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Post subject: Twin Reverb (RI) & TS-808 Overdrive
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:26 pm
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I am playing an American Series Strat with a TS-808 (RI) Tube Screamer through a Twin Reverb (RI) and am having a hard time getting the TS-808 to sound even decent - almost as if it's not even turned on=VERY faint overrdrive.

Before all the Kings of Obvious go "the TS-808's an overdrive and not a distortion", I've been playing for many years and know the differences between the two. I'm not looking for a distortion sound from the TS-808, I have my MT-2 Metal Zone for that.

I was just wondering if anybody else had a problem with their Tube Screamers sounding good on their Twin Reverbs - my theory is that the Twin just has too much clean headroom and the Tube Screamer can't make it "break up" at reasonable volume levels? If I put the TS-808 through a Crate 2x12 Combo I have it sounds great...but through the Twin it's literally almost as if the TS-808 isn't even turned on (even with the OD knob cranked).

Thanks!


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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:52 pm
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i run two tube screamers on my board and have never had this problem. i think you may hav a bad pedal. i love my screamers bunches


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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:01 pm
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Interesting, I wonder if maybe the pedal is goofy. It's just not near the overdrive that I expected from it. I have a Boss OD-3 Overdrive sitting next to it and it's WAY more noticeable when I kick it on. I was expecting the TS-808 to be better than it; maybe I did get a bum one.


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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:32 pm
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change the battery on your TS-808....


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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:03 pm
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Now comes the ironic part - the battery connection doesn't work anyway, never has. I have it plugged into my Furman SPB-8 pedalboard, being powered by the 9V outlet. I wish it was as simple as the battery - thanks for the reply though.


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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:34 am
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UPDATE - I was wrong, the Boss pedal I mention above is the Super Overdrive SD-1.


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Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:57 pm
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i don't think the twin should have a negative effect on your effect (sorry!). i have a 70's silverface twin and a modded (analog man) TS as you do. the combo works well and there is no appreciable difference in the TS when i use it w/ my twin, deluxe reverb or a line 6 i have as well. of course there is a difference in tone as the amps are all very different but the TS still does it's job w/ all. sounds like a mechanical problem w/ the TS. I know it sounds stupid but I would recheck the TS w/ another amp and use the same cables/ax. It could be a bum cable of course. maybe there's an issue w/ the input u r using? check it w/ another stomp box / cable. seems odd that the TS can't use a battery-sounds like u don't really need it if you have a nice pedal board w/ on board power,etc. make sure u r using the correct voltage/cable to power the TS as well. I get your line of thinking but it isn't really correct. THe twin has a ton more clean headroom than most amps on the planet but of course the TS is NOT driving your tubes to "break up" (ie-like a power attenuator,etc), it is simply an effect creating "distortion" prior to the signal getting to even the preamp section of your twin. headroom should not be an issue. i assume the TS is placed after your guitar and before the amp input? I don't know if any twins have an effects loop but not to my knowledge. Also, the number position (in your effects chain) makes a difference too. Generally, overdrive,distortion, whatever you like to call it, should be placed in front of any effects that affect time-ie delay. this way, you have your ax tone, which gets dirtied (is that a word?) which then gets delayed vs having a delayed signal getting distorted. Try the TS 1st in the chain, in fact, if you haven't already, try it alone in the chain. if all checks out and you can't find the problem, i really don't know what to do. see if you can get a buddie's TS or buy one to check out and then return it quick. hope you figure it out-let us know.


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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:58 am
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I tried the Ibanez Tube Screamer through my Twin Reverb R/I and I was disappointed with it, so I returned it and purchased a BOSS OD-3, I am very happy with the way that pedal performs with my TR R/I. IMO, the tube screamer is overrated, although I know many performers use it with success. It's all a matter of taste. I would recommend going to your local shop and running an OD-3 through a twin, to see for yourself.
Good Luck.


