Get More From Your Tube Screamer Overdrive Pedal [Solo Boost, Harmonic Feedback & More!]

[@SteveJamsEcono]

Loving the idea for bite-sized videos like this that quickly run through all the practical uses of a well-tread pedal type. Sometimes we forget the obvious and it's good to be reminded! More, please!

[@ThatPedalShow]

Cheers Steve, we’re on it 👍

[@taviswardlaw]

I love that thatpedalshow has trained us to believe that a 25+ minute video is bite sized! Just shows how much there is to explore and enjoy about guitars, gear and music!

[@arnaudstegle5034]

I'm 53 and play guitar since i'm 16. I've never bought a Tubescreamer. I always thought it was outdated, and because I have a Kernom Ridge that can mimic everything I've lost interest in the overdrive quest. I eventually bought a TS9 two weeks ago juste to see and man ! what a revelation ! It was/found the sounds I was looking for for years. Humbuckers, P90 ou single coils....it sets the sound almost immediatly and I only have to tweak a little bit the amp's EQ depending on the genre of music. But it's a pleasure to play it straight, or adjust the tone and volume on guitar. It's really magic to me. I also love the RAT and all the sounds you can get from it, from low gain to fuzzy tones. Maybe a "Get More From Your RAT" episode would be great.

[@stoatystoat174]

Although this makes me want a Tube Screamer, what I'm seeing is that before that should: 1. Practice more 2. More practice 3. Get SG 😍

[@andsoistopped]

OK, so not about this video at all but totally about last night. What an absolute delight last night was at the Musician here in lil ole Leicester. Just wonderful to see Dan and Mick having so much fun doing the thing all these videos are for. And lovely to meet the true legend behind all of it who makes it all happen Kathryn! Grinning from ear to ear all night. Music at its best - bringing life and light. Side note - the TPS crowd is the most polite gig attending group of folks you’ll ever meet. Fabulous.

[@WhitAnderson70]

Sweet! Sounds like it was amazing.

[@andsoistopped]

@@WhitAnderson70it was delightful.

[@mmrrmmoonn]

Shame they never post videos from their gigs (that I know of). I would love to see them in action!

[@andsoistopped]

@@mmrrmmoonn I think it’s because the focus on the need for high quality would be a distraction from actually playing and potentially suck all the joy out of it.

[@mmrrmmoonn]

Could be

[@tonymcalister9878]

Mick is on FIRE today. In his element.

[@Mark254-TX]

I love my tube screamer!... One thing I did with mine is I swapped the electrolytics that were under 18 volt rated and swapped them for 25 volts... and now I run mine at 18... it really opens mine up!.... you can also run it safely at 12v if your power supply has dip switches to go from 9 to 12 ... or has ports with 12v... it has been a real game changer for me :-) Blessings from Texas to all y'all !!

[@eichaan]

Thanks! These kind of videos (how to get the most out of a normal pedal) are my favorite of all of your projects.

[@bakkels]

Yep. Sometimes it's a lot fun to watch shiny things you can't (or shouldn't) buy, no doubt. But in the end I prefer these videos as well.

[@paulmeier3462]

You hear a lot of love and hate for tubescreamers. From my experience, it totally depends on your set-up. If you have a fairly mid-scooped sound, e.g. a Strat into a blackface Fender, a TS is perfect for boosting the mids and creating a really nice sound. If you already have a fairly mid-pushed sound then the TS sounds awful, turning the sound into a nasal mush. That's when a bluesbreaker or klon style pedal is better. Great video!

[@stanislavmigra]

exactly. Its tool for certain job and it works great. Its not "make everything sound better" wonder

[@gavinsaunders01]

Love it when TPS moves into high gain territory. Doesn’t happen often.

[@robbieredball]

Amazing night at the Cavern. TPS and AT in my home town! So good. My old dad was a regular at the Casbah club, he was living in West Derby and knew Pete Best. Dad has such a great ear he didn't like the beatles! He went to the original Cavern a couple of times and didn't like it! Preferred the Mardi Gras club across the road that had jazz bands. Its the second time after Witney I've managed to persuade my old friend the bass player in my old band to come and hear you and AT and she's finally decided to take up playing again (after having kids and work and dealing with life's ups and downs) she loved Wednesday night so much. Thank you Dan and Mick. You must have made so many peoples' lives better, mine included. More gigs please, we'd come even if AT wasn't the icing on the wonderful cake.

