On its way: DeltaLab TO-1 Overdrive

(note: Could have sworn I posted this here already. Must be old age.....)

Well, I was given a GC Gift Card this last week, by an anonymous member at my church. It was 50 bucks, so I knew what I wanted:

http://www.deltalabeffects.com/products/to1.cfm

I have my Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer as my main OD, and I also have my buddy-modded FX-55 distortion.

The FX-55 was GREAT with my Les Paul. But its not so great with my Tele. It sounded phenomenal with my Lester, and really never gets used with my Tele. So it's just taking up space on my pedal board.

Now this is what I sonically envision:

I want my amp set up for clean.

A TS808 for mild gain/OD crunch (think Classic rhythm)

A second TS808 nearing overload levels, just screaming, almost at the point of feedback.

So I had read lots of good reviews about the DeltaLab TO-1 Overdrive, and almost all claim it is a TS808 clone that is absolutely amazing, especially considering the price-point.

So by the end of this week I should have it, and next week it should be on my pedal board. So in two weeks, you should see a review from me on the DeltaLab TO-1 Overdrive.

Great TS pedal.

Well, it arrived.

Tone wise, its not exactly like my Ibanez TS808 RI, but that is a good thing in my book.

It does have that TS808 flavor too it: Definitely not as dark sounding as a TS9, but it is not as bright as my Ibanez. I really had to crank the tone up to get it in the ballpark for me.

Even with that gain dialed all the way down, theres a lot of "GRRRRRRRR" goin on here! I find most TS808's to be aggressive, without seeming aggressive, and the DeltaLab TO-1 is no exception.

So after playing around with it to find its range/sweet spot, and comparing it to my Ibanez, I dial it in for mild OD, and my Ibanez for nearly over the top. What a great combo! The DeltaLab gets me that great classic rhythm crunch, and my Ibanez gets that classic, saturated, OD, gainey, sustaining burn that I just love in a great OD.

The DeltaLab is not a perfect clone of the TS808, but it is close. Very close. And what it does, it does well. I myself, I would pick it over the Bad Monkey, but thats because I'm more of a TS808 lover, and not as much a fan of the TS9 (what the Bad Monkey seems to be modeled after). The Bad Monkey has a huge fan club and deservedly so, so I'm not taking away from it, I just prefer the TS808 circuit.

If your on a tight budget, and you cant afford an Ibanez, this is a pretty good Tube Screamer clone.