That Pedal Show - Tube Screamer, Blues Driver, King of Tone

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Why is the Tube Screamer so popular? In this video we show you why the humble Tube Screamer is so popular and show you a few ways to get the most out of it. plus we'll hear next to a couple of its contemporaries, the Keeley Modded Blues Driver, and the Analogman King of Tone

[@pietervanballaer]

I remember watching this 8th years ago, when the only pedals I had were a BD2 and TU2. Learned so much from these early TPS videos - they’re all still relevant today. Great stuff!!

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

Thanks so much Peter, yeah, fun days 🤓

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Problem with pedals is that you have one group of guys that play cranked amps on a stage and another group of guys that play in their living rooms. These pedals don’t do the same things for both groups. Cutting bass off may sound horrible at bedroom levels, but will work magic at a gig. You can’t judge a pedal from one perspective. And maybe doubling up on the midrange might be spectacular at lower volumes!

[@mismo358]

Fair take

[@theWARMJET]

same with some amps

[@harrysachs2274]

I tend to only use a tube screamer with my strat. When I'm playing my Les Paul I opt for a boost pedal. I'm playing through a Blues Jr. And an AC-15.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

@@harrysachs2274 yea, strats are a bit scooped in the mids. When people ask me what do mids sound like. I tell them to plug in a strat, then change nothing and plug in an SG or Les Paul, that difference is mids. No need to push mids with humbuckers. Except if you’re using those really tightly wound metal amps and you have it scooped- then a tubescreamer helps.

[@ryangunwitch-black]

I bet the cranked stage guys have such happy front of house engineers

[@neptunethemystictube]

Just now watching these old episodes for the first time, I'm not used to them being so short!

[@johnsander5112]

This video was so unhelpful in that there wasn't a bad tone throughout the entire thing. Great job, men!

[@luckylicks3497]

The pace at which you guys go through this demo is great, with plenty of A/B -ing and very informative commenting. Thanks!

[@WatchesnguitarsDK]

Aaaw, these cute short TPS videos 🤗 Glad you multiplied the length of them!

[@bluesysamurainao4557]

The more I watch youtube for TS, the more I recognize how super amazing genius SRV was!! Nice review and performance!!

[@RedSnake517]

My God... That Pedal Show has really come a long way after watching this old video. Just amazing to see! Keep at it!

[@JoshiBRock]

This is an awesome way to explain someone new in pedals world about different pedals use. thank you!

[@davidf8749]

I've just re-watched these. They are so relevant today. The interaction between amp and pedals (and guitar and pedals) is fundamental to the tone. An updated version of this would be awesome. :)

[@nicholasgaston4875]

Love this show so much!

[@TheYearThree]

Another great video guys! You've really helped me take a more logical approach to thinking about my pedals and their relation to the guitar and amp played. Looks like I've got some homework to do...

[@jeffmakor7135]

The TS-9 is the sound for me. Always was. Always will be. Through a vintage AC30, its pure bliss. Thanks for the upload.

[@KazKasozi]

Most informative videos on guitar gear. Chilled and clear.

[@DavidThomas-bd9mi]

You guys make great videos. Very informative. Thanks!

[@ryangunwitch-black]

Wow. You guys have come a long way!

[@Guitarpiper]

The Tube Screamer sounded totally awesome no matter which guitar or amp you used in this video. So glad that I own one!

[@hendrix4259]

Those tones are heavenly😍

[@aalperuzun]

you guys do the most useful videos, thanks.

[@MiguelLumberto]

This is by far the most informative demo I've ever seen. Excellent work Daniel! Subscribed... P. S.: I found this channel because of your Andy Timmons vids.

[@francescopuc1985]

Best guitar gear channel ever on utube! Great work guys!!!!

[@roberttaweel873]

Ten minutes!?! I didn't think you guys could make a video that was under an hour! It's actually pretty funny seeing one of your old videos, it really shows how far you've come. Thanks, I really appreciate the content you guys put out. Cheers!

[@randerson2842]

These are great videos Daniel

[@jasonshermandds6034]

I appreciated this information - nice video guys!

[@wojtekpiatek8224]

Thank you guys, this comparison was of great quality and so helpfull

[@Spoolz07]

Good show chaps! Liked & subscribed.

