OK, you Tube Screamer aficionados....

[duhvoodooman***]

There has long been a debate about which IC chip, a.k.a. "opamp", sounds best in the Tube Screamer and it's many clones and derivatives. Well, here's a chance to hear for yourself the difference between several different opamps and pick your favorite. Below is a link to an audio clip I recorded using my Zonkin' Yellow Screamer, in between my Strat and my Delta Blues amp. The clip starts with a clean run-through, followed by the same sequence played through six (6) different opamps.

Now, I'm not going to tell you what they are, other than to say they're all different and one of them is the JRC4558D that is the model used in the original TS-808. It's not a "NOS" chip, but from what I've read, that doesn't make much if any difference anyway.

Take a listen and vote for your favorite. And make any other editorial comments you wish, such as how they sound vs. each other, which one you like least, etc. Once everybody who is interested has had their shot, I'll tell you what/which the 6 are....

The clip is HERE.

*** EDIT 2/4 ***

Suppose I ought to give a few details on how things were set up for the recording. Recorded using my Strat on the bridge-middle-in-series pickup setting and tone settings at about 7.5. Delta Blues on the clean channel and the volume down low; B = 7, M = 10, T = 8, reverb = 7. The ZYS was set up as follows:

Gain Range - Normal
Bass Rolloff - 340 Hz (slight bass boost vs.TS stock)
Clipping Diodes - Silicon (TS stock, except asymmetric)
Level - 10:30 o'clock
Drive - 3 o'clock (~80%)
Tone - 12 o'clock

Amp was mic'ed into my sound card and recording/editing was done with Audacity.

[marnold***]

My favorites (in order) are probably #1, #6, #5. #1 is very smooth. #6 has a more bite and better note definition, IMO. So what do I win?

[Mark]

Im diggin 1 and 6 the best.

[NPauly]

There are subtle differences, but that could also be from the sequence being played slightly different each time. None of them really stands out ... IMHO

(they're all the same opamp -- wouldn't that be funny)

The differences are so subtle that I highly doubt they would even make a difference in a recording studio, much less live. Could it be that the different opamps respond drastically differently to different components -- one opamp sound wonderful with certain components, but sounds horrible when paired with others, and vice versa, etc etc etc ...

[F_BSurfer]

Hard to say which I like best between 4, 5, 6 I've only listen to the clips about 5 times 1 has the biggest differances than the rest the last three seem more balanced on the low mid and high tones.........oh heck I'll take #5

[warren0728]

on first run through i think i liked 2 or 3 the best....they all sounded good though...

ww

[Hogfullofblues]

Hmmm...
Surprising to me, but I can't hear a whole lot of diff between them, and then I'm not quite sure what exactly is making that slight change. And they all sound good.
In order to actually vote then, I'm afraid you will have to send me a Zonkin Yellow Screamer for further extensive long term testing. I'll return it, promise.

[tot_Ou_tard]

Yup, there's a difference between them.

The lick has two regions, the single note melody in the first half and some chords at the end. So I suggest discussing this based on how the setting handles each portion. BTW, I still say that I would select (0) = off a lot. That is sweet clean playing. I only had time to listen focusing on the rythm work.
I'll try to come back & leave my initial impressions on the leads later.


Lead:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

Rythm:

1) Nice breaking up tone. Still has some of the ringout on the last chord.
2) More breakup and a tad darker.
3) A little tighter, but not like 4 & 5.
4) Brighter and tighter with less sustain. More modern and even.
5) Similar to 4 but darker.
6) This one is darker than all the rest & is my least favorite.

I'd choose 1) for a vintage sound & 4) for a more modern sound here.

[duhvoodooman***]

There are subtle differences, but that could also be from the sequence being played slightly different each time. None of them really stands out....The differences are so subtle that I highly doubt they would even make a difference in a recording studio, much less live...

This is my opinion, exactly. The differences seem very subtle, easily overwhelmed by other factors. Given what I've heard, the debate over which opamp is "the best" for a Tube Screamer seems pretty silly. At least so far.

Could it be that the different opamps respond drastically differently to different components -- one opamp sound wonderful with certain components, but sounds horrible when paired with others, and vice versa, etc etc etc....

That's an interesting thought, one that I've also considered. I haven't played nearly enough through all of these opamps to be able to say yea or nay. I may fool around with them on one of my humbucker guitars and through my Valve Jr. today to see if I pick up any additional differences.

(they're all the same opamp -- wouldn't that be funny)

Nope, six different IC's, I swear!

[Tinky-Winky]

The thing that surprised me was that though there were definable differences, ALL the settings sounded good to me - having read some discussions on which IC is best I expected some of these to sound mediocre.

[duhvoodooman***]

Yes, there are very definitely audible differences. I guess it comes down to the question of are they significant or not? I would agree with your statement that they all sound good. And reading some of the comparative language in the TS "lore", you'd think some of them would sound amazing and others would stink. Clearly not the case, IMO....

[duhvoodooman***]

OK, here's a couple of more clips I just finished using my Valve Jr. and my Epi Dot. I picked this combo for a darker overall sound, in addition to it being a humbucker guitar vs. the first clip using my Strat. I have the volume way down on the VJr. to keep it from coloring the sound with any breakup. The Dot was played in the dual pickup position with the tone settings midway. Throughout the two recordings, I had the ZYS set up as follows:

Gain Range - Normal
Bass Rolloff - 720 Hz (TS stock)
Clipping Diodes - Silicon (TS stock, except asymmetric)
Level - 10 o'clock
Drive - 3 o'clock (~80%)
Tone - 12 o'clock

The first clip is a single note lead up high on the neck--once clean, then six times with the different opamps. The second clip is the familiar ZZ Top Tush rhythm line a couple of times through, and I hold the last chord for a bit.

The order of the six opamps is different than in the original Strat clip and different between the two clips, so don't make any assumptions on what you're hearing in the three clips based upon the order! Here are the links to the clips:

Dot Lead

Dot Rhythm

[SuperSwede]

All of them sounds really good! But if I had to pick one, it would have been 4.

[marnold***]

All of them sounds really good! But if I had to pick one, it would have been 4.

Yeah, I'd say #4 or #5. I'd be interested to see how that would agree (or not) with my previous selections.

[duhvoodooman***]

Yeah, I'd say #4 or #5. I'd be interested to see how that would agree (or not) with my previous selections.

On the lead or rhythm clip?? The order of the opamps is different between the two!

[Tone2TheBone]

When I get to work tomorrow with a faster server I will have a listen.

[SuperSwede]

On the lead or rhythm clip?? The order of the opamps is different between the two!

I was talking about the first clips...

[NPauly]

To my ears there is more of a difference between the opamps with the humbuckers than with the single coils, but the differences are still too subtle to make much of a difference in most situations. I could use any of those opamps and after tweaking my playing, amp settings, guitar settings, etc be happy with the result. In other words they are all an excellent starting point for finding a good tone -- just pick one and tweak as necessary.

It would be a completely different story if one or two of the opamps stood out from the rest as being either drastically superior or inferior. And then I would completely agree that using the noticeably different opamps would definitely have an impact on your tone, but as things currently stand they are all extremely usable and all provide an excellent foundation for dialing in a usable and pleasing tone.

[marnold***]

On the lead or rhythm clip?? The order of the opamps is different between the two!

I was referring to the rhythm clip.