BBE Green Screamer Overdrive Pedal

Comments about BBE Green Screamer Overdrive Pedal:

Currently my favorite overdrive. I've heard BBE is discontinuing this pedal. Bummer -- but I already have two. I prefer this to any of the Ibanez TS pedals including the 808.

Comments about BBE Green Screamer Overdrive Pedal:

I am a professional guitarist of about 30 years. For the vast majority of those I have used "old faithful", the TS-9 Tubescreamer. I should note that over those years I have owned practically every consumer overdrive made, and a few boutique ones to boot. For sheer versatility, this is the best overdrive I have ever used (for me, of course).I play a huge variety of music, covers and originals alike, and my signal chain is as follows.Guitar- Tom Anderson Classic (99)Pedalboard-Boss TU-2Digitech EX-7 (sucks tone, but does a lot in a small space)Boss CS-3 compressor (don't forget this) Fulltone Fulldrive 2 (vintage mode only)BBE Green ScreamerDigitech Hardwire DL8 Delay/LooperSeymour Duncan Pickup Booster (set at minimum)Amp- Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (not the best, but it has a great tone/weight/loud ratio)A couple of notes.1. If your setup is anything like mine, make sure you run your compressor BEFORE your overdrive/distortion pedals. This dramatically affects your overdrive sound (in a good way IMHO).2. I would prefer to run my EX-7 Expression factory pedal AFTER my overdrives (as it should be) but the input on the pedal overloads to easily when pushed with overdrives (boo-hoo, build a bypass loop and do it correcty, right?)The BBE Green Screamer (to me) is everything I always wished the TS-9 could be. To my ears, the famous mid-range bump in the TS-9 was always a little too muddy-sounding. The Green Screamer still has that mid-range bump, but it seems a little higher in the frequency range, allowing it to cut through a mix much better, without being tinny or harsh (don't forget the compressor). The construction is solid but light (very light!), and I much prefer the switch to the TS-9's, which are known to fail.The controls are simple, and mimic the TS-9's (it is a knock-off, so what do you expect?) and work as they should.My only gripes are that it is a little noisier than some overdrive pedals when you're not playing, but that's what the switch is for isn't it? Plus, the oft-aformentioned compressor pedal causes most of this anyway, so it is somewhat unfair to blame the BBE.I have also noticed that the pots on mine have gotten sticky. This is most likely because I never change the settings until they get messed up by the airport guys, and I am often entertaining "highly-lubricated" clientele who have little regard as to where their sweat/blood/beer etc. lands. Once again, mostly my fault, not the BBE's. My TS-9's often had sticky pots as well.All that said (and there was a lot of it, sorry),I personally don't think I'll ever need another overdrive, and for me that's saying a lot. As with any piece of gear...[...]. You may absolutely hate this pedal as much as I absolutely love it, and that is what makes music great. I everyone liked the same things, music would get really boring really quickly.Hope all this helps, and happy playing