New Ibanez Tube Screamer Amp...

[JoeB63]

See this:
http://ibanez.com/Electronics/Series-TSA

Pretty good idea from Ibanez -- especially since the price is just $299.

Shoot -- I just paid almost that amount for a handful of tubes. A 15 watt tube amp with a built-in TS-pedal for only $299?? How can you beat that?

[scriptphase]

Wow! Why the hell not? At that price, as long as it doesn't catch fire while I'm playing it, I'll take two. :)

BTW: The overdrive-mounted-in-an-amp reminds me of the Fargen/Analogman Jim Weider amp. Now that's an amp I have some serious GAS for.

[Whiskeyrebel]

DOD made a series of pedal-in-the-amp practice amps.

He said rapidly ducking.

And isn't that basically what the marshalls with opamp/diode stages were? Those seem to get trashed on around here.

[GrooveSlinger]

Bastards! Just when my GAS was abating... @#^%!

[wingwalker]

Im glad other guys remember the Fargen/Weider amp with the built AnalogMan Boost/Overdrive.

I'm sure Ibanez will sell a tone of those amps, at the price point there is no way they won't Im just wondering how it will be handled when they want to mod the internal Tube Screamer!

[zombiwoof]

DOD made a series of pedal-in-the-amp practice amps.

He said rapidly ducking.

And isn't that basically what the marshalls with opamp/diode stages were? Those seem to get trashed on around here.

In the Ibanez amp, the Tube Screamer is switchable, so it's not on all the time like the solid state circuitry in the Marshalls.

Al

[GrooveSlinger]

Anyone know if it's got an effects loop?

[Whiskeyrebel]

In the Ibanez amp, the Tube Screamer is switchable, so it's not on all the time like the solid state circuitry in the Marshalls.

Al

Wouldn't it be ironic if the switching in the amp was relay based TB where the original pedal was buffered, transistor switching?

[Artur_I_Tis]

I wonder how it would pair with a Tube King pedal.

[Ryan Trevisol]

Dang. That's pretty awesome actually. If for no other reason than it's a 15w 6v6 amp for $300.

Good thing for me and Jim at Little Dawg that I saw this *after* I bought my D-Luxe. I might've been lead astray! ;)

[tele_jas]

Sign me up for one!

[Robert1950]

This last year has certainly been one for the 20w and under affordable amps.

[GenoBluzGtr]

Of course how it sounds will be imporant, but imagine if it sounded even 'decent', a 15 or 5 watt (pentode or triode mode) All tube amp, with a footswitchable "overdrive channel" based on the most popular OD of all time and a 6dB footswitchable solo boost. Sounds like a great little gigging machine to me. Pair it up with different cabs for different venues.

[Willback]

That is a sweet amp - I might have to snag one

[Jon Silberman]

Am I correct from the Ibanez web page that it has independent footswitchable Tubescreamer and 6db boost? If yes, at that price, I can see myself snagging one, too.

[THebert]

I read it as independent boost and screamer. I know lots of people that will be interested in this. Me too, but when they put in the DS1 then I'll really drool!

[Lennox Lewis]

Before clicking on the link, I expected to see an amp that was black with a metal looking grill. I was pleasantly suprised to see the styling of these. Pretty cool looking amp. For that price, I'm certainly interested. Shortly after they're released, you'll see the "necessary mods" for them pop up everywhere. I'm certainly anxious to try one.

[Artur_I_Tis]

I'm guessing the next step up would be a swappable "pedal" module with TB, etc.

[ezyrydr]

why isn't it green?

[Jon Silberman]

Because we're sick of TS green! ;)

[Jon Silberman]

Can anyone read how the heck the two minitoggles are labeled? Also, can someone find a back panel shot? P.S. Just found this video minitoggles appear to be pentode/triode and normal/boost): http://www.premierguitar.com/Video/20100116/882/NAMM_10_Ibanez_Tube_Screamer_15W_Head_Cab.aspx

http://resources.ibanez.com/resourceservicehost/images/Ibanez/web/ProductMainZoom/test/TSA15H.jpg

[oldgtarz]

I want one. It looks nice and has good features, let's hope it sounds as nice as it looks.

edit: just found this video. Sounds pretty decent.

