Guitar Pedals · owner-verdict comparison

Boss GT-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 69% of 182 Boss GT-1 owners recommend it, vs 73% of 52 for the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Boss GT-1

69%of 182 owners recommend
69% recommend · 12% neutral · 19% don't
Full owner report →

Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

73%of 52 owners recommend
73% recommend · 14% neutral · 13% don't
Owners praise
  • Classic, great-sounding overdrive tone
  • Excellent boost to overdrive a tube amp
  • Popular, reputable industry-standard pedal
Owners complain about
  • Mid-heavy voicing that cuts low-end and suits some styles more than others
Full owner report →

What Boss GT-1 owners say

“Sounds great!”
— @SonicBluMustang on YouTube
“it still amazes me as to how good it sounds (and how simple it is to operate.)”
— @davidwoods358 on YouTube
“Got the unit today and already a big disappointment.”
— @montiac22 on YouTube

What Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer owners say

“I love my TS9 that I've had since the 90s, but I have an EQ pedal after it, which has made all the difference.”
— @DonaldMerand on YouTube
“This really is the greatest distortion pedal I’ve ever owned.”
— @TheDCGuitar13 on YouTube
“Only thing I’d change is the TS for a DS1 or a Boss Super Distortion or an MXR distortion. I was never a fan of the Tube Screamer.”
— _1JackMove on Reddit