Ibanez Tube Screamer

[Chace]

Hey Guys,
I went into my local guitar shop the other day with the intention of finding out what all the fuss is about with this Ibanez Tube Screamer.. but unfortunatly they were sold out! So i asked if theres anything that could contend with the TS and the bloke let me try out a Marshall Jackhammer and I was very impressed at the range of tones avalible.

Now apparerntly they're not going to get in anymore TS in for quite along time... So i went to musiciansfriend.com and listened to the "Sound bites" of the TS 9 and I have to say the Marshall sounded far better... does anyone have an opinion on these two pedals? ...Take into account I'm after a lead tone and play mostly Metal/Rock guitar.

And 1 more thing... do the Tube Screamers actually have tubes in them?

Cheers

 

[Dankerella]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

Plenty of reading out there for this. Start with:
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/TStech/tsxtech.htm

I'm no expert, but the TS-9s were supposed to be a crappy version of the TS-808s or TS-8s, mainly because they stopped using a certain chip that actually costs like 35 cents and is still available under a new name for about that cost. Weird huh.

If you like to build and solder, just build a version of the classic:
generalguitargadgets.com (the bomb!); diystompboxes.com; AMZ effects, ect.

If you want to buy a modded Boss that is turned into a classic tube screamer, just go to analogman.com or actually indyguitarist.com has better prices....

Reportedly General Guitar Gadgets' Blue Magic is supposed to slay the tube screamer. Got one on the bench to build as we speak....Also, GGG sells them for fairly decent prices, and he's a good guy to deal with - he's outta North Carolina.

Booya.

Late thought - if you want an Ibanez with a tube in it, get the Tube King. Only available used now, like off ebay, but I have one from back in the day, and I love it. Full, plenty of drive, tubey. Guyatone still makes tube pedals, as does electroharmonix (I think) and a new kid on the block: Damage Control (these look killer!)

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

The Marshall Jackhammer and the Ibanez Tubescreamer are a breed apart. The Jackhammer is a full on distortion box where the tubescreamer is more a overdrive boost... tubescreamers dont have tubes they are an all solid state box... I havent played a Jackhammer... But i love my tubescreamer but its not a metal box... I like it to make solos cut through and give me a touch of added grit... If your after a metal box the exaggerated mids and the low end drop off of the tubescreamer will probably be a turnoff... not to mention it doesnt have a ton of distortion on tap...

 

[lex666]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

The Marshall Jackhammer and the Ibanez Tubescreamer are a breed apart. The Jackhammer is a full on distortion box where the tubescreamer is more a overdrive boost... tubescreamers dont have tubes they are an all solid state box... I havent played a Jackhammer... But i love my tubescreamer but its not a metal box... I like it to make solos cut through and give me a touch of added grit... If your after a metal box the exaggerated mids and the low end drop off of the tubescreamer will probably be a turnoff... not to mention it doesnt have a ton of distortion on tap...

Exactly what I was gonna say...

You probably think the jackhammer will sound better since you're looking for a metal tone. The TS9 is more of an overdrive and will not have that distortion UR looking for...

I use my TS9DX in front of my gain channel for extra "push". It does add a little dirt. Try it and see if it's "metal" enough for you. I use it when faking my Metallica solo's. I use my amp's gain for rhythm stuff and then hit the TS9DX for leads, so i stand out from the rythm parts...

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

I use my TS-9 to boost my amp's distortion as well. Gives it more mids and add a little dirt which I like. I don't like the Low end drop off too much but I still need to send the pedal too Stratdeluxer if I ever get the credit card thing sorted out.
Modded it's supposed to be a very sweet pedal.

