What is your opinion? TS vs SD

[killertone]

So now I am between a stock TS808 and a Maxon OD808. Pros/Cons? Does the choice differ because of my setup? BTW I tend to use 7 strings and downtuned guitars. So in the end the tubescreamer cutting the bass frequencies is either going to help me or hurt me... I can't decide and it's making my brain hurt haha.

I persoanlly would not go with an 808 tyoe pedal and would do a TS9 style pedal. Especially for 7 strings, the TS9 will tighten it up better, IMO. I have tried both and the TS9 does a better job to my ears. If you like Maxon stuff, try an OD9.

The only difference in the two pedals is the input impedance and more output. two resistors. The 808 version has a higher input impedance which makes it the clear winner, the extra added output is cool but not really necessary.

there should not be any other difference in the way they frequency shape the signal. was yours stock?

I am well aware of the difference between the two, I have modded many, many TS/808 type pedals over the years. Every time I have modded a TS9 to 808 specs, I reverse it because I prefer the stock TS9. With the amps that I boost, the 2203, the TS9 sounds better than an 808. I also specifically prefer the Ibanez TS9 over the Maxon OD9. Again, I realize that technically they are the same, but there was a clear difference to my ears as far as what they did specifically to the tone. have owned them all and done comparison after comparison, and that is what I have found, to my ears.

you are the first person I have encountered that prefers the lower input impedance. to each their own is my motto.

the maxon has some different components than the ts-9, I prefer the maxons upper mid slice to ibanez myself.

can you explain how the tightening is different in each pedal, I assume you mean the low end, that's the part that has me confused other than component tolerances being way off how can they sound different at all? not poking at you just curious.

The OD808 (didn't try an Ibanez version) was darker and a tad looser than the TS9. The TS9 is more aggressive to me as well. I am not sure what else I can say, man. You can talk all day about component tolerances, believe me, I get that, but I picked out my TS9 out of a bunch of boosts/ods back when I was a dealer for a million kinds of pedals. It's what I liked, don't know what else to say. Shit, I even picked out this particular TS9 out of 2 or 3 of the exact same model.

 

[70strathead]

So now I am between a stock TS808 and a Maxon OD808. Pros/Cons? Does the choice differ because of my setup? BTW I tend to use 7 strings and downtuned guitars. So in the end the tubescreamer cutting the bass frequencies is either going to help me or hurt me... I can't decide and it's making my brain hurt haha.

I persoanlly would not go with an 808 tyoe pedal and would do a TS9 style pedal. Especially for 7 strings, the TS9 will tighten it up better, IMO. I have tried both and the TS9 does a better job to my ears. If you like Maxon stuff, try an OD9.

The only difference in the two pedals is the input impedance and more output. two resistors. The 808 version has a higher input impedance which makes it the clear winner, the extra added output is cool but not really necessary.

there should not be any other difference in the way they frequency shape the signal. was yours stock?

I am well aware of the difference between the two, I have modded many, many TS/808 type pedals over the years. Every time I have modded a TS9 to 808 specs, I reverse it because I prefer the stock TS9. With the amps that I boost, the 2203, the TS9 sounds better than an 808. I also specifically prefer the Ibanez TS9 over the Maxon OD9. Again, I realize that technically they are the same, but there was a clear difference to my ears as far as what they did specifically to the tone. have owned them all and done comparison after comparison, and that is what I have found, to my ears.

I actually agree with this as well and prefer theTS-9 for Marshalls.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

So now I am between a stock TS808 and a Maxon OD808. Pros/Cons? Does the choice differ because of my setup? BTW I tend to use 7 strings and downtuned guitars. So in the end the tubescreamer cutting the bass frequencies is either going to help me or hurt me... I can't decide and it's making my brain hurt haha.

I persoanlly would not go with an 808 tyoe pedal and would do a TS9 style pedal. Especially for 7 strings, the TS9 will tighten it up better, IMO. I have tried both and the TS9 does a better job to my ears. If you like Maxon stuff, try an OD9.

The only difference in the two pedals is the input impedance and more output. two resistors. The 808 version has a higher input impedance which makes it the clear winner, the extra added output is cool but not really necessary.

there should not be any other difference in the way they frequency shape the signal. was yours stock?

I am well aware of the difference between the two, I have modded many, many TS/808 type pedals over the years. Every time I have modded a TS9 to 808 specs, I reverse it because I prefer the stock TS9. With the amps that I boost, the 2203, the TS9 sounds better than an 808. I also specifically prefer the Ibanez TS9 over the Maxon OD9. Again, I realize that technically they are the same, but there was a clear difference to my ears as far as what they did specifically to the tone. have owned them all and done comparison after comparison, and that is what I have found, to my ears.

you are the first person I have encountered that prefers the lower input impedance. to each their own is my motto.

the maxon has some different components than the ts-9, I prefer the maxons upper mid slice to ibanez myself.

can you explain how the tightening is different in each pedal, I assume you mean the low end, that's the part that has me confused other than component tolerances being way off how can they sound different at all? not poking at you just curious.

The OD808 (didn't try an Ibanez version) was darker and a tad looser than the TS9. The TS9 is more aggressive to me as well. I am not sure what else I can say, man. You can talk all day about component tolerances, believe me, I get that, but I picked out my TS9 out of a bunch of boosts/ods back when I was a dealer for a million kinds of pedals. It's what I liked, don't know what else to say. Shit, I even picked out this particular TS9 out of 2 or 3 of the exact same model.

ha you sound as obsessed as me, I always audition multiples..

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I've been through numerous high end boost pedals...and nothing sounds better to my ears than my stock MIJ SD1. It turns my JCM800 into a fire breathing beast /M\

 

[JakeAC5253]

stock MIJ SD1.

Explain pls?

 

[Death by Uberschall]

stock MIJ SD1.

Explain pls?

Made in Japan.
New SD-1 is made in Taiwan.

 

[JakeAC5253]

Ahh, indeed. I just looked on the bottom of my SD-1, says made in Taiwan... still sounds good though, although it's screaming to be modded. Sucks a bit of low end and has a bit of a fizzy high end problem, few capacitor changes could fix this.

 

[RockNRun]

Ahh, indeed. I just looked on the bottom of my SD-1, says made in Taiwan... still sounds good though, although it's screaming to be modded. Sucks a bit of low end and has a bit of a fizzy high end problem, few capacitor changes could fix this.

I also have the MIT SD-1, think its fine as a CLEAN boost in front of my QRod. Gonna pick up a made in wherever Bad Monkey today however, many Splawn owners swear thats an even better clean booster for that particular amp. We'll see...

 

[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.

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.

I was referring more to using the boost as a "leave it on" type thing. For solo boosts the TS can be good for some people, it ends up being a little too middy for me with my rig.

 

[Beret]

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.

I was referring more to using the boost as a "leave it on" type thing. For solo boosts the TS can be good for some people, it ends up being a little too middy for me with my rig.

Same here. As part of the sound it's great. As a simple boost, it colors too much IMO and I prefer something like the single knob MXR boost.

~B