Best Tube Screamer type pedal?

paulk

voxmanjohn said:

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?

That would be, erm, a Tube Screamer

Travisthedog

The sd1 isn't a tubescreamer derivative is it

Dave_Mc

yeah

ICBM

Travisthedog said:

The sd1 isn't a tubescreamer derivative is it

Depends... actually the TS is a Boss *OD-1* derivative - that's the ancestor of all feedback-loop-diode-clipping pedals - but I don't know if the SD-1 was Boss re-copying the TS (which came before the SD-1), or whether they evolved it directly from the OD-1. My guess is that they did re-copy it, since the tone circuit is very similar on both pedals, but on the other hand it's a fairly generic circuit and they may have just copied the *idea*, while using their own original pedal as the starting point.

Dave_Mc

^ Yeah obviously that's the more "complete" answer ) Have a wisdom

I think it'd probably be fair to say, though, that regardless of who copied whom, they're well within the same ballpark. Very similar style of pedals, regardless of which is derived from which.

That's not to say they sound identical, of course, they do both sound a bit different (TS is smoother, SD1 is grittier/fizzier/edgier and has a larger gain range too I think). But they both do (roughly) the same thing- midhump (of varying degrees), bass cut, compression, work well as a boost to an overdriven amp etc.

dogload

Being thick and naive, I assumed they were totally different creatures. I have to say (probably a heresy) that I don't particularly care for the Tube Screamer. I have an 80s one (as well as a BBE Green Screemer!) but they don't 'do it' for me in the way the SD1 does. 

Once again, another titbit of guitar related trivia.

Dave_Mc

Oh yeah I mean they do sound (at least a bit) different, and you could well prefer one or the other. I mean a judicious change of component value here or there in a strategic place can change the tone quite a bit.

Sporky

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

I had one and it was indeed very good stuff.

ICBM

dogload said:

Being thick and naive, I assumed they were totally different creatures. I have to say (probably a heresy) that I don't particularly care for the Tube Screamer. I have an 80s one (as well as a BBE Green Screemer!) but they don't 'do it' for me in the way the SD1 does.

They're certainly far from identical, there are a lot of component value and some small circuit differences - these add up to quite a different sound. The overall layout topology and a large part of the circuit is identical though, to the point where you can actually modify a SD-1 circuit board into a TS without too much effort - or probably vice versa, but I doubt anyone would because a TS is a lot more valuable than an SD-1!

I also do prefer the SD-1, although they often have an irritating problem of leaking overdrive into the bypass signal if they're not preceded by another buffered pedal.

monquixote

Loads of pedals are slightly modified TS circuits, but they can still sound quite different. 

The three versions of the RAT only differ by one component, but they all sound very different. 

ICBM

monquixote said:

Loads of pedals are slightly modified TS circuits, but they can still sound quite different. 

The three versions of the RAT only differ by one component, but they all sound very different. 

It's a *little* more than one component, and there are actually four versions! (five including the 'Vintage Rat' reissue) but you're basically right...

http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=47993&g2_serialNumber=6

monquixote

Ah well I was nearly right. 

The new Crunchbox has selectable diodes and that makes quite a big difference. 

noisepolluter

Xotic AC Boost and BB Preamp are both very good - the AC is lower gain and a bit warmer sounding, the BB is higher gain and has a bit more bite. BB Preamp MB has an extra control for the (upper) mid and is more aggressively voiced again.

Second hand they tend to go around the £110 mark - not the cheapest option but you should make your money back if you decide to move it on. 

Dave_Mc

ICBM said:

They're certainly far from identical, there are a lot of component value and some small circuit differences - these add up to quite a different sound. The overall layout topology and a large part of the circuit is identical though, to the point where you can actually modify a SD-1 circuit board into a TS without too much effort - or probably vice versa, but I doubt anyone would because a TS is a lot more valuable than an SD-1!

Yeah that's what I meant (the circuit topology thing).

I'm not sure which I prefer. I might actually prefer the TS. But I do like the SD1 (or at least, my cheapo daphon version) too.

crunchman

noisepolluter said:

Xotic AC Boost and BB Preamp are both very good - the AC is lower gain and a bit warmer sounding, the BB is higher gain and has a bit more bite. BB Preamp MB has an extra control for the (upper) mid and is more aggressively voiced again.

Second hand they tend to go around the £110 mark - not the cheapest option but you should make your money back if you decide to move it on. 

These are both excellent pedals.  I one an AC Booster, but I wouldn't say that they are like Tubescreamers.  If you want an overdrive they are both worth looking at though.

voxmanjohn

Yep! I am sorted now thanks.

I revisited a forgotten pedal I once owned and regretted getting rid of but I manage to pick up cheap. A voodoo lab sparkle drive.

UnclePsychosis

voxmanjohn said:

Yep! I am sorted now thanks.

I revisited a forgotten pedal I once owned and regretted getting rid of but I manage to pick up cheap. A voodoo lab sparkle drive.

Good stuff. I was actually just about to recommend a Sparkle Drive. 

Brize

Klon Centaur. Good luck in finding one though.

ICBM

Brize said:

Klon Centaur. 

Not a TS-type.

voxmanjohn said:

voodoo lab sparkle drive.

I'd almost managed to blank that one out... each to their own .

Brize

Different circuitry but similar application, no?