11 Best Tube Screamer Style Pedals (2026 Comparison)
Searching for the best Tube Screamer pedal to add to your board? You’re in the right place.
Maybe you want creamy, amp-like overdrive tones. Maybe you need a low to medium overdrive to push a dirty amp. Or maybe you just want to tighten up your metal tone.
A great Tube Screamer pedal can do all of that and more.
In this post, I’m breaking down my favorite Tube Screamer pedals on the market.
That includes the classic Ibanez Tube Screamers, clones, and pedals inspired by the original TS overdrive circuits. You’ll know exactly which one fits your style and your setup.
Note: This list is based on personal experience. I have owned all the pedals on this list at one time or another. Most of them are still in my collection.
The best Tube Screamer pedals and TS clones
My top pick
Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini
A compact version of the classic TS808 Tube Screamer, with the addition of true bypass.
Same classic Tube Screamer tone but smaller and far more affordable. Most players would struggle to notice a difference in tone between this and the original.
1. Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini
The Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini is arguably the most popular Tube Screamer style pedal around.
This pedal is based on the original Ibanez TS808 from back in the day, with a few tweaks. Primarily the addition of true bypass so your tone won’t be affected when the pedal is switched off.
It’s extremely well-built and the controls feel like quality. I’ve had one of these in my collection for a long time and I’ve never had any issues. And most importantly, the tone is great.
Given its small form factor, it’s a great option for those who are looking for that classic overdrive tone but have limited space on their pedal board.
2. EarthQuaker Devices Plumes
The EarthQuaker Devices Plumes has picked up where the Tube Screamer left off and taken things to another level of usability and tone. It’s also surprisingly affordable compared to some of the other more “boutique” options.
In addition to the usual level/gain/tone controls, we have a 3-way toggle switch that controls the type of clipping used in the circuit.
Option 1 offers symmetrical LED clipping. If you want compression & crunch, this will do what you need.
Option 2 is best used as a clean boost because it removes clipping from the circuit entirely.
And, finally, with option 3, the Plumes shakes things up with asymmetrical clipping. According to EarthQuaker Devices, this offers a more transparent tone and a looser feel. A very nice addition to the pedal.
While EarthQuaker Devices are known for higher end pedals, the Plumes is one of the more affordable pedals in their range. And a great choice for any pedal board.
3. Keeley Noble Screamer
The Keeley Noble Screamer offers more flexibility than most other pedals of this type.
It combines a tube screamer style circuit with that of the ever popular Nobels ODR-1 into a single pedal enclosure.
Most brands would do this as a dual pedal but I love what Keeley has done instead.
They’ve put both circuits in a single pedal enclosure. You’ve got the typical tone, gain, and level controls with some very useful switches.
The first of these switches allows you to switch between the tone stack of the TS pedal or the ODR-1. The ODR-1 is known for its transparent nature and the TS has more of a mid hump to its EQ curve.
The second switch allows you to choose between the clipping of each circuit. Either soft or hard-clipping.
So, if you want a TS style pedal without that mid hump in the EQ – you can. If you want the ODR-1’s clipping with a mid hump to cause the mid range of your amp to break up more, you can do it.
You’ll also find noise free switching, and the choice of both buffered and true bypass. It’s quite an exceptional pedal.
4. Maxon OD808
The Maxon OD808 is a reissue of the original Tube Screamer.
In fact, it was Maxon that originally developed the TS808 circuit in 1979. It was rebranded and sold under the Ibanez name.
It does have some tweaks compared to the origins, however. For example, the noise floor was lowered and the switch was replaced with what you’d typically find on modern pedals.
The improved noise floor makes the Maxon OD808 even better for single coil guitars, especially. In terms of controls, we’ve got the typical overdrive, tone and level (called balance). Power the pedal via a 9v power supply or a 9v battery.