Real owners lean toward the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer: 73% of 52 owners recommend it, vs 53% of 30 for the TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2.
Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score
“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
“It's a really nice sounding pedal with nice features for someone who don't require the sound quality of more expensive reverb pedals such as the Strymon stuff etc.”— @Nghilifa on YouTube
“the sounds of the hof2 inspired and moved me. That didn't happen with the other reverbs in your videos. So I bought one.”— @leonardo.rafael on YouTube
“TC is muddy and blurry.”— @OrkhanJulfa on YouTube
Real owners lean toward the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer: 73% of 52 owners recommend it, vs 53% of 30 for the TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2.
Owners point the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer at tube amp owners wanting to push their amp, and blues and classic-rock players.
Owners point the TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 at players wanting an affordable, versatile reverb, and ambient and shimmer sound seekers.
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 TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2, it's stock sounds can feel generic or digital.