An Ibanez Tube Screamer is an overdrive/distortion pedal that is mild compared to many, but allows the true sound of the guitar and player's technique to come through. The most popular use of a tube screamer is to push a tube amp to make it overdrive more, but they sound good through almost anything.

There are several models of tube screamers including TS-808, TS9, TS10, TS5 soundtank, TS7, and TS9DX. There are also Maxon versions - the OD-9 and OD9Pro+.

The first Tube Screamer was the green TS-808 overdrive pro in the late '70s. It was preceded by the Orange "Overdrive" and green "Overdrive-II" which came in narrower boxes without the battery cover, and the reddish "Overdrive-II" which had a box very similar to the TS-808. These early overdrives had a different, much more distorted, fuzzy circuit.

TS-808

The TS-808 and its generation have small square chrome on/off touch-buttons. Almost all TS-808's sound great. There were some TS-808s made in the 1979 period, mostly for other than USA markets, that came in a narrower box. These have a bottom plate that unscrews to change the battery like an MXR pedal, no plastic battery cover. This narrow TS-808 had a different circuit with more distortion. It uses two 1458 chips which are the 1st version of the low-tech dual op-amp.

Early TS-808's have the Ibanez (R) trademark logo which some people seek. There is really no difference, although some of these have a Malaysian Texas Instruments RC4558P chip instead of the standard Japanese JRC4558 chip. A rare chip used was the TL4558P chip, as used in the early Boss OD-1 pedals.

TS9

Around 1982 until 1985 the Ibanez pedals were repackaged and the 9-series of effects were made. The most popular is the TS-9 tube screamer, which is almost the same as the TS-808 internally. The main change in the TS-9 circuit is in the output section. This caused the tube screamer to be a bit brighter and less smooth. In the mid 80s the TS-9s were put together with seemingly random op-amp chips, instead of the JRC-4558 which is called for in the schematics. Some of these sound BAD, especially the JRC 2043DD chips. If you have an original TS9 with the 2043 chip, 808 mods will make a huge difference in tone.

TS10 and STL

After the 9 series was discontinued, the MASTER or L series pedals were made, without a tube screamer in the lineup. This series was only made in about 1985. They did include the SUPER TUBE model STL, which is like a 4 knob tube screamer. It is similar to the rare and valuable ST-9 Super Tube Screamer which seems to have been sold only in Europe. Then in about 1986 the similarly made POWER SERIES or 10 series appeared, including the TS-10 tube screamer. Compared to a TS-808, a TS-10 has about 3 times more circuit changes than the TS-9 had. From about 1988 through 89 when the 10 series ended, some TS-10 pedals were made in Taiwan, using an MC4558 chip. All TS-10s (and other L and 10 series pedals) used cheap jacks and pots which were mounted to the boards instead of the cases, so they often break or fall apart.

The plastic TS-5 Soundtank followed the TS-10 and was available until about 1999 when the TS7 TONE LOK series came out. The TS-5 circuit is very similar to the TS-9 but made in Taiwan with cheaper, smaller components. Also, the box is plastic so there may be more noise than a shielded metal TS-808 or TS-9 box. Some people are happy with these but most prefer the older ones.

In about 1993, Ibanez started to make the TS-9 again due to popular demand. This reissue is just about identical to the last original TS-9s in sound, circuitry, and appearance. The IC chip they use in the reissue is the same as some later original TS-9s, the Toshiba TA75558. They are a higher tech chip that will work good in higher tech equipment (where you want a low noise op amp) but are not the best for a tube screamer.

Tube screamer TS808 mods were started by Analog Man before the reissue TS9 pedals came out. Now these types of mods are performed by many people and there is DIY info available on the web providing a lot of this info.

In about early 2000, the TS7 TONE-LOK pedal appeared. It is made in Taiwan like the TS5 but in a metal case that should stand up better. There are several circuit boards inside. These have a HOT mode switch for extra distortion and volume, which is quite useable. All the boards, connectors, and cables inside add a lot of complexity and there are many things to break, it's not an old style hand wired pedal like the TS9.

In late 2002 the largest change to the TS9 ever took place. Maxon (actually Nisshin Onpa, the manufacturer or Maxon pedals) is no longer making the TS9 and TS9DX pedals for Ibanez. Ibanez is now having another company make them. The new TS9s are now easy to distinguish. The new circuit board no longer says MAXON, now it says Ibanez. You will also see IBANEZ cast into the case if you pull back the foam a bit near the battery, the older ones said MAXON there. The battery covers also have IBANEZ on them instead of Maxon. The battery covers were never changed since the original TS-808 until they did that

TS9DX

In late summer of 1998 the TS9DX Turbo Tube Screamer was made available for those who want more volume, distortion, and low end. It is the same as the TS9 but has an added knob which has four MODE positions. Each position adds low end, increases volume, and actually decreases distortion.

In early 2004 Ibanez finally reissued the TS-808 pedal due to popular demand.

Maxon pedals

The Maxon OD-9 was released in the summer of 2002. It is a TS9 with the correct JRC4558D chip and a 4PDT switch replacing the FET switching. These have true bypass and LED switching and are really fine pedals. The OD9Pro+ came out in 2006 and offers a BOOST switch and internal voltage doubling circuitry for more clarity. It's like Maxon's reply to all the tweeks and mods on their pedals, it even uses some of the same parts as the Analog Man silver mods inside.

Other tube screamer type pedals

Many other pedals are based on the tube screamer, or quite similar. The Boss SD1 is a little edgier but quite similar. Vox Valvetone is quite similar.

Many boutique overdrive pedals use the basic tube screamer circuit with some tweeks, starting with the Fulltone Fulldrive-II which is a very well built pedal with a few additional modes and settings, which has evolved away from the basic tube screamer sounds. Almost all other boutique overdrives are based on the TS808, some with no changes at all, and some build your own clone kits are now available for DIY.

Have fun and keep on screamin'!