More tube screamer stuff

I posted this in the TS9 thread, but I think most folks just skimmed past it, so here goes again:

I just purchased the "kit" to change my TS7 back to original TS808/TS9 specs. (JRC4558D chip, some reisistors, $15)

Has anyone out there done this/had this done? What difference(s) can I expect once I get this suff in my box?

The kit should arrive this week. I'll post my own opinions once I've got it up and running.....

I did this a few years back, converted a TS5 Soundtank to "808 Specs" that I found online. Like you say, I changed the chip and a few resistor values, didn't take too long.

The difference IMHO was pretty subtle, and hard to put into words. It was still the same tone, just slightly improved. A before & after A/B test with my friend's TS9 was pretty close, I liked his slightly better before and mine slightly better after. Very subtle stuff though....

I think there may be more to it than just those few parts, you've got smaller/cheaper components in the 5 and 7 series that may negatively impact the tone regardless of specs. It's worth doing, but don't expect a miracle!

That's about what I expected. For the money, it should be fun...

where do you get this kit?

Jimmi,
I don't want you to think that I'm saying you were dumb for paying what you paid, but rather this is meant as a public service announcement for the benefit of anyone else out there considering doing this:
You can buy all the parts from Mouser for less than one US dollar. The JRC4558 (aka NJM4558) IC sells for $0.22 (part#: 513-NJM4558D) and a couple of resistors will set you back maybe another $0.20 for some nice metal films, $0.44 if you want the mystical "brown" noise option using carbon comp resistors. If you want to go really fancy, you can buy yourself an IC socket for maybe another $0.30; I think gold-plated ones sell for under $1.00. Do NOT believe anyone claiming to be selling "NOS JRC4558's" either b/c most of these guys are selling the same NEW ones you can buy from Mouser. Shipping might cost you another couple dollars maximum.

I'm all for people selling useful upgrade kits to the consumer but charging 15x the price for stuff simply b/c most people don't know how much the items should cost is criminal.

As MJ mentioned, the parts aren't much and here is a site that has more info about the TS ( and a lot of other effects) than you probably need to know.
http://www.geofex.com/
Just click on the fx technology link at the top of the page.

I had a friend mod my TS10 to the TS808 specs, it was a subtle improvement, more like it felt better than it sounded better if that makes any sense?
I like the TS for what it is, if I want more gain, less mids etc I'll just get / use another pedal, YMMV etc...

Well, I just got finished putting the "kit" in my box. The difference is subtle, but not that subtle....

I did get one of the "NOS" IC's, and I think it might be legit. The site I bought this stuff from (http://www.legendarytones.com/)claims that some people don't like the NJRC chips.(??) (The one's marked NJRC are from the late 80's-90's, NJRC stands for New Japaneese Radio Corp.) The chip I pulled out of the TS7 was the "reissue", marked JRC (Japaneese Radio Corp.). The four digit number following JRC is followed by the letter "B" on the "reissue", there is no suffix on the chip that came with the "kit"....

The first thing I did was remove the old chip, install the socket and new chip, plug in, and play. I could easily tell the difference. The new chip had more of a "crunchy" sound as opposed to the "fuzzy" sound of the old one...

I then went ahead and replaced 2 resistiors in the output section of the circuit. This actually masked the difference between the two chips! (I think my favorite tone was the new chip with the old resistors...) Seems like Ibanez did a good job of matching the sound of the TS7's circuit to the old ones using the components that they had....

Bottom line: The chip did make a noticeable difference in tone. Whether or not it is truly "NOS", who knows. Now that I know how cheaply I can aquire the NJRC chip, (thanks MJ!) and have a socket installed, I plan on buying one. I'll A/B/C between the "NOS", the "reissue", and the "new" chips and let y'all know what happens....

Oh yeah, was it worth the $15? IMHO, sure. Would it be more worth it for only $1? Of course! This is only the second pedal I've "messed with", and this stuff is fun, fairly easy, and cheap. Why buy a whole new pedal when for a couple dollars you can make the one you've got sound "just right"? I was about to buy a Fulltone wah, but decided to "tweek" my old one instead. In so doing I saved myself a couple hundred bucks, and now my wah sounds "perfect" for me, not just "guitar players" in general, which is who it was "perfect" for before.....Dig???

Installing a socket is WELL worth the money. It will let you try all kinds of ICs; R. Keeley prefers the RC4558D (also available from Mouser). I've A/B'd it with the JRC and I prefer the JRC. There are also other 4558-type chips out there that you can buy and play with. Others actually like the TL072. My favorite IC is the NTE858, though I've not yet used one in a TS circuit; they sound GREAT in the Marshall Bluesbreaker though. Unfortunately they cost $3 from Mouser.

I'll have to check Mouser out asap....

that is my fave of the opamps, but in the TS circuit they all seem very similar to me.

the TL072 seems to be the most 'flexible' of all the 8 pinners i've tried, if you're into alot of pedal tweaking.

sockets are definitely where it's at. and why stop at chip sockets? they make transistor sockets, amongst other sockets. i love them because i'd rather swap out components 'til i get a set that i like, rather than loading up the top side of the box with teensy weensy switches.

the Soundtank series are absolutely wonderful for modding, because you can pull the pedal apart in about 5 minutes or less after you've done it a few times. i like to do a whole bunch at once, decide on the winner setup, and then use it as a blueprint for the rest.

i email back and forth with a guy who makes and mods his own effects pedals, and he wasn't very impressed with the 808 mod. he says it's overhyped by the people who want to sell the chip to you or get you to ship it to them to mod it for you. apparently there are loads more mods to do if you have a ts9 though.

i email back and forth with a guy who makes and mods his own effects pedals, and he wasn't very impressed with the 808 mod. he says it's overhyped by the people who want to sell the chip to you or get you to ship it to them to mod it for you. apparently there are loads more mods to do if you have a ts9 though.