Tubescreamers?

[Pieter-Jan]

Hey,

I'm looking for a pedal that can give me a little bit more of a heavy compressed metal sound. I heard about people running a Tubescreamer in their distorted channels. So now I'm thinking about buying myself one of those famous tubescreamers. Right now I'm leaning forward to the Maxon OD9.

Are the results really that nice? Are there any (eventually cheaper) alternatives to the maxon?

Thanks in advance

PJ

[Twinfan]

I've got an OD-9 and it's great for solo boosts.  Not sure how it'd work as a metal pedal though - it has a very strong midrange.

[Elliot]

HBE Powerscreamer does the same thing but with two more (and working) options via the diode switch and an added range.

To be honest, a Digitech Bad Monkey can capture the TS9 sound easily.

[Pieter-Jan]

I'm not a big fan of the TS9 sound, I think it's a bit too thin, the maxon od9 has a much better tone, especially in the low end!

Been looking for that powerscreamer, do they sell in europe?

[dave_mc]

^ yeah, they do. As it happens I already have the HBE website opened (was suggesting them to someone on another forum, lol), I'll see if I can find the dealer locator.

http://homebrewelectronics.com/dealers.htm (scroll down to the bottom there and it gives you the international distributors.

FWIW, I think I've come to the conclusion that I prefer clean boosters to boost an already overdriven tone... something like an uno or dos mos. Though, it has to be said, it's debatable if that'd give you enough for metal, unless your "already overdriven" tone is almost metal already...

also, I guess it depends if you're boosting to get your rhythm tone or a lead tone... as that'll affect (probably) what type of tone you're trying to achieve.

[adamzap]

I use a Maxon OD808 with my cheap vox 30w, and it really turns it into a monster...i'll have clips of this soon

Then again, theres almost no difference when its in the chain with my crate 65w on the lead channel, but the crate kind of sucks ;)

[Pieter-Jan]

Mmh, the powerscreamer is very expencive, I might not buy it unless it REALLY sounds ALOT better than an OD9 pedal.

I'd love to hear clips of your vox!

+ my amp hasn't got enough gain for metal so it'll defenently need to be a boost and not a clean boost.

[dave_mc]

^ ok, cool.

[the_bleeding]

anything with an 808 on the end.  Ibanez Ts 808 or Maxon OD 808.  The 808s are vintae reissues, and are overall built better, and have a better op-amp.  The maxon OD 808 is the closest you'll get to an original tubescreamer, and also has a more durable switch....

screw the od9... 808 is where its at. =P

[maliciousteve]

Here's the tubescreamer I use


http://www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=36

Guys like Steve Vai and Paul Gilbert use it too. Incredibly nice pedal though a bit pricey, but worth it if you're willing to pay out for it.

[Twinfan]

A tubescreamer doesn't really do metal.  I don't think it's what you want.

[maliciousteve]

A tubescreamer doesn't really do metal.  I don't think it's what you want.

Not on it's own. If you use it as a boost in an already distorted tone it'll compress the sound a bit and give something a little extra. Many metal guitarists use a tube screamer to tighten up their sound.

[BloodMountain]

i've known about this technique for a while, and i have never tried it out. i have a couple of questions before you launch back into the recommending:

1. will it sound very dramatic with a solid state amp?

2. would you put the pedal in the effects loop or in front of the amp?

thanks dudes

[Hell Hound]

Don't know about the solid state but you should put it up front.  I use a DOD 250 reissue with my Ibz Valbee and it boost and tighten the OD channel quite dramaticaly. The down side is it's noisier with  the DOD.

[Elliot]

Sorry I don't get it - an OD9 is a TS9 but with true bypass.

As to HBE - if you want more metal go for a Big D - the most versatile distortion you can by - not as a compressed as a TS9/OD9/PS sound, but settings that go from OD to distortion to Fuzz in easy clicks.