The BM is a far better pedal if you are after just boosting the amp. Basically using it as a clean boost (dime the level and zero out the gain for example). The bad monkey has a bit more level on tap then the TS9 as well so it can push those preamps a bit harder which is a plus for most applicaitons. Also the TS9 colors your tone quite a bit vs the bad monkey and what little coloration the BM has it can be taken out with a simple mod. What all this adds up to is the BM will tighten and add a bit more gain then your standard OD pedal like say a TS9. So that said its alot better clean boost in my opinion. More boost and more transparent..
Now the BM vs the TS9 as a stand alone pedal. The TS9 beats it hands down if your using it to mimic an overdriven tube amp example actually turning up the gain knob then the TS9 is your pedal its going to sound better and warmer. So using the pedal as an OD, the TS9 is a better pedal in my opinion. And the end result for metal I love the BM and it does a great job of pushing those preamp tubes harder allowing the amp to get into the metal realm without needing a ton of gain from the amp. And it really tightens up the amp in the process.
And reliability isnt an issue both are great solid pedals...
Decided to fill everyone in on the transparency mod I did to my Bad Monkey since I have gotten quite a few requests for it lately. So heres my "Not So Ripe Banana" mod As you can see modding a bad monkey can be a pain, because pretty much everything is surface mount. But there is a few things you can do to enhance it. Ok now for the mods... You can change C5 (.047uf) to a .1uf(mids cut) or .15uf(more mids cut) More cut equals more transparency. Since its a Tubescreamer clone as you know it has a slight mid hump this mod takes that out of the picture. Digitech did a good job of removing most of it but this takes it the rest of the way.
To this... Also you can change out C11 (22uf) to a 1uf if you would like to increase the bass on the pedal. I found the pedal to have plenty of bass on tap in the first place so I just left it alone. And lastly for cosmetic purposes I thought a yellow led looked alot better in the already green and yellow pedal I slapped in a yellow led. Plus it reminds me of a not so ripe banana Hope yall enjoy the info. Its a quick easy mod and works great especially if you are using it as a clean boost..
Just like the subject said, figured I would take a few pic's of my tech space. Since I spend more time fixing other peoples guitars and amps then playing my own gear. Figured I would put some pic's up of the corner I spend most of my time in lol. Also repositioned my gear to give me a bit more space.
MXR108 Best eq pedal on the market as far as im concerned it has lots of features like volume, gain and 10 different freq sliders. Does its job well and its built like a tank. Cons- gets a tad hissy when sliders are cranked
Bad Monkey The best sounding OD pedal you can get for $27 bucks new was on sale. Makes things tight and fat... Beat out my TS9 for what im using it for.. Secret is gain 0 level 10.. Con's reliablity might be an issue
Isp Decimator Best Noise suppression pedal on the market bar none... Kills everything and doesnt suck tone. Con's none
Protone Body Rot Heavyest distortion pedal i have ever played. True bypass, boutique and made well. Modern tone.. Con's none but is pricey
Protone T.V. Delay Really nice delay with a analog tone. Boutique and well made as well.. Con's price and features
Pedals of the past
Metalzone It was metal i give it that... Everyone gets one of these at one time or another, i've actually owned two.. lol Con's really hissy and harsh as hell
Metal Muff Really nice distortion pedal with alot of features and built well. Con's a little too buzzy for me and top boost is nasty if you crank it to far.
Line 6 Uber Metal Really liked this pedal had a good tone to it and lots of options. Also its pretty much pantera in a box. Put it on pulverize and you get the dime bag tone and harmonics out the ying yang.. Con's none great petal
Boss DS1 Owned two of these because i had one sold it and then bought another to mod. But never got around to it. Anyway its a good beginner pedal and can pretty much nail the kill em all tone and seek and destroy. Con's needs more features and to buzzy and not full at all
Zoom GFX1 Nice cheap multi effects unit, could get a good dimebag sound out of it but thats about it. Con's slow switching and not many good options
Zoom G2 Great multi effects unit for the price, fast switching and great sounds. Con's still to digitial and multieffects get old after a while
Fab Metal Sucks for 5 bucks more i was able to get a DS1 Con's everything and almost blew up my amp
Line 6 Verbzilla Superb delay pedal, lots of features and lots of options with a really good tone to it. Con's none but really who needs that many types of reverb lol
Hellbabe Wah Cheap Con's sucks didnt have a good tone to it and just sucked all around
Ibanez TS9 and Modified Version Great pedal and was superb for blues tone. Also really good at tightening up tube amps Con's None, was just lacking in the level and options department
MXR Distortion + and Modified Version Was a nice overdrive. Con's distotion was pretty bad on these reminded me of a DS1
Behringer TM300 Cheap, could almost get a metallica tone out of it Con's sucked and was cheap stopped working
BBE 882I Worked great and did what it was supposed to do.. Con's turns your tube amp digital slightly
T.C. Electronics M300 Had nice features Con's volume knob stopped working and not enough features and was a pain to work.
Digitech Grunge Well it did grunge pretty good lol. Hits nirvana pretty nice Con's Two of them broke on me
Digitech Death metal Dont know it broke when i got it..
Crybaby Wah Great wah but... Con's Needs the Classic Faisal mod
