Guitar World Verdict
The Tube Squealer is an elevated Screamer-style overdrive that stands out in its flexibility for complementing cranked rigs and stacking with other gain pedals. For some, it will be an absolute showstopper, but for others, it may be heavily scrutinized compared to other overdrive choices.
Pros
- +
Re-creation of three famed Screamer-inspired overdrive circuits in one pedal.
- +
Versatile features with plenty of tailoring on hand.
- +
Robust build with a 5-year warranty
Cons
- -
Differences between the three overdrive voicings are slight to subtle
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What is it?
Another day, another Tube Screamer-inspired overdrive has shown up at my door. At this point, we must ask ourselves: Have we hit the ceiling in the amount of Screamer-style overdrive pedals? I could say yes, but there’s always room for improvement, right?
If you heed the gospel of certain YouTube content creators, you’ll find they frequently extol the virtues of the classic Japanese "Tube Screamers," particularly the holy trinity of the TS808, TS9, and the TS10.
To that end, Warm Audio is well known for making repros of some very famed overdrives, fuzzes, and boosts, so it only seems fitting in the natural progression of things for the company to take a stab at the iconic Tube Screamer — now known from them as, er… the Tube Squealer.
Yes, Warm Audio’s Tube Squealer is an all-analog, Screamer-inspired overdrive offering three selectable voicings — 808, TS9, and TS10 — that authentically recreate those revered Japanese circuits along with some modern features for flexibility.
Will it knock your socks off? For some, absolutely, but for me, I find it works admirably well in complementing any cranked rig and stacks nicely with other gain pedals.
Specs
- Price: $149 | €159 | £139
- Type: Selectable three-mode, soft-clipping Screamer-style overdrive with modern features
- Controls: Drive, Level, Mix, and Tone
- Features: Clean/Drive Mix Knob, Three-Mode Overdrive switch (808, TS10, TS9), Pickup Voicing switch (Humbucker and Single Coil), External Voltage Boost selector and True/Buffered Bypass Selector
- Jacks: 1/4-inch mono input and output jacks
- Power: 9V/18V, 12mA in Standard Mode, 25mA in Boosted mode (PSU not included)
- Dimensions: W: 5.1” | H: 2.75” | D: 2.63”
- Weight: 1 lb
- Contact: Warm Audio, warmaudio.com
Build quality
Build quality rating: ★★★★★
The rock-solid Tube Squealer looks pretty reminiscent of its inspiration, arriving in that old-school Screamer-mould pedal enclosure with grippy indicator knobs. What’s noteworthy is that the Tube Squealer offers three distinct signal paths, each faithfully reproducing the authentic circuitry of the 808, TS9, and TS10, rather than merely re-voicing them.
For that reason, it achieves its asymmetrical clipping through carefully selected internal components, including JRC4558 op-amps, discrete transistors and diodes, and premium JFETs. Just like Warm Audio’s other pedals in their stable, these components were chosen to recreate the original character and response of those three pedals the Tube Squealer emulates.
It’s also good to know that Warm Audio ensures the durability of each pedal through rigorous testing in its Austin, Texas, facility before shipment, backing this commitment with a 5-year warranty.
Usability
Usability rating: ★★★★
While the controls are straightforward, achieving your desired sound requires careful adjustment, especially when combining the Circuit Selector and Pickup Voicing switches
Similar to Warm Audio’s new Throne of Tone, the Tube Squealer avoids internal DIP switches for adjustments, offering all tone-shaping controls conveniently on the pedal's face. While the Drive, Level, Mix, and Tone controls are straightforward, achieving your desired sound requires careful adjustment, especially when combining the Circuit Selector (808, TS9, TS10) and Pickup Voicing (humbucker/single coil) switches, and whether you choose to introduce any amount of clean signal via the Mix knob or not.
