The Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer is an Ibanez overdrive pedal. Close alternatives include the Behringer TO800 Vintage Tube Overdrive and the Ibanez Tube Screamer. It pairs well with the REVV Generator G50 3-Channel 50-Watt and the Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head.
Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer
Ibanez · pedal
The Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer is the original version of one of the most widely copied overdrive circuits ever built, producing a mid-focused saturation via symmetrical soft clipping that generates primarily odd harmonics for a smooth, cohesive character. Its defining feature is a mid hump centered around 750 Hz that helps single-coil guitars cut through a mix without adding harshness. It excels at pushing an already-driven tube amp into more sustain and harmonic life, and works equally well as a standalone overdrive into a clean amp. Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai are among the most cited users. Blues, rock, and country are its home genres, though it also appears in metal rigs as a tight, mid-focused boost.
- overdrive
- sustain
- harmonics
- clipping
- symmetrical
- saturation
- mid
- boost
Genres the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer is commonly used in
- Blues Rock
- Country
- Metal
- Blues
- Rock
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer
REVV Generator G50 3-Channel 50-Watt
Revv
33% matchREVV Generator G50 3-Channel 50-Watt layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head
Revv
33% matchRevv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
EVH 000
Evh
tonal matchPut EVH 000 in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Warp 7 layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman BE-Mini Head layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone 2202H layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Randall KH103 Kirk Hammett Signature 3-Channel 120W Head
Randall
tonal matchPut Randall KH103 Kirk Hammett Signature 3-Channel 120W Head in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Pedals that stack with the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer
Fjord Fuzz Odin
Fjord Fuzz
20% matchRun mid-forward into Fjord Fuzz Odin for more fuzzy on top
Fjord Fuzz Berserk
Fjord Fuzz
20% matchRun mid-forward into Fjord Fuzz Berserk for more fuzzy on top
Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
pedal
14% matchKeep Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble after Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer in the signal chain, clear of Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer's own gain stage — also used together by 1 artist
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio
Crazy Tube Circuits
11% matchCrazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio leans toward tight, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath
EarthQuaker Devices
9% matchRun EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath after Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer in the signal chain, clear of Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Electro-Harmonix Canyon
Electro-Harmonix
9% matchElectro-Harmonix Canyon's modulated voice goes after Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer's own sustaining character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Keeley Angry 4-in-1 Distortion/Fuzz
Keeley
tonal matchRun mid-forward into Keeley Angry 4-in-1 Distortion/Fuzz for more fuzzy on top
SONICAKE Fazy Sandwich Classic Fuzz
Sonicake
tonal matchSONICAKE Fazy Sandwich Classic Fuzz layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Behringer TO800 Vintage Tube Overdrive
Behringer
79% similarityShared character: single_coils, clean_amp, full
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
78% similarityShared character: power_tubes, single_coils, presence
Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion
Behringer
75% similarityShared character: single_coils, clean_amp, full
Friedman BE-OD
Friedman
75% similarityShared character: boost, presence, smooth
Maxon OD808
Maxon
75% similarityShared character: power_tubes, boost, smooth
EarthQuaker Devices Barrows Fuzz Attacker
EarthQuaker Devices
74% similarityShared character: full, presence, mix
Bixonic Expandora
Bixonic
74% similarityShared character: single_coils, pick_attack, smooth
Tone City Green Tube
Tone City
74% similarityShared character: single_coils, pick_attack, smooth
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
74% similarityShared character: boost, thickness, response
Boss JB-2
Boss
74% similarityShared character: pick_attack, full, middle
MXR CSP039 Duke of Tone Overdrive
Dunlop
73% similarityShared character: pick_attack, boost, smooth
JHS The Overdrive Preamp
JHS Pedals
73% similarityShared character: power_tubes, presence, middle
See all alternatives to the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer?+
The closest matches in character are the Behringer TO800 Vintage Tube Overdrive, the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion.
What pairs well with the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: REVV Generator G50 3-Channel 50-Watt, Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head, Synergy SL2 Module — REVV Generator G50 3-Channel 50-Watt layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal.