Ibanez TS9DX Turbo Tube Screamer // the most underrated classic tube screamer

[@vaughan7835]

Just bought 1 of these a couple of days ago, for $100 Australian. Didn't know they existed. Was just after a TS9 as an option over my TS 808 (& many more) which I also own & use sparingly anyway, cos I live in a Van with limited places I can annoy the neighbours. Most of my gear has just jumped in my face & says "buy me!" Thanks for the video! I learned a lot about it. I'm impressed!

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Nice! and thanks for the kind words! I really love the versatility of the turbo tube screamer. I can imagine that being tricky to navigate, I'd love to see a video of your van guitar rig!

[@stevelogan1699]

Excellent demo. Deserves more views. You bring out really well the character of the four settings. The video is clearly organized but shows the elegance of your lead playing too. It would only take a current big-name guitarist to use this pedal to bring it vividly back into view. Many thanks.

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Thanks so much Steve for your kind words!

[@kevinmooney9825]

I bought a TS9DX while watching this video. First time here - this is a great demo

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Thanks Kevin! I hope you dig it as much as I do, its a pretty versatile TS

[@YummyMicroplastics]

I’ve been begrudgingly searching for a replacement OD for my TS9. Bought one of these right after watching your video and so glad I didn’t have to get a damn Plumes!

[@bellsclubsbarsandbows76]

By far, the best demo of this pedal!!!

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Thanks Christian!

[@JonDeth]

I'm one of these shred guitarists and oddly, also an electrical/electronics engineer that loves the sound of tube screamers, but not often for me lol. Your playing and video on the other hand depicts why I still find myself tinkering with the emulations of them a lot. *I have a couple new age modelers that nail them really well,* and sometimes with a cascade of simulations fed into one of my tube heads they really do add something worthwhile from the midrange presence they add, but I'm also highly preferable to a very scooped and hollow tone, so it's midrange characteristics can go either way. Sound great, or give too much of a wah-like enveloping to things. After killing my TS-7 with mods about 16 years ago, I sat down, designed and built a wholly original design overdrive from the ground up, and The Death Screamer was born. Soft clipping germanium diodes int he feedback path, and my midrange hump is much higher up the frequency path than the TS. I also have absolutely zero noise with gain through the roof. No buzz, no 60 cycle, no RF of any kind; not even gain producing white noise or other forms of hiss. *My own creation ultimately divorced me completely from relying on a TS model, but I still love them.*

[@CollinLittlejohn]

the death screamer sounds rad!

[@kaidemen156]

I was undecided between the ts9 and the ts9dx, think I’ll go with the do after seeing this demo. It does the ts9 thing and then some of you want it.

[@CollinLittlejohn]

YES! with the TS9DX you can get the core TS9 sound and the added functions just widen it's versatility. I hope you enjoy the tones as much as I do!

[@telecasterman18]

Such a great walkthrough and review, Collin. I’ve had a TS9DX on my board for well over a decade. Lots of studio time and live shows with it. I agree with its being a very versatile tool. The TS9 and the + are really nice TS style OD’s. I found the HOT and TURBO modes to be too wooly and muddy for me so I would always bump the tone up quite a bit and run those modes as more of a light drive or a boost. This was my OD of choice for my Telecaster and man does it sound good!

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Cool to hear that someone else uses this TS variant and loves it too!

[@DevilsAvocado69]

Had mine for years. Can't fault it, still works.

[@CollinLittlejohn]

these things are built like tanks!

[@davegordon6737]

Very good analysis Pal. Thanks.

[@AdrianDMarti]

I loved your explanation and thoroughness. Subscribed!

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Thanks!

[@JasonMcFly]

You're a sweet player with great tone. Excellent demo!

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Thanks so much Jason!

[@jeffallen3382]

I have one of these TS9DX too! Really like using it in front of both my Marshall and my Laney amp.

[@CollinLittlejohn]

nice! it's such a sweet drive and boost pedal

[@liquidsworde]

You have earned a like! I got this pedal and the bad monkey and find both are great valuable pedals in their own right for hitting different tones.

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Nice! Those two ad a drive section can cover quite a bit of ground for two versatile Tube Screamer variants!

[@frankachille6076]

Love the bloopers man! Liked and subscribed!!

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Thanks!!

[@elireut5770]

you're such a great guitarist

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Thanks so much Eli

[@mikefromusa6902]

Literally the only pedal I use with silver/black face and tweeds.

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Nice! great pairings!

[@StueyDoo]

I just picked up one of these cheap on Reverb and I think it's great. I play fairly high gain and put this in front of a marshall-in-a-box type pedal. I love the push and boost it gives. But I really like that, on the different modes, that it doesn't take away all the low-end. Made me sound a lot bigger in my band rehearsal

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Nice! that sounds like a killer setup, and like you said with the different modes allowing more low end you can have that bass response be variable depending on the situation because too much low end could get real muddy with a band but on different stages and in different rooms it can be just the thing you need!

