does anyone have sound samples of their TS808?

[afischer82]

I recently finished a TS808 build using the printed circuit board from General Guitar Gadgets, and I just don't feel like I'm getting the right sound out of it.  I'm one of a rare breed of people that haven't really tinkered with any form of tube screamer on my own... so if anyone has sound samples of their own build it would help me out a lot.  mid to high gain sounds would be the most helpful. 

When I have the gain turned all the way up, it still seems too transparent.  It's almost as if i'm running a clean signal into a separate amp simultaneously, and the clean signal is a bit too loud.  I know people have always described the sound as being transparent, but this just doesn't seem right to me.  unfortunately I don't have a mic to record sounds of my own to post, but maybe i'll go pick one up.  i'm thinking my parts selection could have something to do with it?

thanks!
Andy

[fxdfxd]

Hi

A sample of my DIY TS-808

http://f.defaut.free.fr/compos/essaiTS.mp3


-fx

[afischer82]

Thank you very much FX!

Mine sounds pretty similar at the lower gain sounds, once I get into the higher gain sounds I'm just not getting enough "grit".  I'll see if I can't figure out a way to post a sound sample later this afternoon to see what you guys think.

thanks again!
Andy

[petemoore]

  higher to lower output pickups as source for the TS can make a big difference in the sound and amount of gain...that and how 'what' amp responds to the output.

[afischer82]

understood... that's kind of what makes me think i have a problem actually.  i've tried it with two strats, one with a higher output humbucker, and a les paul, which tends to have higher output than both strats, running through a hotrod deluxe.  i can't crank the amp (i live in an apartment), so that may have something to do with it, but i feel like i should have less clean signal than i do. 

[afischer82]

here's a thought... i was just going through my parts list and noticed that the 1uf caps i put in there are dc mallory film instead of polyester film.  i'm still learning on the front of what each component does... so could anyone tell me if this would make any difference here?

thanks!

[John Lyons]

Caps of the correct value will sound different but not a big diference in pedals usually. If you replace a few caps with different types, say ceramic caps to film caps you will notice a little smoother sound possibly but the gain/volume/distortion will be the same level.
Generally these are terms to describe caps:
Film/poly  = smooth
ceramic = gritty

Ceramic can sound good and so can film. Might not even hear a difference.

Recheck all the resistor values and maybe there is something you overlooked.

John

[MartyMart]

Read "The technology of the tube screamer" at GEOFX above and things will get clearer.
The TS circuit does contain a lot of "clean" gtr signal in it , it's one of it's strengths, this is
purely to do with the design and use of the opamp.

I have a TS-9 and just sold my 1979 808 due to having 2 x DIY versions and a DIY fulldrive !
That will fund quite a few things ( stupid money !! ) including a "Dan Coggins" Deluxe memory man

Some of the common "mods" will change things some, I love using 1x1N4148 and 1N4001 for clipping diodes
and also increase the gain some, using a 100n/2k2 off pin 2 ( if I remember right )
I also reduced the .22 cap to ground off pin 1 to 0.047 for a much clearer/brighter tone.

MM.

[phaeton]

Tubescreamers have always been a bit of a 'low gain' pedal anyhow.  It's part of their 'magic'.

Are there any TS pedals in any music stores near you?  Perhaps you can sneak in with yours and A/B them to get an idea.  Different TS models are a little different (not near as much as they've been made out to be) but you can see if you're in the same ballpark.

There are of course some mods for the TS-808, but around here I often see "build it stock first.  Sometimes that turns out to be what you wanted in the first place.".  Of course, you're doing good by making sure you've got everything in right before you make any changes.