Love it or hate it, the Ibanez Tube Screamer, in all its iterations, is a staple in the world of guitar overdrive effects. With its characteristic mid-range boost and bright green enclosure, it works with rock, blues, metal and more, becoming part of many famous guitarists’ signature sounds. Its stock version, however, can leave some wanting more, and that’s where today’s pedal comes in – the TS9 Tube Screamer...
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Certain pedals leave you with your jaw dropped, unable to put them into any real specific kind of category, and that’s always been fun for us here at Pedal of the Day. Today’s pedal, the Ibanez SS20 Session-Man II Delay Distortion, does just that, presenting itself with a no-holds-barred attitude, and making some of the wildest sounds we’ve heard come out of a pedal before. Not your ordinary Delay or Distortion...
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We love a clean, tasty, tone-enhancing pedal around here, and compression, while not for everyone, has come to be one of our favorite effects. Today’s pedal is a classic sound from a classic series – the Ibanez CP10 Compressor Sustainer is a high tech, studio quality effect in a compact case, with a VCA circuit and clean compression and sustain. Keeping the control panel light and easy to use, this is one little funk...
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The DE7 Delay Echo from the Ibanez Tone-Lok series has an interesting sort of lore to it. Not very expensive or super-popular when first released, it has become a true go-to delay for many players around the world, and absolutely debunks the myth that pedals have to be expensive to sound incredible. We have already taken a look at this classic echo pedal, and all it’s functionality, so today we’re focusing on another...
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Jerry Gentry, and uses a familiar effects pedal in a completely new and creative way. If you’re into the Vibraphone, or know anyone who might be as well, this review is for you! Check out Electric Vibes on Facebook and here on Write Off Records’ website – thanks again, Jerry! Tube amps produce a sound which is distinctive. In the reinforcement of the aural signal they can be...
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For some reason, the “Power Series” of pedals made by Ibanez/Maxon in the mid-to-late 80’s don’t get the respect they truly deserve, and we’re bringing you another one of those pedals today to prove it. The DL10 Digital Delay is a simply-controlled, excellent-sounding and now extremely affordable delay effect, one that should definitely be popping up on more boards across the globe. Famed for its crystal...
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Pedals like the one we’ve got for you today are always a blast to review, as they seem so futuristic and uncommon, even though they were first released decades ago. With a ton of knobs, footswitches and jacks, the UE 305 is a multi effect for the ages, combining three excellent pedals from Ibanez’s golden age of effects into one HUGE enclosure (no joke, this thing is massive). Let’s just dive right in and see what...
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Today’s guest review comes to us from Christian E. – you can find him on Instagram (@chriespiritu) or on his band’s Facebook page (Story Of April). The Tube Screamer is probably the most famous pedal of all time and it has its spot on pedalboards of players from all over the world. The pedal itself is built like a tank. The all metal construction makes a very solid stompbox and you’ll feel like you could gig...
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As we’ve said before, the 10 Series of pedals from Ibanez are among our favorites from the 80’s, and today’s featured pedal is one of the best from that group. In general, chorus has been an effect that has a love/hate relationship with guitarists, and while it can be heard on amy classic recordings, there are some players who just will not touch it. That said, the DSC10 Digital Chorus pedal might just have something...
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I have yet to come across an Ibanez pedal in their 10 series from the 80’s that I haven’t found to be exciting and exceptional all at once. I mean, these things are all built like tanks, usually have a ton of options, regardless of what type of pedal it is, and sound like they were decades ahead of their time…which they were, in fact. Today’s shining example is basically a multi effect, although it’s...
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Well, since today just so happens to be my birthday (thank you, thank you), I thought I’d review a pedal that’s almost as old as I am…almost. Graphic Equalizer pedals tend to be easily dismissed by a lot of pedal people, but I’m here to reassure you that they have their place in any rig. This one in particular, the GE10, was made from 1985-1989, so it’s got a couple of miles on it, but don’t let...
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I’d always heard good things about the TS10 Tube Screamer, and if Stevie Ray Vaughn and Mike McCready used it (and even John Mayer, too!), it had to be AOK in my book. Having reviewed and played many different iterations of the infamous Tube Screamer over the years, I had never had the opportunity to play one of these bad boys, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. TS9 and TS808 comparisons aside, the TS10 has an ongoing...
