Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Susumu Tamura - the original creator of the Tube Screamer Pedal - makes the next evolution of that format for Totally Wycked Audio - as the new Source Code Overdrive - with unique 'Bite' control and refinements in every area
So - Susumu Tamura first developed his Tube Screamer Circuit for Maxon back in 1979. It came two years after the Boss OD-1, and was in part inspired by that circuit, but since Roland owned the patent for Asymmetrical Clipping - Susumu was compelled to go with the softer Symmetrical Clipping (which proved to be the more popular!). He also added a tone-stack to bring it up to 3 controls. Boss then copied the Tube Screener back to a degree with their SD-1 - making their own overdrive circuit somewhat softer and smoother too - and of course with the 3rd Tone Control knob!
Since the TS808 / OD808 original there have been 10 further significant Ibanez Tube Screamer iterations - as listed in my visual :
TS808 > TS9 > ST9 > STL > TS10 > TS5 > TS9DX > TS7 > TS808HW > TS-MINI > TS808DX > Source Code
So this new Source Code is the latest evolution and iteration of that lineage.
There have been numerous modified pedals over the years - while the Source Code is a dstinct Tube Sceamer Circuit Evolution - now with more range, and a better balance - and more ’Tube-like’ performance via the new Bite control - which moves you from fully Symmetrical Clipping onto fully Asymmetrical Clipping - indeed for more ’Bite’ and more tube-style action.
You can of course wind that dial all the way back for a classic Tube Screamer sound - while the whole circuit has been somewhat re-engineered for a better balance, and more range! Including an additional +6dB on the output.
Inside you have all premium components including the core Opamp installed, alongside a 9 > 18V charge pump for better headroom and fidelity. The Source Code is still a Tube Screamer - but honed and perfected for even better tones.
Controls - Bite (Clipping Style : Symmetrical > Asymmetrical), Level, Drive, Tone.
For some of the previous Tube Screamers you did not always have a lot of output volume - like say on the TS-Mini. There are no such issues with the Source Code - which gives you more range on each of those dials and pretty much sounds exceptional whichever direction you take it. I really like the variable Symmetrical to Asymmetrical control - as you can finely control the character of the pedal's output - that one control is immense in its impact.
And as Dan and Mick allude to - everything with the Source Code sounds better balanced and more refined. It's a more elegant drive than its predecessors and siblings.
It totally delivers on the original TS808 style voicing - but so much more besides - this is a more versatile and a more player-friendly format - truly the next generation of Screamer. You can think of it as the Tube Screamer all grown up - and with a little more of a refined personality!
I have a number of Tube Screamers in my reference collection - but this one definitely hits slightly differently. The whole OD-1 > TS808 > SD-1 history is kind of captured in this pedal - which is really cool. You should be largely able to replicate each of those legendary pedals.
The enclosure is a beautiful sparkle green - which needs to be seen in the flesh - as the camera never properly manages to capture the shimmer of sparkling metal flakes in the paint!
The TWA Source Code is yours for $299 and equivalent (€265 / £233) from the Totally Wycked Audio Webstore - it's very much the grown-up Pro Tube Screamer that you were hoping for! It's a beautifully engineered device for sure - and I'm really glad I have one in the collection.
My own preferred settings are : most knobs @ 1 o'c, Tone @ 3:30 o'c.
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