The History of the Ibanez Tube Screamer

I remember first hearing the name Tube Screamer around 1980. Even before I knew what it did, the name itself jumped out at me—there was just something raw and electrifying about it. Decades later, I’m still amazed at how this little green box has become one of the most iconic and enduring overdrive pedals in the history of electric guitar. From blues to classic rock, its midrange growl has helped define the tone of guitarists for more than 45 years. What fascinates me most is how no two guitarists sound exactly the same through it—whether it’s pushing the front end of a tube amp or blending with other pedals, the Tube Screamer somehow becomes an extension of the player. Personally, I find it really shines with single-coil pickups, but like all things tone-related, that’s subjective.

With that in mind, I thought it might be interesting to take a closer look at the history of the Ibanez Tube Screamer—not just the lore and the players who made it famous, but the technical details that made it such a time-tested staple.

Back in 1979, the Ibanez Tube Screamer Overdrive Pro TS808 was launched. Some refer to it as the “0 Series,” although that’s not an official name. In 1982, it was replaced by the TS9 Tube Screamer, also known as the “9 Series.” The TS808 gained acclaim in part because it became Stevie Ray Vaughan’s overdrive pedal of choice.

The Ibanez Tube Screamer was designed by Susumu Tamura, an engineer who didn’t play guitar himself. The stompbox—with its amp-like character and mid-boosted tone—was manufactured by Maxon and sold by Ibanez.

When Mr. Tamura developed the Tube Screamer, it was considered a revolutionary concept. The pedal’s signature tone closely emulated a cranked tube amplifier, producing natural overdrive and distortion. Tamura stated that the goal was not merely to create overdrive, but to mimic the combined sound of an overdrive pedal pushing an amp into saturation.

The Tube Screamer’s popularity has endured for decades. While there are many variations, they all share a similar tonal core. Ibanez continues to produce several versions today, including:

• Tube Screamer Mini
• Bass Tube Screamer
• Hand-wired editions
• Various reissues

Ibanez’s History

Ibanez began selling guitar effects pedals in 1974. The brand is owned by Hoshino Gakki. Under an agreement with Maxon’s parent company, Nisshin Onpa, Ibanez marketed and sold Maxon-built products internationally, while Maxon focused on Japan.

From 1974 to 1979, Ibanez released the OD-850 Overdrive and OD-855 Overdrive II, which had circuits more akin to fuzz boxes. Their gritty, saturated tone was a far cry from the smoother, mid-heavy overdrive of the Tube Screamer.

Naming the Tube Screamer

Legend has it that the name “Tube Screamer” is credited to Sammy Ash of Sam Ash Music. Tamura met Sammy at a Sam Ash store in Manhattan, where he demonstrated a prototype of the Micro Teacher Mini Amp GA-10. The amp produced a sharp, piercing tone—like a scream. Inspired by the way the Cry Baby pedal was named, Sammy suggested the GA-10 sounded like a “screaming tube amp.” This led to the naming of the TS808 Tube Screamer Overdrive Pro. This story has circulated for years and is not officially confirmed by Ibanez or Maxon. Therefore, we cannot officially confirm the historical accuracy of this.

Components of the Tube Screamer

Dual Operational Amplifier
The TS808’s tone is most associated with the JRC4558D dual op-amp by the Japan Radio Company. Later versions used alternatives like the RC4558P from Texas Instruments and the TL4558P. Earlier test chips included the Motorola MC174 and Fairchild UA741, but these were too costly for mass production.

The JRC4558D was affordable and widely used in Japanese audio gear. It is described as an “improved dual 741-type operational amplifier” with better audio performance.

Narrow Box & On/Off Button
The TS808 featured a small square metal footswitch and a narrow enclosure. Early versions had no battery cover and a screw-fastened plate labeled “Balance” instead of “Level.”

Other early features included:

• 9V external power jack next to the input jack
• Knurled nut on the power jack
• Registered trademark (®) next to the Ibanez logo
• A dash between TS and 808

Later, Ibanez removed the ®, dash, and nut. The earliest circuits used UA1458 chips that generated more distortion.

The 9 Series

In 1982, Ibanez introduced the 9 Series. While the TS9 shared core circuit values with the TS808, changes to the output section and component layout altered the tone slightly.

Early TS9s used the JRC2043DD chip, then the TA75558P from Toshiba, and finally returned to the JRC4558D. The last TS9 batches reverted to the TA75558P.

TS-808 vs TS9

The TS808 is often described as warmer and smoother than the TS9, especially on battery power. The TS808’s stronger midrange helps guitar tones cut through a mix. In contrast, the TS9 has a bit more high-end “sparkle.”

Ibanez later introduced other series such as:

• Power Series
• 5 Series
• Master Series
• Tone-Lok Series

Still, the TS808 and TS9 remain the most iconic.

Discontinuation and Reissue

Why did Ibanez stop producing the TS808 after just two years? One reason was the discontinuation of the square footswitch used in its design.

Though a TS808 reissue was considered in the early 1990s, Ibanez opted to reissue the TS9 instead. When square footswitches became available again in 2004, Ibanez launched a proper TS808 reissue.

Analogman notes that the 2002 TS808 reissue used a new Ibanez-made circuit board, rather than the earlier Maxon boards. It still featured the JRC4558D chip and better output resistors, offering improved tone over the TS9 reissue. The 2002 version also included CE certification.

In 2014, Ibanez released the 35th Anniversary TS808, a highly accurate reissue of the original narrow-box version, featuring the JRC4558D chip.