A legendary, tank-built overdrive praised as one of the best-value classic boost pedals, especially for pushing a tube amp into bluesy, chunky tones. Owners note it cuts some low-end, easily dialed back at the amp.
73% of 52 verified owners recommend the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.
638 comments reviewed · scored on the 52 clearest verdicts
73%
Recommend
38 owners
14%
Neutral
7 owners
13%
Don't recommend
7 owners
Source
Breakdown
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
80%
40
Other forums
55%
11
Independent blogsiIndependent blogs with no affiliate links or paid relationship — we checked every one.no affiliate links
0%
1
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
YouTubeiOrdinary owner comments (not the reviewer), but here they sit too far from the owner consensus on Reddit and forums — channel comment sections can skew heavily positive or negative by trend — so they're shown for perspective and kept out of the score.owner comments
87%
31
Affiliate blogsiThese blogs earn a commission when you buy. Across our data they rate products ~35 points more positively than actual owners — shown for transparency, never counted in the score.paid commission
100%
1
Affiliate blogs here say 100% recommend, while the owner-based score is 73%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.
The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, blogs with no affiliate links, and YouTube owner-comments when they line up with owners. YouTube and Affiliate blogs are shown for perspective but kept out here — hover the i for why.
Retailers' own star averages, for comparison — separate from our vetted owner-verdict score above.
Top quotes, sourced
638 reviewed · 84 shown
Sentiment
Community
Sort
YouTube▲ recommend
“I love my TS9 that I've had since the 90s, but I have an EQ pedal after it, which has made all the difference.”
Reddit— neutral
“Another legend. Though I only use it as a boost when playing metal or hard rock. I’m actually not a fan of its mid-heavy tone for blues the way Stevie Ray Vaughan used it.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“Only thing I’d change is the TS for a DS1 or a Boss Super Distortion or an MXR distortion. I was never a fan of the Tube Screamer.”
Reddit— neutral
“For a classic rock sound I think the Ibanez TS9 tube screamer is really nice on my tele. But not very useful for a more modern guitar with hotter pickups.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“This really is the greatest distortion pedal I’ve ever owned.”
Seymour Duncan Forums▼ don’t recommend
“Just squashes the hell out of whatever you run through it. It's got that mid-hump and that awful compression.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“As a big SRV and Mayer fan, this was the first pedal I bought.”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“Something about the TS felt bland imo to the point where I gravitate more towards the BD2 or Klon.”
Reddit— neutral
“I did end up being the ibanez ts9 tube screamer, but I was pretty 50/50 about how it made my amp sound, so I haven't been using it recently.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I’ve had and use my TS9 for over 40 years. I’ve never understood the hate that is directed its way.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“Only thing I would exchange is the Tubescreamer. Get a BD-2 Blues Driver instead.”
YouTube— neutral
“I don't care for it on its own as I prefer more gritty/lofi styles of OD.”
YouTube— neutral
“Not a big TS fan myself, but in the metal world its used basically as a boost to help tighten the low end and boost the mids and push a tube amp to really create heavy tones and sustain.”
Seymour Duncan Forums▼ don’t recommend
“I played my buddies TS9 and TS808, but I never really cared for either.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“in my opinion, that is a must have pedal, it does exactly what you needed to do every time”
YouTube▲ recommend
“it's like a faux preamp of sorts and gives the plugin a very rich and warm harmonic sheen.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“Toss the tube screamer and I could totally work with this.”
Seymour Duncan Forums— neutral
“im a big fan of the ts9 but yeah it does need to be modded. stock it has the classic TS mid range spike and the tone knob may aswell not be there most of the time i think.”
Reddit— neutral
“It works, also a decent pedal to add a bit of grit to an otherwise clean tone. I find it’s hit and miss with lower tunings”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I bought a distortion pedal and love it.”
Seymour Duncan Forums▼ don’t recommend
“I have never like them for myself.”
Legendary Tones— neutral
“I found the reissue TS-9 has a nice soft-clipping distortion effect that is pleasant for adding extra sustain and drive.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“I can't stand tubescreamers”
YouTube▲ recommend
“A TS9 with a Strat into a clean amp channel is one of my favourite setups. Never gets old”