 

[51501984]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

Forums member Stratdeluxer97 will most likely chime in . He does fantastic mods to the Tubescreamer line of pedals and pretty sure he`s pretty happy with a stock Marshall Jackhammer.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

I'm speechless! LOL

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

The Marshall Jackhammer and the Ibanez Tubescreamer are a breed apart. The Jackhammer is a full on distortion box where the tubescreamer is more a overdrive boost... tubescreamers dont have tubes they are an all solid state box... I havent played a Jackhammer... But i love my tubescreamer but its not a metal box... I like it to make solos cut through and give me a touch of added grit... If your after a metal box the exaggerated mids and the low end drop off of the tubescreamer will probably be a turnoff... not to mention it doesnt have a ton of distortion on tap...

Exactly the Tube screamer is on over drive pedal, what u r looking for is a distortion pedal no wonder u were not pleased with the tone of the tube screamer.

 

[RiffRaff]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

Get a Barber Direct Drive -$99.00, it will do everything a TS will do, pull the volume knob and it's a fire breathing monster of full frequency rock and roll. Frankly the TS is overated and not all the good sounding of a pedal - even the old ones!

 

[bluey@sunni]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

Some things are better made in Japan, the TS-808 is the classic case of guitar players in lab coats doing it for the masses.

Charley's Guitars does a modded TS-9 but I love the warmth of the original, even makes a Tranny amp sound great!

 

[Buckeyedog]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

Two words......Bad Monkey. Great overdrive pedal for cheap. Get some mid gain crunch going on your Marshall and slam it with the Bad Monkey. For $40, it's hard to beat.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

Two words......Bad Monkey. Great overdrive pedal for cheap. Get some mid gain crunch going on your Marshall and slam it with the Bad Monkey. For $40, it's hard to beat.

I have to agree. The Bad Monkey is a nice Tube screamer-ish overdrive without that mid-range hump that turns alot of people off.

For forty bucks I'm still kind of beside myself on the deal. I picked up a used TS-9 reissue and the Bad Monkey sounds so much nicer in a few of my amps.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

Some things are better made in Japan, the TS-808 is the classic case of guitar players in lab coats doing it for the masses.

Charley's Guitars does a modded TS-9 but I love the warmth of the original, even makes a Tranny amp sound great!

I'm getting nauteous and need to throw this at ya...

The TS808 and the TS9 are identical in every way except for the following easily changed items...There's no pure magic in the 808...The TS9 is the way to go because it saves you $70...And the switch is easier to stomp on.. :dance:

2 different output section resistor values
Different opamp
Different footswitch

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

The Vox Valvetone is another great Tubescreamer alternative. The only thing I wish it had was a bit more lows or low mids and a touch more clean output (to better push an amp's front end).

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

The Vox Valvetone is another great Tubescreamer alternative. The only thing I wish it had was a bit more lows or low mids and a touch more clean output (to better push an amp's front end).

I Own this pedal also...It's sought of like another Tube Screamer,but uses a different chip and has a whole different tone stack...Hence the reason for it's brighter tone and stripped out lows...It's supposed to sound like a Vox AC30 in a pedal....I beefed up the lows in my own Valvetone...

John

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

I Own this pedal also...It's sought of like another Tube Screamer,but uses a different chip and has a whole different tone stack...Hence the reason for it's brighter tone and stripped out lows...It's supposed to sound like a Vox AC30 in a pedal....I beefed up the lows in my own Valvetone...

John

When you modded it, did it change the high end response?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

When you modded it, did it change the high end response?

You still have plenty of highs on the tone control..I didn't go crazy with the lows or change the way the pedal was eq'd,I just added more overall lowend to mine..Made it a bit rounder and fuller..

John

 

[risingforce]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

Both of them excellent... But i prefer jackhammer. You can use it two different modes ( overdrive-distortion ). As a result the jackhammer is the best choice to play every style of music for my opinion.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

You still have plenty of highs on the tone control..I didn't go crazy with the lows or change the way the pedal was eq'd,I just added more overall lowend to mine..Made it a bit rounder and fuller..

John

Cool. What would said mod run for? :naughty:

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Ibanez Tube Screamer

Cool. What would said mod run for? :naughty:

PM me....