What is your opinion? TS vs SD

[JakeAC5253]

I am certainly not new to these pedals, but I am curious about your take on the situation. I use a stock SD-1 nowadays and I like the transparency. I use it as a sort of clean boost before my amp. Originally I was looking into a Keeley Modded SD-1 because of the extra frequency response and output of the mod. Now I am looking to get either a Keeley Modded SD-1 or Keeley Modded TS with Mod Plus. I intend to use said pedal with a 2010 Mesa Dual Rectifier and I play thrash/death metal. I usually side with the SD-1, but lately I have found that a considerable number of bands that I listen to cite the Tubescreamer as an essential part of their tone.

What do you think?

 

[boof]

cant speak for the SD but the Keeley TS-9 mod plus is the one pedal that has never been taken out of my rig. Been there for years in the same loop and has never changed. If you want something that will keep the low end I would say a majik bok rocket fuel.

Boof.

 

[glassjaw7]

Channel B (blue side) of the BB+ pedal is by far the best boost I've ever used for rectifiers. You can dial it exactly how you want it with the low, mid, high eq. A/Bing between the BB, DS-1 and a TS9, the BB just sounds much fuller and punchier, without the nasal honk of the TS9.

I like the Boss overdrive/dist much better as a boost than the SD as far as Boss pedals go... also the Lovepedal Eternity IMO blows away any TS I've played.

 

[Strat+Marshall]

Tube screamers seem to work best with fender amps. In your situation I would lean towards the boss or a new OD all together.

 

[Vrad]

I have an MIJ SD-1 and a Maxon TS808. Both are great pedals. I've gone thru alot of boutique OD's over the years and always came back to these two. As for the differences.

The TS has more mids. It adds some cool nasallines to the mids. Some amps its too much, other's its perfect. I usually use it with my Splawn QR and my Super Lead.

The SD-1 is brigther and seems to have more gain than the TS. I like it with darker amps with alot of low-end. I usually use this one with my Budda SD80.

 

[droptrd]

Ever heard a SD1 with an Eternity mod? Pretty cool stuff and alot cheaper.

Channel B (blue side) of the BB+ pedal is by far the best boost I've ever used for rectifiers. You can dial it exactly how you want it with the low, mid, high eq. A/Bing between the BB, DS-1 and a TS9, the BB just sounds much fuller and punchier, without the nasal honk of the TS9.

I like the Boss overdrive/dist much better as a boost than the SD as far as Boss pedals go... also the Lovepedal Eternity IMO blows away any TS I've played.

 

[SFW]

Tube screamers seem to work best with fender amps. In your situation I would lean towards the boss or a new OD all together.

I don't find this to be the case at all. I have a Keeley "Frampton" modded TS-9. I used it foe years before I had it modded as well. I find that I favor the TS over the SD for it's ability to handle wah better. To me, the TS has better cut to it. I used mine to boost for solos.

 

[Code001]

You can get either one and easily add a few switches to select between both versions to suit your tastes.

 

[eternal_idol]

I prefer the Assymetric Clipping in the SD, but either or really they both do the job

 

[moltenmetalburn]

The Tubescreamer cuts bass and also highs if you don't turn the tone knob to maximum. This is excellent pre-distortion EQ for metal guitar sounds which is why so many heavy bands are using them. The low and high cut amount to what is perceived as a midrange boost. this works well for pre-distortion EQ because cutting the bass and highs before the preamp and then restoring those frequencies after with the amps post preamp EQ allows the midrange frequencies to distort more than the the lows and highs. this adds a pleasing crunch right in the guitars sweet spot and prevents flubby bass distortion the low end stays tight and fizzy high end distortion the high end stays smooth. the tubescreamer also adds its clipping in a way that the original unclipped clean signal is still present tucked right underneath the clipped signal. you can audition for this on your clean channel. the keeley mod is a great tubescreamer though IMO if your playing metal its really not ideal. keeley bumps the bass back up in the TS which is great for thicker leads but can make the bottom a little muddier and less tight for thrash and metalcore style riffing. great for rock guys but not so hot for metal guys.

the super distortion is very similar to the ts9. they are in fact built on the same circuit board but have some design changes. the SD affects all of the frequency range of the signal. it does trim a tiny bass off but not as much as the TS and in a different way. very few metal bands use this one, i see it more on rock stages. The SD clips the signal asymmetrically more like a tube does while the TS clips symmetrically. I have no experience with keeleys SD mod.

