Define "cream"...

More volume? Get a boost pedal (I love my MXR Micro Amp)
More coloration/tone control? Get an equalizer pedal, perhaps one with a volume slider (if you want boost, too).
More coloration/overdrive? Maybe another Tube Screamer or a similar overdrive (Boss BluesDriver, Danelectro Daddy-O)

We need to know what you mean by "cream".

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Ok, that makes more sense...I would try this:

Instead of adding another overdrive pedal, try adding a boost pedal (I mentioned the MXR Micro Amp, but any clean boost pedal will work) before your TubeScreamer (between the guitar & the TS).

That will give you two things: (1) a volume boost for your solos and (2) a little bit more overdrive.
I have done (and occasionally still do) the "overdrive into an overdrive" thing, but it can get real messy and cruddilicious-sounding in a hurry. If you're just trying to get more "oomph" for your solos, this will work.

By putting it before your TubeScreamer, you're slamming the front end of the overdrive effect with a lot of gain (not "heavy metal gain", rather just a "bigger" signal), and you're going to end up with more overdrive...kinda of like a booster pump in a hot tub--the pressure makes the water coming out of the jets harder (creating the massaging bubbles).

Take your rig to a shop and play around with a boost and a couple of overdrives and an EQ pedal with volume control...and let us know what you end up with!

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Just get a good drive pedal. You won't look for another one.
I really think that the current Tubescreamer infatuation is nothing more than a case of the Emperors new clothes. I've never heard one (or a straight forward clone) I like or a guitar sound using one that I thought was any good.
And lets face a fact. If it was any good, there would have been a bigger market for the TS8 at it's inception. And Ibanez would have never ceased production.

But a lot of that is my opinion. I just can't be devoted to them because everybody else thinks their good. And can't understand why anyone else would.

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No no and no

^^^ Wise words and i agree so much. I had an older Tubescreamer and it was ok so so. It really was nothing special and i traded it when i was hard up for money. I think a lot of people get hung up on them because Stevie used them, but he could have used anything and sounded good. Any decent pedal will do as good a job as a TS would IMO. I've got that Z-vex box of rock and it sounds way better than the TS did

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

when you say "Fender amp" is this a tube amp or solid state? if its solid state, that could be why you lack "Cream" and a boost will just make it grainy. if it is tube the Aramadilla is correct

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I think the TubeScreamer Good/TubeScreamer Bad argument quickly degrades into SRV Good/SRV Bad, and that overlooks the good (and bad) points ofthe pedal.

I know Nik's probably more unenamored of the late Mr. Vaughan than anybody, and since he (SRV) typifies the sound and use of a TubeScreamer, it's understandable that he (NikiNinja) doesn't like the effect.

I have a TS-9 reissue, and I love it. It does color the tone--it isn't transparent at all--but to my ears, it's a good coloration.

Having said that, if I were to be putting together a rig for punk, thrash or metal, a TS is the last thing I would use. It just doesn't "fit" those genres, any more than one of those black Boss Metal Zone distortion boxes belong in a jazz band. Also, if you're wanting a transparent OD that just dirties up your signal without any alteration/coloration, the various TS pedals are definitely out of the question.

The original post-er says he likes his tone (TS included) but just wants some more of something for his solos...another TS probably isn't what he needs, but if it works for him, that's great.

What other pedals for boosting (and perhaps adding a bit more overdrive) does anyone else suggest?

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

FENDER MAKES SOLID STATE AMPS?!? SAY IT AIN'T SO!!

A clean boost, properly placed in the signal chain, will still add some of the desired effect, but you're right--this principle works best with a tube amp.



BTW, negative fifty Armadillo Bucks from your account for spelling it "Aramadilla."

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

negative 50 Armadillo Bucks I cant believe i am in debt on here

that's just the way we say it in these parts

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An Electro Harmonix LPB-1 would do the job on a slightly lower budget than a micro-amp, so if the OP decides a boost pedal isn't what he needs it wouldn't be quite so big a loss.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

i just replaced a ts-9 with an xotic ep booster. thanx RCB. i used the ts-9 on my clean channel just to give some slight grit between squeaky clean and my drive channels which are all out in your face all the time. it worked well for that purpose. when i added the ts-9 to the gain channel it just got to be too much but worked "okay" for a boost. hardly ever used it with the gain channel.
my amps have tons of gain without a pedal. i was very happy with the overall sound of both. the boost peadal i recently added was like taking a blanket off the amp. that is the way it was described to me and it worked as advertised. great little pedal. i leave it on all the time.
i'd get a better better drive pedal like suggested above.

around here we say armadilla too. that is usually followed with a well placed shot. screaming armadillos are cool. just don't mess with tween armadillos. screaming armadillos are known to shoot back.

Very cool...I'm glad you're finding something that gives you the desired effect.


Don't mention it, my man...just because something works for me doesn't mean I expect it to work for everybody...

Now, we need to see pics of your setup...it's the law!

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

I like my TS-9. It gives me the effect I want for the bluesy, classic rock sound I want and love. Pedals are like ice cream. Not everyone likes pistachio but some people just love it!

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...I for one, sure would appreciate the return of intelligent conversation, spirit of assistance and the simple yet effective ignoring of those who can't seem to hang with that...
Best regards,
rob

Boosts for solo`s are the bain of my life, i still havent got it sorted in a way im happy with. My current solo boost is a crowther hot cake, but with my current amp im finding it doesnt give nearly enough of a volume boost, which is frustrating as ive tried it with other amps and it can absolutely scream the roof down.

However, on another note...

After initially not being at all impressed, i have grown to really like my MXR pedal shown in the link below -

http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/mc402-boostoverdrive

- Its the mc402 and it really divides opinion. Essentially its two pedals in one - the micro-amp (which im aware youve already said you dont like!!) and some kind of MXR fuzz. Worth reiterating i really would describe the distortion as a kind of fuzz, its virtually unusuable as an overdrive or distortion, but if you want a creamy lead sound or a huge thick fuzz for riffs then its great, plus you get the handy micro-amp circuit on the other side of the pedal for clean boosts.

I initially thought id sell this on straight away after hearing the distortion, but have come full circle and its now an essential part of my live setup.

For solo`s im still considering going back to my quest again soon for that elusive reliable boost. Currently considerring taking everyones opinion and trying out the fulltone range. Though im unsure if it will be for a better overdrive or just for a boost. See, this is why i never have any money.

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`I prefer not to listen to music that I can't rip off or improve on` - Ian Dury

Overdrive plus boost, seperately controllable: T-Rex Møller. I love mine.

I think people are hesitant because they think it's somehow associated with Marc Bolan and glitter rock, but it's really just a small factory in Denmark with a love of dinosaurs.



BTW Olly the boost is quite powerful on this one. I'm sure it's got what you desire!

Cheers

Nutter

+1 for the t.rex moller , great sounding pedal , awsome through the old peavey mace cheers
Alan

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