Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808
Ibanez (Maxon) · 1979
What It Is
The Tube Screamer TS808 is the original version of Ibanez's legendary overdrive pedal, introduced around 1979. It was designed not to simulate amp distortion, but to push a tube amp's input harder — acting more like an amp enhancer than a standalone distortion effect. The TS808 became famous when Stevie Ray Vaughan used it to push his Fender Vibroverbs into singing overdrive. It's been reissued and cloned more times than almost any other pedal in history.
Tonal Character
The defining characteristic is a pronounced midrange hump — the Tube Screamer cuts low frequencies and boosts mids, which makes it cut through a mix and helps a guitar stand out against a full band. The overdrive itself is smooth and musical, with a warm, slightly compressed feel. It doesn't have huge gain on tap, but what it does — push an already-warm amp into the sweet zone — it does better than almost anything else.
Found In
| Platform | Model Names |
|---|---|
| HeadRush | Green JRC-OD |
| Line 6 Helix | Teemah! (TS808 variant) / Heir Apparent (TS808) |
| Neural DSP | Tube Screamer model (varies by plugin) |
Videos
Manual
View ManualFamous Uses
- →Stevie Ray Vaughan — the defining use case — Texas Flood (1983)
- →John Mayer
- →Gary Moore
- →Trey Anastasio — Phish
- →The Edge — U2 (various)
Best For
Controls Explained
Descriptions reflect the real-world gear these models are inspired by. Your modeler's implementation may vary. Use as a starting point — always trust your ears.
Drive
The drive control is deceptive — at low settings (1–3), the pedal adds minimal obvious distortion but produces a subtle harmonic enhancement that makes your signal feel more 'alive.' This is the famous Tube Screamer low-drive application: the pedal isn't adding much gain, but it's pushing the amp model's input slightly harder and imposing its midrange character that brings the guitar forward in the mix. In the 4–6 range, there's clear, smooth overdrive — enough to produce sustained single notes without excessive saturation on chords. At maximum drive, the TS808 enters light crunch territory — it is not a high-gain pedal, and pushing for heavy distortion produces a buzzy, compressed sound. On a modeler, the sweet spot for most applications is Drive at 0–6, with the Level control doing the heavy lifting for pushing the amp model harder.
Tone
The tone control is a treble filter that shapes the high-frequency content around the TS808's natural midrange hump. At minimum (full left), the pedal produces a warm, somewhat dark sound — the characteristic mid-hump is still present but the highs are rolled off. Center position is generally a good starting point for most setups. Above center, the tone brightens and adds cut and presence. The Tube Screamer's natural voicing already has a mid-forward quality, so the tone control shapes the top end around that fixed midrange emphasis rather than offering flat EQ. When using the TS808 in front of a dark amp model, try rolling the tone toward 2–3 o'clock to compensate. When using it in front of an already-bright amp model, keep tone at center or slightly below and let the mid-hump do the work.
Level
The level control sets the output volume of the pedal relative to your dry signal (bypass). Setting it at unity gain matches the bypassed volume, but the real power of the Tube Screamer is running level above unity — typically at 60–100% of maximum. This pushes the amp model's input stage harder without necessarily adding more pedal distortion. Stevie Ray Vaughan ran his Tube Screamers with drive relatively low but level cranked, using the pedal primarily to push his Vibroverbs harder and boost signal for lead passages. On a modeler, running Level above unity means the amp model receives a hotter input signal — in virtually all modeler implementations, this still increases amp gain and changes the amp's character in the intended way. Use the Level control as a boost tool, not just a volume matching control.
Sample Configurations
Starting points for common tones — dial in from here.
| Name | Drive | Tone | Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRV Stack | 2 | 5 | 8 | Low drive, cranked level. Pushes a clean amp hard. The classic SRV application. |
| Blues Lead Boost | 5 | 6 | 6 | Moderate drive with elevated level. Singing sustain for single-note lead lines. |
| Rhythm Grit | 7 | 4 | 5 | Drive pushed for standalone crunch. Tone pulled back to keep mids warm. |
Suggested Pairings
- →Fender Deluxe Reverb — The SRV stack — push a clean Fender into singing overdrive
- →Marshall JCM800 — Add midrange focus and compress the attack for lead tones
- →Vox AC30 — Adds warmth and sustain to the naturally bright Vox character