[@markdavidofficial4274]

Tube screamers are one of those pedals you have to mature into. Used to HATE them, but now it’s the most important pedal on my board and couldn’t imagine it not being on. It’s just perfect

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

The reason it was so hated is because most dopey teenagers bought them thinking it was magically going to transform them into their rock gods. haha Within 5 mins they got a reality slap haha and said, what a piece of junk! A total rip off. Same with the Boss super overdrive. This doesnt sound anything like Gary Moore. ha This is why the TS, SD1 and the metalzone pedals were hated and thrown in the closet or sold. ha

[@guitfidle]

Cheers guys! I bought my TS9 brand new in like 93 or 94 and it's never left my board. My main amp is a '79 Marshall 2203 JMP (much larger output transformer than the JCM series, so more low end) into one of those oversized Mesa 4x12s, so absolutely massive low end. My other favorite pedal is a black Russian Muff- putting that in front of the Marshall gets almost too dark. Putting the TS in front of the Muff really fills in the missing mid and upper frequencies. That TS into a Muff is my favorite combo for most other amps too, but it really shines with the Marshall.

[@bakkels]

Wait, let me guess! Your style is smooth jazz.

[@guitfidle]

@@bakkels totes 🤣

[@kevb044]

I love kicking my Tubescreamer into a Blues Driver or even a Notaklön, gives such an amazing tone

[@ryangunwitch-black]

Tube Screamer and Blues Driver. A ubiquitous combination for good reason! ❤

[@houseofshred3725]

I read this and was like TOTALLY! Then I was like wait a minute, THAT'S MY BROTHER! lol One day they'll join forces and make a "Blube Dreamer."

[@melexdy]

Yeah but in what order!! i like ts 1st

[@houseofshred3725]

@@melexdy Oh absolutely.

[@keeff]

Appreciate this, I've had a TS for years and no matter how hard I try I haven't been able to make it work for me

[@crflores76]

One of the best episode… it’s the reason why ts is in every “professional guitarist”…. 👏👏👏👏

[@nilsx3020]

You guys have been an endless source of inspiration and resource over the years, plus I’m just enjoying the “hang” amongst some good people.

[@lysistheory]

For many years I used the Tube Screamer as a solo bust after a Rat (and I still love the combination). Very interesting to know that you can use it for harmonic feedback! I'll give it a try later! Thanks a lot for the useful tips! 🎸🤘

[@gregmize01]

90% of people use it wrong then complain they don't like how it sounds. LOL. Great vid chaps!!!!

[@shadowulf]

And I was one of those. I had mine in the 90s, and always had it set wrong. Pedals are like spices for food, all must be adjusted to taste. Too much of any will spoil the meal

[@andrewmarsh3094]

I know how to use it/them and still don't like them. I run a J Rocket Melody and or a Black star Dept. 10 Dual drive

[@D1570R73D]

not really, the pedal does cut out high end detail, adds compression, and the bass cut is not great for drop tuning if it was as you say, people wouldn't be modding them left and right

[@gregmize01]

@@andrewmarsh3094 lol, the melody is a Tubescreamer

[@gregmize01]

@@D1570R73D yes really

[@garethhaynes1206]

I’ve been desperately looking for a video on using both the TS and Blues Driver for years! Having both pedals, I can never get the sound/drive that I needed, this video has helped massively! Thanks both!

[@ThatPedalShow]

Nice one Gareth! Hopefully there are some useful ideas here for you to try. Cheers!

