All user reviews for the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

Ibanez began making effects pedals in the 70s. Back most Ibanez's were copies of other stuff. The Pedals Ibanez was making back then were all copies of MXR pedals. Ibanez got their first hit with the Tube Screamer. The Ibanez Tube Screamer at the time was way more responsive to dynamics than all the other overdrive pedals of the time. It has been used by all sorts of players from metal players to blues players. Anyone who wants a little more drive or tightness to their amps can use the Tube Screamer. The little green box is an icon now and is found in many pedal boards and racks.

UTILIZATION

The Tube Screamer reissue is pretty much identical to the old 80s one. The color is the same and the knobs are the same. It has the same controls for Level, Drive and Tone. It has a red LED that will tell you if the pedal is on or not and it can be powered by a AC adapter or a standard 9 volt battery. With pedals I always recommend using them with an AC adapter.

SOUND QUALITY

Some people say the reissues are not as smooth than the originals or they are harsher. I think these people are just mad that there is a reissue out of their favorite pedal. The type if resistors used has changed over time but the general construction and design of the unit is unchanged. With the volume on full and the drive at the minimum setting the Tube Screamer can be used as an excellent clean boost. Stevie Ray Vaughan used a Tube Screamer like this. It also works well for dirty sounds. You can really tighten up an old Marshall with a little kick from a Tube Screamer. When used for its overdrive ability the Tube Screamer also shines. It can be used to help get good tones out of an amp at low volumes. Most players use the Tube Screamer as a boost on top of the amps gain.

OVERALL OPINION

The Tube Screamer is the standard for all general purpose overdrive pedals. It has an infinite number of applications it can be used for. If can be used for just its gain or as a clean boost. It can be used to tighten up the gain of an already dirty amp or it can be used as a dirty channel on a clean amp. If you are looking for a good solid overdrive pedal that will give you a good solid sound the Tube Screamer is the way to go. There is a reason why so many pro's have a spot for a TS in their rigs.

Overdrive ....

What am I saying??

THE Overdrive!

UTILIZATION

the manual is that does not exist, it is unfortunate, it's been a class manual.

SOUND QUALITY

This is the ultimate sound vintage overdrive.

Point.

It's hot, grainy, it's beautiful, it turns a transistor dung into something audible, this sublime tube amps for both cruncher, to boost the clean channel or increase the distortion on the drive, all depending on the settings.
I even saw him do a direct console (a big eh!) Studio: bluffed.
It eats maybe a little low but good ....

Mine is original, I bought a Jazzman (very good by the way) who found that in 90 super grotty. At a ridiculously low price of course ... 150 or 200 francs, hehe!
It was the time of Triax, the JMP-1, ADA and other Rocktron .... since we see the quarry has done this little pedal

OVERALL OPINION

Which has no Tube Screamer?

You?

Ouuuuuuh!

I use it recently, I bought a second just in case ...
Analog NON not true - and much better because bypass the buffer using the signal to pass through cables longer ...

his cousin Maxon OD-9 and digital sounds bland side!

UTILIZATION

on the scene TS9 fulfills its role:
Crunch on the clean channel,
-Boost for solos in channel 4 of my mesa boogie Express 5:25

I am pressed by necessity, and pleasure ... the Fulltone OCD, the TS808 RI, Maxon OD-9 were not home at my house, yet these are good pedals, but you have to like their grain.

SOUND QUALITY

Sound and a little Aggressive in boost it even more.
it's a pedal, not an amp - its limitations are obvious (especially low bass frequencies)

OVERALL OPINION

good deal for the stage, and I'm not ANYONE who likes tons of pedals.
She made a good pair with my Boss DD3 (delay)!

needless to say, you need a tube amp to make it sound!

The Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer is a classic. It's synonymous with rock and blues guitar tone almost to the extent that Marshall or Mesa Boogie are...well ok, maybe not to that extent. This overdrive pedal is widely recognized by musicians and non-musicians alike though, as a staple in any guitarist's rig. This is the "other" little green stomp box (the original being the Ibanez TS808)

Ibanez used several different op amp chips throughout the years (whatever was laying around, lol) and the results were that some TS9s sounded better than others. I believe the chip that was intended was the JRC4558 that was used in the more consistent (and much better sounding in my opinion) TS808. There is a reason why so many people mod their TS9s to 808 specs...