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[Artur_I_Tis]

Hmm, doesn't a vintage tubescreamer cost about as much as this thing?

[erikm5150]

I saw this at NAMM.
I was standing right in front of it while Rob Balducci was playing on it.
It sounded really good.

I wasn't really paying much attention to the amp, sorry.
But I remember that the footswitch had 2 buttons, and one of them was for the TS.
So most likely the other button is for the boost.

[6Tones]

Fx loop?
Shame no digital reverb like a Egnater ,that would be awesome but still I'm intrigued.

[MRscratch]

yes, but is it an 808?

[basicaudio]

Landgraff mods? :rotflmao

[Jahn]

Can anyone read how the heck the two minitoggles are labeled? Also, can someone find a back panel shot? P.S. Just found this video minitoggles appear to be pentode/triode and normal/boost): http://www.premierguitar.com/Video/20100116/882/NAMM_10_Ibanez_Tube_Screamer_15W_Head_Cab.aspx




I think it says on/off and boost/normal.

[Tomo]

yes, but is it an 808?

Hope it's TS10!

Tomo

[Gary Ladd]

Landgraff mods? :rotflmao

Count on it! ;)

[ford]

Hello amp for son...... (although I still may snag him a used Trace Elliot Velocette 10" combo... and then get him a used od pedal... but this could be sweet also!)

[neastguy]

I want one, any word on this amp anywhere yet !!!!

[madscientist]

so, basically, this is their take on a Dumble??


;)

[neastguy]

I hope not :)

[Lublin]

An amp with a pedal in it that I've never had a need for. I guess that makes it easy!

[Maruuk]

Much as I want to love it, the demo sounds awfully fizzy and tinny, the distortion rather artificial and cold. Not a pleasing tone. But then, what Ibanez tube amp has ever impressed anyone? Ok, that's a rhetorical question.

[VaughnC]

I kinda like the TS/Strat thang so this amp seems like a cool idea if the tone is there. Might make for a nice little "plug & play" fun amp if it has some decent clean headroom. However, if they were going for the Texas Blues kind of sound, I'm kinda surprised that they didn't opt for a pair of 6L6's. Oh well, guess I'll have to kick the tires if one gets in my neighborhood.

[neastguy]

Much as I want to love it, the demo sounds awfully fizzy and tinny, the distortion rather artificial and cold. Not a pleasing tone. But then, what Ibanez tube amp has ever impressed anyone? Ok, that's a rhetorical question.

aw man.. I don't use pedals either, but I thought this might be a cool one.. maybe it just needs to be dialed in...

[VaughnC]

Much as I want to love it, the demo sounds awfully fizzy and tinny, the distortion rather artificial and cold. Not a pleasing tone. But then, what Ibanez tube amp has ever impressed anyone? Ok, that's a rhetorical question.
The recordings were done in far less than ideal conditions so I wouldn't base my opinion on them. If you like the TS thang, the amp sounds like it might be a neat idea and I will kick the tires if one gets in my neighborhood.

[Maruuk]

Definitely, the vid is quite funky and may have really skewed the sound of the amp. I'd expect GC to have these in stock for demoing, they like to sell cheap amps.

[K SOLO]

Dang! I was just getting ready to "throw-down" the benjamins for a Bugera V-55H...now it's a "toss-up",with this new Ibanez tube amp. Anyone know if it's avalable in the music stores...or online yet???

[CaptRKirkB]

I just wanted to bump this thread to see what the new info on this little amp is ......anyone?????????????

peace Capt Kirk

[MartinC]

Hughes & Kettner are using solid state in some of their tube amps to very good effect (no pun intended). Doesn't replace tubes in either the pre- or power amp, but does some of the overdriving. I have that in my Statesman Quad EL84. Sounds brilliant.

[dk123123dk]

I've always wondered why someone didn't do this a long time ago, esp if you could swap models ala Mod50, but with FX. Also some time based FX modules would be cool.

