Ibanez TS-7

It's a freakin' tube screamer. Whats easier than that?!

First off, when you read these reviews you have to read between the lines. For example, there are guys saying this unit is horrid and giving it a 2. But as tube screamers go, theres not a world of difference, but subtle differences. So the reason for the horrible reviews is that some people arent judging it for what it's meant for, and not judging it AS TUBE SCREAMERS GO ! Not to mention the 16 year olds who have little idea of what tone is and thing a metal zone is good tone.

That said, i've gigged regularly for 22 years, played for 30, generally play reissue strats thru marshalls in a classic rock and blues cover band. (tho lately using a modded Classic 30)I use a tube screamer to boost an already distorted amp.I think that needs to be said because without knowing the background of who's reviewing something, the review is useless.

On to the TS-7. I've owned various tube screamers, the most recent being a TS-5 which i modded for more output(not drive) and more low end. I think the TS-7 is better than the 5 and other screamers i've owned for a number of reasons. For one thing, if you want to use it as a clean boost it'll give you more output than others i've had. You can use the boost function with the drive all the way down and level all the way up to get a giant boost. It's got a bit of grit in it with the boost engaged, but it sounds great. Not that you'd necassarily need that much clean output, but it's there if you want it.

Secondly, while i've most always used screamers as a clean boost with the drive all the way down, this is the only one that i like using with equal amounts of drive and level to hit an alrady distorted input. It actually works better than sending a hot clean output as i've always done before. It adds a lot of harmonic richness without getting sloppy and losing it's tight punch as other screamers i've had always did when turning up the drive a bit.

As for the way it sounds on it's own......that is, into a clean amp and getting all your distortion from the pedal alone, it's no better than most other screamers. Maybe not as good as some, but it's close.

The overall impression i get is that as a boost into an already distorted amp it's the best i've had. It's much more versitile IMO because of the aforementioned *fact* that you can add some drive to make it very rich and still retain the tightness and articulation unlike my experience with others.

Physically, i really like the case. A nice textured finish, very solid metal case, and knobs that push in which i think is a nice feature for a few reasons. The only thing i don't like as other have said is the switch. Open the battery compartment and you can see it. Very very cheesy. For me this doesn't mattter because being a tech i can substitute another better switch if and when the time comes. But for those who can't it's a shame because this pedal that is otherwise a sturdy, versitile and good sounding box will not be worth the box it came in if the switch goes south. Ibanez, what are you doing !! Is this another case of "planned obsolesence"? Probably.

So switch aside, my experience with various tube screamers over many years tells me that this box is a great deal. It's one of those rare purchases that leave you thinking you got much more than your money's worth, and very happy you bought it. I payed 40 bucks, which is about what i spend for lunch over the course of the work week. But i'll likely have this for many years.

Oh,a dn if you DO use tube screamers into a clean amp as your source of distortion, the boost switch doubles it's usefullness. Unlike some others here i don't feel it sounds any different than without it. Just more distortion. Another benefit.

I'll give it a 7 because of the switch, which as i said is a major flaw for those who can't fix it if needed. Otherwise a 10, because it does just what other screamers did for me, but with more versatility and better tone when boosting with a little drive added in. It fulfills al

The switch ! Need i go over it again? Otherwise it's likely bulletproof.

Don't know, but who's gonna bother at $40?

Since i always use a TS, and this is my favorite so far, i'd of course buy it again without a second thought.

3 knobs, level gain and tone. the only complaint i have is the tone knob seems like it could have more of a sweep to it. doesnt really do much til you get up to about 8. also you can switch from ts9 to hot mode.

I play in a pop/rock/latinish/bluesish band, and use an ernie ball axis guitar with a peavey ranger tube amp. i have 2 ts7's on my board. I have owned a TS9 reissue, and a TS9DX, and the ts7 sounds a lot better. The TS9 seemed to suck a lot of tone when in bypass, and the ts7's bypass is really unnoticeable compared to many other buffered pedals. very clean. The effect sounds more like an original ts9 than the reissues, but the tone control reacts differently.