It's a simple pedal: foot switch and three knobs, which control drive, tone and level.

The TS9 is powered by a 9 volt battery or standard 9 volt AC adapter.



UTILIZATION

This pedal is extremely easy to use, though not always easy to dial in a pleasing sound with every rig. The tone control can be a bit finicky.

SOUND QUALITY

The TS9 debuted in the early 80's as a variation of the TS808. The circuits of the two units are similar, but the sounds are not. Someone stated in another review that the differences in tone between the TS9 and 808 are subtle, when in actuality they are quite different sounding, as one listen will tell.

The 808 has a very transparent and smooth character due to its Japanese JRC4558 chip. It isn't harsh or bright, and has a very musical and pleasing tone and is still the standard box that most of the boutique builders copy! The TS9 in comparison, is very bright and much thinner sounding, with less transparency, and more obnoxious biting high end sound. It doesn't sound as thick as the 808, and doesn't provide the smooth and singing, violin-like lead sounds that the 808 can provide.

Many players have coaxed fantastic blues sounds out of the TS9. This is especially possible through thick and dark sounding amps, as the thin and bright character of the TS9 adds just the right amount of bite and grit to turn a Fender or Boogie clean sound into a gnarly stinging blues tone.

Another strength of the TS9 is its boosting capabilities for rock and metal where tightness and clarity are needed in distortion tones. The TS9 is a great unit for boosting an already distorted amp into that pushed realm, and simultaneously cleaning up the bottom end response, and adding some presence. However, I feel that only certain amps, preferably dark and muddy ones, benefit from this boost sound. If an amp already has a bright and present character, the TS9 may be too crispy and biting and may warrant unpleasant results.

The 808 is a much more well-rounded boost, and provides the same benefits with none of the drawbacks.

One other important thing to note about the TS9 is the range of the Tone control. I found that it was really only usable in the 7:00-11:00 positions. Anything more than that produced very bright and unpleasant sounds. The high end frequencies in this thing are just too piercing.

OVERALL OPINION

The TS9 has been heard on many great recordings and can be used effectively as a rock/metal boost, or a straight up blues overdrive. That said, I feel that there are literally hundreds of better overdrives on the market, and one of them (possibly one of the best ever) is the TS9's big brother, the TS808.

Skip this one and go for the ultimate in overdrive, the TS808.

The TS-9 has been a staple overdrive pedal for many years. It's been reissued, and modified and reissued, and then copied, and then reinvented etc. It goes on!
The one i'm reviewing is just a standard reissue, not the ts 808 version which, for years has been said to be the better sounding with the original circuit. Though I try not to get mixed up in all of that, it just confuses the hell out of me. The difference is so subtle that you'd have to own both or be a/bing both to notice the difference.

UTILIZATION

Simple and easy to use.

Tone shape the overall sound from 'dark' to 'bright'

Level controls the overall output

Drive controls the overall amount of gain.

This is an overdrive pedal, and can be used in mainly 3 ways.

1. As a clean boost

2. As a bluesy overdrive

3. As a high-gain/metal boost!

SOUND QUALITY

1. As a clean boost:

Decent, though though not transparent in terms of being a clean boost. It adds mids which is subjective to how you have everything else set. It can also add dirt.

2. As a bluesy overdrive:

Great! Listen to some live SRV for the bluesy tones to die for! Mixed in with just the right amount of dirt through a strat or humbucker equipped guitar and a decent tube amp you'll get some great classic blues sounds.

3. As a high gain/metal boost:

Awesome with modern amps! A lot of metal amps today have a naturally scooped sound. Boosting the signal with a TS9 brings back some mids, not too much, but just enough to get a very saturated, yet clear distortion. Of course it adds noise as do all other overdrive pedals used in this type of situation. For years, this has been one of the main ways to go for achieving a great saturated metal tone. I personally prefer it for only modern sounding amps, for vintage amps I prefer the sd-1. The TS and the sd-1 are like polar opposites, so they should be used as so.


