What's the best tubescreamer?

[stompboy]

OK, I'm a bit of a TS freak. I have had so many variations over the last few years and still have a load of versions now including an original one. For anyone that says they are basically the same has not sat down with them. There are certainly similarities and the circuits are mostly identical, but tolerances between pots/ other components make them very different indeed.
For example: Original 808 vs current reissue. Original is smoother and fatter. Reissue fizzier and yet muddier. Very odd.
Keeley Mod 808 vs Reissue. Couldn't be more different from tone to volume.
808 vs TS9 vs TS10, sorry but I don't have time to go into that one!
You can take 10 reissues, 10 originals, 10 clones etc, put them all side by side and they will all be different. Now not everyone will be able to tell admittedly, it depends how good your ear is. What you also need to bear in mind is the feel. They all feel a little different. Some are harder and some are more compressed. One of the better ones I have ever tried and for some reason sold was the HBE Power Screamer. Incredible pedal. Still a modded 808 at the heart though.
The question people need to ask is do I want a TS? If so why? Do you know how it's meant to be used? I know I'll be coming across as a total jerk here but I have a thing about Tube Screamers!

[darcym]

The Analogman ones are the tube screamer to buy, I use tube screamers a lot and I think I've tried every brand/version, you can tell the difference very easy, the Analogman ones ( I like the ts9 ) won with ease. The keely modded 808/ts9 is a close second and someone selling a keely ts9 on the classifieds forum for a good price, I suggest buying it

[TheGuitarWeasel]

I used to have a Ibanez TS808 reissue but now I use a Pedal parts TS808 kit I put together myself ... which ended up better than my genuine Ibanez was ... and a Bad Monkey. I prefer the TS kit clone for my Strats ... but the Bad Monkey definitely has the edge with humbuckers to my ears. Probably because of the wider range tone shaping circuitry. I have both on my pedal board, and tend to use the monkey as a clean boost before the TS for Fender single coil tones.

[Viz]

Where did you get the ts kit / instructions from? Is it freely available?

[GearAddict]

No love for the Maxon?

[lasermonkey]

So far, my favourite is a clone of the Clay Jones OD, followed by the Lovepedal Eternity and TS808 in joint second. It's been a while since I parted with my TS-9 (twenty years or so!) but I remember it sounding nicer than the TS-7 I have at the moment. I really should try some mods on it.

[crunchman]

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

It's not the same as a Tube Screamer though. I have both and they sound different. I prefer the FD2 over TS with higher gain settings, but I prefer the TS for lower gain settings.

[photek]

Boiling Point is the best one I have found so far followed closely by the Lovepedal Eternity but to be fair I don't really like tubescreamers

[GearAddict]

Anyone tried these?

[John_A]

........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.

Yes, I think it's very like a TS, it's the yellow one, I think they do a few different models. It's certainly got more drive, but with the drive low it sounds just like a TS808 to me, but I'm deaf