Solid Gold Sound Labs Tube Screamer TS9 Mod

First things first, this mod was done to a Maxon OD-9, essentially the same thing as the Ibanez TS-9. Controls are the same as before the mods, with the addition of two two-position switches, one for a bass boost and the other for clipping, nothing too complex.

I use this pedal with a Gibson LP Classic and Am. Std. Telecaster, into a Fender Hot Rod (playing a wide variety of music; rock, jazz, blues, experimental. etc). Before the mods, I had started to sour on the pedal. It's good straight out of the box, but after using it for a year or two some things had started to bother me, most notably less gain than I would like at times, and limited versatility. I considered replacing it before shipping it off for the mods.

When it came back, totally new pedal. The difference is night and day - it is much more open-sounding now, and it's possible to dial in many different sounds. It's hard to explain tone in text, but it's a marked improvement, and really makes the guitar sing.

No problems so far, nor do I anticipate any.

Like others mentioned, Greg is great to deal with, support couldn't be any better. I also had a wah pedal modified by Greg, top-notch work as well.

Overall, great work. It went from a pedal on its way to ebay, to once again becoming a staple in my effects chain. I previously owned a reissue Ibanez TS-9 before getting the Maxon, and never felt that either lived up to the tube screamer reputation, but now I see what all the fuss is about. If you have a tube screamer, get it modified, you won't be disappointed.

its a ts9

i really dont like giving a 10 for quality cuz nothing is perfect but i can say for sure that this is my personal fav as far a distortion stomp boxes go.

built strong...havent had any problems

quick and easy........also very good to suggest different mods for different people, he can help get whatever sound you want.

so good im telling all the guitar players i know to get pedals from this guy......top notch.

Not for a TS9 purist???
After using my modded TS9 for a while, I got an email from Greg just following-up on how I liked the pedal. My response was positive, with the exception of the lack of a true bypass when the pedal was off. Greg suggested a couple of options, so I mailed my pedal back for the addition of a true bypass switch. He also suggested that if I wanted a more raw sound, he some ideas if I was interested.

The following additional mods were done???.
- true bypass switch installation
- removed and rewired everything related to the original FET switching from the board meaning less stuff for the signal to go through rewired the led and changed it to blue
- modified the diode clipping stage some more
- neutrik output jack

While a TS9 purist may not like the final outcome, the pedal is more open in it???s sound, the gain is more aggressive and the true bypass really cleans up the signal path when the pedal is not being used.

Another job well done by Greg !!

I sent Greg my ts9 to mod to TS808 specs. I didnt know what this mod would bring, i didnt use my ts9 too much as i have a boutique pedal that a local made me. It is now my main OD pedal

This mod sounds amazing, alot more gainy and has some low end to it that the ts9 didnt have. I run this through a 1962 Fender Brown face Concert amp, I get great tones out of the combination, especially with a telecaster.

I just finished up an outdoor concert this weekend which included bands such as Default, April Wine, Wintersleep, Joel Plaskett, Aaron Pritchett, the list goes on. Guess who had some of the best guitar tones?...... Me:) (because of this mod)I am very satisfied.

Greg was very easy yo get along with and went out of his way to have these pedals built and sent out to me before this show. He always kept me posted about which stage the pedals were in and sent me pics upon completion (hes not too hard on the wallet either)

I play in a blues band on the east coast of canada, as well i do some work with other bands (rock, folk, alt.) And all in all this is the best dirt pedal for all situations. Turn the gain to 9 o'clock, nice smooth blues tone, 4 o'clock..... rockin overdrive. I own 3 guitars a 76 les paul deluxe, a voodoo strat and a telecaster. Sounded great with all but i espacially liked it with the tele. 2 Thumbs up for greg, keep up the good work!

Same old TS9 with 2 additional mini toggle switches, one for diode clipping stage and the other for bass boost. The new toggles don?t interfere with the pedal?s use.

I felt the original TS9 lacked gain and clipped the bass frequencies, so when the switch needed replacing Greg at Solid Gold Sound Labs recommended the following
modifications:

- JRC4558 chip with a socket
- Distortion increase mod
- added bass boost switch
- added clipping mode switch
- hifi mods
- noise reduction mod
- impedance mod

The mods have opened up the sound stage and increased the gain to a respectable amount. The pedal is now a ?keeper?.

The workmanship looked very clean with good solder joints, so I don?t expect any issues.

I can?t speak highly enough of Greg?s customer support. I?m always a little leery about sending my gear off to someone I?ve never met, but rest assured he?s first rate. Promptly responds to emails, he recommended improvements to my original request and generally very thorough and conscientious

I play classic rock and blues and have pretty good gear and hadn?t been using the TS9 for some time because I wasn?t that pleased with the sound. I was at the point of selling it when I decided to get the switch replaced and the mods done, now it?s back on my pedal board. As I said the pedal is now a ?keeper?.