OVERALL OPINION

This is a great product that retains its used value as it's one of the most impersonated overdrive pedals out there today.

Known for both blues use and high gain metal, it's quite versatile! Though it is not true bypass. It is still very good at what it does.

Good, sturdy, reliable and consistent tone!

Probably the most used stomp box overdrive on the planet. Anyone from small clubs to arenas have played this little green box. I have been using this pedal now for bout 6 years. It has remained on my pedal board since I got it in the mail.

I decided to pick one up that has been modified by Mike at Analogman effects. I got the silver mod which I guess adds more low end. He says most guys wouldn't be able to tell the difference and this mod is for the picky. I probably couldn't tell the difference in this and the brown mod that he offers. I have not matched this up against the regular mod but I really found a good box for what I am doing musically. I am able to get great warm and driving tone when slamming the front of my overdriven amp and also just giving a clean amp a little hair.

UTILIZATION

This pedal is very easy to use. It has three knobs consisting of Drive, Tone, and Level. There are several different variations when using this pedal. You can use it in front of a clean amp with the gain on high and it gives a nice smooth overdrive suitable for classic rock and pop. You can also lower the gain to almost nothing and the level up to slam the front of of a Marshall style amp that is already overdriven to give it a pissed off Marshall tone. You'll get a good 80's tone throwing this in front of a JCM800 with a clean boost to the TS9. Keep the tone around the middle and bring the level all the way up and the drive all the way to 9:00. It just screams 80's hair metal.

SOUND QUALITY

There have been so many clones and knock offs of this pedal. Some good and some not so good, but that just goes to show how important this pedal has become to modern music.

I ran this in various different configurations. My favorite was with a Strat into a Fender Hot Rod. I put a Line 6 DL4 in between and got some great smooth and rich tone with this combo. It was suitable for church playing and fit really well in the mix. Another favorite was using it in from of a Marshall JCM2000 on the clean channel. This pedal gave it enough drive to really give a nice Zeppelin tone or AC/DC type tones. I was very happy with this setting and pretty much kept it there when using it with this amp.

OVERALL OPINION

I would like to give it a perfect but the reissues need some tweaking to sound closer to the originals. I like the mod that I had done on it and it fits well with the sound I'm going for. It is probably my go to pedal when it comes to getting a little bit more hair on my tone. I also like the Boss Sd-1 and OD-2 for similar applications.

I would buy this pedal again if I ever lost it or it got stolen. I think I would go with the 808 version or the DX which I prefer just a little bit over the three knob TS9.

I would recommend this pedal to anyone who plays guitar. It is must own and I cannot live without it. I think the price is very fair for the pedal and with the mod at $160. Many other pedals start at that price and your paying for the boutique price rather than the functionality and economics.

Analog pedal, an on / off switch and 3 tone knobs.
No true-bypass


UTILIZATION

The pedal is intuitive, no need to record.
I modified mine to have a true-bypass and give him the characteristics of a vintage TS808. Without changes

SOUND QUALITY

TS808, TS9 reissue the already sounds terribly for those seeking a sound and relatively roots typed vintage blues (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Stones, ...). Ca crunch is creamy, it's hot (well over a tube amp ...) is blues / rock to perfection. This is an overdrive designed to reproduce the sound of old amps whose lamps are pushed to lower retrenchment. It speaks neither a distortion or a fuzz. Expect the sounds of Keith Richards.

OVERALL OPINION

I try a lot of overdrive pedals, distortion and fuzz, tube or analog technology (I'm not too digital) and this pedal is in my pedalboard since the beginning. The modification TS808 offers a real plus, but frankly the TS9 reissue is already very nice. A must for anyone looking for vintage crunch sound!

Overdrive pedal analog.

One Tone, Gain and Level.

UTILIZATION

It's simple and effective. It wishes to

SOUND QUALITY

crunchy, starting from crunch to overdrive cute and they have guts, but never mushy or draft. I used it on my transistor amp, I felt a change of amp, and since I use it on my Blues Junior, it sends outright GM potato is warm and soft as a squeegee!