Imagine having an overdrive, modulation, delay, and reverb, as well as a boost, all in a portable 1x12" combo that sounded similar to a deluxe reverb? All at a super low price?


dk

[Analog Assassin]

From the ad copy:

"Guitarists normally have to depend on a separate effect pedal to get the distinctive, warm overdrive sounds of a tube amp. No more! The new TSA15H Tube Amp has a genuine Tube Screamer circuit, built right into the front end, for all the warm tube overdrive punch and crunch you’ll need. "

So it's saying to get tube sound from a tube amp, you need to use a solid state pedal circuit. Hmm... makes sense.

[lang.murphy]

So it's saying to get tube sound from a tube amp, you need to use a solid state pedal circuit. Hmm... makes sense.

For real! :facepalm

[dk123123dk]

From the ad copy:

"Guitarists normally have to depend on a separate effect pedal to get the distinctive, warm overdrive sounds of a tube amp. No more! The new TSA15H Tube Amp has a genuine Tube Screamer circuit, built right into the front end, for all the warm tube overdrive punch and crunch you’ll need. "

So it's saying to get tube sound from a tube amp, you need to use a solid state pedal circuit. Hmm... makes sense.

Actually it does make sense.

When you hit a tube amp with an overdrive pedal, you will get distinctive warm overdrives from your tube amp.

Their statement is pretty spot on if you ask me.


dk

[Maruuk]

They're finally in the food chain. I mean, how bad can 2 6V6's sound anyway? But what with all the cheapazoid tubesters going around now between Jet City, Bugera and now Ibanez I doubt my GC will stock it. It's crying out for a half-decent demo with a good Strat play.

[buddastrat]

Ha, my buddy used to tell me back in the 80's, to get my Marshalls modded to have the tube screamer built in.

It's a cool idea but I find it funny that while it's built in, and then you operate it via footswitch.:crazy

[zombiwoof]

Ha, my buddy used to tell me back in the 80's, to get my Marshalls modded to have the tube screamer built in.

It's a cool idea but I find it funny that while it's built in, and then you operate it via footswitch.:crazy

Marshall did do that, it's called the Jubilee series!.

Actually, many of the modern Marshalls have diode clipping built in, it's pretty much the same thing as a built-in TS.

Al

[germs]

I've always wondered why someone didn't do this a long time ago, esp if you could swap models ala Mod50, but with FX. Also some time based FX modules would be cool.

Imagine having an overdrive, modulation, delay, and reverb, as well as a boost, all in a portable 1x12" combo that sounded similar to a deluxe reverb? All at a super low price?

dk

actually...for all the hate they get on this board, Line6 has the Spider Valve MkII 1x12 for like $700 or so. that's as low of a price as i've seen it go.

or, you could opt for the SCXD - people seem to like them at this price.

Ibanez has been in the amp game for a while now. everyone probably knows about the ToneBlaster SS series from a few years ago. and they were OK for what they were...but they also put out a few quality tube heads in the past for high gain applications.

i think this head is not bad. just a way to stay competitive and re-brand the TS circuit in a unique package. probably a basic workable clean tube sound with a TS overdrive (and yes it's footswitchable) with the novelty of being an all-in-one unit.

if my sound were based on that platform, i'd be pretty interested.

overall a cool idea, IMO.

[dk123123dk]

germs I'm talking about removable effects modules. So you could send your fuzz module off to analog mike to have to modded etc. Bring your comp, od, and tremolo modules to your country gig, and your dist, chorus, delay for your rock gig.

Rather than built in DSP with one knob for tweaking settings, you would have actual pedal circuits with knobs and all.


dk

[buddastrat]

Marshall did do that, it's called the Jubilee series!.

Actually, many of the modern Marshalls have diode clipping built in, it's pretty much the same thing as a built-in TS.

Al


I had some of the Jubilee's too. But those were not the same amps as the JCM800s. The 800's just had bigger balls and with the TS-9, they didn't get that fuzzy darker, front end like as much like Jubilees did. I remember at gigs always topping out the Jubilees, but when I'd use the 800's, they were way too loud and beasty to get close to full.

I remember when the 900's came out and they were really bad in comparison to both of those earlier models. They got even fizzier/fuzzier and lost even more output/balls. Whatever circuit Marshall was using was not sounding like a TS9 with an JCM800.

[germs]

germs I'm talking about removable effects modules. So you could send your fuzz module off to analog mike to have to modded etc. Bring your comp, od, and tremolo modules to your country gig, and your dist, chorus, delay for your rock gig.

hmmm...

interesting idea.

