tube screamer

Rig Rundown: Jared James Nichols [2023]

The blues guitarist’s charismatic charm comes shining through in this Rig Rundown, where he walks us through his trusty lineup of Les Pauls and simple, practical gear.

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Pedal maestro Brian Wampler of Wampler Pedals shows us how to make two of the most popular overdrive pedals on the planet rule even more.

Basic Modding Supplies
Each of the modifications discussed here require the following:
• Soldering iron
• 60/40 rosin-core solder (don’t buy lead-free)
• Solder sucker (not mandatory, but very helpful)
• Desoldering braid
• Small side cuts/wire cutters
• Felt-tip marker

If you’ve ever owned an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer or a Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive, you’ve probably noticed two things: You like the way they sound, but they could also really use a little something more. We’ve come up with some custom modifications that we feel give these pedals that “something more”—and the best part is that you can do the mods on your own! All you need to be able to do is follow instructions and know how to solder and desolder. (If you haven’t soldered before—or if you are a bit rusty and need a refresher—go to YouTube and watch CuriousInventor.com’s video “How and WHY to Solder Correctly,” and ExpertVillage.com’s “How to Solder: Removing Solder.”)

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A historical account of guitardom's most iconic overdrive pedal—the Ibanez Tube Screamer.

First designed by one S. Tamura in the late '70s, the Ibanez Tube Screamer is arguably the most beloved of overdrive pedals. It's been rocked by guitar greats as diverse as Eric Johnson, Trey Anastasio, and Brad Paisley, and some would go as far as saying no single pedal has had a greater impact on musical expression or played as important a role in the development of effects modification.

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