OVERALL OPINION

I reproach him only to have a knob for tone not very expressive, but that's the only complaint, because the price / quality ratio is excellent, sounds are very very good, and use is a breeze. Dude

The Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer is an analog overdrive pedal designed for use with electric guitar.  It has both a 1/4 inch input and output and is powered by either a nine volt battery or power supply.  It isn't rackable as it is a foot pedal.

UTILIZATION

The configuration of the Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer is extremely easy to follow as it simply has three knobs for controlling the sound of the effect.  The pedal has parameters for drive, tone, and level, each of which will change your sound pretty drastically if you move it the full distance that it can go either way.  Even if you don't have any experience with distortion pedals, this one is a good place to start as it is easy to use and is a classic.  I don't have the manual for this pedal, but one isn't needed as the pedal is easy enough to use without one.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound quality of the Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer is overall pretty awesome.  This pedal has made a name for itself for a reason because it has its own unique tone.  To me it has the perfect amount of crunch and drive as it isn't too heavy for my taste and is really great for rhythm guitar as well as lead.  The small amount of parameters makes it easy to dial in a good tone and even though there are only three parameters you can still get a good amount of differing sounds from this pedal.  Every guitar player should experience the Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer by at least trying it out!

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using the Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer every since I started playing guitar about eight years ago.  It is the quintessential overdrive pedal and definitely lives up to its name and hype.  It isn't all that expensive and is really a great deal considering how great this pedal sounds and how easy it is to use.  If you are playing any type of music and need a great overdrive pedal, the Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer is a great place to start looking for one and chances are you will stop at this.

Well - this is the Tubescreamer. So I guess the effect consists of screaming at the tubes in order for them to be saturated with overtones

These pedals have been around for decades and really deserve their place in any setup. Everything here is straightforward - input/output (jack) and three knobs adjusting volume, gain and tone. You can power it with a 9V battery or use a power supply. An LED is light when the effect is turned on. I have to say that they could have started buidling a more modern LED into this effect by now as they are really quite difficult to see at times.
This unit was built to last and the switch looks like it can take a beating-and-a-half and brush it off like nothing happened.

UTILIZATION

Well the setup is basically like on any amp. I don't think you will really need a manual. Volume dials in...well the volume. Tone and Gain do the same. Just make sure you adjust the distorted sound to the clean sound. A lot of guitar players don't do this correctly and instead of gaining more intensity in their sound they tend to 'drop out' of the mix.

SOUND QUALITY

I believe the biggest misconception with this pedal is that it does not primarily get used to create a distortion sound. It is supposed to overload the preamp slightly to saturate the tubes - resulting in a distorted sound. But really if you want a full blown distortion for hard rock or the likes then you will have to use another pedal (or one in conjunction with this one). The Tubescreamer is more supposed to 'rough up' your signal and add a warm, slightly edgy but still very clean sounding saturation that allows you to dial it out with your volume knob. You should still be able to play that F#b9#13 without having it being washed out.
For some this pedal is a bit too warm - maybe go and try the Alberta then from T-Rex. It costs more but seriously delivers. I use the Screamer with a Bluesdriver (in that order) and in combination I get a very creamy sound with a lot of sustain. By themselves they give me 'crunch' and 'a bit more rocky crunch'.

OVERALL OPINION

I really love this thing. Some people can't stand it but for them Boss built the Metal Zone. It adds just that bit of punch and dirt I need at times and I can handle it very well with the volume knob on my guitar. If you plan to do this try to turn the Tubescreamer up a bit so when you dial back you won't get lost in the mix. It is always good to have a bit of volume reserve anyway - but please let the sound engineer in on your little volume tricks!

This is the famous (or infamous) Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer analog pedal. Of course renowned for their beautiful guitar line, this pedal may be a second close to their claim to fame. It features the simple in/out 1/4'' standard on most pedals, runs easily from an adaptor or 9v battery and features three distinct knobs, from left to right, 'drive' 'level' 'tone'. Its familiar green housing and sturdy construction make this a classic pedal. Very few rock and even less blues-rock players will not know about and use this pedal.