[@dowaliby1]

I love all your videos, guys, old, new, and everything in between. Since getting my Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer about a year ago, I can't imagine life without it. I use mine right after my Wampler mini-ego compressor, and ithe TS is almost always set to zero gain and level dimed. Both pedals are almost always on. This configuration fattens up my Strat and Tele immeasurably, and the tones are delicious. I don't use the Tube Screamer for gain -- I have my Wampler TumNus or Blues Driver (medium gain) and Friedmann BE OD (high gain) for that, still with the TS and compressor usually on (compressor with blend half way) and placed before the gain pedals in the chain. The TS significantly enhances and smooths out my tone when playing with gain, as well..

[@realgoodmind]

This just popped up on my feed. Can'[t believe how much has changed and how far you guys have come! We have hum still!

[@WatchesnguitarsDK]

Oh, the beginning of something big!

[@gaztaylor9682]

Huge thanks for this superbly informative and absorbing set of Pedal Show vids. They are a joy to watch. I love your style, your passion for your subject and ability to share your knowledge in such a fun and interesting manner. It's a total education to share my coffee break with you guys. Cheers :-))

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

Cheers Gary, thanks for watching :)

[@gaztaylor9682]

My pleasure...keep 'em coming and I'll keep watching and learning. Thanks again :))

[@ryanmccarter9859]

These videos are fantastic. Better than TV, for sure.

[@luckylicks3497]

+Ryan McCarter Been watching guitar gear demos for two years, no TV at all. Because TV sucks, and pedal demos rule.

[@whereismymind667]

Awesome video guys ! Thanks

[@ALEEN517]

Being a Vox AC30C2 owner, I really appreciate this video. Good information and good audio quality.

[@runnningonempty]

Now 2 years later you are probably using a Fender amp and sold the vox..

[@51MontyPython]

@@runnningonempty Vox is no good compared to the Fender?

[@stratmagic6893]

very helpful and informative-thanks

[@rayraymond2952]

This is probably the most coherent, useful, & best guitar equipment vid produced. Why? ----- [1] The vid was logically presented going from amp to pedal, etc. Also & more importantly, one could easily follow the presentation, because one could see the closed caption for each tone, setting, &/or combination when each of these were first presented. ----- [2] One complaint: the closed caption for each tone, setting, &/or combination should have remained on the screen throughout the whole time that the tone, setting, &/or combination was being played. ----- [3] Suggestion: Please, do the continuous & complete closed caption on all of your future & past vids. Danke & Slainte, Richard (New Orleans)

[@modalblooze325]

Ray Raymond smoke a cork Metairie

[@kilgoretrout321]

Oooh nice breaking a long paragraph into a list, and using queuing to guide the eye through. Thanks!

[@rayraymond2952]

@@kilgoretrout321 Thanks. I do indeed try. quite hard to write well, clearly, & concisely. I do this so that people can easily read, follow, & comprehend what I write. It takes extra & somewhat substantial effort & time to write this way. However, hopefully people can learn & enjoy from what I blather. Again, thanks. Richard (New Orleans)

[@gnawbabygnaw]

Wow! Pilot show? Love the show, mates!

[@zorakjones340]

Watching this in 2020 is like doing your last year of Linear Algebra and flashbacking to your mom teaching you to count apples.

[@51MontyPython]

Not everyone is that familiar with these. Many people are new to this.

[@CaptPostmod]

Analog Mike should pay you guys a commission. Got on the KoT waiting list in no small part because of how awesome the pedal sounds in various episodes you've shot.

[@CaptPostmod]

@@exactopposite I came up on the list to get mine in like 2018. But by then, I had already been using a Rullywow Queen of Bone for a couple of years. The QoB is a KoT clone with an 18v charge pump in it. I liked running my Prince at 18v, so would have run my KoT at 18v anyway. After using and loving the QoB for two years, I didn't see the point in getting the real KoT ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@drunkenbodhisattva]

Very informative well done guys

[@imantisocial3179]

@thatpedalshow you guys should take a moment to watch(and listen) to this video again, its illuminating. The back to back demonstrations of the two amps makes this point very, very clear. I think alot of your gain pedal demo's would benefit from using a set up like this with two very different amps and doing back to back comparisons. Obviously you typically use two amps, but perhaps not quite as different as these two amps are. Food for thought anyway

[@rgjmce666]

These are great videos, I've since used a boss super overdrive through an orange micro terror for a metal tone. I know this isn't what you said should work but I think it sounds killer.

