Ceriatone which is a combo of a Klon and an OCD. I love trying different boosts, Overdrives, etc with my amps. Sometimes it just gives your amp a little extra in different ways to keep it interesting.
 
Ok great that's a ton of options to try anyone have any experience with the TC spark?
 
The spark is a lot more "clean" huge amount of clean boost. Great pedal too. I've always got a tubescreamer in my board.. I'll have a bunch of pedals, and try them out and find ones I think sound great... then playing live, I'll use the tubescreamer and it sounds better.. that mid hump may sound annoying by itself, but with the band it sounds amazing.
 
napalmdeath":b9enwp0m said:
fek":b9enwp0m said:
I have tried lots of TS varieties and keep a few on hand just to mix things up from time to time. Currently around are a Cusack V2 Screamer, SD1, EQD Palisades, TS9, and a Way Huge Camel Toe :) which has a Green Rhino in it.

Using it with a Marshall DSL, Randall RM100, or 6505+ my thoughts are:

- SD1 is my least favorite. People rave about them but I find this one to cut way too much low end and to lack some width to the tone that the others have. Not really sure how to describe it.
- V2 Screamer is really cool. A bit on the bright side but keeping the tone knob low fixes that and the 3 position clipping toggle is a nice touch.
- TS9 has the most noticeable mid bump. It does one thing but it does it well. Still don't use it much.
- The Green Rhino side of the Camel Toe is great. Good tweakable EQ options.
- The Palisades has only been around for a day and has had 5 minutes of low volume "does it work" type of playing time so not much to say yet. Super versatile (which I usually hate in a pedal) but feel like I will find one setting on it that I really like. Sounded a bit bright but should be able to work that out.

Wish I had kept the MXR BAOD and a MXR Classic OD that Guitar Center sold a small lot of for $40 or something like that. Stock setting was the GTOD and a switch inside turned it into the ZWOD. Liked the GT side a lot.
Click to expand...

The Cusack is the best TS9 variant I've had. Warm and punchy.
Click to expand...

The Cusack is my favorite at the moment , the Seymour Duncan 805 is really cool also . Ive got both at the moment , I find they're both really quiet too
 
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