Just get a SD-1...
1. It sounds better than any TS.
2. No "vintage" bullshit price.
No point in paying over the odds for a vintage special chip bullshit tubescreamer. Just get the $40 TS7 and be done with it.
The maxon stuff are kinda expensive comparing to SD-1 and TS-7. i can get the boss/ts7 brand new for 80$ (still a lot, but shit, everything is expensive here).
it's actually all doing the same shit, right?
SD-1 clips asymmetrically, so it has a bit more "balls".
Saying a SD-1 sounds better than a TS is highly subjective. I own both a SD-1 and an OD808 and the SD-1 is collecting dust. It's a lot noisier and a bit harsh on certain amps. It doesn't have that TS middy kind of caracter for better or worst.
Well i can buy a used ts9. but i listened to it and found out that even on 0 gain i get some crunchy sound... not clean at all, i thought the boost wasnt supposed to saturate too much, only clean the lows, right?