Ibanez TS-808 Reissue

Very easy to use.

As much as this pedal can be used to put some dirt in your sound, I find it also works well as a stomp compressor. I play through a Laney VH100 and I use 7 string schecters with SD's and Bare Knuckles. The way I have my amp set up, I get a heavy, punchy distortion which is good for all my rythyms and some lead lines. But I've always wanted something more for my extended solos...more juiciness, sustain and sensitivity but without masking what my hands are doing. I do have a lot more available gain on my amp than I usually use but for some reason the highs get really harsh when I boost the drive on the amp.

The 808 reissue has pretty much given me what I want for lead tone. I set it with the level at 1:00, tone at 12:00 and the drive at just one knotch above 0. This preserves the amp tone and gives me a slight boost in volume and upper mids. The clipping also feels like a light compressor that adds sustain and usable feedback while cutting back on the punch just a bit...essentially giving me more of a liquid feeling on my runs and sweeps.

I have tried using this as an "on all the time" pedal also but I didn't like it as much because as I mentioned it cuts back on the punchiness of the amp tone so palm mutes and sticato notes don't sound as good. I also can't keep in on at all times because I do switch to my clean channel fairly often and the 808 pushes too hard to do a real clean in my opinion. Even with the drive all the way down their is still some apparent clipping present. And the level boost is much more apparent on a clean amp as well so the volume can be kind of overwhelming when switching channels. Both of these issues are more manageable with single-coil pickups compared to humbuckers of course but I'm not into strats. For me it's better to just use the pedal for a lead boost.

Funny thing is I bought it from guitar center and after trying the floor model, specifically asked for one new in the box. Brought it home and the thing didn't work at all...some bad wiring or components or something. So I had to bring that one back in exchange for the floor model. But so far this one has worked ok.

I play pretty much all progressive metal and I think this pedal is great for what I use it for although I definately would not use this for a stand-alone distortion. My set up is 7 string Schecters > X2 wireless(live) > Tuner > TS 808 > ISP Decimator > Laney VH100 head > dbx 266xl comp > MXR 10 band EQ > TC Electronic rack FX > BBE Sonic Max > back to amp > Lopo sealed back cab with Eminence V12's(4x12 and/or 2x12 depending on size of venue).

If it were stolen I'd probably try out a few Fulltone pedals before buying the 808 again. What I like most about this pedal is that it alters my tone just enough to give me what I need for solos but doesn't take anything away from it. I also have more confidence using this pedal over digital modelers because it is analogue and the effect on my signal is real. Not that I think the digital pedals don't sound just as good(because they often do) but I suppose there is a sort of placebo effect when you know you're using the real thing...makes it sound better mentally.
BTW I really don't get the point of all this modding of the pedal through Keeley or whatever other company. If you want a Keeley mod why not just buy their pedals. The ones I've heard sound great and it's less of a pain in the *** than buying this pedal and sinking extra time and money into sending it out to be altered. Seems odd to me.

So easy a caveman could use it!...seriously. OD, tone, and vol. levels with a big activation button square in the middle of it. Doesn't take a real genius to use.

I could not love this pedal more. I'm not a real high-gain guy, and the regular gain controls on the OD side of the amp just cannot emulate the sound of the TS-808. Through a Marshall AVT50H, clean or distorted, this pedal produces a clear, cutting sound that isn't too harsh, and is quite rich and warm sounding. Great for blues rock and other rock music (sorry metalheads).

To another point, this pedal also does not create a lot of noise on a single-coil instrument. Even on the full OD setting on the pedal itself, which is quite nice. This pedal can do well distorting your bridge pickup while still leaving lots of clean tone on your neck pickup. The OD/tone knobs make it also where you can go from fairly classic stuff to some hard rock. Quite versatile.

Has a thick metal casing and is as heavy as a brick. It'll take a lot of damage before it's done in. Not that I'm going to try and destroy this wonderful pedal!!

Haven't had to put up with Ibanez yet. Hope I never have to anyway.

With this pedal, it'll probably be the only distortion I use here out. I get seriously sick of hearing of all these "metalheads" who say the TS-808 isn't "punchy enough" or its "too weak." Well this isn't a high-gain pedal, now is it? It is what it is: its a simple rock distortion that isn't TOO dirty, and the output is incredibly clean and clear. Absolute pristine quality too, may I add.

It's got 3 knobs - not exactly rocket science!

I admit that I bought this pedal because of all the hype surrounding this pedal and it only arrived yesterday. In fact I sold my Boss OD-3 on FleaBay to make space on my pedal board (a big mistake in hindsight). Plugged in alongside my Keeley modded BD-2, this pedal produces a similar ballpark sound, but somewhat thinner and muffled by comparison which only highlights just how good the modded pedal is. Having said that, I won't be selling it any time soon as the two pedals together make for a good combination SRV style in front of my Fender amps. The pedal now sits in my current set up which comprises: AM Strat > wah > CS-3 (modded) > TS808 > BD-2 (modded) > MXR Analogue Delay > RV-5 Reverb > Blues Junior or Champ 600 (modded).

