The Tube Screamer. Since the inception of this green monster in the late 1970’s, it has become a staple on many pedalboards throughout the globe, as well as having been heard on countless classic albums and songs. While it has a bit of a Love/Hate relationship with most guitar players, its presence and impact on the music world simply cannot be overlooked. Since many versions are rare, hard-to-find and extremely expensive if available, Josh and the kids at JHS Pedals decided enough was enough, and created an effect that houses NINE different tube screamer tones, at least one for (just about) everybody. The Bonsai Overdrive is a journey through time, giving you sounds, feels and moments from decades past up through today.
There are three main tone shaper controls on the Bonsai, as you might expect from an overdrive of this type. Volume sets you overall output, while Tone and Drive allow you to dial in the perfect sound, altering the Treble/Bass and Gain sections, respectively. The real fun here lies in the 9 different Screamer modes, which are as follows:
OD1 (1977) A brighter and somewhat higher gain mode that doesn’t utilize the Tone knob
TS808 (1979) The classic low-gain grind with the signature mid-bump
TS9 (1982) Similar to the TS808, but with a brighter, SRV-style sound
MSL (1985) The “metal” version produces a higher-gain sound with more low end
TS10 (1986) Replicates the bluesy low-gain sound popularized by John Mayer
XR (1989) Duplicates the Polish-made EXAR OD1, known for its unique drive character and slightly higher gain
TS7 (1999) The late-’90s overdrive with a “hot mode” that yields more gain and low-end dirt
Keeley (2002) Robert Keeley’s classic Mod+ that tightens up your tone and gives you less noise, along with smoother mids and highs and increased bass
JHS (2008) JHS’s “Strong Mod” that gives you a cleaner sound with a serious power boost
After examining dozens of original overdrive units and capturing all of their nuances and quirks using an Audio Precision analyzer, Josh Scott and the JHS team were able to meticulously recreate the actual circuits of these pedals. The result is nine replicated circuits, not emulated ones, for a truly authentic tone built into each and every one of these modes. While each one has its own unique properties and varying values, they all have a common Screamer-type of feel, and if you’re not looking to blow a couple grand on 9 pedals, ones which may or may not even be functioning, the Bonsai is a solid way to go. Thanks not only to the JHS guys for sending this one by for us to review and demo, but for finally giving Tube Screamer lovers a place where they can have all of their favorite sounds in one place: one place that definitely lives up to all the hype. Check out our demo below for some of our favorite sounds from each mode – cheers!
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