Tubescreamers, Synth Pedals and Overdrive&Fuzz

slurpy · #1 05-20-2010, 04:32 AM

hey TB. i've got 3 questions on my mind and thought id thrash them out all at once rather than 3 seperate threads. i know some of this stuff has probably been covered but on my searching i couldn't find the answers. so here goes...

Tube Screamers
Im talking just Ibanez ones, not clones (eg bad(der) monkey).
is there a real difference in tones on bass with the TS5, TS7 and TS9? from the videos ive seen on guitar they sound fairly similar. this youtube video is of a TS5 vs a TS808 (for guitar) and in my opinion the TS5 certainly holds it own http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvTbfxqAVxY

Synth Pedals
I currently use a Digitech BSW. i love it. but what I am now looking for is a pretty one dimensional synth pedal. i dont want any filters etc. just when i turn it on it sounds like a basic synth. any recommendations here?

OD, Fuzz
Ive heard talk of High gain and Low gain fuzzes. what does this mean? what are examples? Im currently smashing a black russian Big Muff, is this a higher or lower gain fuzz? im also in the market for an od pedal (hence the TS question above). is it better sounding to run the OD into the Fuzz. or the Fuzz into the OD?

thanks in advance

ItsMichaelYeah · #2 05-20-2010, 07:55 AM

I use a fulltone OCD I feel that tube screamers kill your low end.

Can't go wrong with an ehx bass micro synth.

tomhanzo · #3 05-20-2010, 12:14 PM

Well to answer your Tubescreamer question, get a TS-9 and mod it. I have had a phathead and a TS-9. If you want a tubescreamer sound, TS-9 is the best choice. The mods are easy to do and easy to find on the web. I just changed one cap and it holds all the low end.

I know nothing about synth :/ sorry.

High gain and Low gain fuzzes are really more about how each pedal is set. You could make your muff do both. A muff variant is almost always high gain, but it can be low and softish.

As far as OD>Fuzz and vice versa, you just have to try it and see. I use a TS-9 at high gain into a EHX Tube Zipper set at low gain. Amazing layering and Amazing seperate.

When your trying to find a sound to call your own:
1. Dont follow the rules.
2. Dont make your own rules.
3. Dont use the sample settings you find in the manual.
4. Have fun

.

rratajski · #4 05-20-2010, 12:20 PM

For bass, most actual tubescreamers are going to sound the same...

For synth, look into the Moog Freqbox...It's a little expensive, but they do pop up used on forums/eBay from time to time.

Your Black Russian is considered a lower gain muff. High gain is loud and aggressive; low gain is not quite as aggressive.
Most people run OD into fuzz.

bass.bert · #5 05-20-2010, 12:35 PM

for synth, i assume you do want something with a real oscillator.

the boss syb pedals and the behringer copy would be the cheapest option. i think there are settings without the envelope follower on these too. the moog freqbox is also an oscillator. the chunk systems octavius squeezer has additional filter/fuzz besides its waveforms but you can turn em off.

i have no experience with the markbass supersynth/akai deep impact/korg g5, but i think these use oscillators as well.

the ehx bms is just octaves/fuzz/filter.

Bish42 · #6 05-20-2010, 12:50 PM

On the subject of synth pedals, I got a Boss SYB-3 today and I love it. The sounds are all pretty similar, but for me that's perfect because, like you, I was just looking for a basic no frills synth that I don't have to play around with too much. It's also about the smallest synth pedal you can get, I think, which is good if you're looking to save space/weight.

slurpy · #7 05-20-2010, 03:10 PM

thanks all, helps alot. ill check the boss and the microsynth out. i know you said to mod a ts9, out of interest are the other two lower end ones easy to mod as well?

tomhanzo · #8 05-20-2010, 05:25 PM

I'm not sure. I just know the TS-9 is. They are all basically the same circuit. If you are good at circuits (i'm not) you could probly find enough on the web to piece it all together.

O i forgot. I have always heard great reviews on the TS9DX. In turbo mode they say it holds the low end well.

ourworldisgrey · #9 05-20-2010, 08:24 PM

I have an Analogman modded TS9DX and it works really well. It gives a nice range from grit to "tube amp spewing fire" that doesn't seem to cut the low end.