[@superiormind2511]

Now I see why I also gravitate back to the Tubescreamer. All I play is Fenders.

[@51MontyPython]

Strats only, or Teles too?

[@BenCoombs]

Love the knowledge given in this but would have loved to see a DigiTech Screamin' Blues included in this.

[@70mcnevin]

You guys have aged 20 years in 7 years. Who knew demoing pedals could have such an effect!!!! Lol.

[@KordTaylor]

Thanks. Another nice video.

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

Thanks mate 🤓🙏

[@bobbycheeky3098]

Great video guys! I am primarily a singer, but often-times rhythm guitar player. I've always been drawn to the Blues Driver and away from mid-hump pedals like the Tube Screamer. Now I know why! I don't want/need to cut through the mix (trust me, you don't want to hear my leads!).

[@thejuggernaut5327]

I love the classics, these two leg ends

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

Ah, cheers mate 🤓🙏

[@dluten100]

Great vid! I have both TS9 and BD-2 just because of this reason. Running into a DSL40C I find myself having to switch up depending on what guitar I'm using. Love both pedals.

[@gNatflaps]

The TS is a great clean boost for metal, where that midrange hump really helps. I personally like it for the ambient rock I do as well, because once again the mid hump helps alot to cut through a wet reverb.

[@mattt180]

What a great insight, thank you! I'll listen for this

[@gilmouring]

Pretty clever using a loop send to switch between the 2 amps!! :)

[@lcjg2013]

Wow. these videos are so eye opening! Thank you guys!

[@reviewforthetube6485]

Man this video had crazy buzz throughout usually you guys edit sound very well but hey its all good great review anyways as always

[@custompedalboards]

great vid, that KOT does sound so much better than the other 2 in my opinion.

[@enricodedios3702]

for the style Im playing Im happy with ts9 and Bd2. I have the ac30 and sounds fantastic woth those pedals.

[@bobbybrown1787]

Yeah but for $1000 more you might be able to tell a slight difference if you isolate your guitar track from a mix

[@dandrivepedal]

one of the best shows for pedals!

[@DSG-br5lk]

You've got the tone knob on the BD turned to 10 o'clock. 12 o'clock is where it's at with those. That brings the mid/top frequencies more to the front, especially with a darker EL34 type amp. I did the Monte Allum mod on mine (w/o the last transistor) and its money.

[@Ashbasali]

The TS also cuts bass, a lot of players use it on cranked marshall to cut the woolliness off on the amps higher gain settings.

[@MathiasMinquet]

thank you, really helpful!!

[@manbeast713]

Just watched this vid again!! You mentioned wave forms of pedals and I would love to actually see wave forms of various overdrives, distortions and boosts so I can work out which frequencies I like and don't like!

[@lamkenneth3191]

Agree on above comments such an excellent video. Personally I like that King of Tone but I believe the waiting list is quite long

[@CaevanOShite]

Wow! Cool! Vintage TPS!

[@LiefTheDroid]

Gosh that ac30 sounds reeeeealy sweet! Awesome video btw! :)

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

+Arthur Salas Padilha cheers Arthur, yeah, love this amp. 61, has an EF86 channel, and cranked it's just killer :)

[@raypolakovic1290]

+Daniel TheGigRig That EF86 channel is special.

[@coldacre]

Dan, you are the first guy who I've ever heard call an AC30 "mid scooped".

[@ripplebear]

Coldacre he said, "they way I have it set up" FYI, I don't know ac30's, so I'm really just relaying the message 😁

[@javiceres]

Coldacre I got to say I could definitely have scooped sounds out of the Top Boost channel of my 2007 AC-15 (the white handwired the offered back then)

[@javiceres]

And anyways, compared to the Lazy J, which is a tweaked Tweed Deluxe, the AC can seem scooped.

[@jiyu_the_monk.1983]

I think I've seen someone else on the internet, don't remember where, say that it has good mids in on range, lacking in another. So, to that person it's both scooped and mid-humped. I just have a GT-1, don't mind me, just learning haha

[@paulmoore9785]

The tube screamer is just a superb classic pedal il have mine untill the day I'm worm food. I've never owned a blues driver but I think boss pedals are great sounding, well made pedals at a good price range. Might have to get the bd2-w.