[@MrNeilltupman]

Great video, gentlemen! This is a timely reminder of why the TS-9 I bought in about 1997 is still on my board today and has never left! It's been a constant in all the bands I've played in, classic rock covers, folk rock, prog, pastural Americana type stuff... its versatility is why. It currently sits in front of my two OD options; a Victory V1 and a TateFX Rodent (RAT), and it just sounds glorious pushing either of those into my clean(ish) V40 Duchess. Great hearing it on Friday in Witney Mick (and lovely to chat to you both again afterwards, too), it sounded 👌 pushing the TwoRock 'Tower of Power'™️

[@jr-qj6xw]

Man, that gold '70s Strat just has IT, I'm blown away every time I hear that thing. What an instrument (even with the slightly wobbly neck).

[@compucorder64]

It's a really useful tool. And I find that Earthquaker Plumes is even more useful. Because it can do the tone shaping, which I find really useful for being able to plug a different guitar (say with humbuckers) into the same board/amp, and turn it one to carve out that bass flubiness, especially on neck pickup. But then Plumes can do to different harmonic structures, as well as the cleaner boost. And less noise. Another tool I love for this flexibility is the Darkglass Hyperluminal, because can change between three different types of compression: bus, symetric & 1176. The bus comp is nice transparent neutral peak limiting. The sym mode is super thick gooey and fat, great for Telecaster/Stratocaster bridge pickup. And the 1176 is bitey, for sharpening up humbucker/neck pickups. Between Hyperluminal & Plumes can do a lot of shaping. Want to get an Airchild for another comp flavour, but also that tilt. Because, with amp settings I prefer to set and forget it.

[@friedrudibega6384]

I use mine into a blues breaker for an eq boost and feedback machine. Just a little gain and a lot of level. Lovely.

[@scottcurry4116]

I’ve done these experiments with my Maxon OD-9. It’s cool how versatile this pedal is. Thanks for the lesson!

[@christopher-miles]

yes! noel's knobs is still genius.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Still cracks me up. Hilarious bit.

[@ulfdanielsen6009]

This is a revelationary episode. Have a feeling that a year from now Mick will be the lead singer, lead guitarist and lead riff master of a new metal outfit just hitting the charts,- spitting out his aggession to shame Dave Mustaine and Dan with the SG around his neck will be fronting a 90s Grunge revival movement,- riffin´ like Kim Thayil and wailing like Cris Cornell. Mark my words.

[@danottley2627]

Thanks D&M I may have to rethink the TS after this. Thanks for an awesome show in Leicester last night and hope you and Andy have a blast in Oxford!

[@stratjed]

Love my ts9's and really don't care what anyone says. In fact, most of my life is not in Vogue but I don't care.

[@audioglenngineer]

A lot of the “lopping off” of the low end by engineers in a mix is yes, to make sonic space for a playback system to more efficiently amplify bass and sub instruments, but I find it also helpful to remember it is also correcting for instruments that have a close mic, which exaggerates the low end in a way that isn’t typical of how a listener hears it at a distance, say from a stage to the seats. A mix needs frequency-space AND depth of field for the listener to feel at home. The low and high end have a great deal to do with that perception. Understanding this, particularly in the studio, can help take some of the ego out of working with your engineer.

[@ryanpaulretouch]

Awesome video as always lads. I use mine into an OCD set low gain just like the Bluesbreaker. Clean, dirty and more dirty. All I'd ever need!

[@jacktaylorguitarist]

Mick saying about how overwhelming and confusing it is regarding overdrive pedals is something that I resonate with. Looking forward to this episode. I love my TS Mini, it’s the one pedal I can’t kick off my board. Great show at the cavern this week!

[@daniellaiman3515]

Love this format. Compliments the longer, in depth videos. Cheers from down under

[@ThatPedalShow]

Cheers mate 🤓🙏

[@inertiallychallenged]

Great vid! TS before OD pedal was my configuration back in the 90's.

[@erictait6322]

Those 2 drives and all variations of them are my all time favorites.

[@BaronsDuju]

Wow, weird timing - I just put the tube screamer back on my board (alongside my Timmy) today! Love your work, gents. Thanks for giving me what I didn’t know I wanted.

[@bleeknoir]

A tubescreamer show from my favourite channel on a Friday could be a cause to wallow (as a non tube screamer fan), but man, some excellent tones here. Pleasure as ever gents.

