GEAR REVIEW
WARM AUDIO TUBE SQUEALER PEDAL | Michael Hodge
• Three Iconic Overdrive Circuits
• TS808, TS10, and TS9
• Buffered or True Bypass
• Voltage Boost Circuit
• Voicing For Single Coil / Humbuckers
• Mix Knob
KEY FEATURES
Warm Audio always does a great job recreating classic pieces of gear. They make Classic microphones, rackmount processors, pedals, miscellaneous boxes, and even headphones.
The WA-TS Tube Squealer is a faithful recreation of three of the most popular Tube Screamer versions all in one pedal. Each one has its own individual circuit, packing a lot of cool stuff into the classic-looking casing.
OUT OF THE BOX: Tube Squealer comes in a large protective box. It comes with a manual and a sticker. The pedal feels solid and has a generous 5-year warranty. On top are four knobs. Drive, Level, Mix, and Tone. There are two small switches. On the left is a three-way switch that toggles between three circuits. Choose between the original TS808, the TS9, and the slightly newer TS10. On the right is a unique switch that lets you choose between the classic single-coil sound and a humbucker option, boosting the mid EQ between 800 Hz and 2 kHz, respectively. This 2kHZ option helps with the mud of a humbucker pickup. It’ s a nice feature, especially for loud rock amp tones. There is an on / off footswitch with a bright red LED indicator. On the back are ¼-inch In / Out jacks, a 9V jack, and two mini slider switches. Bypass or Buffered, and a Voltage doubler to18V for more headroom.
IN USE: I love the Strat thing, so I grabbed a trusty PRS Silver Sky and plugged it into the pedal, then straight into a 1962 Fender Deluxe Reverb. I’ ve always been a big TS808 fan, and with the pedal in single coil mode, it sounded almost exactly like an old 808. I like the Mix knob. For crunch stuff, you can mix in some clean to add a bit more note clarity. It is reminiscent of the old Sparkle Drive. There’ s plenty of level to push the amp, and the compression and sustain are fantastic. I moved up to the TS9. The differences are subtle, but you can feel and hear how the guitar responds differently. I tried it with a PRS McCarty 594, and it rocks with that humbucker switch engaged. With the higher gain settings, the guitar really sings with lots of sustain and grit.
Finally, I was excited to check out the TS10. The TS10 pedal is the one John Mayer is using,
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