[@ryanspencerlauderdale687]

Telecaster with a Tube Screamer into an AC30, love it! If I were to use the AC30 and the Lazy J together, that would be a more favorable sound for the King of Tone for me.

[@motokev2727]

wow, I learned something today

[@theshockwavesmusic]

Great video! Trying to decide between an overdrive pedal for my rhythm sounds and was thinking about the tube screamer. I already have a boss DS-1 distortion which i am not very happy with right now (it sounds good for my solos but not for chords). But i was thinking of maybe using that pedal as a boost for solos off of a tube screamer. Great info in this video!

[@henryball7556]

Really interesting, thank you for the thorough run-through! I was wondering if when using one of these pedals, whether it's possible to compensate sufficiently for an amplifier's innate mid-hump or otherwise with its onboard EQ settings? Thanks again!

[@cnelsonmusic]

My god guys.....where has this show been all my life

[@palmiuga]

Best video ever.

[@mag8mag8]

Thank you. All i have to say. Thanks.

[@Sasketchejuana_man]

This helped me out so much.. I was leaning to a bluesbreaker or KOT, but think now the TS may be better for my amp.. as it only has High and Low EQ, no mid control (similar to the AC30). at the same time the amps midrange was totally different separately so confused me a bit.

[@crazyjoe1540]

Now I can see why the KOT waiting list is so stupidly long

[@papawx3]

SRV favorite amp was one of the most mid scooped amps ever produced: the blackface era {1964-68ish} Fender Super Reverb. His was a '66 if memory serves me. So it only makes sense that he used the 808 and TS9 ods. That combined with a '59 Strat and finger style gave him his tone {the one I can't get out of my head after over thirty years}.

[@kimmolingonheimo]

oh i got a weeks flue so this is short cause i have to sleep or what....id like an even play non scoop, so i play with Yam Pacificas strat types, trans amps , ukuleles, one classical, even some amps are built to scope a horizon i guess... as we all are..., just adjusted my multieffect to three basic sounds: Clean, Fender clean and Marshall drive; that multieffectZOOMG2 of mine is pretty good!, but its digital, well just today i thought about whats so digital about my guitar sound, should i start crying or stealing for analog eqpmnt , oh em Gee...feverishly Youyrs, im digging the Fender Frontman 15s at home,,,, Kimmo Lingonheimo½

[@emilevyncke2990]

Loved the vid, very well explained. I have a Marshall JCM 2000 TSL, would a tubescreamer sound good with it?

[@alexmurphy5289]

THANK YOU

[@nathanterrell6994]

I stacked mine. I use the driver almost all the time and the ts for the punchy solo

[@mikemoats2710]

I used 808 with boss eq pedals for boost thru Mesa boogie.22 and other effects. Carvin guitar cover band versatile simple setup. 30 years ago.

[@dylanl9532]

tube screamer + AC30 + strat sounds awesome

[@SergeiVlassov]

I really liked AC30 with Blues Driver! Very open sounding!

[@darwinsaye]

Good demonstration of why I can't stand any of the mid hump overdrives like the Tubescreamer or the yellow Boss overdrives. Since I got my Way Huge Green Rhino, I'll never settle for a drive pedal that doesn't have some kind of mids and bass controls to better match my amp's tone. I dial in a sound with the Rhino which sounds *exactly* the same as my amps voice, but just with some more drive. When you step on a pedal like the TS, your tone *completely* changes, like you've just A/B'd from a bright Fender to a muddy Marshall, which I find a terrible flaw in a pedal.

[@jamespitoola1954]

we were young and our heart was an open book…

[@jejealin]

excelent!!!gracias

[@modalblooze325]

el polio loca

[@GGRetroRally]

You guys have a real science behind your videos which is great.. I'm not a great player at all and haven't had the luxury of playing with loads of different amps. How do you find out your amp profile? Is it mid pushed etc? I run a Marshall jvm 50 watt for example.. But do all Marshall show the same characteristics as there are jvm, jcm, plexi etc etc. Thanks

[@ffBkLee]

I put Maxon OD-9 into KOT. And I am liking it.

[@JJMMWGDuPree]

The main conclusion I draw from this is that an AC30 doesn't need any pedals.

