Classic Gear: Ibanez Tube Screamer

There are some guitar pedals that are instantly recognisable: just by seeing them or hearing them, we know exactly what they are.

Although various iterations of the Ibanez Tube Screamer exist, there is no mistaking that classic green overdrive pedal that we've seen on countless pedalboards, from pub gigs to arena shows.

Ibanez Tube Screamer history

The fabled Ibanez Tube Screamer didn't actually start out life as an Ibanez product; the first Tube Screamer was released under Hoshino Gakki's (The parent company of Ibanez and Maxon) own brand, Maxon, as the OD808, but this was later rebranded as Ibanez since Maxon at that point could not export products outside of Japan.

The company initially started out producing high quality, branded copies of big name guitar brands, but decided during the 1970s they wanted to get into the guitar pedal market and create a product to rival the Boss OD-1.

They enlisted the help of a sub-contactor in the form of a company called Nisshin, who handled the development of pedals for the brand. The first Tube Screamer circuit was built in 1979 by an engineer named Susumu Tamura, who worked at  Nisshin.

The name “Tube Screamer” was coined when members of Hoshino and Susumu went on a business trip to the United States to try and sell to retail stores. During a meeting with the retailer Sam Ash, the Sam Ash founder's grandson made the comment that the pedal “sounded like a screaming tube amp.”

After this meeting, the pedal was re-branded as the Ibanez TS-808, and the Tube Screamer was born.

What's are the different types of Tube Screamer?

Over the last 40 years, many different variations of Tube Screamer have been produced. Some faithful to the original design, some with different mods for additional sounds.

When it comes to classifying Tube Screamer style pedals, most guitar players will start with what many consider to the the three “core” Tube Screamer pedals:

TS-808

The TS-808 is the original design and is still widely available to this day. The 808 variation is one of the most popular versions of the Tube Screamer, especially with guitar players chasing the vintage tone of this classic pedal.

TS9

From 1981, Ibanez started producing pedals in what was known as the “9 Series”. One of these pedals was the TS9, a slightly modified, updated version of the Tube Screamer circuit.

The TS9 is mostly similar to the TS-808 but with a few subtle variations, particularly to the output section, which give it a brighter and more aggressive sound over smoother sounding 808.

TS10

From 1986, Ibanez began building pedals for their “Power Series” of pedals. Unfortunately at this point in time, the Japanese economy was struggling and that was reflected in this range.

The TS10 was built with cheap jack plugs, pots and switches that were easily broken but very difficult to replace. Over the years the TS-10 has become a very sought after unit.

TS5

Between 1991 and 1998 Ibanez produced the TS5. This is a similar circuit to the TS9 but made in Taiwan. The TS5 was also housed in a plastic casing after its first year of production, making it less reliable for touring musicians.

TS7

In 1999, Ibanez created the Tone-Lok series of pedals, which had pots that could be set to the desired value and then pressed down and locked into the pedal to prevent them being changed accidentally. This pedal also had a “Hot” mod for additional gain.

TS-9DX Turbo

The Turbo Tube Screamer is the ultimate Tube Screamer for the guitarist who needs more. It has 4 different modes: TS9, +, Hot, and Turbo. Each incremental mode boosts the low end and gain levels.

Other circuits and variations have existed such as the TS9 Reissue, introduced in 1992 and made with a different chip, and the TS-808HW, a hand-wired take on the classic 808 circuit.

The Tube Screamer circuit

The Tube Screamer was designed to compete with the two big overdrive pedals on the market at the time: the Boss OD-1 and the MXR Distortion+.

Boss utilised solid state asymmetric clipping and held a patent for this circuit design, which meant that other overdrive pedals needed to be designed differently to prevent overstepping Boss's existing patent.

As a result, the Tube Screamer was designed on a circuit that used an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The aim was to make a pedal that would replicate the sound and feel of a cranked valve amp.

The IC chips are a form of operational amplifier (op-amp) which produce a soft symmetrical clipping, much like the clipping characteristics of a valve amp as it is gradually pushed into overdrive. Soft symmetrical clipping produces a wide dynamic range and good response.

A low-pass filter rolls off some of the low end, which is often seen as a desirable characteristic of the Tube Screamer, helping to keep the tone clear of any muddiness, especially when playing through a loud amp in a band context.

The Tube Screamer chip debate

The IC chip used in the Tube Screamer circuit has been the source of many internet debates over the years concerning which is the best for that perfect “Tube Screamer tone”.

Over the years, Ibanez has used a variety of IC chips in the circuit, due to various factors ranging from cost to market availability.

