Guitar Pedals · owner-verdict comparison

Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer vs MXR Carbon Copy: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 73% of 52 Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer owners recommend it, vs 71% of 31 for the MXR Carbon Copy.

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

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 →

MXR Carbon Copy

71%of 31 owners recommend
71% recommend · 13% neutral · 16% don't
Owners praise
  • Warm, natural-sounding analog delay tone that owners rank among the best analog delays available
  • Long-term reliability and loyalty, owners keep it for a decade or more, tour heavily with it, and keep returning to it after trying other delays
  • Underwhelming compared to alternatives for a minority of owners, some felt it didn't outperform other delays (like the analog settings on an FB/FB4) and ended up returning or replacing it
Owners complain about
  • Underwhelming compared to alternatives for a minority of owners, some felt it didn't outperform other delays (like the analog settings on an FB/FB4) and ended up returning or replacing it
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

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
Get the MXR Carbon Copy if
  • ✓Players wanting warm, natural analog delay
  • ✓Guitarists after slapback and short echo settings
  • ✓Ambient players needing swells that preserve the dry signal
  • ✓Beginners who want simple, hands-on controls
Skip it if
  • Players needing versatility beyond one analog sound
  • Those wanting very long delay times

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

What MXR Carbon Copy owners say

“Easily my favourite delay pedal!”
— @thejosebatista on YouTube
“Love the CarbonCopy.”
— @northof50now on YouTube
“j'ai acheté cet effet c'est loin d'être ça !”
— @francoisb4830 on YouTube

Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer vs MXR Carbon Copy: frequently asked questions

Is the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer or the MXR Carbon Copy better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 73% of 52 Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer owners recommend it, vs 71% of 31 for the MXR Carbon Copy.

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.

Who should get the MXR Carbon Copy?

Owners point the MXR Carbon Copy at players wanting warm, natural analog delay, and guitarists after slapback and short echo settings.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer is mid-heavy voicing that cuts low-end and suits some styles more than others. For the MXR Carbon Copy, it's underwhelming compared to alternatives for a minority of owners, some felt it didn't outperform other delays (like the analog settings on an FB/FB4) and ended up returning or replacing it.