[zombiwoof]

I had some of the Jubilee's too. But those were not the same amps as the JCM800s. The 800's just had bigger balls and with the TS-9, they didn't get that fuzzy darker, front end like as much like Jubilees did. I remember at gigs always topping out the Jubilees, but when I'd use the 800's, they were way too loud and beasty to get close to full.

I remember when the 900's came out and they were really bad in comparison to both of those earlier models. They got even fizzier/fuzzier and lost even more output/balls. Whatever circuit Marshall was using was not sounding like a TS9 with an JCM800.

I didn't say anything about comparing those amps, all I was saying was that the diode clipping in amps like the Jubilee amps is SIMILAR to adding a Tube Screamer to a regular tube amp.

Al

[guitarman3001]

Ha, my buddy used to tell me back in the 80's, to get my Marshalls modded to have the tube screamer built in.

It's a cool idea but I find it funny that while it's built in, and then you operate it via footswitch.:crazy

yeah, I don't get it. since you have to use a footswitch anyway, why not just buy a regular ts pedal and you can use it with any amp?

[frankencat]

I've been wondering about this myself. Any info?

Edit: No fx loop.

bNeO0KplI-M

[Analog Assassin]

Actually it does make sense.

When you hit a tube amp with an overdrive pedal, you will get distinctive warm overdrives from your tube amp.

Their statement is pretty spot on if you ask me.


dk

It just sounds corny to say that in an amp that already has tubes, you need a solid state clipping device to get a tube sound. They can easily get a tube sound without that circuitry in there. Probably cheaper and fewer parts to build an actual tube preamp than to add the tube screamer circuit.

[zombiwoof]

It just sounds corny to say that in an amp that already has tubes, you need a solid state clipping device to get a tube sound. They can easily get a tube sound without that circuitry in there. Probably cheaper and fewer parts to build an actual tube preamp than to add the tube screamer circuit.

In that amp, you can get normal tube sounds, the Tube Screamer is just for adding extra overdrive, like using an overdrive pedal on any tube amp, it's just built in (and can be switched in or out, like a pedal). You can run the amp without the Tube Screamer if you want, or use different pedals with it.

Al

[Analog Assassin]

You could switch in an additional stage of tube gain with fewer parts than sticking some pedal circuit in there.

[zombiwoof]

You could switch in an additional stage of tube gain with fewer parts than sticking some pedal circuit in there.

It's an Ibanez amp. Ibanez makes the Tube Screamer, which is a famous overdrive pedal. Many people use a Tube Screamer in front of a tube amp. They built it in to their amp. What is so confusing about it?.

Al

[Maruuk]

As horrible as TK is as an amp demoist, at least that vid sounds a lot better than the first one we got months ago. Still almost impossible to tell what it sounds like for leads since TK can't play leads.

[zombiwoof]

I've been wondering about this myself. Any info?

Edit: No fx loop.

bNeO0KplI-M

That vid is excrutiating to get through OK? Boys and Girls, OK? OK? OK?....
Jeez, and the guy can't play anything more than some strummed chords, and the tone he picks is horrible.

Here's a little better video demo, with no BS talk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb-AWo9frSQ&feature=related

It gives a little better idea of what that amp can do, and the guy can at least play better than the other guy.

Al

[Analog Assassin]

Oh wow. It sounds ALMOST as good as a Peavey Bandit. I'M SOLD. /s.

[tele_jas]

I'd love to have one! I can almost do a whole gig with a semi-clean amp and a TS style pedal.

[Tone_Terrific]

I'd love to have one! I can almost do a whole gig with a semi-clean amp and a TS style pedal.

But this implies that you already have that tone.
There must be a hundred other combinations to yield tones similar to the vid.
Why would anyone with an amp not add a TS pedal if that is what you want?
This amp is the perfect replacement for a low watt amp and a TS pedal but why replace a low watt amp and TS pedal with a low watt amp and a TS pedal built in?
It's a convenient package for new, gearless, player, maybe.

[Analog Assassin]

The second they hit the street, there's gonna be people shipping them out to the pedal modders already.