[@PJohn-gc8xv]

When you want light and natural distorted sound, TS9 series do work.

[@CollinLittlejohn]

totally agree! They're iconic for a reason!

[@emoryhorace982]

I have this pedal and it is very useful with many options, ..

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Indeed it is!

[@MuratDzhusupov]

Many thanks

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Thanks!

[@longlivebytor]

Hey cool - I have the same pedal, shirt and a similar Tele. :D Great video - and I've been using my TS9DX since I picked it up around 2001.

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Very awesome! It’s my favorite tube screamer variant of all time!

[@mikemaffei9750]

This is my only pedal other than a crybaby, glad to see it get some recognition! This is truly a great pedal! Really brings my Music Man RD112 to life.. Great video brother! I just subbed

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Thanks Mike! That sounds like a killer setup! I had a Music Man RD50h and loved it.

[@josephpickard3108]

the + mode is great in a 'modern' Marshall like a DSL

[@CollinLittlejohn]

I can definitely see that working well!

[@arzhangemamifar7702]

Hi Collins , thank you very much for this very useful video . Because I was really going for NTS9 and I believed that other versions of this pedal were not ok . One Question I was looking for in your content is , since don't have any pedals yet , and I've been told this is a very good start for buing Pedals , I have a Fender AVT-150 W and I need to know if this Pedal would sound as good in rhythm os Solo channels for a heavy metal or solo players ,will it give a diverse and satisfying the needs in the Metal sounds . Thank you.

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Glad you enjoyed the demo and it was helpful! This was one of the first pedals I ever bought, so I think it’s a great place to start. However, the gain on tap on its own or into a clean channel isn’t in the metal vein in my opinion. However, this pedal into a higher gain channel on your amp will definitely tighten things up and allow you to further shape the distortion sounds. So yeah into the rhythm or solo channel I can see it working great into either channel. Just depends on the sound you’re going for, I would try it into both and decide what you like better. Hope that is helpful!

[@smickeyYT]

I can't seem to get the same sounds out of this pedal on my amp's clean channel. Even with gain all the way up. The Turbo and Hot modes especially just sound completely clean. It sounds great if I put my amp in drive. Not sure if it's a problem with the amp or the pedal

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Interesting, I would look into possibly how the pedal is being powered or potentially looking at getting the pedal serviced. You should be getting significant gain with the drive turned all the way up. Definitely sounds like an issue with your pedal, sorry to hear that. Hope this helps

[@smickeyYT]

@@CollinLittlejohn I'm gonna take it to a music shop near me soon and test it out side by side with a fresh one. It still does a good enough job regardless. Gonna get to the bottom of it

[@mylogify]

Why would you want to add more low-end since Tube Screamer is intended to cut lows and add mid boost? Where is the Turbo mode useful? Nice playing, cool guitar!!

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Adding low end back end allows for the pedal to enter more of the “nobles odr-1 territory and makes it more versatile although it does contradict the classic tube screamer tone it has both the low end cut and boosted low end on tap if that makes sense. Thanks so much!

[@mobileguitarshop5693]

Thx for the demo man! New sub here.

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Thanks so much!

[@thesongtowoody]

I mean this in a kind way. I think you should upgrade your eyeglass frames? but if you like them then thats ok too.

[@CollinLittlejohn]

I like the retro colored glasses, but thats okay if you don't! Cheers!

[@thesongtowoody]

@@CollinLittlejohn Yeah, their cool in that nerdy way, i guess?....(thats a thumbs up)

[@sebastiancovaofficial]

I have a Boss Overdrive/Distortion OS2 and I thinking about change it to this TS. Do you think it is a good trade?

[@CollinLittlejohn]

this would be a pretty different drive, if possible i would use both to have some options (i.e. one of them set lower gain and the other higher gain and brighter)

[@NinjaRunningWild]

Is there any reason you'd want a regular TS-9 over this?

[@CollinLittlejohn]

no because this does the ts9 thing if you want, but gives you some other options too

[@Jermusicislife84]

I was hoping you'd use FULL gain......I'm a metal rhythm guitarist and I want full distortion that crushes, when you stop playing.....feedback. A tone Death Metal would use

[@CollinLittlejohn]

I'm not sure this pedal is going to get you anywhere near Death Metal levels of gain, at least not if it is the main source of distortion.

[@darklight4815]

The statement about the turbo mode definitely dates this pedal,but hey I'm old so I understand exactly what they're saying there 😄 Very underrated pedal for sure...I mean you get a standard TS-9 and 3 more pedals basically

[@CollinLittlejohn]

Exactly! its a sleeper drive pedal for sure