A good example of the differences would be Zakk Wydle's tone wit the SD compared to Killswitch Engages tone with the TS.

The TS settings for 98% of every metal band out there right now are gain at 9 o clock tone at 12 to 2 o clock and level at 3 o clock. almost everyone is using it this way.

 

[JakeAC5253]

Wow, so much good info, I really appreciate it. BTW, happy valentines day to everyone.

So the Keeley Mod TS isn't that hot for metal huh? I guess the stock one is a good idea. I am still going to get a Keeley SD-1 sometime in the future because I love the full range and full fidelity fatness of the sound. To the last poster, yes, I do quite enjoy Killswitches tone better than Zakk Wylde's tone, although I don't use EMG's or a 5150 hah. Plus I thought Wylde used an MXR boost?

So between the two stock pedals, which do you guys prefer? the TS-9 or TS808 reissue? In earlier contact I had with Robert Keeley he said the only difference between the two currently is the value of two resistors in the output section and maybe the IC chip or component tolerance values. Which one would you go for if you were in my position, because I am sure that the TS-9 sounds just as good, but I have very expensive tastes lol, and I'd pay more if the 808 was better or cleaner and all that and not just an overpriced gimmick throwback to their glory days.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Wow, so much good info, I really appreciate it. BTW, happy valentines day to everyone.

So the Keeley Mod TS isn't that hot for metal huh? I guess the stock one is a good idea. I am still going to get a Keeley SD-1 sometime in the future because I love the full range and full fidelity fatness of the sound. To the last poster, yes, I do quite enjoy Killswitches tone better than Zakk Wylde's tone, although I don't use EMG's or a 5150 hah. Plus I thought Wylde used an MXR boost?

So between the two stock pedals, which do you guys prefer? the TS-9 or TS808 reissue? In earlier contact I had with Robert Keeley he said the only difference between the two currently is the value of two resistors in the output section and maybe the IC chip or component tolerance values. Which one would you go for if you were in my position, because I am sure that the TS-9 sounds just as good, but I have very expensive tastes lol, and I'd pay more if the 808 was better or cleaner and all that and not just an overpriced gimmick throwback to their glory days.

the mxr zakk uses is a modified SD he used the SD for years

I prefer 808 has a bit more output and a better input impedance.

my favorite chip is the tlc2272. its really high fidelity good crunch.

i like to add one diode for asymmetrical clipping.

i wouldn't buy stock. can you solder?
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/com ... Itemid,45/

 

[JakeAC5253]

the mxr zakk uses is a modified SD he used the SD for years

I prefer 808 has a bit more output and a better input impedance.

my favorite chip is the tlc2272. its really high fidelity good crunch.

i like to add one diode for asymmetrical clipping.

i wouldn't buy stock. can you solder?
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/com ... Itemid,45/

Awesome, you've sold me on the 808. I hate the flubby sound of low input impedance (sweeping generalization of course) Yes, I can solder, I've done a few mod projects and I am confident with guitar circuitry, but I'm new to pedal modding. My solder joints come out looking burnt, more than likely it is the tinning flux though. I can't seem to get the components hot enough to melt the solder once I take the tip away, and I don't want to leave it there too long or I'll crack the PCB so I usually resort to melting the solder on the tip then just touching the joint.

 

[eternal_idol]

Good idea, Mod to suite

TL chip is a nice chip. Stack it with a brown Burr for a nice mix

 

[droptrd]

This one is probably one of the best TS out there. has all the bells and whistles.

http://www.buildyourownclone.com/<a class="postlink" href="https://en.audiofanzine.com/guitar-distortion-overdrive-fuzz/build-your-own-clone/overdrive-2/user_reviews/">overdrive2.html</a>

the mxr zakk uses is a modified SD he used the SD for years

I prefer 808 has a bit more output and a better input impedance.

my favorite chip is the tlc2272. its really high fidelity good crunch.

i like to add one diode for asymmetrical clipping.

i wouldn't buy stock. can you solder?
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/com ... Itemid,45/

Awesome, you've sold me on the 808. I hate the flubby sound of low input impedance (sweeping generalization of course) Yes, I can solder, I've done a few mod projects and I am confident with guitar circuitry, but I'm new to pedal modding. My solder joints come out looking burnt, more than likely it is the tinning flux though. I can't seem to get the components hot enough to melt the solder once I take the tip away, and I don't want to leave it there too long or I'll crack the PCB so I usually resort to melting the solder on the tip then just touching the joint.

