DIY tubescreamer mods

[beebs]

Hey guys, I just got done modding my ts-9 RI. I've always wondered why it sounds so crappy, and it turns out a lot of the ts-9 RIs have a crappy sounding opamp (mine was a toshiba TA75558 which is probably the worst sounding one). So with my limited soldering skills, I popped the case and changed out two resistors to make the output path the same as TS-808 specs and then replaced the crappy opamp with a TL082 that I bought at radio shack for around $2.00. The TL082 is basically a TL072 that didn't make the cut due to noise (doesn't matter much in this application). For reference the 4558 chips are what Trey uses and has used (not sure, but I think they are JRC4558's in the silvers and his older pedals). The difference is really amazing. The tin can, lifeless TS-9 reissue now sounds a lot more natural. The drive is much warmer and richer and has lost a lot of the muddiness that it had before. So if you're like me and don't like your TS-9 reissue, you can mod it for a few bucks (around $4.00 total from rat shack) to a new beast. There are several chips available, so you can really have a true custom TS.

Analogman has a nice write-up about the opamps used in various screamers: http://www.analogman.com/tshist.htm
Someone did a comparison of 11 opamps (if you solder in a chip bracket you can change chips by just snapping them in and out) here: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=239977
And finally the write-up I used is here: http://www.tonepad.com/photoessay.asp?photoEssayID=9

I've also done mods on my GCB-95 (easier then the TS because of the bigger board, but more parts http://www.stinkfoot.se/andreas/diy/mods/dunlop.htm), and it would be easy to do all of the garmopat mods yourself using some of the online tutorials... And, I modded my boss cs-3 (kind of a tight board), and although it sounds miles better, it still sucks.

[beebs]

I agree it would take some work for things like the dual selectable inductors, but if you have the patience you can buy the parts and do it yourself for very very cheap. The basic mods for q, bass, mid, and gain just require putting the right trimpots in place (I went with regular old resistors and caps because I don't plan on cracking the case just to make small adjustments). My wah is a revision i so it already has a red fasel inductor. Does having multiple inductors make a big difference?

[sour d]

Hey guys, I just got done modding my ts-9 RI. I've always wondered why it sounds so crappy, and it turns out a lot of the ts-9 RIs have a crappy sounding opamp (mine was a toshiba TA75558 which is probably the worst sounding one). So with my limited soldering skills, I popped the case and changed out two resistors to make the output path the same as TS-808 specs and then replaced the crappy opamp with a TL082 that I bought at radio shack for around $2.00. The TL082 is basically a TL072 that didn't make the cut due to noise (doesn't matter much in this application). For reference the 4558 chips are what Trey uses and has used (not sure, but I think they are JRC4558's in the silvers and his older pedals). The difference is really amazing. The tin can, lifeless TS-9 reissue now sounds a lot more natural. The drive is much warmer and richer and has lost a lot of the muddiness that it had before. So if you're like me and don't like your TS-9 reissue, you can mod it for a few bucks (around $4.00 total from rat shack) to a new beast. There are several chips available, so you can really have a true custom TS.

Analogman has a nice write-up about the opamps used in various screamers: http://www.analogman.com/tshist.htm
Someone did a comparison of 11 opamps (if you solder in a chip bracket you can change chips by just snapping them in and out) here: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=239977
And finally the write-up I used is here: http://www.tonepad.com/photoessay.asp?photoEssayID=9

I've also done mods on my GCB-95 (easier then the TS because of the bigger board, but more parts http://www.stinkfoot.se/andreas/diy/mods/dunlop.htm), and it would be easy to do all of the garmopat mods yourself using some of the online tutorials... And, I modded my boss cs-3 (kind of a tight board), and although it sounds miles better, it still sucks.

If your not handy with the iron, you can get 12 point modded ts-5's or ts7's on ebay pretty cheap and you'll be suprised how good they sound. Ts5's aren't as rugged as the others but can sound good with the right mods. They come socketed so you can swap the opams. Stock ts10's sound really good and can be had for a good price too.

[beebs]

I noticed that in the mid 90's Trey had a TS-10 with the gain set all the way down and the volume all the way up going into a TS-9 with the gain and volume all the way up. I think they both should be sharing similar chips (JRC4558's).

[sour d]

I noticed that in the mid 90's Trey had a TS-10  going into a TS-9 . I think they both should be sharing similar chips (JRC4558's).

You got it.

[sour d]

I've also done mods on my GCB-95 (easier then the TS because of the bigger board, but more parts http://www.stinkfoot.se/andreas/diy/mods/dunlop.htm), and it would be easy to do all of the garmopat mods yourself using some of the online tutorials.

For wah mods check out this
http://cgi.ebay.com/Complete-Wah-Upgrade-Kit-Whipple-Inductor-ICAR-POT-/290449530539?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item43a0241eab

That is pretty much all you need to do to have a good sounding wah. For tube screamers you should try stacking opamps too. Set one on top of the other and solder the six legs together and jam it in the socket you installed on your board.