TS9 Is Better Than The TS808

I recently got the ts808 and the ts9 to compare them KNOWING that I want that ts808 so badly. It's just prettier looking and most everyone sees it as the better tube screamer compared to the ts9.

As much as I wanted to keep the ts808 (i even kept it on my pedal board because I was going to convince myself to like it better). After hours of comparison spread through out a week, the ts9 is the winner. Perhaps there was a not-so-good component in the ts808? Whatever it be, the ts9 is smoother, not as bright and just a nice fat tube screamer sound. The 808 had a very slight bit more mids, but it was a little brighter/harsher. They do sound very similar, but the ts9 has more mojo on the notes. Also captured more SRV than its big brother. I can't explain it much better than that. The ts808 is now going up for sale and the ts9 is on the pedalboard.

As for the price difference.. well, that's another win for me.

Both pedals are stock, they both also have a JRC4558D chip in them. Amp and guitar used was my 65 reissue super reverb and a 62 reissue strat (limited edition tropical turquoise, because color makes a tonal difference)

Anyone else ever do this comparison and find the ts9 coming out on top?

as described by you(ie the opamp chips being the same) its a matter of two resistor values difference between the two at the circuit level ... this might be a sum of the parts quality issue, it might just be you(ear, prejudice, whatever).

to me, it doesn't matter what the cost or perceived quality is so much as the result.

I found my TS9 to have more bite and fullness and less mids than my 808. The 808 was just way too smooth. It was the first to go.

Ditched both for an SD1.

The TS808 was for amps the were already breaking up. Like a Marshall, too push it farther to high gain and boost for leads. The TS-9 does the same and works with clean amps better. I agree, the SD-1 does real good through a big clean amp like your Super Reverb and Twin Reverb. I've also found the BB preamp more versatile than the TS808 and TS-9.

I have an Ibenez TS-9 reissue that is almost 20 years old. Does mine have the [JRC4558D] chip in it? It is stock. I seem to remember something written about the reissue's upgrade, [mod], that would make it like the originals, by substituting the 4558 chip for the one that came in it stock. I could be confused on this issue, though. Thanks... R

The TS808 was for amps the were already breaking up. Like a Marshall, too push it farther to high gain and boost for leads. The TS-9 does the same and works with clean amps better. I agree, the SD-1 does real good through a big clean amp like your Super Reverb and Twin Reverb. I've also found the BB preamp more versatile than the TS808 and TS-9.

I also own the BB preamp MB (mid boost). The mid control lets me set it to be a little more transparent. I use it for a very subtle clean boost slight crunch. It fattens things up and it pairs very nicely with the ts9

I have an Ibenez TS-9 reissue that is almost 20 years old. Does mine have the [JRC4558D] chip in it? It is stock. I seem to remember something written about the reissue's upgrade, [mod], that would make it like the originals, by substituting the 4558 chip for the one that came in it stock. I could be confused on this issue, though. Thanks... R

You can open it up and see what chip is in there. I think Ibanez starting using the JRC chips in the ts9's recently, or they're just using whatever they can get their hands on or what's laying around. Those chips are all really inexpensive.

To mod a ts9 to ts808 specs, all you have to do is change two resistors and use the JRC chip. I like my ts9 just like it is. I don't know how big a difference the JRC chip has in there, but I won't be changing the resistors. I love it how it is!