Tube Screamer-Style Overdrive Pedals Compared

This page compares the versions and clones the record covers: the original Ibanez models, the modified and modern Ibanez takes, and multi-circuit pedals like the JHS Pedals Bonsai that put several Tube Screamer circuits in one box.

What makes an overdrive Tube Screamer-style

The defining traits come from the original circuit and its descendants:

• A mild overdrive character rather than high-gain distortion¹
• The stated aim of providing "the sound of an overdriven tube amp"²
• A shared circuit lineage running from the TS808 through the TS9, the TS10 and later versions³⁴²
• A long history of modification shops converting later models back to earlier specs⁵

Guitar.com's history of the pedal notes that whole categories of pedals descend from it, including multi-circuit pedals that replicate several versions at once⁶. The overdrive family is broad, and TS-style pedals sit at the mild, midrange-forward end of it, distinct from transparent overdrives and from distortion pedals.

The Ibanez originals compared

The Tube Screamer's own history is a sequence of small revisions rather than redesigns. The TS808 came first; in 1982 the 808 design was superseded by the 9 Series Maxon/Ibanez pedals, branded as the Maxon OD-9 Overdrive and the Ibanez TS9³. The TS10 followed in the Power Series 10 line².

On That Pedal Show, Daniel and Mick walked through the lineage: the TS9 "came next and it was basically the same pedal different output section uh different compression but sounds very similar" to the TS808, but not identical⁴.

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That Pedal Show's demo covers how the TS808 and TS9 relate and where the differences sit in the circuit, which is the clearest published explanation of the 808-versus-9 question⁴.

Modified and modern Ibanez versions

Because the differences between versions are small and sit in specific parts of the circuit, modification shops have long offered conversions. Analog Man modifies many Tube Screamer and Boss pedals "to exact TS-808 specs (or better) to improve the sound"⁵. Pedal of the Day covered an Alchemy Audio TS9 mod in 2014, calling the stock pedal "a classic overdrive"⁸, and in 2015 reviewed a TS-808 with Analog Man's True Vintage Mod, where reviewer Mike B found the stock pedals "nice overdrives, but nothing too spectacular, in my book"⁹.

Ibanez itself has kept the line moving:

• The TS9-TM Tamura-Mod uses the Ibanez TS-9 as its foundation and "offers a slightly different tonal palette"¹⁰
• The Nu Tube Screamer, announced in January 2018, uses a Korg Nutube to produce "an overdrive with exceptional dynamics, improved sensitivity, and natural tube-like compression"¹¹

The Tamura-Mod is a modified TS9 rather than a new circuit, so it belongs in the same family tree as the shop mods¹⁰.

JHS Bonsai

The JHS Bonsai is a multi-circuit take on the Tube Screamer. JHS describes it as "our tribute to one of the greatest pedals ever created," and says that with it "you can get the classic sounds of nine Tubescreamers in one pedal"¹². JHS's own buying guide confirms it "features nine different versions of the classic Tube Screamer circuit"¹³.

What the nine positions cover, according to press coverage:

Guitar.com's history article calls it "its very clever nine-way Bonsai 9 Way Screamer pedal"⁶, and Delicious Audio's review video describes "a pedal that faithfully replicates 9 classic Tube Screamers!"¹⁴.

On That Pedal Show, Mick and Dan counted through the modes and gave their verdict:

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That Pedal Show's full review demos the nine circuits back to back and explains which era each position comes from¹⁵. Pete Thorn's demo video covers the same ground from a player's perspective, walking through the TS-style circuits from different eras including the modified versions¹⁶.

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DemonFx Tube Screamer

The DemonFx Tube Screamer, listed in RockBoard's PedalPedia, is an overdrive and booster pedal in the Tube Screamer mold¹⁷.

How much do the clones actually differ?

His ear did not pick up enough nuance to want a boutique-style TS pedal over the others¹⁸. Gearnews also notes the comparison is interesting precisely because "the little green overdrive pedal is so famous"¹⁹. For players, that suggests the choice between TS-style pedals comes down to features, switching and build as much as tone.

Related reading

• Tube Screamer-Style Overdrive Pedals Compared, Part 1
• Tube Screamer-Style Overdrive Pedals Compared, Part 2
• The Nine Overdrive Circuits Behind the JHS Bonsai Compared
• Drive Pedal Categories Compared: Transparent, Klon-Style, TS-Style, Amp-in-a-Box, Boost and Dual

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