[@starshineraiser6729]

The current TS9 that Ibanez is making are as good as any time they’ve ever made them. I’ve got loads of high end drives and my stock TS9 is as good as any and better than most.

[@Isaac-Draper]

Just got my first Strat, just got a bit of extra cash, just thought about getting a tube screamer. Excellent timing chaps!

[@Nizodizo]

I go to the SD-1 but now I have to play with the TS-9 just to find something new now. Thanks for possibly bringing a new coler to my pallete.

[@ben.daniel]

Nothing beats a tube screamer into a big muff. So good.

[@milesjury49]

Hey guys, this was an excellent episode, and it will make a great them for future Get Mores!

[@Russell_Optics]

Great video and very informative. For the past several years ( and currently ) I've run a Boss GE-7 into a Taurus Servo as always on pedals into a Nobels ODR1 for optional overdrive because I never really got along with the tube screamer. However, the way that you used it in this video sounded epic. I'm happy with my current sounds, but I may have given up on the tube screamer without giving it a fair shake. It may deserve another shot for comparison.

[@akwamarsunzal]

I have a Tube Scream clone... After a few months of use I found that, when playing with the settings, it is a pefect "clean" boost that you can give some grunt to just with the volume on the guitar, then turn back down to have a clean boost. I have it on all the time when playing now, adjusting occasionally for when more drive is needed but it is so versatile, I just leave it on and, if I turn it off, my tone just sounds thin and weak!

[@DahveeedL]

I’ve had a tele TS9 combo for over 20 years and was never aware that they aren’t supposed to go well. I love it. It pushes out the mids when using a heavy overdrive to get 90s Johnny Greenwood tones. That SG is a total peach btw!

[@heycaptjack]

I especially love it when a TS pedal has a clean mix (eg Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive) and use it as a lead boost as the clean mix gives you more flexibility and more girth for a boost pedal application. Great video!

[@eoinjennings519]

Learnt the Sd1 into Bd here and still love it (sd1 is my preferred tubescreamer)

[@toms5951]

Never felt I absolutely needed a TS but every once in a while, I get that itch. Sounded great being paired with the Blues Driver, which was always my favorite pedal.

[@JohnO-yd3te]

Great video guys. Going to dig out my tube screamer again. Cheers from New Jersey!

[@ReiCow]

I love the Preview Vignettes right at the beginning of the vid.. really helpful! Moo

[@moosemuseum1853]

I like this shorter, more concise format, except for pick'n'mix shows. Thanks guys.

[@Ray-um3if]

Love this format, one of the best videos, going back to the roots of TPS. I’ve watched every single TPS video since the beginning and they are all great but the occasional quick down and dirty, here’s a couple of pedals and here’s what you can do with them, content is super helpful. Cheers 🍻🎸

[@kelvinspencer2429]

I always wanted a Tubescreamer back in the late 70s but could only afford a Coron knock off of the MXR distortion pedal. I finally bought a reissue TS808 about 5 years ago. I only played it a bit when I first got it, then the honeymoon was over. Recently I've been trying it with other pedals, so this video is great timing. Thanks, more of these shorter videos too please!

[@johnhutchin230]

Great show at the cavern lads and you lucky so and so jamming with Andy Timmons 🤯

[@SWLDguitar1]

Get more from it by selling it on reverb and buying something new! Follow me for more advice!

[@joakimflinck8208]

Great! more stacking experiments and "what happens if" Lovely

[@mattofthemountain]

Back in the day when I didn’t know any better my “distortion” was a TS9 max gain, tone almost maxed, level equal with my clean tone - into a reissue Twin! I still felt I couldn’t get enough bite or crunch out of it.

[@cartwright21]

Loved the video, and did find some good food for thought. That said, while I’m sure I’m not the only one, I basically use the tube screamer and its variants in reference to other pedals. On my “bluesy” board, I have an 808 after a blues driver and before a Kingsley Jester to either act as a solo boost when the BD is the norm, or to goose the Jester when it needs a little more gain and mids. On the board I use most of the time, I have a “Science Fair” pedal that mixes a TS and a Rat for the kind of distortion I’d go for using both pedals. Much as many of my favourite players use(d) a TS into an amp (gained or clean), I would never put it straight into an amp on its own. Your mileage may vary, obviously; I’ve just never felt like it sounds good on its own or, as some of its proponents claim, in a band mix (in the absence of another drive pedal or maybe a gunned amp, which I would not tend to use).

