Ibanez Tube Screamer?

[Cygnus X-1]

Hi guys,

I need some advice. I currently own a Line 6 Bass Pod live. I mainly use it for having fun and experimentation of sounds. I also have an Ampeg SVP-CL which is a very clean preamp. I've checked out the video on the new Ibanez Tube Sceamer and like what I hear.

Has anyone tried the new Tube Screamer yet? and having a Pod, does it negate the want for one? Does the Ibanez TS9 sound better? No shop in my area has one yet.

 

[orichtvuna]

I had a pod for awhile, and I just picked up a TS9. In my humble opinion, there's not really a point to going to the TS9 from the pod. Not that there's anything wrong with the TS9! It just won't get you anywhere the pod can't get you.

As for tone, there's a subtle difference, I think, but not enough to warrant picking up a new pedal.

 

[MGR]

While I love the Tube Screamer sound, I've never played one that retained enough low end to make it usable for a band mix. Plenty of better options out there for that sound. The top one of my list would be the Black Arts Revelation SuperBass. Very TS/Klon like but with lows.

 

[Bob_Ross]

there's not really a point to going to the TS9 from the pod. ...[snip]... As for tone, there's a subtle difference, I think, but not enough to warrant picking up a new pedal.

Yeah, ^^^this. Some folks consider themselves distortion cogniscenti and for those people perhaps having both would be required...but for the basic "I need some distortion on my bass!" crowd, there's just not nearly enough mojo in the TS9 to make it worth going out of your way to acquire one imho.

While I love the Tube Screamer sound, I've never played one that retained enough low end to make it usable for a band mix.

There's a semi-famous (and apparently very simple) modification that can be performed on a TS9 to allow it to retain more low end when engaged. I don't have the link handy (and a quick Google search turned up a ton of TS9 mods!) but istr it involved just snipping the wire to a capacitor. I keep telling myself I'm going to try it on my TS9, but never get around to it. But yeah, a stock TS9 kinda sucks for bass if you're trying to maintain some semblence of "bass" in your sound.

 

[73jbass]

The turbo Tube Screamer is a great choice for bass. In the Turbo setting you dont loose low end. They also now make a bass specific version.

 

[theunknowndude]

And just to add the bass version has blend... My main issue is it just seems voiced 'Too high' in the mids and even with blend sounds like a overdriven higher tone than fundamental low B and didn't work in my band mix. IMHO of course, may vary for others.