I use one of my ts7 as a mild overdrive with the gain at 3 tone at 9 and level at 6. great for a dynamic boost, lead boost, and getting bluesey. chords come out pretty well even if you are playing 7 chords or minor chords.

I use my other ts7 in hot mode. usually only for leads, and power chords. my settings are gain 5 tone 6 level 6. I use this one more as a distortion than an overdrive. since it essentially is the same overdrive with more gain the bottom end sounds sort of cleaner than the the highs. in a really good way for leads. at low volumes it doesnt seem to palm mute very well, but when im at rehearsal and gig levels my amp seems to make up for it. I think a lot of the negative reviews on her are from people using solid state amps a bedroom levels.

This is acually my favorite pedal i own, and also the cheapest. Other reviewers have mentioned boss pedals sounding better. I would disagree. all the newer boss overdrives are way way harsh, and require modification to really be usable imho. great overdrive, but dont expect it to be a distortion pedal.

Maybe 20 years from now these will be as sought after as the ts9's.

construction is a great improvement over prvious ibanez pedals. made out of metal. only problems is the switch sucks. have to use contact cleaner on it about every 6 months, and plow it out with an air compressor. I'll give it a 7 cuz it does require mainenence, but seems like the pedal itself will last forever.

couldnt tell ya, no email at website last time i checked

As far as overdrives go it has great tone even at a ts9 price. I've tried almost every ovedrive currently available at your local guitar center. never tried any of the boutiqe stuff, but definitely beats out anything from the boss line, or digitech. This pedal is certainly the gem of the tone lok pedals. So if you are on a budget, or just want a really good overdrive.

3 knobs...nuff said

Im running a Gibson Les Paul studio or American Standard Strat-->TS7-->Marhsall AVT50. When I first hooked it up to the amp on the clean channel, I thought it was too compressed and muffled. Then I cranked the gain on the clean and switched it too hot mode and it became WAY harsh and sounded like shit when I tried to play some chords. Then I messed with the knobs a little, put it into TS9 mode, cleaned up the amp a little and switched to the neck p/u and played some blues... bingo, it sounded sooooo smooth and, as I inched up the gain, I got some nice sizzle and I switched it too hot mode and kept the gain at about half and it gave the nastiest blues lead sound Ive ever heard. Then I plugged it into the les Paul and switched to the overdrive channel on my amp and put teh pedal on TS9 mode and put the gain on the amp at about 3/4th. and used the pedal as a booster, damn.... it can kick some serious ass. It gave a ballsy, smooth, heavy as hell van halen tone. Mess with your amp settings and you can get almost ne sound you want.

well,it looks solid enuf, Im having some trouble with the switch tho. This is the 2nd day Ive had it, not cool at all.

Easy as hell to use. Twist knobs around. The ToneLok feature isn't that big of a plus.

I use a Fender Mex Strat, Dunlop 535q wah, and my marshall G80 solid state amp.

Overall, this thing is decent. It is a cheap pedal. It isn't a TS-9, so don't expect it to be. If you want somthing to use as aa overdrive boost every now then, when you are playing on your clean channel, this will get it done. Definetly better pedals out there tho. I wuld recommend saving your money for a better pedal (Boss has a ton out there for under $100). But if you want somthing quick for lil $$, than grab this.

The tone is decent. I only notice it sucking a lil tone from your normal signal, but any pedal will do that. The overdrive it throws on isn't that warm, but you can get away with it. This pedal seems to really dull your sound when it is on, have to turn the Tone knob up all the way to get even a lil brightness. It seems to hum a lot, and gives out heavy feedback, so you just have to watch it. Can't leave this thing on and stand idle.

Disotrtion is not heavy at all, so if you want a lot of crunch for hard rock or somthin, look at a distortion pedal, not an overdrive pedal.

Piece of shit. This is a warning to anyone thinking of buying any Ibanez ToneLok pedals: the swtich that actually is compressed to turn the pedal on is plastic and cheaply made. Often times this pedal doesn't come on, and it takes several clicks to work. I have had mine for about a year or 2, but i dont use it that often, BUT I have heard that the lil plastic swtich breaks after time. Which I can understand. Look at the other reviews of the ToneLOk pedals and you will see many similar complaints. Tough on the outside, but shitty on the inside. Definetly not reliable. I bought this when I was naive, so take heed of my warning!!

