Tube Screamer shootout! Blind Test

[Robert Landrum]

I wanted to make a comparison mainly for a Tube Screamer that I just built. So I figured I would also throw in a few more pedals into the test as well.



Song: Intro and 1st verse of Holy Diver by Killswitch Engage.

Gear used: Ibanez RG7321 w/ Blackouts tuned to drop B into (Tube Screamer) into Boss NS-2 into 5150. Audix i5 on G12t-75's into Fast Track Pro into Pro-Tools MP8.
-Superior Drummer Avatar/MF hybrid kit.
-Cort 5 string bass tuned Drop B, DI into Sansamp plug-in with EQ and SSLComp and L2.



Obviously all settings stayed the same for each track. Each track was recorded live, no re-amping or anything like that.



The pedals tested were-

-Stock Reissue Ibanez Tube Screamer w/RC4558D chip and Ibanez PCB.

-Stock Maxon OD-9 w/ JRC4558D chip.

-Stock Boss SD-1 w/ JRC4558DD chip.

-DIY Tube Screamer w/ RC4558D chip, mosfet clipping, tone mod (tone knob reduced from 20k to 2k. Replaced .22uf with .47uf. Bringing the stock 750hz hump down to 150hz thus letting more bass in and reducing the mid spike. Experimenting with that so it's not permanent.

Settings for TS's is Drive-0, Tone-Full, Level-Full




This is a blind test. You guess what you think is what. The last track was just for fun and it's ALL 4 of the pedals together. I'll post the answers beside the "reply" below either tonight or tomorrow. If anyone cares that is.


Your reply should be in the form of

Track#1-Answer
Track#2-Answer
Track#3-Answer
Track#4-Answer






#1 http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6619465/ScreamerTest#1.mp3

#2 http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6619465/ScreamerTest#2.mp3

#3 http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6619465/ScreamerTest#3.mp3

#4 http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6619465/ScreamerTest#4.mp3


All 4 together- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6619465/ScreamerTest All 4.mp3

 

[Clark Kent]

Listened to all of them and I must say my opinion is "doesn't matter". No drastic changes although very different pedals. Maybe the 1st and 4th sounded best? But I heard a bigger difference in the way those riffs were played.

 

[Robert Landrum]

Haha. Yeah, I didn't wanna spend all day tracking guitars and making them perfect each time. I figured fuck it, leave the variances in there. Thanks for listening though.

 

[PremierProductions]

#1 Sounded a bit low end heavy to me and a tad muddy to me. While 3 and 4 sounded a bit tighter and balanced. I'd say 4 was my favorite

 

[Robert Landrum]

#1 Sounded a bit low end heavy to me and a tad muddy to me. While 3 and 4 sounded a bit tighter and balanced. I'd say 4 was my favorite

Agreed. 4 is my favorite as well. Which is surprising I guess.

Well being that nobody cared I will go ahead and say that

#1-Original TS
#2-DIY TS
#3-Maxon OD-9
#4-Boss SD-1

 

[jackbraglia]

I was going back and forth between 3 and 4. surprising that the boss sounded as good as it did. never been a fan of boss products