TS9 bypass improvement mods???

[AC30Dirty]

hey guys, I was just wondering if there were any mods for improving the bypass part of an Ibanez TS9 circuit. I know it's not really much of a tone sucker but, like I said i was just wondering. I know how to true bypass them the way Keeley does but, i just don't want to have to go through all that hassel.

[twangquack]

I know how to true bypass them the way Keeley does but, i just don't want to have to go through all that hassel.

I had been thinking of modding an old bandmate's TS, but I somehow can't get happy about the look of the added footswitch looking like a odd growth out of the existing/original footswitch. If he still wants me to do it, I'm tempted to re-house the whole darned schmeer in another enclosure. Or, just leave the bypass as is, because it's not really too bad as far as tone-suck goes. I'm resisting the temptation to re-house and mod stuff just because of the true bypass craze. I'm glad I didn't do it to my old Ibanez CP-10 (but I came close) ...

[darron]

i modified my tubescreamer for true bypass. there's room for the 3pdt (JUST!!!) if you drill out that hole under the silver logo sticker.

here's a read on it:
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/TStech/tsxtech.htm


i think the link also suggested some higher spec, lower noise components that you can slip in there if you want to keep the electronic switching.

edit:

i then later thought about using the original mom switch as a tone control switch or something. i turned it into a signal mute switch which was a bad idea since i hit it accidentally too often while toggling.

[petemoore]

  Nice pedal.
  I wouldn't tear it up for that, unless I had a specific want I can't see.
  might be another couple decades of initial bukk-upp, but if you:
  Buy and build up a TS on a PCB and get your TB Sw on it.
  Or build a True Bypass looper box...
  You'll have a TS that still works too, could be sold or used to retain signal integrity during bypass mode.
  Often enough Non-True bypass does wonders for retaining signal integrity, having TB on all pedals is a recipe for having signal degradation, especially with cable runs.

[Dave Simpson]

+1 on building your own Tube Screamer from GGG or BYOC. It'll be true bypass and you can easily do any of the other mods that are out there on it.

[Gus]

The buffers and FET switching are a good design IMO.

[davph30]

I'd agree with dave, build your own. I have an original ts9 from 1981 with a 4558 in it and my homemade tubescreamer blows the attery cover off the original.

the proof is in the pudding as they say

[Dave Simpson]

Yeah, my kit TS's are more Klon than Tube Screamer after messing with them. No shortage of mod's out there. The problem is knowing when to walk away from the soldering iron and leaving the TS alone!

[twangquack]

The problem is knowing when to walk away from the soldering iron and leaving the TS alone!

Jeez, tell me about it! My Ts-808 project (GGG board) now includes two on/on/on switches to select between two banks of clipping diode combos (three for first diode position, three for second diode position) -- choose "one from column A, one from column B":

Bank A                                Bank B
---------------                       --------------------
(3) 1N34A                           (1) Red LED
(1) 1N4148 + (1) 1N5818     (1) 1N4001
(1) 1N5818+ (1) IRF510       (1) 1N34A + (1) IRF510

[ IRF510 MOSFETs used as reverse junction ]

Then I saw the clipping diode board positions (marked as "RED LED") used with an optional switch and said: "Hey! I can add another six clipping diodes (combos) for even MORE options, if I get another two of the same switches!" But that's insane ... so I'm just using that switchable option (w/ submini SPDT) for a lower volume, higher distortion/soft-clip set-up with:
(2) 1N34A x (1) 1N34A + (1) 1N5818 ... no need to befuddle myself further with more and more options.

[Dave Simpson]

It's worse than crack!

[AC30Dirty]

well i finished modding up the pedal and I got it to where im happy with it. Im basically just using it with my strat to add some warmth to it. However, I did notice that when the gain is maxed and the pedal is off I get a slight blled through of the drive, similar to what a SD-1 does. So, I just might go through the hassel of putting the 3PDT switch in there for true bypass just incase i ever wanna use it as an alternative gain tone.