Here are some of the most common chips found in the Tube Screamer:

• JRC4558 - The chip used in the OG Tube Screamer, this is widely considered to be the quintessential Tube Screamer chip. Although other 4558 chips exist, Tube Screamer purists feel those with a JRC prefix are the best, although technically they are all identical.
• TL072 - A popular chip in the 1980s, the TL072 has a JFET input and is said to be a little more transparent tonally compared to the 4558.
• TS75558 - This Toshiba-made chip can be found in the TS10 and is regarded as one of the least desirable IC chips to appear in a Tube Screamer.

Alongside these chips, Ibanez have also used TI RC4558P and OPA2134 chips in their Tube Screamer pedals over the years.

The op-amp actually only has a minor effect on the sound – the majority of the “Tube Screamer sound” actually derives from the diodes in the feedback path of the op-amp.

What is an Ibanez Tube Screamer best used for?

The Tube Screamer is a low- to medium-gain overdrive pedal. Over the years it has found its way onto the pedalboards of many influential guitar players, and has been used on countless classic albums across all genres.

It can be used as a standalone overdrive into a clean amp. Using it this way will give you a lighter overdriven sound, perfect for playing bluesy music and adding some attitude and sustain to your playing.

The Tube Screamer also works well into an already overdriven amp. Using it this way adds an additional gain stage and hits the front end of the amp slightly harder, pushing it a little further into overdrive.

Another great use for a Tube Screamer is with a high gain amp like a Peavey 5150. Running the Tube Screamer with the gain on 0, the volume turned up and the tone set to taste, into an already highly gained-up amp will give your tone mroe focus, less low end mud, and a nicely pushed mid-range. Perfect for high-gain Metal riffs!

Notable Tube Screamer users

You don't need to look too hard to find the Tube Screamer used as part of a live rig or recording setup. The famous green overdrive pedal has been used across every imaginable genre, and you will have heard this pedal on more songs than you realise: guaranteed.

Here is a list of just a few notable users of the Ibanez Tube Screamer:

• Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Joan Jett
• Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys)
• John Mayer
• Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
• Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
• The Edge (U2)
• Keith Richards (Rolling Stones)
• Gary Moore

Tube Screamer alternatives

With the exception of the hand-wired models, the Ibanez Tube Screamer remains a very budget friendly overdrive pedal, however you can also find some fantastic variations on this legendary circuit.

JHS Pedals Bonsai

Perhaps one of the most versatile Tube Screamer pedals out there, the Bonsai allows you to switch between 9 different voicings ranging from the classics through to modern modifications. A must-have for anyone who wants all the Tube Screamer sounds in one place.

Electro-Harmonix East River Drive

The East River Drive is built on the same JRC4558 architecture that Tube Screamer fans love, but this pedal is voiced to be slightly more transparent in the mid-range –perfect if you don't want to change your tone too much but still want some subtle TS vibe.

NUX Tube Man MkII

For the tone chaser on a tight budget, the NUX Tube Man is a mini-pedal that nails the Tube Screamer sounds. This little pedal might be small, but it packs a punch. Simple to use, it gives you the classic mid-boosted TS sound but with a little more gain on tap for when it's needed.

Tube Screamer alternatives at Boost Guitar Pedals

[product=formula-b-4558-od]
Featuring the same Texas Instruments RC4558P chip found in some of the earliest examples of the TS808, the 4558 OD sounds absolutely incredible. It boasts a tweaked EQ to reduce the amount of treble compared to the previous version, and a significant volume boost too. If you've never done the whole Tube Screamer-Marshall thing then you're missing out big time!
[/product]

[product=formula-b-that-screamer-overdrive-pro-4558]
Can't decide which Tube Screamer-type pedal is best for you? The Formula B That Screamer is a multi-mode version based on the circuitry of original vintage pedals. Select from TS808, TS9, TS10, or combined TS808 & TS10 modes for ultimate flexibility! Fitted with the JRC4558 op-amp as used in the original units.
[/product]

[product=drunk-beaver-the-forest-song]
Uniquely, The Forest Song operates at either 18V or 30V for unrivalled headroom - boosted internally from a standard 9V power supply. The LED display shows the precise voltage the pedal is operating at. Featuring 6 clipping modes, this Tube Screamer-inspired pedal is bristling with functionality – and tone!
[/product]

 [product=kink-guitars-straya-drive]
A combination of Tube Screamer and Marshall Guv'nor circuits, the Kink Guitar Straya Drive is balls-to-the-wall rock in a pedal. You can "gain stage" each side, so the Tube Screamer circuit is set at a lower gain level for crunchy, punchy rhythm, while the Guv'nor has a gainier setup for sections which require more grunt and distortion. Alternatively, go fully bogan and kick both sides on for a rich, saturated lead rock tone.
[/product]

Lead image credit: Bergamont - stock.adobe.com