Tubescreamers

[the rossness]

For at least the last 15 years, I’ve been using 2 Visual Sound (dual) pedals for my distortion and OD tones. I have a Jekyll & Hyde which is a dirt/ OD dual pedal and a Double Trouble which is a tubescreamer/ tubescreamer dual pedal. I rarely use the dirt side if the jekyll & hyde and the Double Trouble has become redundant. While they sound great, the Visual Sound pedals are pretty big and I’d like to free up some space on my pedalboard.

I wanted to get some suggestions on what tubescreamer pedal I should get? So, what are the best tubescreamer pedals? Lets try to keep the price under $130 new or used. What do you recomend?

 

[lespaul6]

paging @hammered.... I believe he has tried just about every OD known to man


I picked up a tubescreamer mini at a pawn shop the other day and they did a good job with that pedal. I primarily use an SD 1

 

[LPMojoGL]

Green Rhino is like a TS with adjustable bass and mids.
I modded a TS5 that sounds as good or better than any straight up
TS or copy that Ive had, including Voodoo, Maxon, Visual Sound...
I’d like to try a Cusak Screamer someday.
Getting away from TS...
Timmy and Barber LTD/Gain Changer are great for boost duties. Of course a KTR or Klone.

 

[napalmdeath]

For plain-Jane TS style pedal, I find the MXR GT-OD to be a hidden jem. The Hardwire CM-2 is another. Maxon OD808's are overpriced, IMO.

Sparkle Drive is another. I don't get caught up in the foo-foo "boutique" TS-9 variants, they all sound the same to me. For my money, a plain old cheap GT-OD is a better Tubescreamer, any day.

 

[hammered]

paging @hammered.... I believe he has tried just about every OD known to man


I picked up a tubescreamer mini at a pawn shop the other day and they did a good job with that pedal. I primarily use an SD 1

There’s guys here that put me to shame with all the TS pedals they’ve tried LOL . A few of my favorites at the moment are the Seymour Duncan 805 and MXR Modified OD . I’d also suggest the Friedman Buxom Boost , it might not be billed as a TS type pedal but It can do everything you’d want a TS pedal to do and more

 

[hammered]

Oops double post

 

[stephen sawall]

I like a Fulltone Fulldrive.

 

[napalmdeath]

paging @hammered.... I believe he has tried just about every OD known to man


I picked up a tubescreamer mini at a pawn shop the other day and they did a good job with that pedal. I primarily use an SD 1

There’s guys here that put me to shame with all the TS pedals they’ve tried LOL . A few of my favorites at the moment are the Seymour Duncan 805 and MXR Modified OD . I’d also suggest the Friedman Buxom Boost , it might not be billed as a TS type pedal but It can do everything you’d want a TS pedal to do and more

I've got a Buxom Boost on the way. Hoping it slays with the Quick Rod. Such a killer amp! I'm finding Gear 1, OD2 the ideal rhythm tone. Looking to add a little oomph.

 

[hammered]

paging @hammered.... I believe he has tried just about every OD known to man


I picked up a tubescreamer mini at a pawn shop the other day and they did a good job with that pedal. I primarily use an SD 1

There’s guys here that put me to shame with all the TS pedals they’ve tried LOL . A few of my favorites at the moment are the Seymour Duncan 805 and MXR Modified OD . I’d also suggest the Friedman Buxom Boost , it might not be billed as a TS type pedal but It can do everything you’d want a TS pedal to do and more

I've got a Buxom Boost on the way. Hoping it slays with the Quick Rod. Such a killer amp! I'm finding Gear 1, OD2 the ideal rhythm tone. Looking to add a little oomph.

I`d bet it'll work great , it worked great with my Splawn SS . It`s one of those pedals I've bought and sold a few times . I'm sure I`ll get another eventually LOL

 

[fearhk213]

Honestly, it's hard to go wrong with a used Maxon OD808. I have a couple of other TS variants that in some situations I prefer a little more, but the OD808 will almost always work as well when something TS flavored is called for.

 

[lespaul6]

I like that the buxom boost has that eq and few other things that most boost dont have... I only use a boost with my 2203 so I will have to try one of those one day

 

[skullfxr]

i highly recommend the Fulltone Fulldrive 2 MOSFET. yeah its a little bigger, but the EQing options with the switches are great.

my unsung hero is the MI audio blues pro. it is great.

also liking the ibanez jet driver and bottom boost with my oranges.

 

[psychodave]

VFE Dragon. Let’s YOU determine the frequencies you want to use, not the manufacturer.

 

[BeZo]

The EQD Palisades is the best IMO, but it's over budget and doesn't really free up space. I like the Fulltone Fulldrive too, but that's pretty big too. Why not just fund a real Tubescreamer?

 

[skullfxr]

I thought I would mention that my double trouble visual sound pedal is my least favorite OD I have ever owned.

Take a good look at the mi audio blues pro I mentioned. It kicks all kinds of ass.

Timmy's are really good too.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Maybe not true TS types, but the 805 Duncan is KILLER, the Buxom Boost is AWESOME, and the Savage Drive SMOKES. There all capable of much more gain/compression/eq tailoring than the TS9 sitting next to them. Could be good or bad depending on what you plan on doing with it.

 

[Norton666]

For at least the last 15 years, I’ve been using 2 Visual Sound (dual) pedals for my distortion and OD tones. I have a Jekyll & Hyde which is a dirt/ OD dual pedal and a Double Trouble which is a tubescreamer/ tubescreamer dual pedal. I rarely use the dirt side if the jekyll & hyde and the Double Trouble has become redundant. While they sound great, the Visual Sound pedals are pretty big and I’d like to free up some space on my pedalboard.

I wanted to get some suggestions on what tubescreamer pedal I should get? So, what are the best tubescreamer pedals? Lets try to keep the price under $130 new or used. What do you recomend?

I actually love the OD side of the Jekyll & Hyde. I think it pairs perfectly with the dirt side of the pedal.

 

[Detroit1973]

I have a Green Rhino, a MXR-GTOD, A Maxon OD-9. I love the OD808 But i prefer the older ones with the Painted green bottom plate.
I really love clean boost pedals as well.

 

[LPMojoGL]

I have a Green Rhino, a MXR-GTOD, A Maxon OD-9. I love the OD808 But i prefer the older ones with the Painted green bottom plate.
I really love clean boost pedals as well.

The Green Rhino really shines with my looser, bass heavy amps like the Dual Rec and Grease Monkey.
I think it’s not only beacuse you can dial in the low end, but also manipulate the mids in the clipping section, giving more heft or more slice. It tightens up, compresses and sings in a way the Timmy, TS and KTR don’t. I read that Gary Holt used one with Slayer, and I can see why.

Another option if you’re just boosting a dirty amp is a cheap eq in front, like a Dano Fish n Chips. Dialing in a frown and volume boost does the trick as well or better than an od, for less $ and space on the pedalboard.

 

[glip22]

Depends on what you are looking to accomplish? For me a TS is great to tighten up an already gained up amp. They will not add a lot of gain to a clean amp. There are better overdrive pedals out there for that purpose imho,