How do use YOUR Tube Screamer?

[Shotgun]

Guitar(s)? Pickup(s)? Amp(s)? Settings?

And why?

You know, I'm just generally curious.

Keith

[charvelguy]

ahh.. it usually sits in a box since I got a Soldano hot mod.
but.. when I have used it..(typically with a JMP Marshall) I use it pretty much like any other pedal, as a lead boost. Heavier on the output level.. lower on the gain or a slight edge of more hair on, the tone about neutral.

[Chad]

I'm using my TS9 (modded to 808 specs by AnalogMan back in the late 90s) with a Randall MTS RM50B. I currently have the Blackface and Recto modules (both modified) in that amp. I have the Blackface channel set to crystal clear (which I like for some things), then I can hit the TS9 and get some dirt that is really pick and pickup sensitive. I've been playing my old Washburn KC60V superstrat the last few days....it has 1 bridge HB and 1 neck single coil....my favorite pickup arrangement. I can go from a good classic hard rock sound with the HB, then I can switch to the middle position (both pickups) and get a little cleaner grit. The pick sensitivity is cool. Slam the strings and it sounds fairly distorted. Play lightly and just a light overdrive sound.

I also use the pedal with the Recto module. This lets me run the gain a hair lower and tightens up the sound and makes it clearer & less buzzy....just like when putting a TS9 in front of a real Recto.

I'm not at home right now, but I believe the TS9 settings are:

Gain: turned all the way down
Tone: around noon, but adjust to taste
Level: around 11:00 (this allows close to unity volume with the Blackface module, but still boosts the Recto channel a little)

[DSS3]

Maxon OD808, gain at 9 o clock, tone at 10:30, level at noon.

Use it as a boost infront of my 5150, to tighten things up.

Signal chain is ESP EC1000 (81's) -> OD808 -> NS-2 -> 5150 -> Rivera K412T or Mesa 2x12 Vert (both with V30's)

[akoch]

A TS adds something to the pre-amp sounds, which is absent in the tube-only setup... uniformity and additional dimension. The sounds becomes more complex, while more evened-out if I can say so.

My settings: TS808 or OD808, gain - 11am-12:30pm depending on a guitar, tone around noon, volume noon-2pm depending on an amp.

[MSGfan]

TS-808 or OD-808
Gain-0
Output-noon or 1 o'clock
Tone-Dimed or 3 o'clock
I use them into the my early Dual Recto's only.

[markD]

i use mine as a paper weight.

i used to use it as an overdrive into my vintage fender amps when i'd play my strat or tele. it would be perfect for getting those 70's hard rock sounds i love!!!

[eaeolian]

TS-7 modded into a 808+ "brown" mod, drive off, tone at just above zero, level to match unprocessed signal. Since it's going into a TripleRec, I hardly need more gain, but the TS does tighten it up nicely and make the midrange "sing". It really didn't do much with the Mesa tube in V1, but it makes a large difference with the TungSol in V1. Strange...

[yabba]

maxon od808; gain just a hair above zero, level just a hair below dimed, tone to taste (generally just a bit below noon)

[Dreamland_Rebel]

SD-1 - level full, gain off, tone nutral.

[Robotechnology]

I like to look at the box it's in...

I only have 1 amp (THD Flexi-50) that I'd use a pedal with and that amp only gets played maybe 20% of the time. I usually play with a new pedal the week I get it and then put it back in the box. I started out with about $200 in pedals I don't really use and am now up to about $1,000 in pedals I don't really use

[DSS3]

With actual TS's (Maxon, Ibanez, etc), that Gain at 0, level full on trick really doesn't work as well as having the gain up a bit and the level at about half. The more level, the more compression you're getting.

[El_Kabong]

I use a Fulltone, FDII, original version. I am using a Victoria Deluxe with a Red Fang, so I don't want to add too much to the origninal tone. Gain is at 10:00, Tone is at 1:00 and volume at 3:00. The boost is relevant to the egos on stage at the time.

[JACKSONFREAK]

tube screamer? i dont need no stinking tube screamer. I use a MT2 for the heavier sounds with the gain at 3 0-clock or dimed depending on how hot i want it. The volume to match or slightly boost when on. Mid freq set to
1-oclock and volume of the set to 11-0clock. treble set to 2-3 o clock and bass to taste usualy at about 4 oclock. Or i use the ibanez SM7 for the more vintage marshall sounding gain. gain @ 8-10 on dial. treble set to 5 bass dimed. and level to match or slightly boost. I also throw a Boss PQ4 paremtric E in the mix on both pedals. Both mt2 and ms7 go thru the NS2 then out to my other pedals into my crate VFX5212. El34 powered and has a very marshally sound with the SM7.
I use a few other pedals too but this thread isnt about those now is it. :P
Gil