Guitar Pedals · owner-verdict comparison

Darkglass B3K V2 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer: 73% of 52 owners recommend it, vs 55% of 60 for the Darkglass B3K V2.

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

Darkglass B3K V2

55%of 60 owners recommend
55% recommend · 20% neutral · 25% don't
Owners praise
  • Aggressive, articulate grindy overdrive like nothing else
  • Outright favorite drive after trying many
  • Great for mild, always-on grit
Owners complain about
  • Disappears or gets lost in a full-band mix
  • Too mid-scooped and polite sounding
  • Hard to dial in a usable tone
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 →

Which should you buy?

Get the Darkglass B3K V2 if
  • ✓Metal, prog and djent bassists wanting articulate aggressive drive
  • ✓Pick players after tight, grindy overdrive
  • ✓Players wanting a clean, modern, note-defined distortion
  • ✓Recording bassists who need attack that cuts on a track
Skip it if
  • Players chasing nasty, filthy fuzz on its own
  • Bassists needing to cut through a loud live band mix
Get the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer if
  • ✓Tube amp owners wanting to push their amp
  • ✓Blues and classic-rock players
  • ✓Fender Strat and Tele guitarists
  • ✓Anyone needing a lead boost or overdrive platform
Skip it if
  • Players running hot, modern high-output pickups
  • Those who dislike a mid-forward tone

What Darkglass B3K V2 owners say

“Differentiated pedal, very cool!”
— @petronius_r6719 on YouTube
“I have the B7k ultra v2 and the B3kv2. Both have the same drive circuit as yours. The versatility of these pedals is amazing.”
— bloodfist5 on Reddit
“I just can't use them. I've tried a lot of them. They all have a baked in mid scoop that's almost impossible to eq out.”
— @Rexpbass 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

Darkglass B3K V2 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer: frequently asked questions

Is the Darkglass B3K V2 or the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer better?

Real owners lean toward the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer: 73% of 52 owners recommend it, vs 55% of 60 for the Darkglass B3K V2.

Who should get the Darkglass B3K V2?

Owners point the Darkglass B3K V2 at metal, prog and djent bassists wanting articulate aggressive drive, and pick players after tight, grindy overdrive.

Who should get the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer?

Owners point the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer at tube amp owners wanting to push their amp, and blues and classic-rock players.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Darkglass B3K V2 is disappears or gets lost in a full-band mix. For the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, it's mid-heavy voicing that cuts low-end and suits some styles more than others.