UTILIZATION

This pedal is used primarily to make low-end amplifiers, or solid-state amplifiers, sound like they are tube driven, or capable of creating distortion/sustain or a combination of that. Tube 'tone' is much preferred to electric guitarists who use varying tones and styles, as opposed to solid-state, which can make many 'fake' tones, like crunch et al., but try using a tube pedal on a tube amp and you'll suddenly hear a much 'fatter' or deep guitar tone. Some players even leave this pedal on all the time, but I use it primarily for soloing and also with wah or delay. You can drive up the 'drive' knob and keep the tone low for a 'distorted' tone, but much richer than you may imagine. Or crank the level and keep the drive down for a cleaner, 'Clapton' type sound.

It's also important to briefly note that many of these pedals sound different. A lot of the original ones are either gone, in collections / use, or have been tricked out by upgrading and new 'boards,;' all of this is fine, because most people should want to use this pedal, not collect it. As long as it sounds good to you, the pedal is what works.

These pedals are renowned as a staple in the rock guitarist analog board and you should consider yourself behind the game if you're fooling around with solos and haven't tried this pedal.

Not exactly for the heavy metal player (they may find the crunch not crispy enough and prefer to some proper distortion pedals, or dial it in on their amps more likely), but perfect for anything and anyone thinking 'rock and roll'.

SOUND QUALITY

The right one can be a revelation, the wrong one can sound like mud. But consider something like this a must if you play quietly from time to time but also need to 'rock out' on solos and stuff. It creates a pretty rich sustain, very similar to all the blues greats. Nothing is ever a substitute for a good amp and pickup, though. The true reward of this pedal is when you use it with good gear; it performs yet again.

OVERALL OPINION

Overall for the price of admission I'd choose it over things like Boss' Distortion or Blues Driver pedals, but this one will cost a bit more than those. It's a piece of rock gear that spans back to the early 80s and then before that the TS-8 (real gems to find).

The TS9 Tube Screamer is an analog distortion/overdrive unit. Mine was made in Japan, and it has the characteristic green paint, 1/4" input and output jacks, red led light, and ac adaptor input, all in a rugged metal case good for stompin' on.

UTILIZATION

Its a super simple pedal to operate, just 3 knobs; "drive", "tone", and "level" so its pretty self explanatory. Having a single tone knob rather than seperate "high" and "low" makes it easier to achieve a more "transparent" sound from the TS9 since you can just park it right at 12 o'clock.

SOUND QUALITY

In itself, the TS9 only makes one sound, but is good at it. Its not a super hi gain distortion, but will give you a stinging lead tone for soloing and plenty of balanced, sweet sustain depending on what guitar you are using. I play most an Ibanez Ghostrider which is built like a Les Paul with mahogany body / maple top and set neck.
Its not a thick, beefy overdrive, but its not thin or buzzy. Its sort of a sweet, middle of the road, mild distorion, or even just a gentle overdrive if you dial it in low. Its fairly versatile in its range, but its character remains the same through its spectrum from mild overdrive from medium to hi gain distortion.
One thing I like to do with my TS9 is use it as a boost to push a tube amp like my small Epiphone Valve Special into greater breakup.
I also get really cool results by purposely dialing in distorted sounds from the TS9 and then backing off the volume on my guitar to clean it up, like going from the solos in "Black Magic Woman" to the verses which are obviously cleaner, or just to get a clean sound with more sustain than usual.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using mine off and on for a few years now. The thing I like the least is having to always unplug it so it doesn't kill the battery or keep sucking power through the AC adaptor. I do dig how it has true bypass, so it doesn't color my tone when turned of like other pedals do, sort of like rolling the tone knob back a notch or two.
I've never tried any of the other models of TS9's, but I know that I like it better than the TS 808 because it will take you into high gain, and is a bit more modern sounding.

For the money, I would still get this. I wouldn't be satisfied with the cheaper soundtank models, and couldnt get the same vibe from anything by Boss or DOD. And I've never had any issues with it, so if I lost mine, I would definitely buy another one.