The TS-777 Ultra Overdrive is a guitar overdrive pedal from DC Pedals, a builder whose pedals are handmade, created and assembled in the USA1. It takes the Tube Screamer formula as its starting point: Pedal of the Day's review says the pedal "focuses on the TS-808, possibly the most sought-after and famous of the green monsters"1. The aim, per the same review, is "to keep some of the familiar tones of the classic verde pedals, but add in DC's own voice and original tone"1.
Controls and clipping modes
The pedal keeps the familiar Tube Screamer control layout, with the Volume knob providing the output level1. What sets it apart from a stock TS-808 style circuit is a three-way toggle switch:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Provides the output level1 |
| Toggle switch | Three clipping options: vintage, modern and compressed1 |
The clipping toggle essentially gives you three different voicings from one pedal, which is the main way the TS-777 departs from the single-voiced originals in this family1.
The socketed op-amp
The classic JRC4558 dual op-amp is installed stock, the chip players associate with the Tube Screamer sound1. Unusually, there is an op-amp socket installed on the PC board so you can experiment with other dual op-amps, opening up further tonal options without any soldering1. For players who like to roll chips the way others roll tubes, that is a rare feature on a finished pedal.
Build quality and switching
The pedal uses DBA Quiet True Bypass switching, along with high-quality pots, jacks and switches, according to Pedal of the Day1. Combined with the USA hand assembly, the review's overall verdict was that "the folks at DC Pedals have put together an excellent screamer-type overdrive that's filled with options and tone"1.
The TS-777 is a boutique, hand-built pedal, so availability depends on the builder's current production rather than regular retail stock.
How it compares
If you are weighing the TS-777 against the pedals that inspired it, the stock chip and TS-808 basis put it squarely in Tube Screamer territory, which our Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison covers from the mass-produced side. The three clipping modes and the socketed op-amp are what a stock Tube Screamer does not offer1.
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Questions
Is the DC Pedals TS-777 based on a TS-808?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review describes the TS-777 Ultra as focusing on the TS-808, which it calls possibly the most sought-after and famous of the green monsters. The pedal keeps some of the familiar tones of the classic green pedals while adding DC Pedals' own voice and original tone, so it sits in the Tube Screamer family rather than being a straight copy.
Can you swap the op-amp in the TS-777?
Yes. There is an op-amp socket installed on the PC board so you can experiment with other dual op-amps. The classic JRC4558 chip is installed stock, which is the chip long associated with the Tube Screamer sound, and the socket lets you try alternatives without soldering.
What are the vintage, modern and compressed clipping options?
A toggle switch provides three clipping options, labeled vintage, modern and compressed. According to Pedal of the Day, the switch essentially gives you three different pedals in one, changing how the drive section clips while keeping the same core circuit and controls.
Is the DC Pedals TS-777 true bypass?
Yes. The pedal uses DBA Quiet True Bypass switching, and the review also notes high-quality pots, jacks and switches throughout the build.
Where is the DC Pedals TS-777 made?
Pedal of the Day describes the TS-777 as handmade, created and assembled in the USA.
Sources (2)
- DC Pedals TS-777 Ultra Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2017-04-26
- DC Pedals TS-777 Ultra Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2017-04-20