[analogmike]

We just got a few in, they are really good. They stay clean at full volume with a strat, even with the BOOST on. Clean sound is very nice and not harsh.

There is an effects loop after the Tube Screamer.

It has 3 output selections for ohms, with 5 jacks, they even do the math for you (1 x 8 ohms, 2 x 16 ohms etc).

We tried it through two 1970s marshall cabs and it moved some air. Also sounded great through a 1x12" celestion vintage 30. Really nice for recording and maybe loud enough to play small gigs. It's certainly not as loud as my old Deluxe Reverb.

Sounds great with fuzz pedals too.

Will try it with one of my bands soon and see if it can keep up.

I think they have a winner, we'll see if there can be some mods to the amp to make it even better.

[Mike Fleming]

I agree if you use pedals at all it seems weird. Is the idea that this is for people with no pedals, or want to use no pedals, but get TS-amp tones on the cheap?

Like for a teenager starting out maybe, or to have around as a grab and go?

I remember being a kid and it took forever to get money together just for a decent amp and you still had to wait to afford pedals, so i could see this being cool if it's your first amp and you're trying to play in the basement with a couple neighborhood guys, because you might get pretty good dirt tones right off the bat. When i was younger the tones to be had for three hundred bucks were pretty spotty.

But if you use pedals at all it makes less sense to me, especially with the massive amount of TS variant pedals out there, let alone other ODs and distortions.

[h0ss66]

There is an effects loop after the Tube Screamer.



This is the info I needed! Makes the amp infinitely more appealing...and useful.

[Lance]

Or, it could be for Blews jams, who don't allow any pedals. There's a dude on this board that built a killer sleeper amp, and put it in a standard 1 x 12 Crate box. It even had a delay in there. I think it was something like a Soldano Avenger inside. I would love to have an amp like this. Totally a sleeper amp!

[analogmike]

It's a really cool amp, tube screamer or not... my drummer has the Marshall class 5, it has distortion from the tubes instead of a switchable solid state gain stage. That amp's cool too, but I can't use it as my only amp because it has NO cleans when I plug a Gibson into it. The Ibanez amp has an awesome clean and I can run all MY pedals into it to get the distortion.

I see the Tube Screamer as a more versatile way to get some warm distortion out of the amp, not a Marshally crunch, and still allows you to get cleans or run your own pedals.

[Maruuk]

Man, that OD sure sounds HARSH and irritating. Ibanez gotta be the first guys in the universe to make 6V6s sound bad.

[jzero]

i agree about the harsh sound... i think its mostly because that amp has the treble on 10!

[Maruuk]

Naw, there's an inherent grating quality to the OD that goes beyond just the treble up, it's just not pretty nor smooth-sounding. Sounds cheap and tinny. That's been consistent across all the demos. And it's hard to get that out of 6V6s which are generally the opposite. I suspect it's their iteration of the TS9 in there, it's so nasty even the warm, rich 6V6s can't save it.

[A440]

It's a really cool amp, tube screamer or not... my drummer has the Marshall class 5, it has distortion from the tubes instead of a switchable solid state gain stage. That amp's cool too, but I can't use it as my only amp because it has NO cleans when I plug a Gibson into it. The Ibanez amp has an awesome clean and I can run all MY pedals into it to get the distortion.

I see the Tube Screamer as a more versatile way to get some warm distortion out of the amp, not a Marshally crunch, and still allows you to get cleans or run your own pedals.

I think it's a cool concept and look fwd to any mods you may be offering on the amp or the TS part of the amp. just curious, is the TS part of the amp easily accessible for mods? at this price point I don't care, but are these MIC?

wonder if a combo version is on the horizon?

[BluesForDan]

saw one today and played it for a little bit. There was another player ripping it up pretty good in the store, so I didn't really get to stretch it out much. They were actually in the purchasing mode while I was just in the window shopping thang, so i didn't want to step on any toes.

Pretty cool, I like the independent tube screamer channel, and I didn't know about the footswitchable 6 db boost. and my favorite tubes, too. All in all, pretty impressed initially. Might bring my own guitars down someday and try it out.

[spakuloid]

I would pick up a combo version.