For each of the 808, TS10, and TS9 circuits, the Tube Squealer is in an “original pedal” voicing when clicked down to the “single-coil” setting on the Pickup Voicing switch. By clicking up towards the “humbucker” setting, it adds a midrange emphasis from 800Hz to 2kHz, which supposedly removes muddiness when using humbucker-equipped guitars. Finally, the Tube Squealer can be selected to operate at 9V for vintage harmonic distortion or at 18V (via an internal voltage doubler) in "On" mode for a cleaner boost with increased headroom. However, I found the difference between these two modes negligible.
Sounds
Sounds rating: ★★★★
My relationship with early Ibanez-era Tube Screamers has been a “cookie-jarring” affair. What I mean by that is that I’ve never been fully committed to an 808, TS9, or TS10. I have always used them as a complementary companion when paired with other drive pedals or in front of an amp that is cranked or approaching breakup.
It’s not that those classic pedals are inadequate or unsatisfactory; it’s more that there are better dedicated overdrives out there. And frankly, considering my recent review of Warm Audio’s Throne of Tone, I think it’s fair for me to say the Tube Squealer just doesn’t have the same “wow” factor as the Throne of Tone.
But, here with the Tube Squealer, we have three of the most popular overdrives in one pedal, which is nice to have, and keeps any option paralysis to a minimum. If you didn’t know, here’s a brief reason why each was selected. The 808 (which has always been my personal favorite) is the earliest version of those classic overdrive circuits, which delivers a melange of warm coloration, soft compression, and gritty breakup.
I primarily favor the 808 mode for its warmth and the TS10 for its sparkle.
The TS9 was released shortly after and has been the most popular and mass-produced version, with added drive and more compression, and replete with its prominent mid-hump frequency that some find plagues it, while others celebrate it.
The “sleeper” TS10 is a recent unsung hero that has garnered rising popularity among players, most notably John Mayer, for its smooth character, fuller sound and compressed sparkle.
While each circuit in the Squealer nods to those Ibanez classics, the differences in their sound are often subtle to somewhat imperceptible, though distinct characteristic variations do exist.
I primarily favor the 808 for its warmth and the TS10 for its sparkle. I also find myself sticking with the single coil setting (which is the 'original' un-modded circuit), as the humbucker setting sounds too strident to my ears.
However, I do know this humbucker setting is preferable to use with high-gain amplifiers for that enhanced mid-emphasis. I find myself keeping the Mix knob disengaged, as I prefer a pure overdriven tone without any clean signal, but if you like this blend-able option, this feature functions comparably to other pedals with similar mix/dry controls.
Verdict
The Squealer is just as good, if not in some cases, better than most overdrive pedals that offer less versatility for a similar price.
Again, as I alluded to earlier, the Tube Squealer is more of a supportive pedal that sounds fantastic when paired with your other favored distortions, overdrives, fuzzes and boosts. And even in front of a pushed Marshall, Fender or Vox amp, the Squealer shines by introducing a smooth layer of compressed drive that accentuates pick attack and dynamics, and adding a welcome bump of brawny girth to your tone. All that’s needed is to select which of the three Squealer’s voices works best for your rig. And for that, the Squealer is just as good, if not in some cases, better than most overdrive pedals that offer less versatility for a similar price.
Guitar World verdict: The Tube Squealer is an elevated Screamer-style overdrive that stands out in its flexibility for complementing cranked rigs and stacking with other gain pedals. For some, it will be an absolute showstopper, but for others, it may be heavily scrutinized compared to other overdrive choices.
Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
Build quality | Robust build with a 5-year warranty. | ★★★★★ |
Usability | Easily selectable, the Tube Squealer offers three distinct overdrive circuits and two pickup voicing options, all ready for fine-tuning. | ★★★★ |
Sounds | Fairly convincing emulations of the TS808, TS9 and TS10 overdrives that offer slightly varied colorations of gain levels, midrange-hump, and compression. | ★★★★ |
Overall | Three greatest hits of the “Green Screamer” overdrives in one stompbox that get the job done. | ★★★★½ |
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