The Tube Screamer is arguably the greatest overdrive pedal ever created; it has become an essential part of the sound of countless guitarists.
From the sharp crunch of blues legends to searing metal leads, the Tube Screamer is capable of outputting an immense range of unique tones and is used in many different ways.
The Tube Screamer has also been hugely influential on subsequent generations of overdrive pedals, with no end of clones being manufactured by pedal makers the world over.
However, in the three decades since its initial release, there have been a few different Tube Screamer models released. In this quick guide, we’ll cover two of the most popular overdrive pedals, the TS9 and TS10, and compare the differences to help you choose between them.
In many ways, the Ibanez TS10 is a reskin of the TS9 series. While the case has a more stylish design, under the hood, there aren’t really any significant differences between the two. Although some owners have noted that the TS9 has a superior build quality compared to the TS10, others have praised the TS10 for its transparent boost and lack of background noise. At the end of the day, it’s quite difficult to decide which version is better, so it’s up to you to decide which sound you prefer. To help you decide, we’ve put this quick comparison, which can hopefully help you make up your mind.
| Features: | Ibanez TS9 | Ibanez T10 |
|---|---|---|
| Price: | $145 | $420+ |
| Frequency Range: | High | High |
| Versatility: | High | High |
Ibanez TS9
The Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer is a reissue that’s very similar to the original in so many ways. The TS9 has similar housing, the same famous seasick-green paint, and the same crankin’ overdrive that made the original one of the all-time classic pedals.
Tone
The TS9 is great for those that are looking for an overdrive tone that isn’t saturated in gain. If you’re after more of a death metal tone, then you may want to avoid the TS9. The TS9 will give you anything than the “mean and clean” tone, to warm crunch, to a throaty growl. The TS9 is more for blues and rock, rather than metal.
A common compliment that the TS9 Tube Screamer gets is that with some pedals, the tone can sound the same. With the TS9 Tube Screamer, you’ll get a different tone depending on the instrument. It emphasizes the tone, rather than creating a new tone.
Performance
The primary use of overdrive is to give the player a smooth performance, and this pedal does it perfectly. The TS9 gives you a lot of control over the sound output. That’s great for professional guitarists, as you don’t want the sound to quiver or differ from how you imagined it.
Clarity
When you crank the pedals drive, you begin to move towards distortion territory, while still keeping great clarity and touch sensitivity. One of the best parts of the design is that it is built to always keep a small amount of the original signal, creating a more textured, dynamic tone. Even on a solid-state amp’s clean channel. The TS9 works great as a boost for already distorted amps too, which makes it a great option for players who switch between two or more amp channels.
Ibanez T10
Ever since the end of the 70s, with their release of the classic TS808 Overdrive Pro, Ibanez has put out dozens of variations of their Tube Screamer pedal. All the way back to the first model, the basic aim of the Tube Screamer has always been to create an overdrive pedal that never compromised the integrity of the performer’s skill and technique. That being said, what is it that makes the Ibanez TS10 so special?
Design
In many ways, Ibanez’s TS10 pedal is reskin to the TS9 pedal. The TS10 case has a new, more stylish design, while under the hood, there aren’t really any significant differences between the two pedals. Although some have noted that the TS9 has a superior build quality, others have praised the TS10 for its transparent boost and lack of background noise.
Sound
Released in 1986, the Ibanez TS10 is an iconic overdrive pedal. The TS10 was most famously used by the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer and is famous for its success in creating a classic overdrive sound without overwhelming the skill of the guitarist using it. Simply put, the TS10 was for guitarists looking to enhance their sound by working with their technique.
Conclusion
This is a tough one to decide as both the pedals are from the same range, so they obviously have a lot of the same features.
If you’re on a tight budget, then the TS9 may be a better option as the TS10 can cost three times more than the TS9 and as there’re few differences between the pedals, you could be getting better value and of course, the latest version will last you longer.