What does a Tube Screamer like our Revolt do?
Boutique effects pedals, such as our Tube Screamer, have a long history. The Tube Screamer category, in particular, has played a significant role in this. Tube Screamers are effects pedals for guitar or bass that are primarily designed to distort the audio signal. Originating from the overdrive category, the Ibanez brand, with its TS9 Tube Screamer and the newer Tube Screamer Mini, has become particularly well-known for pedals in this direction.
History of the Tube Screamer:
In 1979, the first and most popular Tube Screamer emerged from an overdrive effects pedal. It was the TS808, which was initially sold under the Maxon brand until Ibanez acquired the rights to it.
Subsequently, numerous modifications and further developments of this pedal were created, such as the TS9 or TS10.
The most popular pedals of this time are probably the Ibanez TS808, the Ibanez TS9 or the Ibanez TS10.
The TS5 and TS7 were not as popular due to their plastic housing or the increased distortion.
What does a Tube Screamer do?:
Tube screamers are primarily known for their basic sound. The most popular pedals feature a bass cut and a mid-range boost. This produces a warm sound with plenty of volume. The pedal is usually very dynamic and well-suited to distinguishing itself from other members of the band.
Our Revolt is particularly notable for its 18 volts of headroom and immense clean boost in the midrange. The distortion in the bass range can be adjusted to transform it into a standalone overdrive .
See for yourself:
Tube Screamer as a boost pedal?
Before we look at using the Tube Screamer as a boost pedal, we should first understand how a boost pedal actually works and what effect it has.
Boost pedals amplify the incoming signal either by increasing the level or by adding more gain.
If you're playing a solo or want to highlight a particular part of your song, you can simply turn on the Tube Screamer and give your part an extra kick.
To use a Tube Screamer or overdrive pedal as a boost pedal, increase the level and tone settings. You can also increase the drive setting to add more sustain and grit.
The Tube Screamer should be placed behind all other distortion units in the signal chain.
Tube Screamer Schematic:
A Tube Screamer circuit, or schematic, consists of a variety of components in its basic configuration. The most important of these are undoubtedly the input buffer, clipping stage, tone and volume stage, bypass stage, and the output buffer.
As for the differences between the models, the Ibanez TS808, the Ibanez TS9, and the TS9 reissue are based on the same circuit design (schematic). The only differences between these three models are the opamp type and the two output resistors.
There seems to be a difference in the sound depending on which op amp is actually in the circuit. In fact, this may be the biggest impact on the sound of the Tube Screamer circuit, especially with the old classics.
Ibanez Tube Screamer and other models
The most well-known models certainly come from Ibanez. But besides Ibanez, there are other manufacturers, like us, who have explored the Tube Screamer theme. Below, we'd like to showcase three Tube Screamers that we personally like a lot.
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
The TS9 is arguably the most legendary Tube Screamer. It's the successor to the even more legendary TS808, which now commands enormously high prices on numerous used amp portals. This Tube Screamer responds very dynamically and has a rather gentle distortion. A real "bullet" in front of a tube amp.
It was used, for example, on pedalboards or setups by Gary Clark, The Edge or Carlos Santana.
Ibanez TS Tube Screamer mini
The trend toward smaller pedals is undisputed in the effects pedal scene. Ibanez, for example, also offers a smaller, more compact version of its classic.
The properties are basically not affected and it is virtually impossible to get into hard clipping.
Of course, due to the size, you have to make compromises with smaller controls when operating the TS Mini, but this does not detract from the sound.
JHS Pedals The Bonsai
JHS Pedals is a small guitar effects pedal company based in Kansas City, MO. Started in 2007 by Josh Scott through DIY repairs, JHS Pedals has built a reputation over the years, culminating in a full lineup of effects.
The Tube Screamer from JHS Pedals combines various screamer and overdrive circuits in a single package, making this Tube Screamer extremely versatile. It can be used as a clean boost in front of a guitar amp or as a boost pedal in front of a distorting amp.
It houses, for example, circuits and sound structures from the BOSS OD-1, TS808, TS9 or even the TS10.
Why a Tube Screamer now?
In our opinion, there are many great Tube Screamer effects pedals, and our Revolt is now a part of that. If we've piqued your interest in pedals in this category, feel free to check out the Revolt Tube Screamer above in our shop.