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The classic Tube Screamer, in its many early variations, is considered by many guitarists as the top dog in the overdrive department, and that can be evidenced by the numerous attempts to recreate that signature sound by pedal companies across the world. With a surge of pedals focusing on smaller footprints and less pedalboard space, Ibanez decided to follow suit and release the Tube Screamer Mini, a micro version of their overdrive...
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In today’s world of awesome boutique pedals, it’s easy for a lot of us to dismiss a pedal due to its cost, which can be a shame a good part of the time. Somewhere along the way, a stigma was attached to pedals that don’t cost an arm and a leg as being inferior, poorly-built pieces of junk, that have no place on any civilized players’ pedalboard, and that needs to be rectified. There are a TON of great pedals...
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Once again, a highly sought-after delay is on today’s featured pedal menu, because delays are awesome, as you should well know by now. In a world full of overpriced “vintage” gear, there are still a few delay pedals who can boast that they are classics, they sound incredible and their prices are not even close to wiping out your bank account, as some others can be. The one we’re discussing today is that big,...
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Tube Screamers: you love ’em or you hate ’em, so far as I can tell. The stock ones that I’ve played have never really overly impressed me much (although I’ve never had the opportunity to play one of the old classics from the early 80s) – they’re nice overdrives, but nothing too spectacular, in my book. The 808 we’re reviewing today is one of the reissues, but it has been modded by Analog Man,...
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The highly-successful 9 Series of effects pedal from Ibanez demonstrated how innovative and adventurous the company was in the early 80’s, and this series produced some of the most recognizable and most used pedals in history, such as the TS9 Tube Screamer, the AF9 Auto Filter and the incredible AD9 Analog Delay. Another of my favorites from this series is the FL9 Flanger, the pedal we’ll be checking out in this review....
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The Power Series pedals that Ibanez made back in the 80’s have come to be a well sought-after group, and a good chunk of that group of pedals can be found for extremely reasonable prices as well. The pedal we’re gonna check out today is the SC10 Stereo Chorus, a great little blue box full of charm and character, kinda like me. Speed (the rate of the effect) and Width (the intensity of the chorus) are two extremely common...
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I’ve never been a huge fan of the classic Ibanez Tube Screamer pedal. There, I said it. It might be because I’ve never had the opportunity to play one of the “great ones” from the early 80’s, or maybe it’s just how they’ve always reacted with the amps I’ve played, but it just never grabbed me like it has other folks. So, I was a little skeptical to try the TS9 Strong Mod from JHS Pedals,...
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Alchemy Audio is a small company based out of Chicago, and the majority of their work stems from performing great upgrades to some of the most famous guitar effects pedals ever created, such as the ProCo Rat, Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, a slew of Boss pedals and, of course, the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer. As most of you know, this pedal is a classic overdrive, used by countless artists since its release in 1982. A good pedal on...
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I have always liked to see an Analog Delay pedal with the ability to do Tap Tempo – don’t you? Aside from having that functionality, the ES2 Echo Shifter from Ibanez can do lots of other cool stuff, including oscillation, modulation and a slew of warm delay and echo setting that will leave you speechless. All this in a nice, small enclosure for board real estate…this is gonna be fun. The ES2 looks a bit futuristic,...
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So this is actually a great little compressor pedal that I currently have on my board and it stays on. It was made in the eighties and has the pink paint job to prove it. I paid $45 bucks for it of the Fleabay and it works like a dream. The CP10 is basically a clone of the Famous Ross Compressor and the Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer (Ross OJ). It’s an all analog device. I’m sure if you’ve heard of this pedal and done...
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The DE7 Delay pedal from Ibanez has two modes. Delay gives you a digital delay that is clear and full. The Echo mode is where this pedal shines. It gives analog-like repeats and warm echoes. These echoes are why this pedal has a cult-like following. The repeats sound best with tremolo picking and like to pile on top of each other, creating thick noise when you want it, or long echoes when you want space between the notes. While this...
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This is an Ibanez DDL Digital Delay that came out in 1985. It was in the “Master” series that came out in between the 9 and 10 series. Many aficionados think that Ibanez “got it right” with this one. It has the reputation as a very analog sounding effect for a digital pedal, much more so than those coming out before or after. It has a short mode, which has delay from 28ms to 224ms, a long mode of 224ms to...
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For those searching for the modern metal djenty tone, the Ibanez TS-808 Tube Screamer is best used with the overdrive on 0 so all gain comes from the amp. The pedal is great and the reviews speak for themselves, but Keeley is a god – he can bring things out of pedals you didn’t know existed. So much middle and the bass is as tight as it gets, it’s a stand alone pedal and the most interesting things happen in the...
