Tubescreamers

[LP Freak]

My TS9 sounds killer....................after I modded it.

 

[LP Freak]

So what exactly are these good for?

I've got a TS-9 that I had for quite some time. I have tried to plug it into every amp I have ever owned and could not get this thing to sound remotely good. All it does is bump up the mid and suck ALL the low end out of your signal. I thought it must just sound good into a Fender, but I plugged it into my Champ and that blew that theory. Why do people like these things so much? There's tons of clones and mods to change the mid bump and so on, but I just don't get it. The TS has managed to change every tube amp into a SS sounding amp for me.

What the hell are people hearing that I am not?

Buy this mod. I just did this to one of mine. Sounds really, really good. True bypass, no mid hump, and bass switch.

https://cgi.ebay.com/Ibanez-TS-9-TS9-Tub ... 27b2278022

 

[boost]

Not hating on the TS-9, I just wanted to know what they were used on that worked. For the record I had an original big box Rat I bought new in '83-'84 that I never really bonded with either. Some people view those as one of the greatest distortion pedals ever. I geuss I'm just not a Distortion/OD pedal type of guy. Or more likely I need something that is more transparent and lets more of the amp shine through.

I'm currently trying to use this on a AC30 type of circuit that is a 2 X 10 combo. I don't play metal or with a ton of bass. The 2 X10 doesn't have much bass to begin with so adding this pedal bumps up the mids and decreases the bass which just makes the amp sound smaller and boxier. Maybe it's not such a big deal with larger tubes and 4 X 12 cabs.

Maybe the question should have been has anyone had luck running a TS-9 through a small combo amp. I know SRV used them, but he was going into 6L6 or 6V6 tubes with the Fenders. Maybe a TS-9 isn't a good match for a EL84 combo amp?

I probably could get by with the mid hump if I could get back the bass. Maybe I should look into that mod.

Yeah AC30s are a different deal for sure. There's always a treble booster a la Brian May, but lots of guys seem to like Rats too with AC30s. I really liked the Red Snapper, I don't know what tones you're going for but the SD-1 is cheap and also a good alternative to a TS9, it's not quite as middy which the AC30 has plenty of anyways. You're using a tele?

Don't go by the sig...

I'm using a variety of guitars, but I mostly prefer singles and P-90's. The amp is a Trace Elliot Vellocette Twin which only has a volume, tone, and reverb for controls. It has two 15 watt El84 poweramps in stereo (for 30 watts) so there are 3 transformers in the amp. Not a lot of gain on tap, maybe similar to an early JTM45 or so when cranked.

I'm just looking to use this amp as grab & go if I can find the right type of pedal to go in front of it. If I can knock out some old Aerosmith type tones with the right type of pedal, that'll work for me. The amp just needs a touch more gain to get there without affecting the tone structure too much.

 

[boost]

My TS9 sounds killer....................after I modded it.

Everything sounds good................after you mod it. Isn't that the point?

 

[moltenmetalburn]

No mid hump from a tube screamer, it's actually a bass cut and a high cut that leaves a perceived mid boost.

The result most guitarists desire from the ts is actually unbeknownst to most of them!
Pre distortion eq and volume boost.

When using a ts with a high gain amp like most do its not more gain they are looking for, it's the eq curve and the boost that drives the mid frequencies into more distortion.

Some also like the added compression and grit, I personally do not so i actually use eq for my pre distortion eq curve. Imagine that, using a hammer to hammer a nail...

 

[Lord Toneking]

I love my OD808...
I like that nasally mid-bump. I don't need a ton of low-end.

What are your setting settings on your amp and pedal? I use mine and it squeals like a pig

 

[lolzgreg]

that's for the bass player

 

[Vrad]

I love my OD808...
I like that nasally mid-bump. I don't need a ton of low-end.

What are your setting settings on your amp and pedal? I use mine and it squeals like a pig

Ok so I set up the amp to be a bit more bass with the gain set at an AC/DC crunch.
The OD808 is set up like this:
Overdrive 10:00
Tone: 10:00
Sensitivity: Max

 

[Meathead]

I love my OD808...
I like that nasally mid-bump. I don't need a ton of low-end.

What are your setting settings on your amp and pedal? I use mine and it squeals like a pig

Ok so I set up the amp to be a bit more bass with the gain set at an AC/DC crunch.
The OD808 is set up like this:
Overdrive 10:00
Tone: 10:00
Sensitivity: Max

Listen to the suave guy, ya your settings are soooo important.

 

['63-Strat]

I love my OD808...
I like that nasally mid-bump. I don't need a ton of low-end.

What are your setting settings on your amp and pedal? I use mine and it squeals like a pig

Ok so I set up the amp to be a bit more bass with the gain set at an AC/DC crunch.
The OD808 is set up like this:
Overdrive 10:00
Tone: 10:00
Sensitivity: Max

Listen to the suave guy, ya your settings are soooo important.

You use an AC15 sometimes, right? What ODs do you like with it?

 

[Meathead]

I love my OD808...
I like that nasally mid-bump. I don't need a ton of low-end.

What are your setting settings on your amp and pedal? I use mine and it squeals like a pig

Ok so I set up the amp to be a bit more bass with the gain set at an AC/DC crunch.
The OD808 is set up like this:
Overdrive 10:00
Tone: 10:00
Sensitivity: Max

Listen to the suave guy, ya your settings are soooo important.

You use an AC15 sometimes, right? What ODs do you like with it?

Top boosts are great with a Vox, gets that Brian May gain tone and chime.
I've used a Rat pedal and it was cool, believe it or not, a Vox with a Rat gets that cool old stoner rock tone, real old Sabbath sounding.

Hope I don't sound too suave giving my opinions.

 

['63-Strat]

I love my OD808...
I like that nasally mid-bump. I don't need a ton of low-end.

What are your setting settings on your amp and pedal? I use mine and it squeals like a pig

Ok so I set up the amp to be a bit more bass with the gain set at an AC/DC crunch.
The OD808 is set up like this:
Overdrive 10:00
Tone: 10:00
Sensitivity: Max

Listen to the suave guy, ya your settings are soooo important.

You use an AC15 sometimes, right? What ODs do you like with it?

Top boosts are great with a Vox, gets that Brian May gain tone and chime.
I've used a Rat pedal and it was cool, believe it or not, a Vox with a Rat gets that cool old stoner rock tone, real old Sabbath sounding.

Hope I don't sound too suave giving my opinions.

Yep, treble boosters and rats are pretty tried and true with voxes. I know the guy in radiohead uses sd1s and a marshall shredmaster. Other than the other ones mentioned I've seen guys get some rad tones with teles and fulldrive 2s too with a vox but they're not THAT far off from a TS type pedal either, really.

 

[Meathead]

I love my OD808...
I like that nasally mid-bump. I don't need a ton of low-end.

What are your setting settings on your amp and pedal? I use mine and it squeals like a pig

Ok so I set up the amp to be a bit more bass with the gain set at an AC/DC crunch.
The OD808 is set up like this:
Overdrive 10:00
Tone: 10:00
Sensitivity: Max

Listen to the suave guy, ya your settings are soooo important.

You use an AC15 sometimes, right? What ODs do you like with it?

Top boosts are great with a Vox, gets that Brian May gain tone and chime.
I've used a Rat pedal and it was cool, believe it or not, a Vox with a Rat gets that cool old stoner rock tone, real old Sabbath sounding.

Hope I don't sound too suave giving my opinions.

Yep, treble boosters and rats are pretty tried and true with voxes. I know the guy in radiohead uses sd1s and a marshall shredmaster. Other than the other ones mentioned I've seen guys get some rad tones with teles and fulldrive 2s too with a vox but they're not THAT far off from a TS type pedal either, really.

A vox is what it is, which is a very cool tone. As soon as I stopped trying to make it sound like a Marshall (which it doesn't) we got along better. Voxes seem to really like some treble boosting or they get dark when you roll back on the guitar's volume.

 

[LP Freak]

My TS9 sounds killer....................after I modded it.

Everything sounds good................after you mod it. Isn't that the point?

Yep, that's my point. To get the tone you're after you need to mod it. You can check it out any time you want. If you're not happy with you I'll buy it.

 

[Vrad]

I love my OD808...
I like that nasally mid-bump. I don't need a ton of low-end.

What are your setting settings on your amp and pedal? I use mine and it squeals like a pig

Ok so I set up the amp to be a bit more bass with the gain set at an AC/DC crunch.
The OD808 is set up like this:
Overdrive 10:00
Tone: 10:00
Sensitivity: Max

Listen to the suave guy, ya your settings are soooo important.

That's Internet Suave Guy to you Mister!

 

[Meathead]

I love my OD808...
I like that nasally mid-bump. I don't need a ton of low-end.

What are your setting settings on your amp and pedal? I use mine and it squeals like a pig

Ok so I set up the amp to be a bit more bass with the gain set at an AC/DC crunch.
The OD808 is set up like this:
Overdrive 10:00
Tone: 10:00
Sensitivity: Max

Listen to the suave guy, ya your settings are soooo important.

That's Internet Suave Guy to you Mister!

You know that's never going to go away.

The way that guy just came out with that towards you was so funny.

 

[Vrad]

I love my OD808...
I like that nasally mid-bump. I don't need a ton of low-end.

What are your setting settings on your amp and pedal? I use mine and it squeals like a pig

Ok so I set up the amp to be a bit more bass with the gain set at an AC/DC crunch.
The OD808 is set up like this:
Overdrive 10:00
Tone: 10:00
Sensitivity: Max

Listen to the suave guy, ya your settings are soooo important.

That's Internet Suave Guy to you Mister!

You know that's never going to go away.

The way that guy just came out with that towards you was so funny.

I know... I'm not even sure what the hell I did to set him off...
The inability to formulate coherent sentences was pretty funny... I should make that my new signature.

 

[Meathead]

I love my OD808...
I like that nasally mid-bump. I don't need a ton of low-end.

What are your setting settings on your amp and pedal? I use mine and it squeals like a pig

Ok so I set up the amp to be a bit more bass with the gain set at an AC/DC crunch.
The OD808 is set up like this:
Overdrive 10:00
Tone: 10:00
Sensitivity: Max

Listen to the suave guy, ya your settings are soooo important.

That's Internet Suave Guy to you Mister!

You know that's never going to go away.

The way that guy just came out with that towards you was so funny.

I know... I'm not even sure what the hell I did to set him off...
The inability to formulate coherent sentences was pretty funny... I should make that my new signature.

You have a fan.

 

[Vrad]

I love my OD808...
I like that nasally mid-bump. I don't need a ton of low-end.

What are your setting settings on your amp and pedal? I use mine and it squeals like a pig

Ok so I set up the amp to be a bit more bass with the gain set at an AC/DC crunch.
The OD808 is set up like this:
Overdrive 10:00
Tone: 10:00
Sensitivity: Max

Listen to the suave guy, ya your settings are soooo important.

That's Internet Suave Guy to you Mister!

You know that's never going to go away.

The way that guy just came out with that towards you was so funny.

I know... I'm not even sure what the hell I did to set him off...
The inability to formulate coherent sentences was pretty funny... I should make that my new signature.

You have a fan.

Yay! Go me!

 

[DEWD]

The key is to only use OD pedals that cost <$500. Those are the only ones that sound good.