Dunno.

I play rock and blues music. Pearl Jam, Hendrix, Led Zep, SRV, stone temple pilots, neil young. I've been playing for 4 years now, and had this one for 2 of those years. I really don't recommend this too much Can't rely on it at all. And tonewise, you get what you pay for. It is a decent ooverdrive boost that you can use to jump into leads every now and then. Risky to use at a gig because sometimes it doesn't come on with the first click.I'll probbaly keep using it till it breaks, just so I get my money's worth. Soon as it breaks, I'm getting a Boss, at least they won't break and offer more variety of tones.

You won't gonna need more than two neurons...

It's the best stomp ever if you want a natural/tube sound. The rest is about your stuff.

I've seen one with a problem at on/off switch.

?

I compared it to TS9 (the same without hot), with TS9+ ( the new switch is a variation of boost; a much better boost effect can be acchived with a boss Hyperfuzz FZ2) and i find it better because of Hot. It's only ugly. The Boss similars are ALL WORST. The boss stomps to natural-overdrive line steal bass from the sound and put and painfull mid-high unnatural frequency on it. I compare it all side by side for days in home. The timbre of the sound that goes through TS7 remains unaltered if you don't use the tone. It's just tube sound, smooth and a little compressed.

Very easy to use. Only three knobs and a TS-9/Hot-switch.

Pretty good sounding. Has the same chip as the TS-9 has in it. Very tube-like. Sounds great even with a lot of distortion and works fine as a booster.

No poblems with this one yet.

Never dealt with Ibanez

I play a everything from blues to metal. This works best for blues but if you use it as a booster you can get some serious shit out of it! For the price it's one of the best things I've ever bought. The Tone-lok feature is great too.

It is very easy to get a good sound from that effect.

I use this effect with a Slammer SP-1 (by Hamer),a Crate Gx amp and a Zoom 505 (for delay and other strange sound...).I play 70's rock and blues.It isn't noisy.I always use the hot channel (the ts-7 mode dont' have enough gain for rock).The sound is smooth and fat.

I think is pretty impossible to kill this pedal.

If you aren't a metal player buy it!!!It is cheap and have an excellent sound!!!

Similar to most fuzz/overdrive pedals -- drive, tone,
and level. These rotary pots can be depressed to prevent
their being kicked accidentally into other settings.
There'a a small mode switch for kicking the unit into
its more aggressive "hot" mode.
In practice, the mode switch should only be moved with
your hand, making "on the fly" mode changes tricky.
Overall, though, well laid-out, and a better-than average
feature set.

Surprisingly good sounds for the money.

My baseline sound, for the record, is one of several
Strats through Fender or Carvin tube amps.

As I say in all my reviews (Fuzz Face, Guyatone OD-2,
DOD Flashback Fuzz) I'm not a huge fuzz-lover, but I
keep looking. I want one or two boxes which can be
varied in useful ways. I don't like an overly-compressed,
violin-like sound -- just some grit on top of the
amp's natural overdrive. It's a hard sound to find.

This unit is pretty good, in either of its two modes.

The "TS9" mode may or may not really sound just
like an old Tubescreamer -- I wouldn't know. It does,
however, sound ok, if a little bit narrow and compressed.
I like a 6-ish tone setting, a high (8-9) level setting,
and a 5-ish drive setting. Set this way, it doesn't
mush-out or honk too badly. The mids can get away from
you, yielding a tubby, honking sound for which
I don't much care. Biasing the tone just slightly towards
the treble (6-6.5 works for me) gets rid of enough mids
to suit me without getting too shrill. Don't neglect your
amp's tone controls either.

The "hot" mode gives a more aggressive, fuzzier sound.
I like this setting on top of a relatively clean and loud
amp sound -- the overall sound retains some dynamics, with
a good deal of growl. I leave the TS7 settings about the
same as above, changing only the mode. Big, sustained
open chords retain their initial attack, then spread out
nicely, without any of that compressed "ducking" sound
that some fuzzes (the Fuzz Face, for instance) yield when
you really whack a chord.