[VaughnC]

Premier Guitar just did a review of this amp with decent sound clips. Strat clips #4 & 5 sound pretty good to me and I see Ibanez added an FX loop that I don't remember seeing on the proto version of the amp. For the $299 price, I just might have to kick the tires of this amp.

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2010/Aug/Ibanez_Tube_Screamer_Amp_TSA15H_Review.aspx

[Primakurtz]

I briefly saw & heard one yesterday. Tiny! I expected it to be larger based on the photos. This was a head & cab.

Pretty impressive tones. It would make a terrific blues amp, especially for the $.

[Structo]

That's funny.
Instead of having the amp derive a nice warm/smooth overdrive, they stick pedal guts inside the amp. :rotflmao

[VaughnC]

That's funny.
Instead of having the amp derive a nice warm/smooth overdrive, they stick pedal guts inside the amp. :rotflmao

Well, tone is where you find it. I've been in the game for 45 years and, after trying all the various rig configurations, most times what I perceive as being the best tone comes from a good solid state OD pedal followed by a good tube amp...so this new Ibanez amp has piqued my interest.

[illini]

Well, tone is where you find it. I've been in the game for 45 years and, after trying all the various rig configurations, most times what I perceive as being the best tone comes from a good solid state OD pedal followed by a good tube amp...so this new Ibanez amp has piqued my interest.


That has been my go to for the last 10 years as well. Even for less bluesy rock tones give me a clean 2204/03 with an overdrive and I get no complaints.

Having said that, this amp to me seems to be better suited to the bluesy player.

[jetydosa]

I tried one out for the first time the other day, VERY disappointed in the tone and Im a TS lover. It just sounded WEIRD...muff-ly...the tone knobs seems to shape the tone TOO much. Was not impressed it all with it, $299 or no.

[VaughnC]

Well, curiosity got the best of me so I ordered the TS head today on approval. More to follow next week ;).

[VaughnC]

First impressions:
Well, I just got the new Tube Screamer amp and I think its cool in its own way and a pretty good bang for the buck. As previously stated, the tone controls have a different contour than most amps I've owned but, with my input, fav Strat, 1210 cab, setting the bass full counterclockwise and the treble just a little off full counterclockwise, the tone is interesting in its own way. The foot switchable 6db boost and tube screamer circuit add different tonal layers that do things none of my other amps will do...which makes for lots of possibilities.

One interesting thing is that, with my fav Strat, with the boost & screamer off, the amp stays clean to max on the volume control...but I'm not sure the volume would be enough for cleans in a band context. The 6db boost does kick up the volume a notch but with some sacrifice of "clean"....but rolling back the guitars volume in this mode gives you some control over the clean to dirty transition. For den playing though, I like this lil' screamer amp.

The tube screamer section sounds like a classic 808 style pedal to me and works well for my low gain Strat approach to playing. Coupled with the 6db boost function, the TS circuit works nicely for a different tonal layer even when dialed in for minimum drive/semi-clean boost kind of setting. No humbuckers in the harem so I can't comment on that aspect of the amp.

If I had designed the amp I probably would have EQ'd the tone circuit differently...the bass & treble controls seem stronger than they need to be as the amp seems to have more top & bottom than it really needs....but, then again, I wouldn't want all my amps to sound exactly the same either. All in all, a neat little, "plug & play", low gain, bang for the buck, tube amp that might be cool for impromptu jams and joyful den noise.

More to follow as I fool with it and/or try different tubies ;).

[AjayTele]

I first tried the TSA15H on Monday this week... Nice.

On Tuesday morning, I went back to my local store and tried it again, and then bought a head/footswitch.

I have a range of smaller tube amps, including the Blackstar HT-5, Tiny Terror and Egnator Rebel 20.

The Ibanez is, in my opinion, the best compromise of all of these so far.

Why?

1. It has useable clean at max volume.
2. The Tubescreamer option is an awesome overdriven tone.

Conclusion?

The Ibanez TSA15H is the best 15W tube head I have heard so far. With the ability to produce crystal clear cleans at full noise, and then also produce some of the best possible overdriven sounds as well in a simple foot activated transition, the versatilitiy of this amp is hard to beat.

I highly recommend you try one soon....

