• From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2007-09-10
  • Posts: 957

Topic: Tube Screamer

Im sure that this topic as come up... but i got impatient and quit looking after about 3 seconds...

Those of you that use a tube screamer, what are your settings... i am revamping my rig right right now and changing all my settings. I am messing with the tube screamer, but i just cant seem to get a tone that catches my ear... its all so harsh. Any input would be greatly appreciated!


Logan

Block inlay Gibson ES-335, 50th anniversary American Strat, '61 RI White SG, '62 RI Relic Strat, Replica Korina Flying V, Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator,  '58 Les Paul RI, American Highway 1 Fender Strat, Breedlove Acoustic, Stonetree Joe Bonamassa Custom, HIWATT Lead 100R, Reeves Custom 30.
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-23
  • Posts: 553

Re: Tube Screamer

Maybe the TS doesn't match your amp.
There are 3 knobs. Simple to tweak around with them.
I use it on Budda SD30 in the drive channel.
Gain: 9oclock, Tone almost off, Level:3oclock

Good luck
Alex

...it's a musical journey
www.u2-experience.de

Stratovari's Website

  • Registered: 2009-01-01
  • Posts: 665

Re: Tube Screamer

It depends which one you have, I think. I find the TS9 a tad brighter (perhaps harsher?) than the 808. But it's great as a boost pedal. If used as that, try setting gain and level in a \/ shape and when using it as an OD pedal try a /\ shape. Set the middle Tone knob at either 12 o'clock (or less to reduce brightness). Perhaps have 2 in a row, one used as OD and the second as a booster (a la SRV).
I use a Fulldrive II (which is based on the Tubescreamer circuit, I think) as OD and sometimes for some extra boost either a TS808 or TS9 (depending on mood and amp).

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: Tube Screamer

Well, a LOT has to do with your Guitar, Amp, and desired TOnes. So, maybe some more info is needed.

    As far as generally, I usually think of the TS as a "Extra Push" over the Top. With my Amp on the edge of OD, the TS can send it into a nice, thick lead Tone.

    Maybe try also adjusting the Highs from your guitar. This will probably help quite a bit. Using a little more Highs from the Amp, than usual. And using your GUitar's Tone Knob(s) to keep it all tamed.

    Also, I use 2 ODs many times. "Stacking" Pedals can be really cool. Here's something to chew on:

    http://home.earthlink.net/~dr711/id18.html

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner
  • From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2007-09-10
  • Posts: 957

Re: Tube Screamer

as far as gear goes i am using a Fender Hot Rod Deville on the crunch channel so i can just use the OD pedal to boost it into my lead sound instead of using the hottest channel on the amp all the time. My settings are... Drive-6 Treble- 4 Bass-12 Mids-8 Reverb- 3 and Presence-8. I messed around with it and tried the settings that Alex uses (thank you) and it sounds pretty good. Oh, I am using my little brothers '58 LP Reissue that he got yesterday... it is so wonderful.

Thanks
Logan

Block inlay Gibson ES-335, 50th anniversary American Strat, '61 RI White SG, '62 RI Relic Strat, Replica Korina Flying V, Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator,  '58 Les Paul RI, American Highway 1 Fender Strat, Breedlove Acoustic, Stonetree Joe Bonamassa Custom, HIWATT Lead 100R, Reeves Custom 30.
  • Registered: 2008-03-07
  • Posts: 508

Re: Tube Screamer

Hi
   I dont know which type of sound you are shooting for but if its SRV type sound
    check out www.steviesnacks.com he uses various pedals to get a convincing SRV sound
    plus lessons there is a vid somewhere when he goes through his gear he uses parametric eqs
     and some od pedal which I cant remember worth checing out tho.

"Everybody's entitled to my opinion. wink
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Tube Screamer

Why not try everything in the 12 o'clock position and adjust from there.  Need more gain, turn up the gain from there, need more headroom, turn the gain back and the level up.  Most everyone I know use the pedal to get a clean boost on the signal, so turn up the level all the way and put the gain in the 9 o'clock position, then adjust the tone control to your preference.  I like my bright sounds so I turn mine wide open, I prefer to adjust the tone on the guitar to cut back the treble. hope that helps.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: Tube Screamer

DeVilles CAN be a little on the Bright side.

