Vintage TS9 & TS808 Ibanez Tubescreamer Guitar Pedal Comparison Clips

Took some time this week to record four audio clips of my vintage tubescreamer collection. I've got two TS808s and two TS9s in this video ranging from 1980 to 1983. Three have the JRC4558 chips and one of the TS808s have the Malaysian RC4558 chip.

Gear Used for demo:
• 1971 Stratocaster
• Homebuilt Marshall 100watt "Plexi" (JTM45/100 circuit)
• 4x12 Cabinet with Scumback M75 Speakers

Amp was set to just breaking up so the screamers could push it over the top.

Sorry for not making a REAL video, but the logistics of switching pedals and such didn't make it worth the extra work.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tubescreamers
• TS9
• TS808
• Ibanez
• Guitar
• Pedal
• Tyler
• Grund
• Marshall
• Stratocaster

[cabaretampere]

That's sounds great, it difficult to tell, but the other demos I've seen of the TS9 or 808 don't sound give that SRV sound; sort of smooth but hard edged.

You reckon only vintage pedals give this?

[gamedojo]

@cabaretampere

Vintage pedals HELP, but are not extremely different from reissues. Vintage will give a better sound, but 90% of why this demo is different then other demos, is this one is showing the proper way to use these pedals. Taking an already blisteringly loud and cranked amp, and pushing it over the top. Most demos of tubescreamers have relatively clean amps and rely on the TS to give all the drive. That creates a raspy thin fizzy sound that is unusable IMO.

[okamasphere]

nice demo, but do you playing anything besides srv?

[gamedojo]

@okamasphere

Not in this demo... but I play only one SRV song in my cover band.

Most want to hear SRV type jamming with a tubescreamer demo since he's probably the most famous user of such devices.

[meshedintervals]

what pickups you using?

[gamedojo]

@meshedintervals

Texas Special in the neck pickup with windings taken off by me...

[pirubiru88]

Huge sound..

[FenderAmpFreak]

IMHO the TI RC4558 Malaysian opamp is smoother more tube like compared to the original JRC 4558D , you can hear it in gamedojo's demo ,I have collected a version of each in 808, not TS9 and they all sound amazing and all slightly different,

The only difference between an 808 and a TS9 is 2 resistor values, very easy to mod

SRV also used a Crowther Hotcake towards the end of his career, another great pedal

regards

FAF

[FenderAmpFreak]

I have mainly vintage Maxon OD808's which are exactly the same pedal as the Ibanez TS808.

The Ibanez' were export models made by Maxon for the international market, the Maxon OD808 was made identical by them for the domestic Japanese market. I have a version 1 OD808 which is pre Ibanez and it's circuit has "2" totally different opamps, It's a little crunchier than the Version 2 808 (Ibanez TS808) . I have both original JRC and TI RC4558 equipped 808's

[okamasphere]

Which of your TS"s do you prefer? I got my first 84 TS9 with the JRC and its freakin awsome. I also got the klon centaur, and run my tube screamer after it. I'm thinking of getting the malaysian chip 808 though just to have that extra happen, and a TS-10 down the road, cuz I know SRV started playing TS10s the most late in his career. Between the 808 malaysian and JRC TS9, what are the main differences, and which colors your tone the most?

[FenderAmpFreak]

@okamasphere yes mate , that's an original :)

[okamasphere]

@FenderAmpFreak wait, there is NO JRC4558? For example, I'm looking at a chip that says 4558D JRC With 4141 beneath the JRC on the bottom right of the chip. Is that an original?

[FenderAmpFreak]

@okamasphere

there is no JRC4558, there is JRC4558D - the originals had a 4 number serial on the bottom right, the JRC4558D reissue (made in different factory) have a 5 digit code and aren't as smooth as the earlier ones.

There is also JRC4558DD in the reissue range, though I've never heard one

[okamasphere]

Whats the difference between the JRC4558 and JRC 4558D?