Ibanez Ts808 vs BBE green screamer

MyCoalstrat · March 13th, 2010, 10:02 AM

I always wanted a TS808 but $179 I just cant afford it right now. And I come across with BBE Green screamer it is like a generic of 808 for the fraction of the price. So anyone have tried both of these and you guys think I should save up and get the 808 or save money and settle for BBE. If I choose Green screamer what am I gonna miss?

MyCoalstrat · March 15th, 2010, 05:51 PM

Bump!!! I guess nobody compared it yet???

boujsquier · March 15th, 2010, 07:10 PM

I have a TS9, and have tried both side byside and also a Visual Sound Route 808; the Route 808 is the best of the bunch IMHO ...

It has the bass boost switch to add a fuller sound, an excellent bypas buffer that converts the high impedance signal from the guitar to a low impedance signal.

When in bypass mode, there is no change to your guitar's tone; plus these guys are built to last with a die-cast body and a switch that's rated for 10 million switches compared to 3000-5000 that you'll get from even the best 3PDT switch.

Try the Route 808 out if you can ..you won't be disappointed !

The Green Screamer sounds as good as my TS9 when engaged, but sucks tone when in bypass mode when you have more than 3-4 pedals connected.

Hope that helps ! ;-)

dacop · March 15th, 2010, 10:15 PM

All I can say wait, save the money and get the TS808. I picked one up yesterday and was blown away. I couldnt wait to get home today from work to play around with it more. It is expensive but worth it to me. Great boost right off the bat. And the best sounding OverDrive from a pedal I have ever played. Not thin and fizzy like others. Amazing pedal.

intoflatlines · March 16th, 2010, 01:45 PM

If you can solder I'd recommend the Overdrive 2 pedal from Build Your Own Clone (BYOC). It's a clone of the TS808 with the addition of popular mods. Here's some of my favorite things about it:

- true bypass (no tone suckage)
- 3 way EQ switch (fat/full/stock)
- 3 way clipping switch (comes stock as silicone diode/lift/LED)
- separate clean boost circuit and footswitch
- internal trimpots for fine tuning min/max gain and volume
- socketed opamp so you can experiment with different ones
- comes with enclosure, knobs, wires, etc.. pretty much all you need besides soldering iron and solder

You can also order a MOSFET conversion kit that replaces components in some parts of the different circuits for a more tube-like tone. I built mine with full MOSFET conversion and I love it. Best TS808 type pedal in the world, in my opinion. It's much better than the TS808 since you can set all the controls to stock and get the same circuit as the original TS808, but then in a couple seconds you can really tweak it to sound however you like..

overdrive2

$95 (OD2 kit) + $8 (MOSFET) = $103 + shipping.

If all these mods were preassembled by a boutique maker I'd probably expect to pay more than 3x that cost..

jmiller475 · March 16th, 2010, 01:51 PM

Try a Gearmanndude Luther Drive. It's a TS808 clone with a few tweaks here and there. They're $107 brand new.

YouTube - Gearmanndude Luther Drive vs Ibanez TS-808 tubescreamer reissue guitar pedal shootout

intoflatlines · March 16th, 2010, 01:59 PM

I didn't know Jack Black made pedals! ;)

jmiller475 · March 16th, 2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intoflatlines

I didn't know Jack Black made pedals! ;)

He does sound like him, doesn't he?

intoflatlines · March 16th, 2010, 02:06 PM

Very much so!

I found a video of the same guy reviewing the OD2 pedal I was preaching about:

YouTube- BYOC Build Your Own Clone guitar effects pedal demo OD2 Overdrive 2 with Tele & Jaguar Twin

jmiller475 · March 16th, 2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intoflatlines

Very much so!

