TS808 Query

[Philippe]

when the gain control/knob is set at zero, are the clipping diodes (e.g. 2 small red LEDs/symetric or 3 silicon diodes/assymetric configuration) doing anything or are they 'neutralized' by the reduced current running through them? *curious as I run mine primarily as a clean boost...with level tone control maxed & level at unity gain.*

[Philippe]

correction...tone control maxed & level control at unity gain

[Mark Hammer]

With the Gain control set to the min position, there is a feedback resistance of 51k and a ground leg resistance of 4k7.  These nominal values work out to a gain of just under 12x, although less for content below 720hz.  If the input signal is hot enough, that could result in diode-produced clipping for the initial pick attack, but is typically not enough to produce clipping for more than the initial 100msec peak, or so.  You'd hear it clipping on chords, or hard two-string strums on the wound strings, but it probably would not be enough gain to produce clipping for single notes on the unwound strings, unless you had very hot pickups and relatively thick strings.

[Philippe]

thanks mark. as a 'clean boost' with the gain control @ minimum setting, the 808 still has a touch of 'grit' which I imagine, gives the TS its distinctive sound.