The guitar is undoubtedly one of the most widely used instruments in the world. Its portability, accessibility, and affordability put it at the top of the list of all instruments. It is highly versatile and has been used to play millions of songs of a wide range of genres.
Furthermore, studies have associated guitar playing with improved memory and mental health. Having said that, no matter how versatile modern guitars are, they still may not produce your desired tones. Therefore, it is a good idea to invest in some gadgets to improve your guitar’s playability.
The guitar industry has seen many such gadgets that enhance a guitar’s tones. An effects pedal is one such device. A guitar effects pedal, commonly known as a stompbox, is a device used to add effects to the guitar’s sound. If you are a playing professional, there are many reasons that make it a worthwhile investment.
It alters the tone of a guitar by adding effects, making it sound better. Effect pedals nowadays are equipped with dozens of effects to help you customize your sound. Talking about guitar effects pedals, you cannot leave the Blues Driver and Tube Screamer behind.
They are highly popular pedals used by many professional guitarists all over the world. Today, we will compare both these effects pedals and tell you which one is the winner. Read on to make an informed purchase decision.
Comparing the Blues Driver vs Tube Screamer
Below is a comparison between the Blues Driver and Tube Screamer effects pedals.
| Features | Blues Driver | Tube Screamer |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Rich and sharp | Rich and sharp |
| Knobs | 3 | 3 |
| Price | Low | Low |
| Weight | 0.93 lbs | 1.3 lbs |
Blues Driver vs Tube Screamer
Blues Driver
The Blues Driver is manufactured by Boss, a well-known company that designs and sells effects pedals and other audio solutions. The company joined this business a long time ago and has earned a great name in the industry.
The Blues Driver was introduced in 1995, but it still holds its own as one of the best effects pedals on the market. Let’s take a closer look at its features!
Layout
Guitarists love the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver effects pedal for its simplicity and ease of use. It features three knobs, i.e., level, tone, and gain. The level knob is used to control the output of the pedal. You can use it to increase or decrease the volume as per your needs. It is capable of producing sound at high volume without giving any distortion.
As its name suggests, the tone knob on the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver effects pedal allows you to adjust the upper and mid-treble range. Whereas gain is used to add cool effects to your sound, including a breakup, sustain, etc. Using this knob, you can completely change the way your guitar sounds.
The simple layout makes the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver effects pedal an ideal choice for beginners. Most companies nowadays add too many unnecessary features to these pedals just to fill up the specs sheet. As a result, many musicians, especially beginners, find their pedals hard to operate.
Fortunately, that’s not the case with the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver effects pedal. Now coming to its construction, the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver effects pedal is a sturdy stompbox made of high-quality materials. It comes in a metal housing to protect it in case of drops.
And yes, it is backed by a 5-year warranty from the company, which shows you the trust the company has in its products. Confidently take it to your gigs, and it won’t let you down. In addition to that, the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver effects pedal has a compact size, which makes it an ideal travel partner.
It can easily fit your guitar’s gig bag, so you won’t have to carry it around. Even if you do not have a bag to store it, carrying it won’t be a problem as it weighs only 15 oz. The Boss BD-2 Blues Driver effects pedal is powered by a 9V battery for your convenience. It is reasonably powerful and lasts for hours.
Performance
When it comes to performance, the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver effects pedal is in a league of its own. Its tone resembles vintage tube amps, thanks to its warm overdrive and emotive distortion. Overall, it has a rich and sharp sound, and you will surely enjoy using it with your guitar.
It is quite versatile as it can add multiple effects to your sound. Whether you like classical music or heavy metal, the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver effects pedal can do it all. There is nothing much to talk about when it comes to design.
The Boss BD-2 Blues Driver effects pedal has a simple design and comes in blue color. However, you will surely love its golden knobs and color scheme.
Tube Screamer
Next, we have the TS9 Tube Screamer effects pedal. It is manufactured by Ibanez, which is among the leading companies in the music industry. The company offers a range of guitars and accessories but is best known for its top-of-the-line effects pedals.
The TS9 Tube Screamer effects pedal was launched in 1982. It has powered many studios and has been used by many famous artists, including Stevie Ray Vaughan and Kirk Hammett. Let’s discuss its features in detail!
Layout
Talking about its layout first, the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer effects pedal has a beginner-friendly layout similar to the Blues Driver. It also has three knobs, named level, tone, and overdrive. The function of these knobs is pretty much the same as Blues Driver.
While the overdrive knob lets you adjust the amount of distortion in your sound, the tone knob can be used to increase darkness or brightness. You can easily operate it, even if you are just getting started with effects pedals. It was designed with non-techies in mind.
In fact, a significant portion of the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer effects pedal’s popularity comes from its simple interface. The Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer effects pedal is dressed in a green metallic body, which makes it highly durable.
Of course, build quality is an important consideration when looking for an effects pedal as you are to use it on stage. Buy it and rest assured that it will last several years at least. Having said that, you don’t get any warranty with this pedal.
Performance
As for tonal quality, the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer effects pedal is as good as anything. It has a warm and crunchy sound, suitable for many genres. And yes, it can add great overdrive and distortion to your sound.
All these features of the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer effects pedal come at a surprisingly reasonable price. This makes it a perfect choice for people with tight budgets.
Final Verdict
The Blues Driver and the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer effects pedal are two legendary effect pedals that have stood the test of time. Both feature a simple layout and excellent construction. While the Blues Driver has a rich and sharp tone, the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer sounds warm and crunchy.
Although both are quite versatile effect pedals, the Blues Driver wins this battle by a small margin, thanks to its superior design and versatile performance.