Tube Screamer TS808 vs TS9 vs TS10 Comparison: Which One is Best?

The Ibanez Tube Screamer is one of the most legendary overdrive circuits ever designed. It’s been at the heart of countless guitar tones, from blues to metal, and has earned a reputation as the go-to pedal for adding warmth, sustain, and that iconic mid-hump boost. But within the Tube Screamer lineage, three models are the most discussed: the TS808, TS9, and TS10.

These pedals are nearly identical in design but have just enough circuit differences to keep gearheads arguing for decades. So let’s dig in—what really makes them different? And more importantly, can you actually hear it?

Breaking Down the Circuits

At their core, the TS808, TS9, and TS10 follow the same basic circuit topology:

• Input buffer to preserve signal integrity
• Op amp gain and clipping stage with symmetrical soft clipping
• Tone control network to shape the midrange focus
• Output buffer to drive the amp or next pedal in the chain

But the devil is in the details. Below is a breakdown of the specific differences in their schematics.

1. Input Buffer: Stability Tweaks in the TS10

The TS808 and TS9 use the same single BJT transistor input buffer, which helps maintain clarity and high input impedance. The TS10 adds an extra buffer transistor, but here’s the thing—it’s only active when the pedal is bypassed. This change was made to fix an issue in earlier models where a faint signal could leak through in bypass mode. When the TS10 is engaged, it behaves exactly like a TS9 at the input.

2. Op Amp & Clipping Stage: Nearly Identical, Except for One Tiny Resistor

This is the heart of the Tube Screamer’s overdrive. All three pedals use the classic JRC4558D op amp (though some vintage TS9s shipped with a TA75558). The clipping section is identical—two silicon diodes in the feedback loop of the op amp, creating symmetrical soft clipping.

The only difference? The TS10 adds a 220Ω resistor in series with the op amp’s inverting input. This might help with stability, but audibly, it does next to nothing. The gain structure, clipping characteristics, and midrange focus are all the same.

3. Tone Control: No Differences

The tone network—where the mid hump magic happens—is identical across all three models. They all use the same capacitor and resistor values to shape that characteristic EQ curve. If you’ve ever heard someone say a TS9 is “brighter” than an TS808, it’s not the tone circuit—it’s something else (we’ll get to that).

4. Output Buffer & The TS9’s Slightly Higher Impedance

Here’s where the TS9 and TS10 differ from the TS808. The TS808 has a 100Ω resistor in series with the output and a 10kΩ shunt to ground. The TS9 and TS10 swap those values for 470Ω series and 100kΩ to ground.

What does this mean?

• The TS808 has a lower output impedance, which theoretically provides a stronger signal to the next device.
• The TS9/TS10 have a higher output impedance, which could make them interact slightly differently with certain amps or other pedals.

Does this change the tone? Not really. In a standard rig (going into a high-impedance tube amp input), this difference is negligible. Some claim the TS808 sounds “smoother” and the TS9 is “more aggressive,” but this has more to do with component tolerances and op amp variation than the output impedance tweak.

Does Any of This Actually Affect the Sound?

In a blind test, a TS808 and TS9 sound nearly identical when set to the same knobs. The TS10 is also right there with them. Any differences are subtle at best.

Why Do People Hear Differences?

• Op Amp Variations – Vintage TS9s with a TA75558 can sound slightly different than those with a JRC4558D.
• Component Tolerances – Resistor and capacitor tolerances can affect frequency response by a small margin.
• Psychology & Hype – Expectation bias is real. If you think a TS808 is warmer and smoother, you might hear it that way.

Bottom Line

• If you want the classic Tube Screamer sound, any of these three will get you there.
• The TS808 and TS9 are functionally identical except for two resistors in the output buffer.
• The TS10 is 99% the same as the TS9, with a minor resistor addition and a better bypass buffer.

If you’re playing into a cranked tube amp, these differences will be virtually imperceptible. The mid-hump, soft clipping, and frequency response are the same.

So, is one better than the others? That’s up to you. But if you’re thinking about dropping serious money on a vintage TS808, just know—a properly modded TS9 will sound exactly the same.

References & Sources

• Electrosmash: Tube Screamer Analysis – https://www.electrosmash.com/tube-screamer-analysis
• General Guitar Gadgets TS9 vs TS808 Mod Guide – http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/
• Effects Database: Ibanez TS808, TS9, TS10 History – https://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/ibanez/tubescreamer
• AnalogMan TS9 vs TS808 Comparisons – https://www.analogman.com/ts9.htm