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

yes - it hurts a lot

[@mariek6993]

Or an ac30 doesnt play well with other pedals... they are a different animal.

[@keegagongon]

I agree, anything added to the ac30 subtracts from those pure angelic cleans.

[@Steaminlidz]

It may not need an OD that often but my AC30 is an amazing platform for other pedals (loves compression, a Memory Man, Phase 90 etc).

[@commandhtf]

Unless you're Brian May...

[@obicross]

make sense. thanks guys!

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

our pleasure ;)

[@gevabarable]

All three pedals sound very different on that telecaster but when in the strat loon lead they sound very similar, I liked them all, and in some cases sounded better just plugged into the amp!

[@Sosu217]

I’ve had a TS9 and a Maxon OD-808 in the last few years - couldn’t get on with them at all through a Vox. Have a BD now and it just works with Vox and Marshall for me.

[@javiceres]

Guys, seeing how much of your videos feature the Boss Blues Driver, I strongly suggest you to try the Boss OD-3. A true gem that seems to fly really under the radar.

[@dukedixon3192]

This is the third video on blues driver's I've watched in a row with squeaky chairs. What is the significance I wonder? Have I entered another dimension?

[@Neverlast2010]

Great vid guys ... more of the same please :-) How about one on plexi-style pedals?

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

good call, thanks ;)

[@FabrizioPeretti]

+Daniel TheGigRig stiiiil waiting for that :(

[@sethloweakasquid7008]

Daniel TheGigRig I have only just started using a few pedals after 10yrs on the road playin solo gigs with acoustic guitars I bought the 80w Roland Blues Cube recently(after waTching you guys show 4 the 1st time), and am bringing a Japanese tesco lapsteel, a dobro 12 and an Epiphone 335 into the stage mix... thru this new amp. (I'm also looking for an affordable 1970 US/Jap Tele) I've been running the 2 amps side by side, from a splitter box (directly after tuner) in unison with my AER, BUT ONLY MY AER SIGNAL goes thru the chain to my loop pedal, so when I stop playing too loop, it doesn't have the Roland's signal recorded, only the AER. Resulting in a thinner loop sound! Now I may need a bit of a new chain...😃 Or maybe even 2 chains,one acoustic n 1 electric. ATM I use an AER DOMINO 3 channel acoustic amp as my Foldback, Then out left n right to a Sub & powered 15 (2 if necessary) So Thanks for ALL the info so far Ps A gigrig is on my agenda as are some GoergeL patches.... cash flow allowing this financial year Great job lads Thanks Squid

[@Funkfreed]

This video is a great showcase of how these iconic pedal sounds. Especially the blues driver. Not many people discuss how it is. So TS is well known for it's mid hump while transparent od like KOT has that undistorted sound coming in together with the distorted sound while the blues driver prefers the low end side and is a little transparent. Did I get that correct?

[@akshayt23]

Hey guys, great informative vid! Unfortunately I stumbled across this video after ordering a TS and didn't know about its characteristic mid-hump. I'm running it through an Orange Micro Terror which also has pronounced mids like the Lazy J. I'm now thinking to get an EQ pedal to cut the mids from my amp. Do you think that would work or should I just toss the TS and get another overdrive?

[@aidenmohrmann1850]

Yeah i should have waited and got the BD-2 instead of the tube screamer for my AC10C1

[@Josev-TV]

Guys I love your show and you do great videos. I do have a suggestion though, could you please use more Gibson guitars (preferably les Paul)? You keep using Fenders and there is a world of guitarist who play something else.

[@GemmaSeymour]

Between the Lazy J and the Vox, the TS-9 and the BD-2, I very much prefer the Vox with the BD-2. Of course, I really don't like the sound of the Lazy J, at all, and I'm primarily a rhythm player. The KoT almost sounds a bit too brittle to me, but I think I could tame that with the tone controls. Thanks, guys, for a hugely informative video.

[@gekanji]

Can you tell us which dip switch settings that you used in the KoT? Clean & Overdrive? Stacked Overdrives? etc.

[@lunasacra]

I think I'm fan of "That Pedal Show". Thanks for your videos Daniel, they are very very useful. In your opinion, what KOT would you prefer for playing some blues/classic rock? Stock or HG Red Side? :)

[@WatchesnguitarsDK]

Vintage TPS video!