cool/cheap pedal alert

[tunghaichuan]

Got two of these today at Guitar Center:

http://images.guitarcenter.com/products/optionRegular/BBE/468795jpg.jpg

$49.95 each on sale. It is basically a Tube Screamer clone and sounds very good to my ear. Sounds just like my old TS808 Tube screamer. :dude:

They are on the GC web site (http://www.guitarcenter.com/BBE-Green-Screamer-Overdrive-Effect-Pedal-103816062-i1124916.gc) as well.

I bought one to keep stock an the other to try some mods.

They are very well built, the PCB seems decent quality, and it comes with a power supply. :AOK:

It looks like GC is blowing them out because there is a new version with different graphics:

http://www.bbesound.com/products/stomp_boxes/GreenScreamer/GreenScreamer_4in_72dpi.jpg

Also on sale is the BBE Free Fuzz (http://www.guitarcenter.com/BBE-Free-Fuzz-Effect-Pedal-104204789-i1124917.gc) for the same price for anyone interested. Although the sale price is not listed on the web site.

tung

[sunvalleylaw]

Looks cool for the price, and I think I have seen those reviewed favorably. I like the old graphic better too.

[tunghaichuan]

Looks cool for the price, and I think I have seen those reviewed favorably. I like the old graphic better too.

IMHO, a killer deal ($50!) for a Tube Screamer clone. Given that most "boutique" ODs are copies (some exact, some slightly tweaked) of Tube Screamers, why not save yourself several hundred dollars and buy the BBE?

The BBE pedal is limited as is, it only does the Tube Screamer sound and a clean boost. If anyone needs a more versatile pedal, I'd go with a DVM BYOC Overdrive (Tube screamer clone) or his ZYS for the ultimate in TS versatility. :dude:

tung

[sunvalleylaw]

I will probably personally just stick with my Bad Monkey. Close enough for me. And if I wanted the versatility over a TS9 clone, I would for sure go with DVM. If you want just a straight screamer though, that seems a good price.

[tunghaichuan]

I will probably personally just stick with my Bad Monkey. Close enough for me. And if I wanted the versatility over a TS9 clone, I would for sure go with DVM. If you want just a straight screamer though, that seems a good price.

Nothing wrong with the Bad Monkey, I have one and like it a great deal. The Green Screamer has a bit more gain on tap, though. One thing I don't like about the BM is that it is built with surface mount devices (SMDs). These are minature versions of resistors, caps, etc. which must be soldered/desoldered with a magnifying glass and special soldering equipment. But this is only an issue for someone like me, who can't leave well enough alone. :rotflmao: There is nothing inherently wrong with SMDs, it's just that they make it hard to tweak parts.

tung

[Robert]

Tung, have you tried the Cool Cat Drive? It's pretty awesome I would say and it's only $24.00! :eek:

http://www.music123.com/Danelectro-Cool-Cat-Series-CO-1-Drive-Guitar-Effects-Pedal-482323-i1400953.Music123

[sunvalleylaw]

Good to know. Confirms my decision for me. I don't have time to mess with modding my pedals much. And regarding the additional gain of the Green Screamer, I have that well covered in the overdrive modes of DVM's Rabid Rodent he built me. I realize that it is not exactly the same thing, but between the two (Monkey and Rodent) I have it pretty well covered. The Monkey gives me that warm, midrangey TS9 sounding overdrive, the Rodent gives me all sorts of distortion choices, and three less midrangey, and more gain/hotter overdrive modes.

I realize this is the BBE Screamer thread you started, and I think that is a very nice price for a good TS9 clone, but I can't help but plug DVM's work too. :D

[tunghaichuan]

Tung, have you tried the Cool Cat Drive? It's pretty awesome I would say and it's only $24.00! :eek:

http://www.music123.com/Danelectro-Cool-Cat-Series-CO-1-Drive-Guitar-Effects-Pedal-482323-i1400953.Music123

I have not, but I'd like to. The sound samples on the Cool Cat site sound very good. Very jangly & voxy. Can't beat the price either.

In fact, I'd like to have the Cool Cat pedal board (http://www.coolcattone.com/pedalboard.html) and a compliment of pedals.

So many things to buy, so little money :D

tung

[tunghaichuan]

Good to know. Confirms my decision for me. I don't have time to mess with modding my pedals much. And regarding the additional gain of the Green Screamer, I have that well covered in the overdrive modes of DVM's Rabid Rodent he built me. I realize that it is not exactly the same thing, but between the two (Monkey and Rodent) I have it pretty well covered. The Monkey gives me that warm, midrangey TS9 sounding overdrive, the Rodent gives me all sorts of distortion choices, and three less midrangey, and more gain/hotter overdrive modes.

I realize this is the BBE Screamer thread you started, and I think that is a very nice price for a good TS9 clone, but I can't help but plug DVM's work too. :D

No worries, I thought I'd just pass along a good deal for anyone looking for a Tube Screamer. I miss my vintage TS808. I never should have sold it :(

I envy people that can just plug into a setup and not worry about what they could do to optimize it :D

tung

[tunghaichuan]

Update:

Just A/B'd my Bad Monkey against the BBE Green Screamer. The BM and GS have the same amount of gain on tap; I was mistaken on this regard.

The BM is more versatile with its two-band EQ. If I'm not mistaken the treble and bass controls are active in the BM, which increases its versatility. The BM also has a second frequency compensated output to connect to a mixer, etc.

The GS sounded warmer to me.

One odd thing: with the level control straight up on the GS, it wasn't as loud as the BM's level control straight up. I had to crank up the level on the GS to get it as loud as the BM with its control about 1/4 the way up.

tung

[marnold]

Hmmm . . . I'll be driving by the "local" GC today and tomorrow. Hmmm.

[guitrkill3r]

speaking of saving money, what do u guys use to power your pedals? I know the one spot is pretty nice but there are others that dont break as easy, but thats just what I've heard. I hate 9 volts and I hate seperate power blocks, just want one to power3-5 pedals. Any nice ones?

[duhvoodooman]

Godlyke makes a multi-connector adapter product similar to the 1 Spot that many people seem to like.

If you want to step up to the next level of multi-pedal power supplies, check out one of these:

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gator-GBus8US-Pedal-Board-Power-Supply?sku=546042

Dunlop and Voodoo Lab make similar "power brick" products, but they're a bit more expensive than the Gator version.

[tunghaichuan]

There is also this one, made by BBE:

http://www.bbesound.com/products/stomp_boxes/SupaCharger/index.asp

I've never tried it, just posting as a reference.

tung

[tot_Ou_tard]

If you want to step up to the next level of multi-pedal power supplies, check out one of these:

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gator-GBus8US-Pedal-Board-Power-Supply?sku=546042

Dunlop and Voodoo Lab make similar "power brick" products, but they're a bit more expensive than the Gator version.
That Gator also has 18v outputs. Very nice.

[duhvoodooman]

That Gator also has 18v outputs. Very nice.
Yeah, I liked the looks of that one so much I just ordered one!

[Blaze]

Bought this kit in montreal ,advised by Robert , well, works realy nice ,no hum ,no problems & easy to use,pretty cheap too.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Visual-Sound-1-Spot-Combo-Pack?sku=150373


.These pedals look nice , i bet they sound nice , too bad i m not in the u.s., seems to have a all lot of good deals out there..


Blazes