[@GuitarTonePro]

Not sure if it's just the way the levels are set or what, but that Deluxe Reverb seems to have a bunch of extra bass on tap, especially clean.

[@noRest4Gary]

It gets cloned cuz it works. Short and sweet. Great show guys. Off topic, I'm a big fan of those little chromatic tuner wedges.

[@crumpred805]

It can get tricky switching from SG’s to Tele’s on the fly … well done Dan. Great topic today!

[@dragutin.guta.jakovljevic]

Every time Dan takes that 65 Tele it puts a big round smile on my face. Dare I say that it is far superior instrument than the Red?

[@musicl0ver543]

I love my TS9 with low to mid gain using a strat and Marshall. Goes great with a clean boost also.

[@samsantanamusic]

My favorite way to use tube screamer lately has been: gain all the way up, volume all the way up, tone all the way down. Creates a thick and smooth overdrive sound that sits well in a mix.

[@LordBransty]

I'm a gentle subtleties kinda guy. But man that Marshall cranked with a TS pushing... Wow.

[@periloustemple8290]

This is so perfect! I have had 2 screamers, but have been happier with the SD1w for this same job. I know, different in a few ways. . . but those differences are what my amp (and other gain stages) needed. As you well demonstrated: love it most boosting the other core drive stages. Cool tones and great playing, mates! Where is the other 30 minutes of this show! LOL.

[@daxmoore2060]

For the peeps that enjoyed the boosted Marshall sounds like I did :-) Check out the Wampler Plexi Drive Deluxe pedal! The 'boost' side is a one knob tube screamer circuit. Awesome pushed Marshall tones. I've been digging mine for about four years now. Reverb has them at reasonable prices lately. I also use the boost side of the Plexi Drive Deluxe to push my LPD Eighty7 pedal which is like a JCM 800 sound. You can instantly hear the classic metal sounds of the 80's and 90's. JHS has the AT+, which is his version of JCM 800. It also has a one knob Screamer circuit built in to boost the Marshall amp like sounds 👍

[@dmac3316]

Solid video guys. Really enjoyed that. Really informative too, thanks!

[@stanislavmigra]

Thank you for this video. It showed all that I like and dislike about TS. On its own, into clean amp, it can get very grainy and nasaly, with midrange that I dont like and also the Tone is in place where it brings the scratchy "fingernails on chalkboard" topend. Insteas of bright sparkly topend. On the other hand, there is the SRV thing, the Hard rock thing where it is awesome. And my favourite, hitting gain stage, that is relatively flat to thicken it in midrange and cutting excessive flub. Combination with another drive, that is going is awesome 👍👌

[@diogolondero]

Another Great video! Last example, at 20:17 min, was the only way I found to cut through the mix with a 20W amp and a strat in a band situation. It really works

[@gbarge4]

What a fun show! Josh had a great thought in creating the JHS Double Barrel. Will have to get out an experiment more with it! Cheers, guys.

[@Whiskeyandpixels-nk8yv]

I love (hate) watching your videos! I always end up turning around every pedal order I have on my pedal board! Lol... Great content! Loved the small video as well and always love to see you guys play!

[@vain777]

Absolutely loving those 87x tones, seems you guys were smiling at that Marshall kerrrang as well

[@mewhitak]

Solid Gold. Mick is the best. Can't go wrong with 'more' ! This should be a sticky. Simple but effective always the best. Try that into a Super next time !

[@bluesful]

TS > Blues Driver sounded great.

[@Atlantic_Pedal_Co]

One of my all time favorite combos after years of trying many, many OD pedals is a stock old beat up Maxon OD-9 into my SIB Varidrive, into my 68 custom Vibrolux on 4.5-5. OD-9 into a fuzz face is also the business! The TS helps tighten the fat and loose FF low end and just pushes the fuzz in such an awesome way! OD-9 FTW!

