I know it is a tough call to choose one between the Ibanez tube screamer overdrive pedals. Which one should you choose between TS9, TS808, and TS Mini?
This guide will help you out. Let us get into it.
Ibanez Tube Screamer
The Ibanez Tube Screamer is a guitar overdrive pedal made by Ibanez. Known for its distinctive mid-boost tone, it’s popular among blues, rock, and metal players.
The Tube Screamer has been utilized by many guitarists to create their own unique sound, and it is one of the most successful, copied, and modified overdrive pedals in electric guitar history.
The Tube Screamer’s moniker refers to the pedal’s ability to drive a tube amplifier’s preamp section, increasing the amp’s gain.
The pedal also provides a minor boost to mid-range frequencies when used in this manner, which helps to minimize muddiness. In some cases, guitarists prefer this form of equalization because it prevents their sound from being buried within the band’s overall mix.
This, along with the pedal’s versatility as a basic distortion, has made it a popular choice for different styles and venues.
The Ibanez Tube Screamer is one of the most popular overdrive pedals on the market, and it comes in a variety of models to fit different players’ needs and budgets.
The TS9 and the TS808 are the two most popular full-size pedals, but the Mini TS is a great alternative at a lesser price. So, do you need something that will not cost so much? Mini TS might be the answer for you.
In this article, I will go over three versions of the tube screamer – TS808, TS9, and TS mini, quickly describing them and listing their specifications. Then I will compare them side by side to see what the major changes are.
Ibanez TS808
Its primary applications are as a mellow overdrive for pushing clean tones into hotter regions and as a signal booster before a strong amp distortion. This last use case is highly popular among metal players because it alters the amp’s character.
The signal is boosted to the point of being compressed in a very specific way when the pedal’s volume is set to the maximum level.
The pedal is sturdy and long-lasting in terms of construction. The die-cast chassis is impenetrable to denting and damage. It includes an LED indicator that shows the battery and effect status.
On the surface, the classic version appears to be identical to the original TS808. A brilliant green frame with a vintage-looking footswitch is available.
The TS808 classic is identical to the original model in every way. Overall, the product is lightweight, compact, and easy to transport, and store.
Everything about the Tube Screamer TS808 in terms of performance is fantastic. The pedal may be found in practically any guitarist’s arsenal. The pedal can help you create beautiful, smooth tones without sacrificing quality.
Within minutes after setting up the pedal and turning the volume knob, all of your sound’s flaws will be gone.
Ibanez TS9
The Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer is simple in every aspect. The appearance, usefulness, and dependability are all fantastic. It is really simple to use, making it one of the greatest pedals for beginners to add to their pedalboard.
A nice and direct tone is likewise produced by the Tube Screamer. It’s neither a foggy nor a whining, crying tone. Instead, it creates a silky smooth, beautiful sound that is dependent on the tone of your guitar and amplifier.
The Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer overdrive pedal is one of those guitar effects that have almost mythological status. It’s a simple green stompbox with three small knobs, but in the right hand, it packs a punch.
When the drive knob is turned down, the pedal delivers a muddy approximation of the natural sound coming from the amp on a clean setting. It is, nonetheless, silky and suggestive of the guitar’s natural tones.
As you increase the volume, the tone remains smooth and complimentary, without going too far in the wrong direction and causing too much string and pickup noise. Working with the tone knob, which ranges from the lowest to the highest setting, keeps it well within acceptable and pleasurable bounds.
Ibanez TS Mini
Ibanez released the tube screamer mini as a current version for musicians looking for a more compact overdrive solution.
It has a lovely overdrive sound that really brings out the midrange. When you need to pop through the mix for your next solo in a live environment, this mid-range peak is fantastic. If you don’t want as much of a middle peak, simply reduce the tone control for a smoother rhythm overdrive tone.
TS9 vs TS808 vs TS Mini
In comparing these three versions of the Ibanez Tube Screamer, I will be looking at sound, control, and power.
Sound
Despite the Mini’s size, the full-size Tube Screamer TS808 and the Tube Screamer Mini sound identical. Because the Mini is based on the original TS808, it has everything of the TS808’s mid-boosted overdriven tone and power, but in a smaller package.
Some will argue that the TS Mini sounds less smooth than the TS808, but it’s nearly impossible to discern the difference if there is one at all. So, if the mini fits the bill for you, don’t pass it up simply because you’re scared it won’t sound as good as the full-size TS808, as this isn’t the case.
The TS9, on the other hand, sounds nothing like the TS808 or the Mini. The Tube Screamer TS9 is a newer version of the Tube Screamer with a brighter, grittier tone than the original TS808, which sounds smoother. In comparison to the more classic TS808, the TS9 is designed to give a more current tone.
Control
The drive, tone, and level controls are the same on both full-size Tube Screamers (TS9 and TS808) and the Mini version.
The controls are;
- Overdrive: controls the amount of overdrive.
- Tone: it controls the tonal quality. Moving it anti-clockwise emphasizes the bass and produces a warm tone while turning it clockwise emphasizes the treble and produces a crisp and incisive tone.
- Level: it controls the output.
These three controls let you utilize the pedal in a variety of ways to generate various effects.
Power Source
The power supply is one of the most noticeable changes between the full-size TS9 and TS808 Tube Screamer and the mini version.
Tube Screamers in full size are powered by either an internal 9V battery or an external power supply (usually in your pedal board). The Tube Screamer Mini, on the other hand, requires an external power supply to operate and does not have room for an internal battery.
This can be a hassle because you’ll need to buy an additional power supply if you don’t already have one, which raises the price, making the tiny version less affordable than it appears if it’s your first pedal.
However, connecting the power source is simple; simply plug in a DC 9V power supply or use a pedal board power supply to connect the pedal directly to the mains.
Conclusion
The Ibanez Tube Screamer has been designed with various versions to meet your budget, desired tone, and output. Knowing this would help you choose a tube screamer that achieves the results you desire.
FAQs on TS9 VS TS808 VS TS MINI
Here are frequently asked questions around TS9 vs TS808 vs TS Mini:
1. Is the TS9 Better Than the TS808?
The two tube screamers are both great. TS9 is about $50 lesser than TS808 in price. TS9 sounds modern and edgier, while TS808 has this smooth sound and creamy sound that it produces.
2. Why is TS808 more expensive than TS9?
The price difference is caused by the use of analog circuitry, which is a genius in making sounds that feels like a tube amp being played through an overdrive.
3. Did SRV use TS808 or TS9?
SRV used both the TS808 and the TS9.
4. What is the Difference between TS808 and Mini?
This two tube screamers almost sound the same that is if they don’t sound the same exactly. The differences are the size, and the requirement of the TS mini for an external DC 9V power supply, while TS 808 needs an internal 9V battery or external power supply.
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