It looks sturdy enough.

My 1st pedal by this manufacturer so I can't offer an opinion.

Having read numerous reviews here on a variety of pedals, this is my 1st posting here prompted by the arrival of this rather disappointing pedal.

Normal Overdrive control configuration that even drummers can understand
Drive, Tone & Level.

Straight from the box, I would give it an 8.

I made som changes according to Keeley's website and my own electronics knowledge.

The Chip, despite being a JRC4558D, is crap so I removed it and replaced it with a Texas Instruments 4558P that is much better than the stock chip. Hi-Fi mod. Modders Web Clich??: "Like taking the blanket off the speakers" kinda mod.

Some Capacitors and Resistors were changed to better quality ones.
The Capacitors used were PolyFilm and the Resistors were 1% Tolerance for less noise.

After the mod, you have the same pedal with vitamins instead.

LIKE POPEYE ON SPINACHS!!!!

The pedal sounds great now. I use as my stand alone pedal with my Strat with Lollars Blackface and a Peavey Classic 50. I removed my other pedals from the chain. There's no need to use another pedal anymore.

The sound is round, perfect for the blues/rock thing. So if you are after the best OD to play blues, rock, pop, etc. go get one and mod it!

Metalheads: Just as a boost for leads and/or riffs, no standing alone in here for you guys.

All my pedals are modded by myself. No one can escape from being opened and have their guts checked. If you do not know the inside of what you're using, then why the hell are you using it in the first place????

After my mod, I will give a ten since it sounds exactly like I want.

Looks good, although I've reinforced all the soldering joints.
I now the switch is the Achiles Heel in this pedal, but mine works just fine and I hope it does for a long time.

Never Dealt with the guys in Ibanez.

This pedal is not for starters.
He will not sound good with a Squier Strat and a Crate Solid State amp.
And even if the starter has a Custom Shop Strat and a Bassman, he will not be capable of hearing the differences.
It needs tubes to sound as he's meant to sound.

The controls are easy to use, but the switch is the worst design ever put on a pedal. The thing does not switch on and off easily. I want a switch that is easy to press on and off. This is not!!! It has never worked correctly. It's just a bad design. They should have put a normal switch on it and not copied the original pedal's design.

It certain does not do everything, but it's a very smooth tone. Playing full chords with this on is not harsh at all and sounds really nice. Although it can really distort a lot, it is a very mellow type of distortion.

Only reason it's not a 10 is there is no way to make this punchy. Sometimes when I want to rock out, it just doesn't do the trick. But it's extremely good for distorted rhythms and leads with delay.

Ehh. I have had some problems with the knobs. The switch also is extremely hard to deal with. You could almost consider it unreliable for that reason alone.

Great for certain things. It's not good for rocking out power chords. It's not that kind of a pedal. AGAIN, the switch is one of the worst designs in pedal history. I am getting a bypass strip soon, so i will never have to worry about that again. Thank God.

If you use it right, it can really benefit your sound. But you really have to drive your amp along with this pedal to make it sound right. Without amp drive, there is just no tone.

Simple ..as everyone has stated

I play an assortment of stratocasters and telecasters, now and again a Les Paul. I'm at variance as to the amp type that can be used with this. I use a solid state Cyber-Deluxe Fender as my main amp even though I have a Twin Reverb, The Twin, and a Vibrolux (all tube amps). Contrary to all who have said a solid state amp won't work with this - i find it sounds great through the cyber deluxe amp, and at low volumes!! It may be because I send the cyber outs to my guitar mixer and then to the PA mixer to get a very large sound without lots of volume on the amp. No thin sound - just real nice sounding. With my SRV stratocaster I'm able to get very close to the SRV sound using the TS-808. Lots of fun! Now all I need to do is play like SRV.

I also have a TS-9 so could use it as a replacment if needed. Not the same but close. Seems well built

Haven't dealt with them

I play classic rock, r&b, anything with a melody. Been playing 35 years. I have every piece of gear imaginable it seems (need 12 step program). I'd get another if it were stolen. I like its simplicity, its sound, and the vibe. I've compared it to the Boss Blues Driver, the Ibanez TS-9, Boss Overdrive, Boss Metal Zone,and a couple of boutique pedals. It's up there and often beyond any of them. It helps me play music because it adds an authentic sound that is pleasing to the ear.

easy as 1,2,3

Before I get to own this- I saw the you tube demo TS5 VS. TS808 and you could not tell the difference from the video, Then I bought this TS5 just to take a piece of the TS action- I was amazed how it sounded, sooner I acquired this HOLY GRAIL TS808, Now I can see, I can see...