I found a video of the same guy reviewing the OD2 pedal I was preaching about:

YouTube- BYOC Build Your Own Clone guitar effects pedal demo OD2 Overdrive 2 with Tele & Jaguar Twin

I might have to get one of those.

tjk3052 · March 16th, 2010, 07:25 PM

The difference between a TS-9 and a TS-808 is 2 resistors and the 4558 chip. That's a cost difference of less than $0.50 that they charge $80 for. If you can solder I would definitely build the BYOC or GGG kit. If not, buy a used TS-9 and send it to get modded it to -808 spec (or better). There are a lot of cheaper clones too, the Bad Monkey is supposed to be a decent one.

panyd · March 16th, 2010, 09:58 PM

first time, I know TS808 so expensive. in my ideas, it same as pro rat

MyCoalstrat · March 17th, 2010, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjk3052

The difference between a TS-9 and a TS-808 is 2 resistors and the 4558 chip. That's a cost difference of less than $0.50 that they charge $80 for. If you can solder I would definitely build the BYOC or GGG kit. If not, buy a used TS-9 and send it to get modded it to -808 spec (or better). There are a lot of cheaper clones too, the Bad Monkey is supposed to be a decent one.

After a couple of guitar shop visiting and test some overdrive I am going for the Bad monkey compare to BBE Green screamer it is way cheaper and got a better tone.

platypibri · March 17th, 2010, 01:45 AM

I borrowed a Green Screamer for a couple gigs. While I didn't have an 808 right there to compare it to, I do play around with a lot of these pseudo-screamers. It obviously lacks the features of some of the others like two band EQ, voice switching and such. I would say it's a bit brighter than an 808, but I felt it got the job done competently and was well within the range of authenticity. I'm not one to question someone's personal experience, but it IS a true bypass pedal, so YMMV. I don't think you'd regret the purchase, but at least consider a few options. You can spend quite a bit less and get a TS-7 Tone Lok Tube Screamer (more of a TS-9 sound than an 808 ). You can spend a little less, get a Bad Monkey and have 2 band eq (though not true bypass). You can spend a bit more more and get a Route 808 with a Bass Boost, or a Digitech Tube Overdrive (also more of a TS-9 than an 808 ) with 2 band eq and modern/vintage voicing switch. Or you can save up 150 bux and get a Double Trouble, which essentially gives you two Route 808s side by side. I feel all of these options give you more for less than a real Ibanez TS808.

I don't know who in the world is buying those hand wired 808s, but they crazy!

intoflatlines · March 17th, 2010, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by platypibri

I don't know who in the world is buying those hand wired 808s, but they crazy!

Yeah, retail at $350! At least I can say I have a meticulously (personally) hand wired true bypass TS808 clone with all the popular (Keeley, etc.) mods added on for like $105..

gonzo · March 18th, 2010, 10:26 AM

after owning original tube screamers...
original RAT pedals...
boss DS-1....
mxr distortion +.......
butler tube driver.....
mesa tube driver.....
big muff pi....
univox fuzz....
fulltone fulldrive II......
line 6 dm4......
POD XT.........
bad monkey.....
mxr microamp...
fuzz face....

after demo'ing:
xotic RC booster....
jacques overtube...
keely java boost.....
maxon sd-9.......
tech 21 gt2.....
Visual Sound jeckyl/hyde.....
duncan twin tube....

i found THIS did the job, the best of them all.

gonzo · March 18th, 2010, 10:27 AM

and.....

running it at 18volt, ah yes.

jbear · March 18th, 2010, 10:50 AM

I've had both...and my current preference is a Green Screamer with a Maxon SD-9. There are subtle differences with many of these pedals, and some play nicer with certain amps. Seeing as I like a little more midrange...I find the BBE suits what I play (short of being able to use an overdriven Dumble or Suhr OD). I have not used the Zendrive or Barber Small Fry (I've heard some great stuff out of those), but since I've found what I'm looking for...I'll save the $200+/-. There are sooooo many pedals out there. I find that if I spend enough time experimenting with any given one, I can get something I really like out of it.