looking for a mid boost pedal, thinking TS, looking for advice

Over the years, I've drifted to fairly low output pickups like the cs69, and Fezz' oildales, and for making beautiful clean tones, and having more usable area on the tone and volume knobs they're great. I do a lot of solo performance, and they do a good job of filling out the sound without stepping on the vocal. On the songs that need more gain, I turn up the volume knob and it from the amp.
Now, a pro friend who works as a lead guitarist has pointed out to me that in a band situation I sound thin, and I'm missing the mids needed to cut through the mix.
I've resisted using OD pedals so far, but I might invest in a tube screamer or something similar to boost the mids, and add a bit more gain, while still using the guitar's controls to fine tune.
What do you think, a good idea?
I've been looking at the maxon 808 (the original, high quality, small and light), the joyo one which is basically a cheaper copy of the maxon, and the hardwire pedal which should be very good, and a bit more flexible, but is quite big and heavy (not good since I don't drive to my gigs).
Any input is welcome!

I don't know anything about the Joyo one, but as far as the 808 goes, if I were considering buying an 808, I'd just get a Bad Monkey. Seriously underrated. No joke. It's basically modded 808 anyway... the bass & treble controls (instead of just a tone knob) allow you to better control the amount of mids you're getting.

I'm dead serious. I wouldn't even bother with an 808 when I can get a BM new for $50.

You're going to get a hundred recommendations for TS pedals. Everyone's going to say "xxx is the best". The differences between them are very subtle....even more so in a performance situation. It's a cork sniffing exercise that's complicated even more by your existing rig (guitar, other pedals, amp).....there's no best - only what you like. Almost all are based on the same tried and true circuit.

I've had a number of TS pedals over the years. They all do a similar thing and most did it pretty well. Personally, I'd stick with some of the bigger brands to keep it simple.

So....walk away from your computer and head over to a store (with your guitar) and just try a couple out. If there are no stores nearby, order two or three from a decent online store (proguitarshop.com) that has a reasonable return policy...and pick one/send the rest back.

BTW - as ruger9 said above, check out a BM...they pretty much do the TS thing very well and are cheap. I've messed with one before...and yep...it's a TS pedal. Not too exciting but it will fit the need.

how about an EQ pedal?...add mids and push your preamp.

I kind of disagree about the bad monkey. Yes, it's a great TS type pedal IN ITS price range, but you're a guy who cares about specifics of pickups and such. The Bad Monkey has a crappy, board mounted, momentary switch on it. It sounds to me like you'd be willing to spend more to get something a little better.

Pedals to Consider:
Danelectro Cool Cat Transparent OD (Can be VERY clean & transparent, & has 2 band EQ.)
Way Huge Green Rhino
*MXR Custom Modified Badass OD (This probably has too much gain for you, but I love mine.)
The TS9s and TS808.
The BBE Green Screamer if you can find one cheap. I like the switch better than your standard TS9.
Boss SD-1 (one of the cheapest retail pedals out there, that's worth a damn.)
Boss BD-2 (not as mid heavy as some of the others.)
Marshall Blues Driver II
TS7 is okay, but again, crappy switch.
Any of the Visual Sounds (Route 808, Double trouble, Jekyll & Hyde)

Higher End:
Fulltone Fulldrive II Mosfet
Fulltone Plimsoul (Can be VERY dirty, but also has very clean settings and is mid-humped.)
Timmy, Zen Drive, Wampler Ecstacy, but these are really up there.
Barber. A lot of people love Barber pedals.

I'd say the EQ pedal is not a horrible idea either, if you like a very clean sound, but want more mids. Go with the MXR 10 band one. I think it even has the ability to do some overdrive?

You're going to get a hundred recommendations for TS pedals. Everyone's going to say "xxx is the best". The differences between them are very subtle....even more so in a performance situation. It's a cork sniffing exercise that's complicated even more by your existing rig (guitar, other pedals, amp).....there's no best - only what you like. Almost all are based on the same tried and true circuit.

I've had a number of TS pedals over the years. They all do a similar thing and most did it pretty well. Personally, I'd stick with some of the bigger brands to keep it simple.

So....walk away from your computer and head over to a store (with your guitar) and just try a couple out. If there are no stores nearby, order two or three from a decent online store (proguitarshop.com) that has a reasonable return policy...and pick one/send the rest back.

BTW - as ruger9 said above, check out a BM...they pretty much do the TS thing very well and are cheap. I've messed with one before...and yep...it's a TS pedal. Not too exciting but it will fit the need.

^^This is all good advice IMO!

I spent a lot of time checking out all kinds of real or modded Tube Screamers (as well as other kinds of OD pedals)TS types (not really that much $$ spent, as I was able to trade back to GC, sell on CL, or use on gigs, therefore making $$!), and enjoyed the "TS trail", but in the end found most of them to sound pretty similar, or at least I could dial them all in to sound the way I liked....In the end for me it came down to having a variety of OD's: a "transparent" OD, a "Rat" and a "TS" and it did not really matter which- but its a great OD tool

Go for the EQ pedal. It sounds like you're in the need of some low mids to fatten up your sound, the EQ can boost that.