[@crock2434]

Love my khdk ghoul jr. It can do a lot more than your standard TS pedal. It pairs well with a Tele or an extended range ibanez 8 string behemoth...

[@winceyV1]

I always hear yhe ts making a lovely sound for other's but no matter what I've used it for it never worked for me now use the signature rc boost . Awesome

[@studryden6997]

Thanks for another fine video. Food for thought, try the TS9 in front of a Fulltone OCD! Amazing rasp boost.

[@tonymoore78]

Love this format guys! Great idea!

[@SFCUSA]

You guys can great tone out of any amp or pedal. Love you guys.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Ah, cheers mate 🤓🙏

[@tusleplopp1]

Love this as a series!

[@singleplayer75]

Before buying a pedal, one must carefully analyze the context and the present sound of his guitar and amp. Then find the pedal that will contribute to it in a desired way, by again knowing the overall sound/EQ characteristics of it. Too many pedals had been given away or sold while being perfectly fine - in another environment. People often hate the Boss DS-1. Turn the distortion down and volume up and put it in front of a cooking Marshall. Gary Moore loved it. Vai and John Norum also.

[@anandadyes4152]

Mick! What is that lick you play in the opening of the video!?! Damn that is fire.

[@AdamLevyGuitarTips]

Oh, man ... I've never found a way to make a TS9 work with my touch and the sound I'm after. You guys make it look super useful. I'll have to give it another chance. Thank you! ("Hello. I'm a Tube Screamer!" 🤣)

[@ThatPedalShow]

Adam! Hope you're well man!

[@WillyKellyMusic]

Thank you my TS9 is back on my board! Maybe a look at driving an Iridium would be interesting… 😎

[@n8dawg85]

TS9 will forever be king in front of a Marshall🙌

[@mattyobrown]

amazing as always, love your show!

[@scottakam]

Thanks guys. King of Tone would be very interesting also.

[@brettliebermanmusic]

I have a TS9. Just mainly had it on for some body. So volume at unity and gain barely on. The pedal was getting worn out so I decided to get a JHS screamer pedal. Thought it would be better. I literally just tweaked so it sounded exactly like the TS9.

[@msanguin1989]

Loved this! Gibson Les Paul > TS > Fender Amp = All I need

[@PJBGuitars]

@ great show lots of info! I took screen shots of the settings and added text - SC and Hum’s

[@TheFeelButton]

😂😂Stop me from buying another overdrive?! 🤣😂The sceaming has got you dreaming! Cheers Mick and Dan!!

[@alphanuevo]

This is really cool! Thanks for sharing. How about a 'notaklon' as one of the overdrives? :) Cheers.

[@KozmykJ]

Modt imformative, thank you. And quite a wide range of uses explained in such a 'short - "bite sized" ' video 😜

[@Thatbobguy8]

Never really liked a ts9. Heard your Marshall tone Dan, now I have to like them! Killer show on some classics

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

Screamer + single coil = where have you been all my life? Speaking as a low-volume player (I live in a house): Stacking overdrive into distortion is fun as it adds gain and shapes tone; volume cleanup with this setup is interesting but can be noisy (as with fuzz). I sometimes use a screamer with a bass at home to focus on the part of the sound I can hear rather than feel. The bass cut is especially evident with bass. I just bought a Project 34 and find it fits in similar territory as my screamer clone. I don't know what to do with the drive on my screamer clone. I don't really like it cranked. I usually set it to edge.

[@friedrudibega6384]

Keep it where it is.👌🤪🎸👍

[@VincentVarghese9]

Loved the editing / format of this video! 🎉

[@zachmiller4575]

I have a Analogman ts9 that I run into my prince of tones it’s an incredible rock tone with my tele!

[@nickolasecker9596]

I just got my prince of tone in today. Love it, a bit dark do I might adjust the internal treble pot. I also own the Analogman ts9 (silver mod).

[@jamesfafrak7288]

You guys should try out the boss metal core pedal with the blues driver it’s an awesome combo. I use it with my squire classic vibe telecaster and the amp is actually boss katana artist mk ii. Which also a great amp too. Love the show been a subscriber for a few years.