I need a TS-9 OD Boost... 2nd OD or Booster?

[g0phish]

I want to stack a 2nd overdrive to drive my solo home at the end. Two TS-9s are too noisy and have a lot of feedback. I am looking to keep my TS-9 sound, but do want to have more grit, and a slight volume boost at the end. Do I need to look into a booster instead or look for a 2nd overdrive pedal like the Fulldrive or Timmy pedal? I am on a slight budget, so nothing too wild.

I play mostly bedroom volumes and sometimes play with a drummer. My current ring is..

Guitar -> Barber Tone Press Compressor -> TS9 -> Nova Flashback -> RC-2 Looper -> Fender Blues Jr

[clc12rock]

Probably a Timmy. It's pretty transparent, but IDK how it stacks with TS9s, but I'm sure someone does. But despite popular belief, Trey usually doesn't stack his TS9s. He has one that's full-on cranked and another with slight grit and he switches between the two. Also having his Ross comp after the OD helps him tame some of the feedback issues you were having.

If I were you, I'd keep an eye out for a used RAF Mirage Compressor in the Emporium. Even though it's a comp, it's super transparent and honestly it's the best clean boost I've ever used. Listening to 11/28/2003 right now and Trey's tone is shit. Glad he's tamed it down a bit in 3.0.

[RBfan]

I'm not a stacker, what can I tell ya - I would basically try everything else 1st before adding an OD. Is you comp always on? I use mine as a boost to give a little extra grit when I need it. Assume you've tried the Fat Switch on the BJ? This gives a little extra boost & more mids - gotta get the footswitch for it. Lastly I would probably look at a simple clean boost somewhere post OD; there are quite a few good ones around & can be had relatively cheap 2nd hand. Boost 'n' Buff, Beano Boost, even the BBE Boosta Grande (wow, lots of B's...)

Anyway, that's how I'd approach it - I prefer to let my OD's stand on their own.

T

[Ultrawaffle]

timmy is perfect for this. You can keep it as a completely clean boost or add some more gain with it and it won't color the sound so it'll just sound like MORE of your ts. The EQ on it is a beast too, but you can still turn everything all the way down and not affect the tone at all if you so choose.

My two cents

[redbeardrob]

how do you have your two ts9's set? if you have a high gain ts9 for a solo and then run a low gain/high volume ts9 into it you'll get what you want with minimal noise. but if you set the gain on both of them high, yes it will be noisey.

[g0phish]

Originally Posted by redbeardrob

how do you have your two ts9's set? if you have a high gain ts9 for a solo and then run a low gain/high volume ts9 into it you'll get what you want with minimal noise. but if you set the gain on both of them high, yes it will be noisey.

I have one with a low grit, and one with med high. I typically will use the low grit when I am playing the song, and when I jam, I switch on the higher grit. When I finish the song I'll put both on.


And I've heard amazing things about the Timmy, but I've also heard that if you use two different ODs, it will color your tone different.

I usually keep my Barber Tone Compressor on all the time, but I certainly don't mind trying the idea of turning it off, and just switching it on during a solo. Not a bad idea at all.

[fulltone1989]

I was considering a Fat Boost v1 or v3, but I ended up getting a FD2 for all my OD needs.

[Jet Age Eric]

I'd get a boost with some voicing options, just to ensure your (low) mids don't get too congested. That said, a Tim or AC Boost (Comp) would probably be safe bets as far as congestion goes, although I'm not a fan of either. -E

[whiteop]

Amp Eleven too.

[Heady Jam Fan]

You are going for Trey's Tone? I had 2 TS9 Silvers for a while and, honestly, I think the guitar itself has more to do with the tone than 2 TS's. They do get noisy when stacked, but it is doable, mostly I would go with the suggestion of not using the comp, or at least using it less, if you really want to try to sound like Trey. On that note, you would need at least a similar guitar to his. Trey usually used one TS with mild grit, another full blast, but he also adjusted his volume knob often, played with his hand always covering the unused strings because of feedback and I believe he had coil taps, but not certain. I also think you need to play pretty loud to get his tone, all the midrange and compression of the TS makes it hard to hear nice low and high end, especially in chord work, which I definitely do hear in Trey's tone. I think this is often lost at bedroom volumes.

On that note, a Tim after a TS sounds great. I almost never use a TS with out a Tim after it - the Tim does a great mild OD rhythm and the TS pushes it into sweet, bluesy lead/solo territory. You definitely still get the TS tone, but it is a bit modified by running through the Tim after, but not in a bad way IMO.

[shredtrash]

The two best stackers I've ever played with a TS9 are the Keeley Java Boost and the Fulltone OCD in that order.

[g0phish]

Originally Posted by Heady Jam Fan

You are going for Trey's Tone? I had 2 TS9 Silvers for a while and, honestly, I think the guitar itself has more to do with the tone than 2 TS's. .

I used to be after his tone, but I bought a Carvin CT6 guitar, and LOVE the tone! Trey is an influence, but I really like the midrange sound of a stock TS-9, and it would be helpful in my rig to be able to boost it while trying to avoid all the excess noise.

[Heady Jam Fan]

Cool - I love Trey's tone too, but kinda gave up on copying it. I would say boost or OD after it would be best IMO because a increasing volume before it would increase the compression, which I find to be on the verge of too much, despite that fact that I love my TS. Another thing I was thinking about doing is putting a larger, foot controllable knob on the gain of the TS (and a few other pedals) to experiment with that.

I would personally suggest pairing it with any open OD. The Tim is great, I suspect a BD2 would work (especially the Keeley). You could also just keep your amp on the verge of OD and use a boost after (assuming your amp is tube), but I really like it into a Tim. Maybe head to a music shop and get them to let you try a TS into a transparent, open OD?

[jpagey]

Bad Bob, Keeley Fuzz Head or Lovepedal CoT

[Matters]

I put an RC Booster before my TS9 and use it for solos. I love it, very transparent.