The Ibanez TS808 offers a vintage look and
sound. Many people are wondering if it needs mods since it's the Holy Grail TS808 with JRC
chip installed. Sure it does! If you look at the board, it's the exact same as the TS9 and
has the same "faults" if you will. Limited bass reponse that cuts so much that it appears
as a huge midrange hump in the sound. Limited Gain range...doesn't get clean enough or on
the other side, doesn't get enough distortion. Also, the lack of transparency or muddiness
becomes a problem for many users. All these things are fixed with our mods. Keeley's approach
is to give you the most out of this classic pedal.
The TS808 needs mod work! It is really the same thing as the TS9 re-issue with just a
new JRC chip in it. But the chip is not the main problem with the unit or the magic part
needed to make it sound perfect. Keeley Electronics mods these pedals with 1000's of units
worth of experience in making people happy. So instead of telling you about the "MOJO"
Keeley does to it...they tell you like it is! ;-)
The bass response is improved to the point of perfection. It is nice and tight and not
muddy at all. We upgrade that cap from a 0.047 to a 0.1uF and at the same time we increase
the gain possible when the drive control is turned up. That resistor is dropped from a
4.7k to a 2.4k. Keeley also makes the pedal so it cleans up more We take the 51k and lower it
to 20k. This is our More/Less mod. You get both more drive and less drive as well as all
the sweet stock spots in the middle of the control. Keeley also upgrades the 1uF electrolytic
caps to high tolerance, great sounding, more consistent 1uF metal film caps. This type of
thing is done in all HI-FI stereos and audio gear.
Keeley also uses a gold socket for the chip so that you can experiment if you hear one chip is better
than another etc...
Keeley also upgrades the tone control circuit and takes the .22uF Tantalum to a 0.18uF for
better control and response from the tone control. This allows you to get a more full
sound on the lower end of the tone control.
Keeley also improves parts of the fet switching so that you have a better clearer tone, both
on and off. We check all the factory solder joints so that you don't have power supply
problems anytime soon! The resistors we use are metal film to reduce noise in the system
as well. Obviously, This is not the kinda of MOJO many others talk about. So think twice
before sending it off to a man that promises you very little substance.
Why is Keeley's cheaper?!?! Because Keeley is bad to the bone and efficient as hell! Plus!
Keeley is a musician who knows expenses and a few bucks here and there mean a lot.
Why is this the right way to mod the pedals for the masses? Because Keeley takes
feedback from customers and turns it into reality. This is where YOU GUYS have led Keeley
to the perfect Tube Screamer sound!
Those who follow Keeley closely will notice that their
run of Vintage JRC4558 chips from 1982 have come to an end. They went through thousands of
them! They have tried to source some more but have only come up with Fakes or Forgeries!
So, from here on out, the TS808 mods will get the same great Texas Instruments RC4558P
that Keeley uses in their
TS-9 Mod. Keeley feels that the TI chip is the best of the best; the Vintage 82
JRC’s were great and a rare thing to have.
review cart
Buy Now - True Bypass Modified