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The Ibanez DFL was the first flanger to use digital processing, the IDPC (Ibanez Digital Processing Conversion) system which permits wideband, brighter flanging effects that were previously available only with rackmount digital processors. The DFL also features an extra wide 8:1 sweep ratio for deeper, wide-ranging flanging effects. This flanger can be heard throughout Rage Against The Machine’s music catalog, and can go from...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) Guitar Tricks presents A Look at the Vintage Pedal Market By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. Vintage pedals are so popular that many modern manufacturers attempt to replicate them so there are more to go around! Not only do some pedals...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) How To Get The Most Out Of Your Pedals By Steven Kendzorski for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer, the original platform for online guitar lessons. I have GAS, and it’s bad. GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) is a common ailment among new guitar players, triggered by tone-envy, causing them to spend every...
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(This article comes from our friends at GuitarTricks.com – check out their site for tons of guitar-related tips and tricks!!) The Buzz on Distortion Pedals By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer Ever since the electric guitar was invented guitarists and sound engineers have attempted to manipulate its signal. When you pluck the strings, the pickup changes sound waves into electrical energy, which can then be...
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Julep /ˈjo͞oləp/ – a sweet flavoured drink made from a sugar syrup, sometimes containing alcohol or medication. Today’s pedal, the Julep Stereo Pan / Phase from Mile End Effects, is by concept a semblance of the infamous Ibanez FP-777 Flying Pan, but functionally and electronically is an expansion and improvement on the idea. From syrupy, frothy vibe effects to dizzying, choppy stutters, this optical stereo panning/tremolo...
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Jake Snider Tacoma, Washington Minus the Bear (minusthebear.com) Sharks Keep Moving Onalaska State Route 522 How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve played guitar for something like 33 years. I was getting into metal and skate punk and wanted to play! Who have been some of your major musical influences, past or present? Too many to list! Descendents, Don Caballero, early Metallica, Jawbox,...
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THE RAT. Few distortion pedals have as much instant recognizability, despite (usually) just bearing the colors Black & White. There are many iterations of this classic effect, but how could you possibly collect them all without breaking the bank? Well, as usual, JHS Pedals comes to the rescue, in the form of the PackRat Distortion. Taking different RAT circuits from the last 4 decades, from different manufacturers, this pedal...
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Ever since we had the privilege to play the first DiscumBOBulator Envelope Filter, we’ve loved all things EMMA Electronic. Today, that tradition continues with the stellar Navigator Delay, a pinnacle of elegant simplicity, offering everything you need in a delay pedal, and nothing you don’t. With tap-tempo, modulation, beat-splits, trails, wet/dry outputs and more, this one is sure to get your creativity stirring… The...
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James Bowman Gainesville, Florida Against Me! http://www.againstme.net https://bowmanaudioendeavors.com/ How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I started playing when I was 15, kind of a late start. I’ve been touring and recording since 1998. I grew up in South Florida. There wasn’t much of a music scene, so I would sit at home and play along to CD’s. I moved up to St. Petersburg, FL and I...
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The Ibanez 10 Series is a classic collection, featuring some of the most celebrated (and perhaps underrated) pedals in history. Today’s featured effect recreates on of these vintage beauties, adding in a couple extras while retaining some ket sonic elements. The Danelectro Roebuck Overdrive Distortion is a take on the MT10 Mostortion, a Japanese-made MOSFET distortion pedal originating in the 1990’s. Found, perhaps...
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Today, we’ve got an ancient piece of gear that we ran through a bunch of different effects, and it was one of the funnest experiences we’ve had here in the office. The Library of Congress started building their own cassette players for handicapped people from the 1960’s until the late 2000’s. These cassette players are known for their complete control of cassette tapes that other cassette players just...
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Peter Anspach Connecticut Goose goosetheband.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? My mom would say I’ve always been a musician. She’s a music teacher, so before I could walk, I was being taught to play rhythms on drums and dance. I started playing cello when I was 9, then graduated to the electric guitar when I was 12, which I have been playing seriously ever since. I picked up keyboards...
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You probably know Paul Gilbert from the bands Racer X and Mr. Big. Or, maybe from the G3 Tour and G4 Experience. Or the countless guitar magazine covers. Or the Beatles cover band Yellow Matter Custard. Or the extremely unique Ibanez Fireman guitars he plays and is frequently pictured with. Whatever the case may be, there’s no doubt he’s well-known at the top of the current guitar chain of players, and we’ve got...
