Help to identify/date this TS-808

[jeru]

Hello folks,

I have an old TS-808 that will be leaving the fold soon, but I don't know that much about it. The markings on the board mean very little to me, and the sticker on the back plate (that would have had the serial number...!) is long gone. Here are some pictures:

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/joshuarosie/DSC00849.jpg?t=1250180669

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/joshuarosie/DSC00854.jpg?t=1250180692

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/joshuarosie/DSC00836.jpg?t=1250180709

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/joshuarosie/DSC00840.jpg?t=1250180727

Please help to identify what this is, when made, etc. Is there some sort of serial number or something that would still be there even though the backplate sticker is gone?

Any help is appreciated, many thanks.

 

[Reckedtrek]

http://www.analogman.com/tshist.htm

Here's a little bit of info from analogman. Your logo doesn't have the registered (r) symbol on it, so it appears to be made a little later in the original TS808 first run. That probably doesn't tell you much, but it's what I could find.

 

[jeru]

Thank you -- Yeah, I had seen that page before.

Keep 'em coming!

 

[Mr. Kite]

Can't the chip be dated? What are all the numbers on the chip?

Looks like a 1981.

 

[jeru]

Chip says JRC 4558 1228. Why say you 1981, Mr. Kite?

 

[Mr. Kite]

From the Analogman tube screamer history page.

1. 111179 (R) jRC4558D 1980, from SRV/Cesar Diaz, nut on power jack
2. 111642 (R) JRC4558D 1980 nut on power jack
3. 112198 (R) JRC4558D 1980, nut on power jack 2SK121 FETS
4. 112862 (R) RC4558P Malaysia 1980/31st week, nut on power jack
5. 116118 (R) RC4558P Malaysia, nut on power jack
6. 120229 (R)
7. 120274 (R) RC4558P 1980/35th week, power jack nut
8. 120407 (R)
9. 122858 (R)
10. 126469 (R) RC4558P
11. 126648 (R)
12. 127460 (R) JRC4558D 1980 chip
13. 131544 (R) RC4558P Malaysia 1980/40th week, no power jack nut
14. 131542 (?) no power jack nut, 2SK44
15. 131630 (R) RC4558P malaysia chip 1980/35th week, 2SK44
16. 131661 (R)
17. 139290 (R) no nut on power jack, JRC4558D 0727 chip made in 1980
18. 139329 (R)
19. 139659 no nut on jack, Texas inst Malaysia chip
20. 139767 TI RC4558P
21. 144650 TL4558P 1981?
22. 144990 no (R)
23. 146264 (R) is OD-855 in TS808 shell
24. 151870 (R) (orig#?) 1981 JRC4558D
25. 152048 (R)
26. 153125 no (R)
27. 154114 no (R) JRC4558D
28. 157788 no (R)
29. 158135 (R)'81 JRC4558D
30. 162972 JRC4558D killer tone
31. 163311 no (R) JRC4558D, 1981 chip
32. 164337 no (R) JRC4558D, no power jack nut, 1981 chip and caps
33. 170002 no (R) '81 JRC4558D chip, no power jack nut
34. 175729 no (R) JRC4558D chip, no power jack nut
35. 177390 no (R) '81 JRC4558D, no power jack nut
36. 178490 no (R)
37. 181298 no (R) or nut, 1981 JRC4558D 1444 2SK44 FETS
38. 197833 - Early TS9 from 1981.

I guess the lack of an (R) kinda puts it in the '81 realm don't you think? I don't know how to date it with the code but someone here does for sure.

 

[aldo247]

can you snap a picture of the pots?

 

[jeru]

can you snap a picture of the pots?

Aldo -- if it helps you help me, you bet. THANK YOU for your time and assistance. Will try to find a moment to snap a pot pic tonight.

 

[analogmike]

The chip is a 1981 chip (1223 the 1=1981), the blue electro caps will have date codes too but I can't see them in the picture.

 

[jeru]

Wow. Internets are great. Analog mike and others, THANK YOU!

Aldo -- for good measure, see link to picture of potentiometers.

 

[ericsabbath]

I have a Maxon GE-601, serial 102242, chip is a JRC4558D code 4104
what year is that? 1981?

 

[stinkfoot]

I'd think that's 1984. That doesn't mean the pedal is exactly that year, but if the op-amp hasn't been replaced, it can't be any older than that.

/Andreas

 

[ericsabbath]

I think they only made that pedal from 79 to 81
then they started the GE-9, that looks like a TS-9, instead of a TS-808

 

[Jollyb]

Wow.......lots of cool info here. So since mine has an "R" in the Logo:




That means it was around the first batch in the 70's?

 

[ericsabbath]

does the (R) is valid for Maxon too?
I've never saw a Maxon without it

 

[ericsabbath]

bump

 

[rocker_71]

I don't know what exact year, but ik looks COOL.

 

[70's Hard Rock]

great info here!

 

[tozum]

Old topic but I want to ask anyway.
I got a vintage 808 with JRC4558D (0197 code on it) chip, blue electro caps (8024 codes on them), (R) logo and a power jack nut. However it has a serial number around 178xxxs. The serial and the specs does not fit with each other as it is written above. Can it be a rarity or the serial numbers are just not good for dating?

Any comment would be highly appreciated.