Ibanez TN20 Head

This all-tube amp head is a 120 watt powerhouse. There's a 1/4' input and two footswitch inputs. There are two channels, Vintage and Hot (which function just like typical clean and distorted channels would.) There are the standard bass, middle, treble, master and presence controls on both channels. The vintage channel also features a bright switch that has three positions, and the Hot channel has a dampening switch that has two positions. There is also a Sensitivity switch for a -6dB pad that works pretty well. Finally, it also has an effects loop.

UTILIZATION

The setup for this amp is far from simple. To use all the features on the footswitch, you need two cables (unless you only want to change channels or turn the effects loop on/off, to be able to control the dampening switch you need an extra cable.) Getting a good sound was difficult for me, it offers a nice range of options but none of those options sounded particularly good to me. The manual helped me pretty well, but it still took a while for me to figure out everything.. It's almost a case of having too many options to work with on a practical level.

SOUNDS

I play a bluesy, rootsy kind of rock music, as well as some really noisy experimental stuff as well. I found that this amp doesn't suit my style as well as I'd hoped. I tried using it with a Fender Strat '67 reissue, and had some difficulty with it. The vintage channel had to be cranked in order for it to sound good, and the Hot channel just gave too much noise and not enough signal. It also wasn't a good noise that would add atmosphere to a good song, it was just the kind of noise that robs you of gain. I wasn't crazy about anything except the Vintage tone when it was really bright and cranked, and usually that was too loud for my purposes. Living with your parents or with roomates would make such loudness a huge nuisance. However, I must say that the amp is pretty well suited for much heavier styles of music. A friend of mine brought a Gibson Les Paul over to play and he used this amp. It actually sounded really good since we were switching it up and playing some heavy, grunge/punk sounding music. So I can't rate the sounds from this amp low; even though it's not for me, it might be great for others.

OVERALL OPINION

I only had this amp for about a year before I sold it to the aforementioned friend. It ended up working out much better for him. I liked how heavy it could get, but rarely found myself justifying such a booming, heavy sound. I ended up going with a Marshall combo that worked really well for a few years. I think that one can't really complain about the price. I've seen more expensive amps that deliver far less. I wouldn't buy it again, but I'd recommend that punk/metal/hardcore players at least check it out.

(Originally written by Adrien45/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- Amplification technology (tube, solid state, ...)?

Tubes (Ruby tubes).

- Output power?

120 watts. It's a lot and it's good to go on an ego trip.

- Controls, effects?

2 channels: vintage (clean) and hot (overdrive)

FX loop with input and output volume controls.

Both channels have basic settings (master, treble, medium, bass, gain, presence)

The clean sound has three modes (normal, bright, brighter) which can't be controlled with the footswitch.

The distortion sound has two modes (normal, dampening) which you can select with the footswitch.

The included footswitch gives you the following possibilities: channel selection, distortion mode selection, FX loop on/off.

I give it a 10 because its basic but effective.

UTILIZATION

- Is it easy to make settings?

Extremely easy. The knobs are big and labeled.

- Is it easy to get the right sound?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! This amp is not easy to set. It requires a lot of time because your first impression is that it produces too much lows. It's true that the low-end is very powerful but I don't think it's too much. I recommend you to take some time setting this amp with a very loud volume (it's a tube amp) and to try lots of different settings. But once you have found the right sound, you'll understand that this amp is a dream come true. I personally set a quite metallic sound in the beginning but with more experience I get a quite large sound palette. As a summary, this amp does everything you want but you have to take the time to get to know it.

Is the user's manual clear and comprehensive?

I didn't read it :D

I give it a 9 since everything is ok but it's a real pain to have to spend so much time setting it.

SOUNDS

- Does it fit your music style?

I mainly play punk rock, hardcore and heavy metal and I don't have a problem. This amp is brutal and I don't expect more from it.

- Which guitar, bass or effects do you use?

I play an Ibanez GRG with its original pickups and, believe me, I get a violent sound. It's the perfect amp if you want a fat and dirty sound. I haven't really tested the clean sound. I don't use any effects with this amp. It produces a huge distortion and a clean sound. That's enough for me!

- What kind of sounds do you get and which settings do you use ("crystal-clear", "fat", ...)?

Every possible distortion sound is possible... Once again: simply take enough time to set the amp. Regarding the clean sound... I don't like clean sounds.

- Which sounds do you prefer / hate?

I repeat once again: the distortion sound is ENORMOUS. It's really violent.

I give it a 10 although I don't really know how the clean channel sounds.

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you been using it?

About one year.

- Which feature do you like the most / the least?

It's a real rocker amp. Sound, looks and output power.

- Did you try any other models before buying it?

Several Marshall and a Peavey Supreme.

- How would you rate its value for money?

Just perfect.

- Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?

Without hesitation!!!

120 watt all-tube amp
Footswicth 3 buttons
between high and low
3 types of clear sound
2types of distortion
Effects loop
No reverb ....( shame ...)
I do not put too much characteristic you can find on the site ibanez
I give you just my personal opinion ...
I put 10/10 parsque I board absolutely no need for reverb (jOperation a delay)

UTILIZATION

The manel is clear ... but hey it's fiddling you'll find your sound ....
Also not very easy to find knobs ....( 15)
more like all tube amps it needs to speak so please turn up the volume to find your sound ...
one little problem it needs a lot of heating time.

SOUNDS

This amp should have tt kind of music
I play mostly metal but with two types of distortion and a rather vintage lautre super fat you can really make you happy!
I play on Epiphone Les Paul Gothic equipped seymour duncan ... and a Schecter Blackjack 007 is also equipped with Seymour Duncan.
My pedalboard: whammy, wah wah, filter, tremolo, delay.
So there are three types of sound Klair: normal, bright and brighter: in the sound é normal round lens more bright and brighter Do not play this mode with the neck pickup lens and it is slamming.
Distortion in fat (Dampening) not worth the gain to a substance or trebles and even less bass.

OVERALL OPINION

It's been a few months I play it I'm really pleased we did Repeat last shot in this is really a monster for me it overwrites the Peavey 5150 .....
20aine the diode can hinder a lot but finally c ....
price / quality ratio not too bad: the speaker is a bit expensive about € 900

If I had to redo the choice I would take this kind hesiter.Dans not only a Mesa amp can be better ....

What idea taken to an Ibanez amp lamps ... ?
They took the best components of the moment and have assembled, but it's an amp that does not ingnieurs done by musicians. On an oscilloscope performance is excellent but the ear is zero.

UTILIZATION

The strength of this amp is an amp for this price there is an effects loop or parallle SERIES with a knob for volume and one of them for output

Do you get a good sound easy? -> No! There are too low and not enough mdiums.

The manual is clear.

SOUNDS

I play guitar on Mount Seymour or Dimarzio, the problem is the same: too much bass and not enough mdiums.
Migraine provides after each BPS

OVERALL OPINION

I bought it on Ebay for 300.
I dtest sounds.
So I have modified by a manufacturer of amplifiers, he told me adding a filter to remove low and re rgler everything else.
Since it works perfectly with the IDAL for me (I play the black mtal and hard rock) and I do not regret at all to have bought.
I put 3 / 10 as global opinion for the unmodified 10/10 amp to the amp modified (NOS Grard thank you!).

was still a good deal of time if you have the possibility to give feedback!