What's the best tubescreamer?

[GearAddict]

I'm sure there was a thread on this recently but since the search facility on this forum is about as much use as a coathanger with a built in cigarette lighter I am asking again...sorry

[paultheoneyoulove]

All of them.

Honestly, differences are so subtle, you'd be hard pressed to notice. I used the Route 66 because it sounds great and has a bass boost mod switch. A tubescreamer is a tubescreamer, really.

A bad monkey is no worse than any other for very little money.

[folkyblokey]

^
I've got a TS7 which I modded using some diagram I found on the net, and I'm not looking for anything else. Cost me about £30 including the parts for the mod.

[dindude]

If you're looking for a straight up TS copy then there is definately good value in the lower regions mentioned above. However if you are looking at variations on a theme then there is some cracking stuff out there for more money. I've been using a Mad Prof Little Green Wonder for a couple of weeks and am getting some awesome tones out of it. Conversly I plugged in the Joyo copy for about 5 minutes before selling it, so I don't quite subscribe to the "it doesn't matter" camp.

[monquixote]

The Hardwire Overdrive is good as it has a bass control and is nicely made.

Is you want rolls royce the Fulldrive 2 has lots of excellent features.

[John_A]

All of them.

Honestly, differences are so subtle, you'd be hard pressed to notice. I used the Route 66 because it sounds great and has a bass boost mod switch. A tubescreamer is a tubescreamer, really.

A bad monkey is no worse than any other for very little money.

+1 on all of this

Plenty of cheap clones that in a blind test sound near as damn it the same as each other, I've got a Moore Green Mile, a TS808, a BBE green screamer and a Daphon OD that was about 15 quid and they all sound near enough equal.

[fretmeister]

Joyo Vintage Overdrive is excellent!

I could sell my Hardwire Tube Overdrive for £40 delivered (UK) if you like?

[Bellycaster]

I have a VFE The Scream, it's a bit more tweekable as well and TB if that is your thing. There are some good YT demo's and one with Brett Kingman. You can get a good TS function out of it, it's sounds awesome with my Ecstasy Blue pedal. Only £125 too.

Check it out

[Dave_Mc]

If you're looking for a straight up TS copy then there is definately good value in the lower regions mentioned above. However if you are looking at variations on a theme then there is some cracking stuff out there for more money.

i think that's the crux of it... if you just want a straight-ahead TS then there are plenty of cheap options which sound pretty good. But if you want more options etc. (like a clipping switch, or mids cut or bass boost etc.) then most of the cheaper options don't offer that.

+1 on all of this

Plenty of cheap clones that in a blind test sound near as damn it the same as each other, I've got a Moore Green Mile, a TS808, a BBE green screamer and a Daphon OD that was about 15 quid and they all sound near enough equal.

does your daphon sound like a ts? i thought it was meant to be an sd1 clone, mine certainly sounds noticeably different from my joyo. it's ages since i've tried an SD1 but it sounds different in the way i'd expect- edgier, while the ts clone is smoother. EDIT: i think i paid £13 for my daphon, lol.

[Jaded]

I was looking for a proper TS a while back and wound up getting a TS-10. I find it quite different to my Bad Monkey, could never get them to sound quite the same, but it's definitely close enough if you're on a budget.