TS5 is thinner sounding than the TS808
TS5 is darker sounding than the TS808
Now believe TS5 is more likely a clone of the TS9 and not in anyway a copy of the TS808

This TS808 can sound like a distortion too just set the tone knob at a low setting about 9-10 o'clock and the gain about 2:30 o'clock( going further more makes the drive sound compressed, turning it to overdrive flavor). The tone knob is a mid-scoop type.

Over all this is a thick overdrive, will cut thru any mix or any band setup!

the casing is thicker than of the BOSS, weights in like a brick

This pedal has its limitations, it's the best for it does, but not for metal sound, but combining it with other drive pedals and using it as a booster will definitely redefine your charisma as a guitar player tone!

3 knobs, overdrive, tone, level. Easy to use, sounds good on any setting.

I'll keep it brief. Its a ts-808 tube screamer. I have owned many overdrive/ distortion pedals, and this is where it ends for me. Very smooth, transparent, retains all of the guitars tone without coloring. Medium overdrive, for any style of music, it adds that magical element that is so hard to nail down. To me if you have a tube amp, its that sound that the big boys have, and a lot of them use this pedal. I have to agree with a previous review that some people seem to have no clue!!! This pedal sounds great as is. That sound is what it was made for. Those who have to mod everything should maybe by a pedal that sounds that way to start with. There's a reason they list for 239.00, and its not because they sound like crap until you spend another 50.00, or 75.00 to 100.00 dollars plus shipping after you buy it to make is sound normal. If you believe that your fooling yourself. I once sent off an ibanez ts-9 and a maxon pedal to one of the listed guru's of mod-drama, and got 2 mods each. When the pedals returned to me, they sounded a little different, not bad at all, one of them had a little less bass, but more overdrive. I liked them better before I sent them off, when they were stock. Wasted dollars! Arrogance won't let most people admit that. Any time you mod anything there is a trade off. You can't improve it you can only change it. Chances are if you need more overdrive or bass, that pedal is already out there. These reviews are for this pedal, not the changed one. People shopping want to know how this pedal sounds, not the modded one.

Been playing for over 35 years, blues, surf, rock, country, some jazz,ect. If lost I would have to replace it. I like this pedal for what it is. I have had many boss, rat, dod, and other custom pedals. I like this one or the maxon version better than any I have tried.

You have to learn how to use this effect.

This is an excellent pedal:transparent, mild, intelligent and tasty. No need for any magical mods - believe me! It is really funny to watch all those Analogue gurus as they offer their receipts for "more bass", "more gain" and true bypass... (do you know that for example Klon Centaurs have NO bypass at all!!!) I DO NOT understand why someone who needs a stompbox with more bass and more gain buys the TS808? Please - have a BOSS OD-3 or Digitech Bad Monkey... It is a typical thickhead snobbism to have got a TS808 and leave it to "modify". Do you think those Japanese guys are totally dull and they can not change a value of resistor or capacitor? My god. Dont forget: all these modifications just make the effects sound a little bit "different" not "better"! I A/B-d the original and the reissue TS808. If there are ANY differences these nuances you could handle very simple: by turning one of the three knobs 1mm to the right or to the left (or do the same with you amp or guitar). THATS ALL!!! But if you think so - go and pay to the "gurus"??? ;o)))

I am glad to have it.

No need. It is an Ibanez.

Blues, jazz, rock and everything in between.
My rig: Gibson ES335, Fender Strat, Fender Blues Junior (with Celestion Vintage 30), Dunlop JH-F1 (!!! excellent!!!), Cry baby, Deluxe Memory Man, Small Ston... and THE TS808.

Very easy, standard Tube Screamer knobs. Simple overdrive pedal.

I'm gonna do everybody a favor and keep this short and sweet. I hate it when gear nuts get WAY to in depth on sound quality. I have the TS-9 and the 808 reissue. I much prefer the reissue to the TS-9. It's much smoother and more vintage sounding. I'm not going to compare it to other pedals. It has its own sound and I like it. It's not a Fulltone OCD. It's not a Boss pedal. It's a Tube Screamer and it sounds like a Tube Screamer. Your guitar tone comes through very nicely with this pedal. Also, for all you know-it-alls, true bypass isn't always good depending on your setup.

Note: Tube Screamers don't sound all that great unless the amp is TURNED UP. I think a Tube Screamer sounds pretty bad if the amp is only turned up to 1 or 2.

Seems to be built pretty well. Only time will tell. My other Tube Screamer has been stomped on thousands of times and it still works fine.

Never had to deal with customer support with this company

Overall a great sounding pedal. Remember, if you have a crappy amp or guitar or both, don't expect a pedal to magically make your tone better.