OR

try an Xotic EP booster.

If you want to change your EQ don't buy a dirt pedal! Get an EQ pedal!!!

Way Huge Green Rhino

My recommendation right here. Cheaper than a TS-9 and more flexibility in the EQ. I love mine.

I'd say the EQ pedal is not a horrible idea either, if you like a very clean sound, but want more mids. Go with the MXR 10 band one. I think it even has the ability to do some overdrive?

The MXR has a volume boost but no overdrive.

Is there anything wrong with the TS-9 reissue, that has been around for more than a decade??? The Ibenez Green one? That's the only one I have... I haven't heard the others. It really does FATTEN up the tone, and can sound transparent at the same time, if that is what you want...I was just wondering....

Is there anything wrong with the TS-9 reissue, that has been around for more than a decade??? The Ibanez (sic) Green one? That's the only one I have... I haven't heard the others. It really does FATTEN up the tone, and can sound transparent at the same time, if that is what you want...I was just wondering....

1. No nothing wrong with it. A good pedal that is on many, MANY players' boards.
2. I take that back. One thing. The switch sucks and is not easy to replace if it goes. And if you ever take it apart and futz with it, in my experience it always gets worse (more intermitent) and not better and then requires some kind of replacement, or someone who works really well on them. And it's not true bypass. Hence my recommendation of the BBE Green Screamer above, which is very similar in tone, but has a DPDT switch. Or the Visual Sound ones that are not TB, but have good buffers.
3. Tone is subjective, or at least hard for many players to describe verbally. My understanding of tone is that it is simlar to timbre, the quality of the sound, separate from pitch, or discussions of EQ. For me, the TS9 and its variants all color your tone and hence are not "transparent" for the most part. Also, for me, when someone says that a pedal (like the OCD, BD-2, or Green Rhino) can fatten up your sound, or that they "have balls", it's generally because the EQ is opposite, or at least different from the mid-humped TS circuit sound. Louder ≠ thicker.

Regardless of how individual players may describe sound, no, in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with a regular old TS9 Reissue, or the TS808 either. But there are cheaper options out there with some added features and better dependability, depending on what you want. Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

Oh, and Stratburst:
The MXR has a volume boost but no overdrive.

I thought the gain slider at the right and the master vol on the left could be used to create some kind of boost/slight OD? No? I need to try one. I haven't played one in person in a while.

Thanks for all that good information. I hardly ever use mine and it is like almost new. I got it 10 or 15 years ago. I may use it soon, though. Thanks Okeiactor...

Look at Analogman's site, his pedals are of the best quality possible. A lot of info on TS and other pedals there too! The Maxxon OD9 is just fabulous. True bypass, correct chip etc. Maxxon is who made the actual pedals for Ibanez originally. Ibanez just rebranded them.

Go for the EQ pedal. It sounds like you're in the need of some low mids to fatten up your sound, the EQ can boost that.

OR

try an Xotic EP booster.

If you want to change your EQ don't buy a dirt pedal! Get an EQ pedal!!!

+1. I can recommend the Xotic EP Booster, it fattens up nicely without ever getting muddy and there's more available boost than you'll ever need!

Oh, and it sounds so good you'll want to leave it on permanently!

Is there anything wrong with the TS-9 reissue, that has been around for more than a decade??? The Ibenez Green one? That's the only one I have... I haven't heard the others. It really does FATTEN up the tone, and can sound transparent at the same time, if that is what you want...I was just wondering....

Nothing wrong with the Tube Screamer RI, but there are better options for less $$$. For instance:

Ibanez TS9: $120

Way Huge Green Rhino: $99

(All prices from Long & McQuade website (http://www.long-mcquade.com) and in Canadian $)

Maxon makes good stuff. Love my OD9.

Go for the EQ pedal. It sounds like you're in the need of some low mids to fatten up your sound, the EQ can boost that.

OR

try an Xotic EP booster.

If you want to change your EQ don't buy a dirt pedal! Get an EQ pedal!!!

NOT the EP Booster. It adds lows, and if you set the internal dip right, highs too... if anything it REDUCES the perception of mids. It does fatten the tone, but by adding LOWS, not mids.

NOT the EP Booster. It adds lows, and if you set the internal dip right, highs too... if anything it REDUCES the perception of mids. It does fatten the tone, but by adding LOWS, not mids.

Yeah, it adds LOW MIDS. (not bass) The low mids is what makes a Twin sound BIG.

Yeah, it adds LOW MIDS. (not bass) The low mids is what makes a Twin sound BIG.

Disagree on this one. I'm a low mids hog, and that's not what this pedal does. I love the pedal, but it's a bass boost with a treble boost imo. Even with the treble boost switch "off", what it does is add girth by adding lows, and add presence by adding highs. Regardless of our disagreement, while I agree the EP Booster does fatten the sound, it's not a mid booster, which seems to be what the OP is looking for.

Well the EPB certainly doesn't sound "scooped", so it must be applying a complete frequency curve (voice) with each switching option rather than merely boosting certain frequencies.

Anyway, once the signal is boosted and fattened... which, according to my understanding, is what the OP is trying to achieve... extra mids can be dialled in with the amp eq.

