Anyone compared Anaog Man modded Tube Screamer/Boss SD to a

Ray G · January 3rd, 2004, 12:23 PM

Hello and Happy New Year,

I'm wondering if anyone in Tele-land has tried Analog Mikes modded Tube Screamers and/or Boss SD1's.

I'm very tempted to buy one of the two because I like the fact that that you can get some "drive" without loosing your guitars actual sound.
Then I started to wonder about the Sparkle Drive because you can actually mix your clean signal into your overdriven circuit (if I'm not wrong the Sparkle Drive is more or less a Tube Screamer type overdrive).

It seems that Analog Mikes Tube Screamers and the Sparkle Drive are trying to get the same results and I'm hoping that maybe some folks can share their experiences with either pedal or perhaps have even tried both. I'd appreciate any insight!

Have a great New Year!

rockycreeker · January 3rd, 2004, 08:56 PM

I've have an Analog Mike modded Tubescreamer for several years now and while the mod didn't change the pedal that much, it was noticeable and I think worth the $$. He also did his brown mod and it made it a good bit warmer and the tone control is very useable now. I use the TS for light overdrive.

Also this year, I sent an old Boss SD-1 to Robert Keeley to mod. He did the blue LED thing, which is awesome and so bright it will about blind you on a dark stage!! He must have put his most high gain mod on the SD-1, cause he really goosed the gain. I've read that he can also do a lesser gain mod. The pedal is a lot higher gain, but more noisy also. I have evolved into using the SD-1 as a boost in front of the TS, and I have emailed Robert about backing down the gain and doing a "brown mod" on the SD-1, which he has gladly agreed to do for no extra $$. I just haven't sent the pedal back to him yet. He is super friendly, returns emails very promptly, and is eager to please the customer. Either Robert or Analog Mike are really good folks to deal with. Just be sure you like the basic TS sound, cause that's still what these pedals sound like... just better. Hope this helps

hippietim · January 4th, 2004, 12:56 AM

I've got an AnalogMan modded TS9DX. This pedal has never left my board since I got it. The only other pedal that has that status is my Boss pedal tuner. The mod made a big difference. This pedal really makes solos cut through smoothly. It's hard to articulate it, you really need to hear it. There are a lot of guys performing similar mods - I've never heard of any of them being better or worse - I just went with Analog Mike because he did the mod for like 40 bucks, was super to deal with, and has a great reputation. Since then I picked up a TS5 modded to classic TS specs by a local amp tech as a backup. It sounds pretty much the same to me.

I also have a DS-1 and a Blues Driver with Keeley mods. They sound amazing! The mods for these two pedals make HUGE differences. They were both pretty brittle and harsh beforehand and are now warm and very rich with harmonics.

Reno Sepulveda · January 4th, 2004, 01:36 PM

I got my TS9 back from Mike awhile back. Like Tim said it hasen't left my signal chain since. I leave it on all the time with the gain and volume around 10 and 2 o'clock. The silver mod makes the pedal more transparent and I actually can control my tone with the guitar's volume control The silver mod also includes the brown mod which lets me dial in a little more treble so my strat dosen't sound muddy. I use my Rat buzzsaw distortion

By the way, I also recently had a Boss chorus pedal worked on by Keeley electronics. His work and customer service are superb as well.

Reno

January 3rd, 2004, 12:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ray G Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 617	Anyone compared Anaog Man modded Tube Screamer/Boss SD to a Hello and Happy New Year, I'm wondering if anyone in Tele-land has tried Analog Mikes modded Tube Screamers and/or Boss SD1's. I'm very tempted to buy one of the two because I like the fact that that you can get some "drive" without loosing your guitars actual sound. Then I started to wonder about the Sparkle Drive because you can actually mix your clean signal into your overdriven circuit (if I'm not wrong the Sparkle Drive is more or less a Tube Screamer type overdrive). It seems that Analog Mikes Tube Screamers and the Sparkle Drive are trying to get the same results and I'm hoping that maybe some folks can share their experiences with either pedal or perhaps have even tried both. I'd appreciate any insight! Have a great New Year! __________________ Regards, Ray

January 3rd, 2004, 08:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
rockycreeker Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 377	I'll Take a Stab I've have an Analog Mike modded Tubescreamer for several years now and while the mod didn't change the pedal that much, it was noticeable and I think worth the $$. He also did his brown mod and it made it a good bit warmer and the tone control is very useable now. I use the TS for light overdrive. Also this year, I sent an old Boss SD-1 to Robert Keeley to mod. He did the blue LED thing, which is awesome and so bright it will about blind you on a dark stage!! He must have put his most high gain mod on the SD-1, cause he really goosed the gain. I've read that he can also do a lesser gain mod. The pedal is a lot higher gain, but more noisy also. I have evolved into using the SD-1 as a boost in front of the TS, and I have emailed Robert about backing down the gain and doing a "brown mod" on the SD-1, which he has gladly agreed to do for no extra $$. I just haven't sent the pedal back to him yet. He is super friendly, returns emails very promptly, and is eager to please the customer. Either Robert or Analog Mike are really good folks to deal with. Just be sure you like the basic TS sound, cause that's still what these pedals sound like... just better. Hope this helps __________________ Playing music is a permanent sickness

January 4th, 2004, 01:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
Reno Sepulveda Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nowhere man Posts: 1,357	aNALOG mAN TS-9 Silver mod I got my TS9 back from Mike awhile back. Like Tim said it hasen't left my signal chain since. I leave it on all the time with the gain and volume around 10 and 2 o'clock. The silver mod makes the pedal more transparent and I actually can control my tone with the guitar's volume control The silver mod also includes the brown mod which lets me dial in a little more treble so my strat dosen't sound muddy. I use my Rat buzzsaw distortion By the way, I also recently had a Boss chorus pedal worked on by Keeley electronics. His work and customer service are superb as well. Reno __________________ "I'm just kidding about that really."

January 4th, 2004, 12:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
hippietim Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Raleigh Posts: 2,101	I've got an AnalogMan modded TS9DX. This pedal has never left my board since I got it. The only other pedal that has that status is my Boss pedal tuner. The mod made a big difference. This pedal really makes solos cut through smoothly. It's hard to articulate it, you really need to hear it. There are a lot of guys performing similar mods - I've never heard of any of them being better or worse - I just went with Analog Mike because he did the mod for like 40 bucks, was super to deal with, and has a great reputation. Since then I picked up a TS5 modded to classic TS specs by a local amp tech as a backup. It sounds pretty much the same to me. I also have a DS-1 and a Blues Driver with Keeley mods. They sound amazing! The mods for these two pedals make HUGE differences. They were both pretty brittle and harsh beforehand and are now warm and very rich with harmonics.