Overall, I prefer the "TS9" setting for lead, and the
"Hot" setting for rhythm. I don't play live much, so
the difficulty of switching modes by foot is not a big
problem for me.

The only drag here is that the TS7 does a wonderful
job of reproducing either radio or tv waves through
my amp. Ordinarily, I'd suspect my cord, or my single
coil guitar, as the culprit. Since it doesn't happen
with any other box, however, I must blame the TS7.
Fortunately, this only happens in a particular place --
I can move the unit and the broadcast stuff goes away.
In a live setting, this could be troublesome -- ever
hear the security walkie-talkies coming through Jimi's
amp on the Isle Of Wight recordings? It can happen.
Maybe it could be shielded somehow (foil?) I haven't
tried yet, because the problem only occurs at certain
times of the day, but I may eventually get around to it.

I have to say, though, that I do find this pedal to
be both surprisingly good-sounding, and surprisingly
versatile, especially for its price range. I've tried
several fuzzes and overdrives; this is one of only two
I've kept.

I'm a homebody, so it should last. The pots feel
more wiggly than they should, but all of the switches
and hinges feel fairly solid.
Not as flimsy as Danelectro, perhaps not as tank-like
as DOD.
One recommendation: When you change the battery, you
push down a button at the back end of the unit. This
causes the footswitch door, which is spring-loaded,
to flip up. It's a very convenient setup. Just remember
to have the unit resting flat, or else to hold your thumb
over the hinged door to keep it from flying all the way
open. Otherwise, it's possible (if you're very unlucky)
for the battery to fall out and yank the battery harness
wires out.
Overall, decently built.

No idea.

Other than the occasional broadcast noise, I'm quite
pleased. I don't use boxes much, but this one is
decent-sounding, versatile, and inexpensive. It packs
a better-than average feature set into a utilitarian
(if homely) housing. If it were stolen, I would
not be devastated, but if a replacement was available,
then yes, I'd buy another. A good, useful, affordable
unit.

Gain Tone Level. Easy

At #50 what can you expect? I mean come on you get what you pay for after all. My mate is lucky enough to have an old ts-9 which he won't sell to me but honestly it doesn't really sound that different. (to me anyway).

My setup is

American standard Strat - Crybaby original - ts7 - Marshall AVT 275

Seems solid enough for me, would gig without a back up.

N/A

I play mostly (I hate this term) grunge, soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Neil Young etc. Allows a bosst for solos which was what I wanted it for. Sounds good with my crybaby!

Sounds just like a good TS-9. For those who think it doesn't, perhaps you've got a bad unit. Actually, the original TS-9s were very inconsistent -- they used whatever parts they had lying around -- ask the Ibanez engineers... The TS-9 looks cooler, so if you hear with your eyes, get a TS-9.

I don't really care for the boost switch, though. I think of it as an extra and rate the pdal based upon it.

Hasn't failed in over two years -- has taken some abuse.

From previous experience, Ibanez customer support is right up there woth Marshall's...

I play all styles and this pedal can be used for all of them. For higher gain, I'll run a separate distortion pedal after it. Seems to elimanate the need for compressors when run in series this way. I've been playing for around 30 years and own or have owned tube amps from Marshall JCM800 & JTM60, Carvin X100-B, Hughes & Kettner, Trace Elliot, Sovtek, Fender, Peavey, Laney, Mesa, and solid state from Carvin, Roland, Fender... I'll probably get another one to leave in my recording studio, since I use the one I have in my live rig. I like the Tone Lock knobs, I like the sounds, I dislike the boost switch. Compared with TS-9, Boss SD-1, Hughes & Kettner Tubeman, Danelectro Daddy-O. I was able to pull off the tones I am after with TS-7, TS-9 and Boss SD-1. The Hughes and Kettner Tubeman, which I love for certain things, is entirely a different animal. I do like the Daddy-O for certain things as well, but I do not include it in my live rig -- more of a studio thing if I am after a certain sound.