[MRscratch]

ok, so which tube screamer is it? a vintage 808 ? or a ts-10
lets get THAT going :D

[MRscratch]

The tube screamer section sounds like a classic 808 style pedal to me
[/QUOTE] ok you answered that. cool

[greensound]

I've been spreading this question around so please forgive me if you have read it a few times...

...can you swap out the power tubes in this amp for el34's or 6L6's? Just curious about getting some other flavors.

If it is possible what other things would I need to do (i.e. re-bias, change any component values etc.), and what suggestions of tubes would you make?

Thanks for the input.

Jeremy

[gulliver]

This is an old thread, but this is my first look ... guess I don't get out much.

Visual impression ... build a pedal into an amp to save room, then offer a channel switching foot switch twice the size of the original pedal. :D

[jpig]

Anybody else try this recently? Or compare it to the Fender Pro Jr.?

[55hz]

bump

Cathode Biased? Does it have a bright cap across the input? Can you swap out power tubes?

[dyna]

Someone who can actually play, testing the amp:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w_r4Qa6lCY

[andyk]

Looks like Ibanez is using a Fargen Mini Plex MK I cabinet for the head!

Give me a Class 5 with real TS-808 any day!

[Lublin]

I'm in!

[pcauchi]

It has a really nice clean sound as well as the built in TS AND boost. Snazzy looking as well. I've played one on numerous occasions and I definitely like it wayy better than the recent Fender amps with a similar power rating. Surprising amount of headroom as well. Grand slam from Ibanez especially for the price!

[Wesman61]

I'm really thinking about putting my HRDx on CL and getting one of these.

[Ebbramone]

The Tsa series, I own the TSA15H head, and matching 1x12 cab that came stock with the celestion Seventy 80 speaker, indeed does have a footswitchable, or front mounted dual microswitch contrilled Tubescreamer circuit, and +6db bosst. It also has chasis mounted tube sockets, and the 15 head has 5 1/4" speaker outputs, for quick, easy, and versatile speaker combinations, while the 30 has the more standard 16,8,and 4 ohm switch. The 15H has a 5 or 15 watt pentode, triode switch, and simple Bass, Treble, Volume control set up, while the 30 watt combo added a gain, and a mids knob for even more versatility. The ONLYbad thing I can say about these sweet, and affordable amps are that you should plan on changing all of the very cheap, and intolerably awful Chinese made Electra tubes. I had an output tube go out within the first 10 hrs of play time, at bedrrom levels, and swapped the output tubes in the 15 for JJs, which were TWICE the size of the visibly poorly made stock tubes. if the JJs had been a 1/4" taller, I would have had to take the chasis out to change them. I bought possibly the first TSA30 on the east coast, and changed the output tubes before turning the amp on, but the difference in the sound of the JJs is incredible, giving you almost unlimited headroom. I didn't think it would be necessary to change the preamp tubes, but the 30 has only about 20 hours on it, and no bumps, or loud playing, and there's a microphonic tube already. I am going to replace the 3-12ax7s in the 30, and the 2 in the 15, and I bet I get even more headroom, and more focused bottom end. The last thing I can say is, I am replacing all speakers, the 1 in the cab, and the 1 in the combo with Weber Thames 80's, a close match to the old Fane Cresandos, and buying a matching 2x12 cab loaded with the webers. Once that is accomplished, I don't think I could get anywhere close to the sound of these jewels, considering the small investment, and feel certain that I could have plenty of volume for 500 seat clubs, and then some. Lastly, it loves pedals, and although I don't use it, it has a unique "loop" that's reaslly not a loop. The return on the back is actually the input into the preamp, while the front input is an input into the TS circuit. When you put a jack in the "send, it separates the TS from the front end of the amp, and the loop is just like plugging into a TS, and then into the amps input, a really neat idea! Definitely a series worth the time to check out, I am very satisfied.
Peace, Love, and Rock 'n' Roll, Uncle Ebb

[Jon Silberman]

The Tsa series, I own the TSA15H head, and matching 1x12 cab that came stock with the celestion Seventy 80 speaker, indeed does have a footswitchable, or front mounted dual microswitch contrilled Tubescreamer circuit, and +6db bosst.

It also has chasis mounted tube sockets, and the 15 head has 5 1/4" speaker outputs, for quick, easy, and versatile speaker combinations, while the 30 has the more standard 16,8,and 4 ohm switch.

