Best Tube Screamer type pedal?

voxmanjohn

I know that most overdrives are based on a Tube Screamer but what would you say is the best tube screamer type pedal you have ever used/owned?

stickyfiddle

The only TS based pedal I'e ever got on with is the Valvesporker, but I'm pretty sure it's tweaked so far that there's little tubescreamer left in there. I haven't actually tried a TS in years- I might like one much more now.

mike_l

Into a valve amp, a Digitech Bad monkey, gain set fairly low, bass and treble tweaked for a nicer boosted sound.

 

Currently either a Boss SD-1 or SD-2 into a solid state amp.

vasselmeyer

I never really liked TSs, but I have a Boss FB-2 pedal which builds on a TS-type boost but also has a cool feature where it zeros in on a small section of the sound spectrum and gives pretty much instant feedback at any volume. So you can use it as a clean boost, a mid-gain boost or a feedback unit. I don't use it very often but I like it very much indeed.

monquixote

The Hardwire Overdrive is worth a go. 

Not massively expensive, has the (essential IMO) bass control, an additional mode for a bit more welly and unlike the also great Bad Monkey, it is TB rather than buffered. 

Dave_Mc

out of what i've tried, the bad monkey is hard to beat on the cheap.

it really depends on what you mean by "best", though- more features? getting rid of the things some people don't like about a ts? getting rid of them while also being able to sound like a ts as well? cheap but still really good? sounding slightly different (in a useful way) while still being in the same ballpark? etc. etc.

guitarfishbay

I really like the Visual Sound 808 circuit.  It has a load of volume if you need it, a bass boost switch, and it seems to be fairly smooth for tone.  

I've got an SD1 which is similar but different, I really like that for getting pinch harmonics to pop out more easily and to also give a harder sound.

I should finally get my Bad Monkey back tonight too.  I'm looking forward to seeing how it works with my Roadster.

Best really depends on the rest of the chain IMO.  The differences are subtle but sometimes some pedals work better than others due to how they can be tweaked.  However they all arguably will work for the same thing so I don't think it is worth having several unless there really isn't anything else you'd rather buy.  I've only ended up with three through trading and hoarding, it wasn't intentional... )

benmurray85

cheapest and best solution has to be the boss sd1. i bloody love my ts9dx though GREAT with a tele

dindude

Mad Professor Little Green Wonder is by far the best I've tried. Has more gain than a regular TS, holds the bass better, and you can really fine tune that mid hump, also has way less compression. It's a very musical sounding pedal.

ragingben

Got a used Way Huge Green Rhino mk2 from the US for around £40, really decent ts type overdrive if a little bulky. The 100Hz knob is actually really useful for adding the lows back in that are sometimes attenuated with ts type circuits. Expensive to get hold over over here though

Dave_Mc

^ Yeah the bulk is what stopped me getting one- and also the visual sound route 808 (which, if it does have more volume boost on tap, would be very useful- the lack of boost is about the only thing I don't like about a TS). I know dv247 had a route 808 for a really good price a while back but I chickened out and went with a bad monkey instead as it's a more sensible size and shape.

benmurray85 said:

cheapest and best solution has to be the boss sd1. i bloody love my ts9dx though GREAT with a tele

I'll see your sd1 and raise you my cheapo daphon sd1 clone which i got for (IIRC) £13 from marcmart and which (if mine's anything to go by) doesn't have the boss's bleedthrough problem in bypass. Not bad for a third of the price of the "real thing". Admittedly the boss version does look a lot cooler. And I'm guessing it's built better too, to be fair.

also the Bad Monkey is cheaper than an SD1 (it is from thomann, anyway).

But I agree, the sd1 is an excellent circuit- similar enough to the tubescreamer that you can use it in the same way and for the same thing, but different enough that it doesn't just feel like you're buying another ts-clone, either. For some things I prefer a ts-type pedal, for others the sd1.

daveyh

I have a Bad Monkey and a Fullldrive II, neither are going anywhere.

monquixote

I should point out I have a Route 66 on the classifieds for £60 which has the excellent TS circuit in it.

octatonic

Also check out the Emma Stinkbug. Greatly under-rated pedal.

chrisj1602

monquixote;35844" said:

I should point out I have a Route 66 on the classifieds for £60 which has the excellent TS circuit in it.

I'd second that, I have the Jekyll & Hyde which has the same TS in it, and also a more distorted version.

viz

Keeley ts9dx turbo every time.

Bidley

I've had a proper TS9 for donkey's, and I see no need to change it.

photek

Rockbox Boiling Point. Hoping I don't open the usual can of worms about this pedal but it really is a cut above.

Lixarto

My Valvesporker.

Now please to buy it

TimmyO

I love the Hardwire CM-2 Tube Overdrive. Sounds great (like a TS) handy dual EQ and more solid than a very solid thing. Plus a huge 'button' for the clumsy footed

longi

TimmyO said:

I love the Hardwire CM-2 Tube Overdrive. Sounds great (like a TS) handy dual EQ and more solid than a very solid thing. Plus a huge 'button' for the clumsy footed

+1 for the CM-2 I'm loving mine, the separate bass & treble controls make all the better. Also the Line 6 M5 TS model is excellent for the same reason and is almost identical and almost as good. They really are very close plus you get a lot more effects to mess with.