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Ibanez Tubescreamer 808
List: $299
The Ibanez Tubescreamer is perhaps the most celebrated overdrive pedal in the market to date. The green tint is a very established hue associated to the pedal which was exclusively retained when the Tubescreamers morphed into its various manifestations over the years, less the Sound Tank (discontinued) & Tone-lok versions. The Tubescreamers were used by countless guitarists that the influence this pedal has to potential would-be buyers sometimes precedes its actual reputation. Stevie Ray Vaughan didn’t go wrong with it, so should you, right?
Features/ Build
The 808 you see here is actually a re-issue version of the original, the price of which would easily get you an arm/ leg/ kidney. The 3 knobs on board is a reflection of sheer simplicity & underscores functionality above all else. The pedal chassis is a tough, tank grade housing which promotes longevity. Underneath, the substantial rubber padding ensures enough grip once it’s placed on the floor & the flip type battery cover is a nice complement to the overall simplicity of the pedal.
Tone
In use, the 808 is still the mild overdrive pedal it was in its heyday, nothing has changed. The 808 incarnation is held in high regards among players due to its JRC4558D chip which makes the entire analogue circuitry very sweet, warm & crisp, especially in use with a tube amp. As a stand-alone overdrive pedal, it’s a weakling, lacking in girth & would probably leave those who read endless praises for this pedal, to be very, very frustrated. The 808 turns into a gem as a booster to your already overdriven amp (better results with tube units, that’s how it got its name…), especially at high volume settings. It helps you trigger harmonics very easily & reacts to your picking sensitivity quite markedly.
Among the trio of knobs on the 808, I find the tone knob least useful as its taper is generally very limited. A manipulation of it does not give you an excess of bass/ treble should you wish for such EQ settings.
Last say
There are now countless competitors to the Tubescreamer, some offering a more intense overdrive on board. If you wish for a more intense version of an Ibanez Tubescreamer, the Turbo TS9DX is as hard as it gets, which is still quite lacking. Please do not buy this pedal on impulse, you’ll most likely regret unless you own a distortion source you already like & wish to boost it up. There are many positive write-ups on the 808, you’d think that you’d be deceived by them because as it turns out, the 808 is a mild overdrive pedal after all. However, those appraisals are valid in perspective to the 808 serving as a booster instead of a primary drive source; we should take the cue from the late Stevie Ray Vaughan who treated his as such. The 808 is also drive-based & not a clean booster, some players might be perturbed by the effect it has on their original tone. Do hear it in use before parting with cash.
Positive notes:
• Well built, simple to use
• Very functional as a booster
• Not battery draining
Demerits:
• Price- too much for a weak overdrive…
• Small footswitch
Worthy competitors:
• Digitech Tone Driver
• BOSS Overdive OD3
• Maxon OD808