I always wanted to like TS type pedals... tried a ts-9, then modded to 808 specs... It was okay, but wasn't the sound I was looking for at the time.

Tried the Bad Monkey, liked the flexibility of the separate treble and bass controls... the first one I tried was one being passed around here a few years ago to try. It sounded pretty good. Bought one on eBay last year and didn't like it. I then was told some of them don't sound as good... for whatever reason.

Last year around Christmas time, I tried the Guitar Center exclusive, MXR Classic Overdrive. I absolutely love it!

I had wanted to try an MJM Phantom Overdrive as these are reportedly fantastic. Just never got there... and the 29.99 (on sale form 39.99) MXR pedal has fit the bill perfectly. Sometimes I'll go to a jam or gig with just my amp and this one pedal and be perfectly happy all night long!

So, yeah, follow Lance's advice, go try a few and try them with your gear if you can!

I always wanted to like TS type pedals... tried a ts-9, then modded to 808 specs... It was okay, but wasn't the sound I was looking for at the time.

Tried the Bad Monkey, liked the flexibility of the separate treble and bass controls... the first one I tried was one being passed around here a few years ago to try. It sounded pretty good. Bought one on eBay last year and didn't like it. I then was told some of them don't sound as good... for whatever reason.

Last year around Christmas time, I tried the Guitar Center exclusive, MXR Classic Overdrive. I absolutely love it!

I had wanted to try an MJM Phantom Overdrive as these are reportedly fantastic. Just never got there... and the 29.99 (on sale form 39.99) MXR pedal has fit the bill perfectly. Sometimes I'll go to a jam or gig with just my amp and this one pedal and be perfectly happy all night long!

So, yeah, follow Lance's advice, go try a few and try them with your gear if you can!

I just sold an MXR GT-OD (same circuit as the Classic), it is a great sounding OD and I was completely happy with it until I got a Suhr Riot... the GT sounded "cloaked" after the modern openness of the Riot, regardless of tone knob setting... so I replaced it with a Wampler Ecstasy, which is superb (and expensive)! The GT-OD did sound great with my SEM/Ultra Mod DS1 though, both separately and stacked.

I kind of disagree about the bad monkey. Yes, it's a great TS type pedal IN ITS price range, but you're a guy who cares about specifics of pickups and such. The Bad Monkey has a crappy, board mounted, momentary switch on it. It sounds to me like you'd be willing to spend more to get something a little better.

Pedals to Consider:
Danelectro Cool Cat Transparent OD (Can be VERY clean & transparent, & has 2 band EQ.)
Way Huge Green Rhino
*MXR Custom Modified Badass OD (This probably has too much gain for you, but I love mine.)
The TS9s and TS808.
The BBE Green Screamer if you can find one cheap. I like the switch better than your standard TS9.
Boss SD-1 (one of the cheapest retail pedals out there, that's worth a damn.)
Boss BD-2 (not as mid heavy as some of the others.)
Marshall Blues Driver II
TS7 is okay, but again, crappy switch.
Any of the Visual Sounds (Route 808, Double trouble, Jekyll & Hyde)

Higher End:
Fulltone Fulldrive II Mosfet
Fulltone Plimsoul (Can be VERY dirty, but also has very clean settings and is mid-humped.)
Timmy, Zen Drive, Wampler Ecstacy, but these are really up there.
Barber. A lot of people love Barber pedals.

I'd say the EQ pedal is not a horrible idea either, if you like a very clean sound, but want more mids. Go with the MXR 10 band one. I think it even has the ability to do some overdrive?

I have the Green Screamer, and I like it very much for a mild-ish mid-boosted overdrive. I think it does the classic 808 thing very well, and it's cheap, rugged and true bypass.

What amp are you using?

What amp are you using?

My "amp" so to speak, is a sansamp into a PA, or sometimes into a big guitar or bass amp. That way I can get a pretty consistent (and good) sound wherever I go. The sansamp I use most is the hiwatt based one, though I also use the vox and fender ones.

For high quality, hand built, great sounding TS breed pedal you should also take a look at the CMATMODS Signa Drive. Surprisingly it hasn't been mentioned yet but definitely worthy of a close look, nice price too.

Another pedal with some TS heritage that sounds fantastic in a band mix, although with less mids push and more clarity and Bass retention, is the G2D Creamtone. Not as much gain as a TS but it does allow each guitar's personality to come though quite a bit more than a TS does. Great quality build too and a separate Boost built in, although it's also more expensive, but you get a great fat tone and a high quality hand-built pedal.

Snowy

I have an Eden Analog Nashville Hot Boost pedal for sale, it is a good lo gain TS with jrc4558 ic like the TS808s, I have it listed for $100, but would go to $75, cause I offered it to someone else for that. It's in classified.:!:

MXR's new Badass Modified OD is said to be a much more tweakable TS variant with less low-end loss; you might wanna consider that. I've also owned a Vox V810 and an Xotic AC booster(both featuring TS circuits), and found that I liked the AC more for its control.

Heard plenty of good things about Way Huge's Green Rhino and BBE's Green Screamer as well.