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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:39 am
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i think the tube screamer is not for everyone though it has so much written about it. for those looking for distortion with tons of searing gain and sustain-look elsewhere. perhaps those boss pedals that were mentioned. the TS can't do that but i think it was not meant to (as the name implies). It does replicate the tone produced by a good tube amp taken to it's power/heat limits. i've spent a lot of time A-B ing my TS808 (w/analogman mod) vs my DR (RI) and 70's twin cranked all the way up. the sonic grind is similar to the DR when heated up properly. less like the twin which i think has too much clear headroom to allow such breakup (at least my amp). sure, there is grit and sustain but not triple rectifier for days spinal tap like sustain. i think the TS has more sustain than my amp and the tone is much more "in your face" but the feel cannot compare to the amp itself. however, it isn't practical to keep the amp cranked like that all the time so the TS fills a clear void for me. the responsiveness of the tube amp (cranked) is like a turbo 911 cornering at 60 mph-the TS is like the best GT 4 /ps3 version of that scenario. it's really good but u can't get the visceral touch and feedback that only a cranked amp can provide. i think the style of music u play should have a big impact on what u "like". if u want metal-like sustain and crunch, the TS will likely not be your pick. If ur into blues, allman brothers,etc-it may just work. that's my opinion, i'm not sure if the TS really had/has a true mechanical problem or maybe you were just expecting something else and were disappointed by your ears?


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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:14 pm
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No, if you read carefully in my first post I know it's just an overdrive (not death metal screaming distortion - I hate that crap). I just wanted it to sound like a warm, overdriven tube amp to give me that bluesy sound. But alas, to my ear it doesn't sound like it's hardly even on. Got to crank the knob to 4 or 5 o'clock to get it where I can tell much of anything's happening. I could probably do better by turning the amp up, but can't really get over 3 1/2 to 4 without shaking the walls from the foundation.

I still think it might just be because the Twin's so clean (which I love) but unless you turn it up (which will in turn shatter ear drums and make pregnant women go into labor), the Twin/808 combination is going to remain somewhat cleaner sounding and less overdriven than I was expecting. I just wish I knew someone else with an 808 to A/B them. Thanks for the input!


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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:01 pm
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Yes, you are absolutely correct, the TS is not for everyone. I thought I wanted to have a ton of pedals because I figured I needed them all to get the sound I wanted, but after I did alot of research on the sound I prefer, I found that many of the pedals weren't even around, so the sound was coming from the amp alone, of course, using the setting on your guitar. I really like the clean sound coming from the 65 tr r/i, man, with a telecaster, it is just an awesome sweetness & sexy sound, the trem & vibrato is superb sounding as well. I guess it's just a matter of finding what you like. So right now I use one pedal, the boss chromatic tuner. (I do have the trem/vibrato footswith plugged in as well). I have put the rest of my pedals away - for now. 8)

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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:06 pm
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ok. i hear you. i think u have a TR ('65 RI? should be 85 watts?). Mine is a silverface 70 or 71 twin w/100 watts. i can't remember specifically using the TS808 w/ my twin tho i'm certain i have. i find myself playing the DR (RI) more and more. i'm gonna check out that combo tonite and let u know if there is anything wonky. one thing i do know is that i have a badcat leash power attenuator (again, it lets u crank the power tubes but adjust the volume to anywhere u want. even bedroom quite) and the resultant tones were sick for the DR but not that inspiring for my twin. i think for sure this is an issue of too much clean headroom which does not permit the breakup i'm looking for. i hear what you are saying but since the TS808 is really like any other stompbox, it is coloring your sound right after your guitar and just before the preamp stage so i just don't think there should be any "extra load" on the preamp and or power stages. at least not enough to be concerned about power tube grind/headroom. your twin's tubes shouldn't be able to tell the difference between the TS808 and a Boss pedal unless i'm just out of my gourd which is quite possible.


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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:51 pm
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ahhhh, got ya. Dig it, yes, I have the 85 watt-er. :)

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:15 pm
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Well, in the quest for the tone I'm looking for, I've sent my TS-808 to Mr. Robert Keeley to be modded. This mod i supposed to give you more gain on tap but still remain true in the middle of the knob to the original 808. Will let you know if it turns out to be a good decision or not. Hopefully the added gain will help me break that Twin into a crying wall of sound.


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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:31 am
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*UPDATE* - got the pedal back and THERE IT IS...found the sound. Finally the darn thing sounds like a Tubescreamer (albeit with a few subtle changes). At least I can get a little bit of dirt out of it now...with plenty more on tap! :D


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