The Becos FX Ziffer Overdrive TS8-JZ is a mini analog overdrive pedal built on a Tube Screamer 808-style circuit, developed as a signature pedal for Jordan Ziff, lead guitarist of Ratt and Hot Crazy and guitarist in Marty Friedman's band12. Ziff used the company's earlier TS8-MS as his Tube Screamer of choice to push a 1959 Plexi amp, and the Ziffer is mainly derived from that pedal, with MIDI switching removed and several tone-shaping controls added1. Becos FX, based in Constanta, Romania, released it in July 2021 at a list price of $16912.
Where a stock 808 gives you three knobs and nothing else, the Ziffer keeps the Gain, Tone and Level trinity but adds a Mix knob that reintroduces the clean signal under the overdriven one, a Dry EQ knob that tilts the EQ of that clean signal, a three-way clipping switch and a Deep switch for the low-end response13. Guitar World's Paul Riario called it "an adjustable overdrive that can scream with larger-than-life tone or sweeten with enhanced warmth and clarity"2.
What it does: an 808-style overdrive with a clean blend
The core of the pedal is a vintage Tube Screamer circuit. Guitar World's reviewer found that setting the Clip Switch to Classic "ushers in that TS-808-style squishiness"2. What separates the Ziffer from a standard 808 clone is the parallel clean path: the Mix mini-knob on the right of the footswitch blends your dry signal back under the overdriven one, and the Dry EQ knob shapes that clean signal with a tilting equalizer1. For a player who finds a Tube Screamer's mid hump and rolled-off lows too narrow, that blend lets the original low end and character of the guitar back into the sound.
Becos FX described the design intent this way:
"we mixed the vintage tubescreamer essentials with careful sophistication to give rise to a versatile and powerful tone shaping tool"1
The two toggles extend the range further. The Clip Switch selects the gain stage clipping, and the Deep Switch selects between Classic and Deep low-end frequency response2.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of overdrive1 |
| Tone | Sets the treble response1 |
| Level | Sets the output volume1 |
| Mix (mini-knob) | Reintroduces the clean signal under the overdriven one1 |
| Dry EQ (mini-knob) | Tilting EQ for the clean signal1 |
| Clip Switch | Three-way gain stage clipping: Classic, Asymmetric, Custom2 |
| Deep Switch | Low-end frequency response: Classic or Deep2 |
The third clipping position is described differently across sources: Guitar World calls it Custom, while Delicious Audio and Guitar.com both describe the three modes as classic, asymmetrical and LED clipping213.
Power
The Ziffer runs on a 9 to 18 VDC external power supply, center negative, with a 12mm long barrel plug, and the supply is not included1. Guitar.com notes it is powered by mains supply only, so there is no battery option3. Delicious Audio also reports the pedal can be browned out down to 7VDC for players who want the sagged feel of a dying battery1. Guitar World lists the power as 9V DC with a current draw under 11mA2.
The 12mm long barrel plug is deeper than the standard 9V plug on many pedalboard power supplies, so check your supply's barrel length before wiring it up.
From the TS8-MS to the Jordan Ziff signature
The Ziffer is a mini evolution of the Becos FX TS8-MS Overdrive, an overdrive and MIDI switcher made in Romania14. The TS8-MS carries a five-pin MIDI in/out socket, responds to MIDI program change and control change for all of its switching, works in both MIDI receive and transmit mode, and can even serve as a MIDI controller for other gear; its footswitch offers buffered or true bypass4. Jordan Ziff embraced the TS8-MS as his tubescreamer choice, and the Ziffer was developed for him as a signature pedal12.
For the Ziffer, Becos FX went the other way. As the company put it:
"This time we removed the MIDI switching capabilities and added several controls which contribute to subtle tone-crafting"1
The trade is straightforward: the TS8-MS suits a player running a larger rig with amp channel switching and preset control, while the Ziffer is a compact, hand-set pedal for a board where MIDI is not needed. Jordan Ziff himself falls in the second camp, using the 808-style circuit to push a 1959 Plexi amp rather than to switch anything12.
Build and components
The pedal sits in a black powder-coated MINI-size genuine Hammond aluminum enclosure and carries a 3-year warranty1. Inside, Guitar World's review notes premium components including audio grade op-amps, Panasonic multi-layer plastic metalized film capacitors and gold-plated circuit board tracing2.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's Paul Riario reviewed the pedal and found it dynamic and musical as a drive, with it excelling when pushing an amp, heaps of tone-shaping options, and a compact format and premium build2. His overall verdict:
"For all its expanded versatility as an 808-style drive, the Ziffer Overdrive shouldn't be missed."2
Guitar.com's Richard Purvis reviewed the TS8-JZ alongside the Becos Compiq Mini One compressor, covering its true bypass, its 9-18V mains-only power and its control set including the three-way clipping switch, deep switch and dry EQ lo/hi tilt3.
Questions
Does the Becos Ziffer Overdrive have MIDI like the TS8-MS?
No. The Ziffer Overdrive removed the MIDI switching capabilities of the TS8-MS and replaced them with extra tone-shaping controls, including a Mix knob for blending in clean signal and a Dry EQ knob that tilts the EQ of that clean signal. Players who need program-change control over switching should look at the TS8-MS instead.
Is the Becos TS8-JZ true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World, Guitar.com and Delicious Audio all describe the Ziffer Overdrive as true bypass, with Delicious Audio calling it a true analog bypass. The TS8-MS it derives from offered a choice of buffered or true bypass via its footswitch, but the Ziffer is true bypass.
What are the three clipping modes on the Ziffer Overdrive?
The three-way Clip Switch selects the gain stage clipping. Guitar World names the positions Classic, Asymmetric and Custom, while Delicious Audio and Guitar.com describe the third position as LED clipping. Classic gives the TS-808-style character; the other two positions change how the diodes clip the signal.
Can the Ziffer Overdrive run on 18 volts?
Yes. Delicious Audio and Guitar.com both specify a 9 to 18 VDC external power supply, center negative, with a 12mm long barrel plug. The supply is not included. Delicious Audio also notes the pedal can be browned out down to 7VDC.
Is the Ziffer Overdrive analog?
Yes. It is an analog overdrive pedal in a mini enclosure, built around a Tube Screamer 808-style circuit and using audio grade op-amps, Panasonic film capacitors and gold-plated circuit board tracing, according to Guitar World's review.
Sources (4)
- Becos FX Ziffer Overdrive TS8-JZ, Delicious Audio, 2021-07-30
- Becos Ziffer Overdrive review, Guitar World, 2022-02-09
- Becos TS8-JZ & CompIQ Mini One review: a tiny compressor and a drive pedal with plenty of tweakability, Guitar.com, 2021-07-09
- Review: Becos TS8-MS Overdrive Midi Switcher, Guitar.com, 2019-11-07