The 15H has a 5 or 15 watt pentode, triode switch, and simple Bass, Treble, Volume control set up, while the 30 watt combo added a gain, and a mids knob for even more versatility.

The ONLYbad thing I can say about these sweet, and affordable amps are that you should plan on changing all of the very cheap, and intolerably awful Chinese made Electra tubes. I had an output tube go out within the first 10 hrs of play time, at bedrrom levels, and swapped the output tubes in the 15 for JJs, which were TWICE the size of the visibly poorly made stock tubes. if the JJs had been a 1/4" taller, I would have had to take the chasis out to change them.

I bought possibly the first TSA30 on the east coast, and changed the output tubes before turning the amp on, but the difference in the sound of the JJs is incredible, giving you almost unlimited headroom. I didn't think it would be necessary to change the preamp tubes, but the 30 has only about 20 hours on it, and no bumps, or loud playing, and there's a microphonic tube already.

I am going to replace the 3-12ax7s in the 30, and the 2 in the 15, and I bet I get even more headroom, and more focused bottom end.

The last thing I can say is, I am replacing all speakers, the 1 in the cab, and the 1 in the combo with Weber Thames 80's, a close match to the old Fane Cresandos, and buying a matching 2x12 cab loaded with the webers. Once that is accomplished, I don't think I could get anywhere close to the sound of these jewels, considering the small investment, and feel certain that I could have plenty of volume for 500 seat clubs, and then some.

Lastly, it loves pedals, and although I don't use it, it has a unique "loop" that's reaslly not a loop. The return on the back is actually the input into the preamp, while the front input is an input into the TS circuit. When you put a jack in the "send, it separates the TS from the front end of the amp, and the loop is just like plugging into a TS, and then into the amps input, a really neat idea!

Definitely a series worth the time to check out, I am very satisfied.

Peace, Love, and Rock 'n' Roll, Uncle Ebb
Nice review but what a headache reading it. Hard returns, my friend! Hopefully the above will spare others the same.

[war-knuckles]

i picked one of these up heads a while back and was really excited about it, got it to band practice hooked it up, and it had the most awful hum ive ever heard on an amp. it was unbearable at semi-band volume.

i took it back the next morning and got my money back dissapointed. i cant even comment on how the tone was otherwise because the hum was so loud it was too distracting to properly judge it. maybe i just got a bad one but i was extremely dissapointed...

[bluescube]

Mine is whisper quiet. Probably had bad tubes or something loose.

[ajoep]

Here's a quick demo i did of my TSA15H

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h13y27Pfzjw

and a second video playing over some Albert King's style backing-track :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymUnMcgHGcU

[mxvin]

i picked one of these up heads a while back and was really excited about it, got it to band practice hooked it up, and it had the most awful hum ive ever heard on an amp. it was unbearable at semi-band volume.

i took it back the next morning and got my money back dissapointed. i cant even comment on how the tone was otherwise because the hum was so loud it was too distracting to properly judge it. maybe i just got a bad one but i was extremely dissapointed...

so you wouldnt even try another one??? What did you think the amp was designed like that???

very odd

[guitarmikey]

http://www.dropbox.com/s/qgwnjtthqriitn3/2013-04-02%2012.15.07.jpghttp://https://www.dropbox.com/s/qgwnjtthqriitn3/2013-04-02%2012.15.07.jpghttps://www.dropbox.com/s/qgwnjtthqriitn3/2013-04-02%2012.15.07.jpgAnd here is my demo TSA-5, with stock speaker and Ragin' Cajun as well. Huge difference! From Jazz to Blues...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqr5AWJ5o80
Pitty this little guy doesn't have a Line Out (Loop In/Out)...

[wlalpaugh]

had mine for 3 days sounds incredible clean. Dimed= thicker clean.
Tube screamer sounds equally awesome, especially with an analog delay in the loop. Very pleased.

[the fat one]

owned the 15 watt head

LOVED IT

the fuses were inaccessible without fuse-pullers though. Other than that, which pissed me off, it's an incredible, smart product and an extraordinary value. One of the best values out there. 6V6s, a built-in killer TS, and a 6db boost? For under $300?


Duh, yes?