Ibanez Tube Screamer Content: TS-9 vs. TSB-9

[HiEnd Basses]

I wanted to pose this question to those who are familiar with Ibanez' "One Hit Wonder", as it relates to their effect pedals. Some of the pedals on my board that are not "Bass specific" sound great. I use a Fulltone OCD and a ProCo Rat 2. As far as Bass specific pedals, I have the indispensable Ampeg SCR-DI, and an EHX Bass Big Muff Pi. Last but not least, the very well liked MXR Bass Compressor. So I am beginning to have growing affinity for "Original" pedals. The TS-9 is very well known, very respected, and can be used for Bass, especially given the fact that I have a Preamp that can tone shape, if needed. My question is a thought provoking one, I feel: Does it make any difference to purchase the Bass Tube Screamer, with the Bass, Treble, and Mix functions, because a company tells me that "this is for Bass"? Isn't the simplest pedal better? Isn't the tone knob in the original TS sufficient not to lose low end? I just feel that some of these pedal companies are marketing specific pedals to Bassists, when some of us know better, because we know what our pedals can accomplish. Assuming that the Tube Screamer was very coveted by you, would you pass it by, in favor of the Bass Tube Screamer, with its 2 band EQ and mix function?

 

[254 stringer]

Bass tube screamer was horrible IMO. The regular tube screamer "can" be used but cuts the low end. The regular tube screamer can be modded with a simple cap swap and retains the character while preserving the low end of your signal.

 

[254 stringer]

Also I know it's not the original pedal but the way huge green rhino is a tube screamer that's above and beyond the stock unit.

 

[HiEnd Basses]

Also I know it's not the original pedal but the way huge green rhino is a tube screamer that's above and beyond the stock unit.

Thanks. I was looking at that one too. Wasn't aware that it was a TS clone.

 

[Grumry]

You will lose your low end on the normal ts9. I'm wanting to do the cap mod, though, because I do like it on bass.

 

[GMC]

It's grit structure isn't great on bass. The natural TS9/ TS op amp causes a lot of upper mid range / brightness that is great for guitar but sounds harsh and not so nice on bass. Sure you can cap swap, but it's just not a great sound in my opinion. I have a son of clay jones (TS variant) and a stock TS but with a 3 band EQ fitted....they both have that same TS sound and I just don't care for it on bass.

 

[Dave W]

Unless they're modded for bass, most TS circuits lose low end. How much you can deal with is up to you. Both the OCD and Rat lose low end though, so if you're happy with those you might be fine with a TS9 or 808.

If you're looking for alternatives, the Xotic Bass BB Preamp is pretty awesome as is the Cusack Bass Screamer. I love the TS circuit and would take either of these over a TS9 or 808.

Even my Keeley modded TS9 loses a lot of lows...but it sounds awesome on guitar.

 

[yakmastermax]

Maybe I was just hearing things but last summer I tired a green Ibanez Tube Screamer pedal of some sort, not sure exactly which one, and I thought it sounded fantastic as a mild fuzz.

 

[Frank_Raider]

Unless they're modded for bass, most TS circuits lose low end. How much you can deal with is up to you. Both the OCD and Rat lose low end though, so if you're happy with those you might be fine with a TS9 or 808.

If you're looking for alternatives, the Xotic Bass BB Preamp is pretty awesome as is the Cusack Bass Screamer. I love the TS circuit and would take either of these over a TS9 or 808.

Even my Keeley modded TS9 loses a lot of lows...but it sounds awesome on guitar.

Totally agree with that. The Xotic Bass BB Preamp is, in my opinion, the best TS for bass. I think the Cusack Screamer Bass is also one of the finest TS variants out there. Anyone of those would be a MUCH better option than any of the Ibanez pedals. Seriously. Both are awesome. The Xotic is in fact one of my favorite pedals ever. It's such a great piece of gear.

 

[HiEnd Basses]

Totally agree with that. The Xotic Bass BB Preamp is, in my opinion, the best TS for bass. I think the Cusack Screamer Bass is also one of the finest TS variants out there. Anyone of those would be a MUCH better option than any of the Ibanez pedals. Seriously. Both are awesome. The Xotic is in fact one of my favorite pedals ever. It's such a great piece of gear.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[HiEnd Basses]

Totally agree with that. The Xotic Bass BB Preamp is, in my opinion, the best TS for bass. I think the Cusack Screamer Bass is also one of the finest TS variants out there. Anyone of those would be a MUCH better option than any of the Ibanez pedals. Seriously. Both are awesome. The Xotic is in fact one of my favorite pedals ever. It's such a great piece of gear.

That Screamer Bass Overdrive looks great!

 

[Frank_Raider]

That Screamer Bass Overdrive looks great!

I really, really like that one. With the toggle switch it gives you great versatility and tonal options. Also, in IMO, the Cusack and Xotic are the most transparent and true to tone ones.

I forgot to mention the Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive. I think it's great for a cheaper option. TS type pedal with clean blend, and very transparent. It doesn't get brutal or gritty as the two mentioned before, but it could suit your needs.

 

[Charley Umbria]

The Ibanez TS9DX Turbo Tube Screamer is a great option. The Turbo mode keeps a ton of low end. You can also use the stock TS9 setting (which is pretty thin on bass), plus two options in between. I like mine a lot. At low gain settings, it gives a nice presence to your sound.

 

[Silas Stingy]

Another vote for the sparkle drive. I use it with the tone completely off, blended, set to a mild overdrive.

 

[KillerEddie]

Neither. Get an EHX East River Drive which is based on the TS808 circuit which I feel works better on bass. I hated the TSB. It just sounds like mud. The ERD seems to maintain low end better. The EHX Glove also does well in this regard.

 

[buldog5151bass]

There are a number of different versions of it. I have an 80s model in great shape, and it sucked out the entire bottom end, making it terrible for anything other than guitar range.

 

[GMC]

The stock TS by design has a massive self 700hz boost. Everything above 700hz gets a BIG bump. So even if you swap the high pass filter caps...it will sound like a bass cut due to the 700hz shelf. It's a bit like boosting mids and treble but cutting bass on a 3 band EQ. Boosting bass isn't going to help...you can't add back what's been cut. When it's gone...it's gone! These days there are lots of great (and cheap) Overdrive pedals that work well on both guitar and bass. I just think that a Tube Screamer isn't one of them. The TCe Mojo Mojo comes to mind.

 

[jmlee]

The Ibanez TS9DX Turbo Tube Screamer is a great option. The Turbo mode keeps a ton of low end. You can also use the stock TS9 setting (which is pretty thin on bass), plus two options in between. I like mine a lot. At low gain settings, it gives a nice presence to your sound.

Yeah, that's correct. I've used one like this (note the *4* knobs) in turbo mode with bass and, with discretion, it can be a very nice effect: a kind of warm, sizzly growl. The original, 3 knob version is not useful.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

I have the Digitech Bad Monkey and Hardwire Tube Overdrive. Both are great on bass and don't lose any low end or color the signal.

 

[HiEnd Basses]

Neither. Get an EHX East River Drive which is based on the TS808 circuit which I feel works better on bass. I hated the TSB. It just sounds like mud. The ERD seems to maintain low end better. The EHX Glove also does well in this regard.

Checking it out. Thanks!