Analog Man Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer (Silver Mod)

The Analog Man Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer (Silver Mod) is a modified version of the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, an overdrive pedal, reworked by Analog Man's Mike Piera. Where a stock Tube Screamer is known for a strong midrange push, the Silver Mod aims the other way: Pedal of the Day describes it as "backing off the mid-range a bit, and adding in some much-welcomed bottom end, it is now more of a transparent effect, a clear and true sound that won't over-color your tone"¹.

The base pedal is the Ibanez TS9, an overdrive pedal that TONEHOME reports as having good availability, with different op-amp ICs used across its production runs, including the TA75558P in silver-label issues with serial numbers in the 4xxxxx range². Analog Man's modification work is done on top of that platform.

A more transparent Tube Screamer

The stock Tube Screamer's voicing is the reason players reach for it, and the reason others look elsewhere. On That Pedal Show, the TS9 was characterized as "a bit more compressed" and smoother than the Boss SD-1⁶, part of the midrange-forward character the circuit is known for. The Silver Mod keeps the platform but loosens that grip on the tone.

Analog Man's own description of the change is direct:

For players who stack pedals, Analog Man says the Silver option helps: "If you use two tube screamers together or your tube screamer in combination with other pedals the silver option will help quite a bit, as more of your tone gets through the TS9/808/silver, so the next pedal has more to work with"⁵. A customer letter on their page calls it "especially good for stacking pedals," naming the Maxon OD9/808/Silver combination⁵.

What the Silver mod changes

The work is in the components. Pedal of the Day reports the mod involves "changing several capacitors in the signal path AND in the power supply"¹. The power-supply part of the work matters beyond tone: Analog Man notes that digital switching power supplies like the Power-All and One Spot "can cause some noise with some pedals, but our silver mod should filter any noise out"⁵.

The result, in the reviewer's words:

Pedal of the Day also found that at higher gain settings "the overdrive comes through without mushing out"¹.

For context, other shops take different approaches to the same pedal. JHS Pedals' Strong Mod "changes out some of the lesser-quality caps and resistors with improved versions"⁷, and Alchemy Audio's TS9 mod adds a bright white on/off LED upgrade⁸. Fromel Electronics sells a TS-9 mod kit that includes parts and instructions to convert the TS-9 to TS-808 spec, with upgraded power-supply caps that let you run it at up to 18V⁹.

History: the TS9, the TS808 configuration and the mode mods

The TS9 and TS808 are two points on one line. Pedal of the Day's history notes that "The 808 became the TS9 from 1982 to 1985"¹⁰. The TS808 configuration is the one players most often seek in a mod, and the Silver Mod builds on it: Analog Man states plainly that "This modification is done in addition to our normal TS-808/Brown mod"⁵¹¹. Pedal of the Day describes the result as "changing the circuit to the more-revered TS808 configuration"¹.

Analog Man's mod history covers the family broadly. They offer true bypass mods on the TS9 and TS808¹², and for the TS-808 reissue they have "a cool mojo mod using NOS parts for the TS-808 reissue and also offer our SILVER mod on it"¹². A Pedal of the Day review of a TS-808 reissue with Analog Man's True Vintage Mod found that after the mod the pedal "will be less noticeable on your guitar's tone, and will sound warmer and much more transparent than it ever" did before, and that the modded reissue "sounds just about awesome"¹³.

The Silver mod is not limited to the TS9. Analog Man's page also covers applying it to the TS9DX, and to other pedals in the family⁵.

The TS9DX mode mods

The Ibanez TS9DX Turbo Tube Screamer is, as AMZ Guitar Effects describes it, "basically a reissue TS9 with 3 extra modes and one of them is a clean boost mode"¹⁴. Aion FX identifies the three additional modes as Plus, Hot and Turbo, with Plus using two diodes in series to increase the clipping threshold¹⁵.

Analog Man's take on those modes:

• "In late 2002 we came up with some MODE MODS to make the 3 TS9DX modes more useable on the TS9DX (Turbo) tube screamer"¹⁶⁵
• After the 808 mods, the TS9 mode gives "The classic TS808 sound. Same as a TS9/808 or an old TS-808"¹⁶
• The Plus mode is "Grittier than the original TS9"¹⁶
• "We offer these mods along with the SILVER option for the ultimate Ibanez Tube Screamer!"⁵

Power: up to 16 volts

The stock TS9 runs at 9V with a current draw of 8mA³, powered either by a 9V battery or a standard AC adaptor⁴. The Silver mod opens up a higher option. Analog Man says:

Pedal of the Day repeats the same figure in its review of the Silver Mod, noting that up to 16 volts is safe for a clearer, purer sound¹. For comparison, Fromel's TS-9 mod kit takes a different route with upgraded power-supply caps rated to 18V⁹.

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