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The Legends of Fuzz series from JHS Pedals is a tribute to the world’s most historic, rare, and sought after fuzz circuits. Since the originals are extremely hard-to-find, extremely expensive when you do and prone to the problems electronics might have after 50 years, this series brings these sounds and tones to the masses, for all to enjoy. There are four pedals in all, and we’re going to run through each one, what they...
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In The Whale Denver, CO Eric Riley – drums/vocals Nate Valdez – guitar/lead vocals inthewhale.com instagram.com/in_the_whale twitter.com/inthewhale facebook.com/inthewhale How long have you been musicians? How did you get into it in the first place? ERIC: I started playing percussion in the school band in junior high. I got a drum kit for Christmas when I was 13 and never looked back. I continued to play in school band throughout high...
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The 10 Series of effects pedal from Ibanez (also called the “Power Series”), created in the 80’s, features some of the most underrated and loved pedals of all time. We’re going to talk about one of these 10 effects that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough: the MT10 Mostortion. This mosfet drive has become pretty rare, and when you can find one, they’re fairly spendy, which is perhaps why...
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Brandon “Taz” Niederauer tazguitar.com @brandonniederauer @NiederauerMusic How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I have been playing guitar since I was eight years old. I became fascinated with my father’s album and video collection and was listening to The Allman Brothers and other guitar and jazz music. When I went to my first concert at eight, I knew I wanted to play. Who...
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There are certain series of pedals that seem to really stand the test of time, and stand out themselves, as individuals and as a collective group. The 9 Series and Tone-Lok pedals from Ibanez. Mid-80’s Boss pedals. The late 70’s DOD bigboxes. And, the group we’re going to venture into today: the Hardwire Series from DigiTech. This 10 pedal series featured a wide range of genres to choose from, and today we want to...
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The Tube Screamer. Iconic. Classic. Overdrive. Green. All of these things it may be, and there have been many copies/recreations that have tried to capture that special tone as well. Today’s pedal uses the famous green monster as a base, then builds on it, adding switches and options to produce a more complete overall unit of sound. The Hangover Overdrive comes to us from Rocket Scientists Electronics, and, as you can clearly...
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Chris Marlon Jennings Northampton, Massachusetts Sun Parade http://www.thesunparade.com/ How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? When I was 5, I took some guitar lessons for a little, until I ran away from a lesson. So I guess I started when I was about 12, after I broke my foot during the baseball season and then asked my dad to show me bar chords. I also saw a Sum 41 music video on MTV of them...
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Most of us have played some version of the famous Tube Screamer pedal before, no matter what model number or differing shade of green it might be, with varying levels of likability. Some players swear by them, others want to toss them in the trash, but one thing remains constant: they’re well-known and not going anywhere soon. Today’s pedal, the TS-777 Ultra from DC Pedals, focuses on the TS-808, possibly the most...
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Scott Kannberg Merida, Yucatan, Mexico Spiral Stairs Preston School of Industry Pavement www.spiralstairsofficial.com/ pitchfork.com/artists/3389-preston-school-of-industry/ www.matadorrecords.com/pavement How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? 30 years or so… SM and I had a band in college, 1987 or so. Bag O Bones was the name. Instrumental jams. I bought a bass (red Ibanez roadster) at my...
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Kyle Sipress Niles, Michigan The Devil Wears Prada God Alone tdwpband.com godaloneband.com How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I was in choir when I was super young, then played saxophone briefly in 5th grade band. I’ve been playing guitar since I was about 12 or 13, so for about 15 years or so. My dad got me a cheap Cort acoustic for Christmas one year and i’ve been playing ever since. When...
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Peter D’Amore Waukesha, WI www.peterdamore.com www.facebook.com/peterdamoremusic www.youtube.com/peterdamoremusic How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I always enjoyed making skits and songs on cassette recorders since I was five. Recording and editing is still my very favorite thing to do, and it always feels like a privilege. Besides Marty McFly and Van Halen references that heavily...
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Luke Miller Denver, CO Lotus www.lotusvibes.com Luke The Knife (DJ/Produce/Remix) soundcloud.com/luketheknife How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place? I’ve been a professional musician for 12 years. I’ve been a musician for about 20 years. I took piano lessons as a kid, but I consider my true origin as a musician when I started teaching myself guitar freshman year of high school. That’s when my...
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