    Maybe work with the Highs from the Guitar, like I was suggesting. Also, isn't there a Presence Knob on the DeVille? Be aware of how that affects the Highs, also.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner
  • From: Illinois
  • Registered: 2008-06-15
  • Posts: 52

Re: Tube Screamer

not sure if this'll help or not, but heres my experience with the tube screamer.  i own a vintage 808, i use it on my board along with a FD-2. anyway,  i always had a problem of my overdrive tone sounding really harsh and ( to me ) sounded too much like metal and blues overdrive.  a good friend told me to never put the drive knob higher than the volume knob. that made all the difference here. my 808 settings are currently... overdrive  @ 11 o clock, tone @ 1 o clock, and level @ about 2:30.    good luck with it,  just keep playing and it'll come around.

brian

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: Tube Screamer

My advice would be to find a MIJ Boss OD-1.

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Tube Screamer

My TS808 settings are : Volume MAX, Gain < 9 o'clock, Tone 10 o'clock.  Hope it helps good luck.  Maybe try backing the presense down to take the brightness out.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.

12 Reply by Logo33 (edited by Logo33 2009-03-29 23:50:12)

  • From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2007-09-10
  • Posts: 957

Re: Tube Screamer

thanks stratpaulguy- while you're here i had a question about the weber mass attenuator that you mentioned in another one of my topics ... i know it doesnt have anything to do with the tube screamer, but can the stereo attenuators run two different amps, or do i need one for each amp?

Block inlay Gibson ES-335, 50th anniversary American Strat, '61 RI White SG, '62 RI Relic Strat, Replica Korina Flying V, Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator,  '58 Les Paul RI, American Highway 1 Fender Strat, Breedlove Acoustic, Stonetree Joe Bonamassa Custom, HIWATT Lead 100R, Reeves Custom 30.
  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: Tube Screamer

Man, those old OD-1 pedals were great!

    But, good luck finding a good one.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner
  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Tube Screamer

Logo33 wrote:

thanks stratpaulguy- while you're here i had a question about the weber mass attenuator that you mentioned in another one of my topics ... i know it doesnt have anything to do with the tube screamer, but can the stereo attenuators run two different amps, or do i need one for each amp?

I personally went with Weber because they have an attenuator for every possible situation.  In my case, I wanted something to tame my Dr.Z Maz 18 and Hiwatt Bulldog at the same time for more of a small gig/practice friendly rig.  The Weber Stereo Mass can attenuate two amps at once with a 100 watt rating on each side.  It's pretty transparent and the awesome thing is it has a bypass switch to remove it from the signal path.  It has 2 inputs, 2 outputs.  Keep in mind, you are not going to get the same sound as the amps cranked but I feel that the sound is much truer than say a master volume barely opened up.  I think it can handle any amplifier impedance and costs much less than a Hotplate or other comparable units.  Weber makes them on order so they do take a little while to get but it's worth the wait IMO.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2007-09-10
  • Posts: 957

Re: Tube Screamer

thank you sir

Block inlay Gibson ES-335, 50th anniversary American Strat, '61 RI White SG, '62 RI Relic Strat, Replica Korina Flying V, Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator,  '58 Les Paul RI, American Highway 1 Fender Strat, Breedlove Acoustic, Stonetree Joe Bonamassa Custom, HIWATT Lead 100R, Reeves Custom 30.
  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Re: Tube Screamer

I just bought a TC electronic vintage overdrive (now discontinued) but I'm sure I saw one at guitar amp keyboard. I tried it next to a TS808 and liked the Tc electronic better. TC electronic seemed smoother. It gives a nice texas blues overrive but I also use it as a boost going into my OCD and HT dual pedals. I have the setting pretty much the same as stratpaulguy86. output Max, Drive at 10 and filter/tone at 9. The guy I bought it from tried to tell me it has the same circuit as the T REX Alberta pedal. weather it does or not I don't know. It sounds awesome, only downside is the cover is not as sturdy as the Ibanez or any boss pedal.

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2006-05-31
  • Posts: 489

Re: Tube Screamer

I have been playing the TS-9 for almost 10 years. My setting was Tone 12h, Volume 1h, Drive 3h.
I think you should go and check some other pedals, too. I feel a lot more comfortable with the Fulltone OCD though.

Jimi75's Website

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: Tube Screamer

Here's some great options for OD Pedal choices:

    Timmy
    Tejas
    Retro-Sonic 808
    MI Audio Blues Pro
    FD 2
    Eternity
    LDO
    Little Green Wonder
    BBOD

    There are a LOT more, of course. But these are all truly great.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner