tube screamer / DS-1

71Smallbox · Post by **71Smallbox** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 7:26 pm

IMHO, I think the TS is best with any that amp lacks mids, IE: Fenders. It sounds good with these amps because of the MIDs it adds. The DS-1 is maligned as well, but thats because most have the treble above 9 and the distortion on full. Both have their uses and whether they sound good to you is purely subjective. I like both for different uses, though I prefer the SD-1 since its diodes are asymetrical. The good sounding DS-1's are the ones with the large AC input that touches the bottom plate, Taiwan or Japan, same thing.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 7:28 pm

71Smallbox wrote:...any that amp lacks mids, IE: Fenders.

Just because they don't have a mids control, doesn't mean they don't have mids. Fender amps have a fixed resistor instead of a pot, which means their mids are always set at about 7.

71Smallbox · Post by **71Smallbox** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 7:40 pm

benecol wrote:
71Smallbox wrote:...any that amp lacks mids, IE: Fenders.
Just because they don't have a mids control, doesn't mean they don't have mids. Fender amps have a fixed resistor instead of a pot, which means their mids are always set at about 7.

I realize they have mids, just not as much as an AC30 or a Marshall. I should have said, "lacks enough mids for alot of players".

moogmusic · Post by **moogmusic** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 2:43 pm

bluesngrunge wrote:I love my ds-2

This reminded me that I used to love mine too so I thought I'd lookup some on the old eBay and discovered http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.XBoss+DS+2&_nkw=Boss+DS+2&_sacat=0&_from=R40

Is it just me or are there a lot of mentals bidding on these?

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 3:16 pm

benecol wrote:
stewart wrote:think i took it off my board because it weighs a shitload and i had to carry my pedalboard to rehearsals on the bus.
Wat?

► Show Spoiler

Shortscale's Stewart visits his local hospital over Xmas.

listen, Lurch- it had loads of pedals on it, and I had a guitar and other sundries to manhandle across three buses (x2) as well, twice a week. Any unnecessary weight was jettisoned. so shurrup.

George · Post by **George** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 3:34 pm

in 2014 are people still using pedal boards and not just their chocolate fingers?

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 3:39 pm

personally I just sling my guitar over my back, chuck a fuzz pedal in my Belstaff pocket, jump on my poncey scooter and fizz off into the distance.

edit: my tablet autocorrected poncey to pony, which would have been a beautiful benecolism, but I changed it because even I'm not that evil.

Aeon · Post by **Aeon** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 4:03 pm

I actually love both pedals, at least when used in the correct circumstances.

TS-9 + Single Coil + Fender-style amp = nice lead tone that cuts through a band mix without being too loud
TS-9 + Humbucker + Marshall = 'tighter' sound for 'heavier' sounding music, again useful as a lead boost
DS-1 (Japanese version, can't speak highly of the Taiwanese reissues) + humbucker + Fender/Marshall = nice mixture of crunch and smoothness that works well for distorted power chords

No surprise that Blues rockers gravitated towards tubescreamers, or that Cobain used the DS-1 for his brand of punk rock. Either pedal can be useful in the right context, but it's up to you whether your music would actually make good use of them. A shoegaze band that plays a bunch of jangling Sus2 chords with reverb and modulation probably wouldn't find them that useful, but then again a 'grunge' band isn't going to have much use for shimmer reverb or 12-step phaser.

If you put just about *any* pedal through a crappy amp, it's going to sound like crap. In most audio systems, your sound is only as good as the weakest chain in your link, with the amp being of particular importance in a guitar rig.

As cheaper, entry-level and popular pedals, these ones often get sent thru a 10W solid state amp, played by a beginner on an out-of-tune Squier or what-have-you. As players progress, they probably remember this association and avoid them.

I recently rediscovered the DS-1, and it sounds fantastic on some songs when I send it through a Blackface Fender Bassman head.

Golden_Sonic · Post by **Golden_Sonic** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 4:15 pm

I tried a DS-2 once time and it sounded like a horrible high gain fart; I also tried an Ibanez ts-9 and compared to my Boss BD-2: I preferred much more the second one, I felt the ts-9 softer than the BD-2: well, that was my impression even if I'm interested in the new EH East River Drive now...

71Smallbox · Post by **71Smallbox** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 5:46 pm

stewart wrote:personally I just sling my guitar over my back, clip the fuzz off of my bell end, jump my pony and jizz off into the distance.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 6:40 pm

I like the TS, mainly for the midrange boost. Obviously it pushes the pre-amp of a tube amp like any other dirt pedal but because it is low gain, fairly transparent and high midrange it works well. Especially for lead breaks.

The DS-1 can sound shocking, like a distorted amp with a blanket thrown over it. The eq is its biggest failing. However, I used one with an old Laney valve amp and it did sound good for the Stoner/Doom kind of sound.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 8:16 pm

stewart wrote:personally I just sling my guitar over my back, chuck a fuzz pedal in my Belstaff pocket, jump on my stjimmy scooter and fizz off into the distance.

IT WAS A FUCKING BARBOUR, ALRIGHT?

Although I do have an old Belstaff, but it's a peculiar 90s cut which will never come back into fashion. Not even in the darkest corners of Hoxton.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 11:51 pm

haway man, when folk used to tease you about having a Barbour, you'd say "it's a fucking BELSTAFF".

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 11:55 pm

(I may be wrong about this)

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:05 am

I'm not certain a person is supposed to know the difference, much less what a 90s cut is.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 1:06 am

I know where Tim is coming from. Coats are a big deal, especially when you start paying out Belstaff/top end Barbour money, its like buying a custom shop Gibson and someone saying its a budget Epiphone. The cut matters as well, its like buying a suit, its either fitted or you look like a bag of shit thats trying to make an effort with a poorly fitted suit from Primark.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:46 am

*reveals lengthy text-based conversation he's recently had with Stewart, makes significant face at the jury*

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:45 am

benecol wrote:*reveals lengthy text-based conversation he's recently had with Stewart, makes significant face at the jury*

I was merely responding in kind to your initial attack. And those desert boots ARE cool, we can both admit.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:52 pm

stewart wrote:haway man, when folk used to tease you about having a Barbour, you'd say "it's a fucking BELSTAFF".

YOU FIND ME A POST WHERE I'VE SAID THIS.

Not that it matters in the slightest.

Also, did you buy those boots?

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 10:51 pm

not yet. found a pair on eBay for Â£80, but will hold off for a couple of weeks. getting the "you've got enough shoes" headnip from Baroness Sensible here.