 

[nighttrain69]

i have all three ,a kealy modded ts ,the 808 an the sd each has diff quilities and work diff with each head, my 808 works great with the engl ,the ts works great for leads ,and i keep the overdrive at 0

 

[moltenmetalburn]

the mxr zakk uses is a modified SD he used the SD for years

I prefer 808 has a bit more output and a better input impedance.

my favorite chip is the tlc2272. its really high fidelity good crunch.

i like to add one diode for asymmetrical clipping.

i wouldn't buy stock. can you solder?
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/com ... Itemid,45/

Awesome, you've sold me on the 808. I hate the flubby sound of low input impedance (sweeping generalization of course) Yes, I can solder, I've done a few mod projects and I am confident with guitar circuitry, but I'm new to pedal modding. My solder joints come out looking burnt, more than likely it is the tinning flux though. I can't seem to get the components hot enough to melt the solder once I take the tip away, and I don't want to leave it there too long or I'll crack the PCB so I usually resort to melting the solder on the tip then just touching the joint.

just watch some how to solder vids on youtube and you'll be fine. sounds like your taking the iron off to fast, it takes alot of heat and pressure to crack a board. more than id think you were using.

 

[JakeAC5253]

just watch some how to solder vids on youtube and you'll be fine. sounds like your taking the iron off to fast, it takes alot of heat and pressure to crack a board. more than id think you were using.

See, that's the thing though. I have been told to flux and tin the connections prior to soldering and when I apply the tip the flux starts burning and all the while I am thinking "omg...omg...omg... SOLDER" and I end up going the solder on the tip route or putting the tip to the components and melting the solder using the heat from the tip then sliding it onto the components, both methods almost surely result in burnt solder joints. I have looked up some youtube soldering videos in the past and they all seem to melt the solder pretty fast. Not sure if they are using 45w though, I have a 15/30w gun.

 

[blackba]

See, that's the thing though. I have been told to flux and tin the connections prior to soldering and when I apply the tip the flux starts burning and all the while I am thinking "omg...omg...omg... SOLDER" and I end up going the solder on the tip route or putting the tip to the components and melting the solder using the heat from the tip then sliding it onto the components, both methods almost surely result in burnt solder joints. I have looked up some youtube soldering videos in the past and they all seem to melt the solder pretty fast. Not sure if they are using 45w though, I have a 15/30w gun.

It could also be the quality of your soldering iron. When I switched from a cheap $15 iron to a Weller, I noticed a big difference in how the tip melted the solder. If you have the soldering 'gun', which looks like a gun, that might be your issue right there. Those are not the best for circuit board soldering work.

 

[killertone]

The Tubescreamer cuts bass and also highs if you don't turn the tone knob to maximum. This is excellent pre-distortion EQ for metal guitar sounds which is why so many heavy bands are using them. The low and high cut amount to what is perceived as a midrange boost. this works well for pre-distortion EQ because cutting the bass and highs before the preamp and then restoring those frequencies after with the amps post preamp EQ allows the midrange frequencies to distort more than the the lows and highs. this adds a pleasing crunch right in the guitars sweet spot and prevents flubby bass distortion the low end stays tight and fizzy high end distortion the high end stays smooth. the tubescreamer also adds its clipping in a way that the original unclipped clean signal is still present tucked right underneath the clipped signal. you can audition for this on your clean channel. the keeley mod is a great tubescreamer though IMO if your playing metal its really not ideal. keeley bumps the bass back up in the TS which is great for thicker leads but can make the bottom a little muddier and less tight for thrash and metalcore style riffing. great for rock guys but not so hot for metal guys.

the super distortion is very similar to the ts9. they are in fact built on the same circuit board but have some design changes. the SD affects all of the frequency range of the signal. it does trim a tiny bass off but not as much as the TS and in a different way. very few metal bands use this one, i see it more on rock stages. The SD clips the signal asymmetrically more like a tube does while the TS clips symmetrically. I have no experience with keeleys SD mod.

A good example of the differences would be Zakk Wydle's tone wit the SD compared to Killswitch Engages tone with the TS.

The TS settings for 98% of every metal band out there right now are gain at 9 o clock tone at 12 to 2 o clock and level at 3 o clock. almost everyone is using it this way.

Great info here and spot-on.

I use a stock TS9 with just about that same setting posted above. I prefer it over my MIJ SD-1 when I boost my JMP or JCM 800s. Luckily, boosts are a thing of my past with the Fortin!