Ibanez TSA15H Tube Screamer Amp Head and Cab Review - George's Music

[MarlosZappa]

@GeorgesMusic Hey there I'm in kind of a dilemma. I have a VOX Tonelab SE and a Lonestar Stratocaster, and I'm wondering if I should get a simple cab - like the TSA112c - or an entire amp combo like the VOX VT40+. The question is whether I even need an integrated amp if I already have the Tonelab SE. I don't live off music so I'd be doing no more than small gigs with it, but it's really mostly for my room =)

[jamesal]

Tell me does this handle distortion just as well as it handles the overdrive? it might be a dumb question but i want a head that can do everything!

[Cheaperthanego]

Check Magnx for the best and most accurate demo of this incredible amp. No offence, but this a poor representation here...

[gunslash1]

seria bueno si hablases español :S almenos escucho su sonido :)

[rockstarnyancess]

it seems not for big venue gig...correct me if i'm wrong..

[wedontknowone1]

Could this be played like with a drummer and a bass? Is it loud enough ? Cause if it is it'll be perfect for my blues rock band!

[BVisionProductions]

what happens if you use a tube screamer with the tube screamer head? does the universe implode?

[twitterfire]

@BVisionProductions Nope, if you use a tube screamer with the tube screamer head, you shit in your pence.

[VinniePaah]

It's interesting that there are a lot of reviews all around by "knowledgeable" people about the Celestion Seventy 80 installed in this cab which they call something that needs to be replaced. They call it thin sounding. Just keep that in mind...

[RicardCastro]

good job!

[shravanrulez]

0:17 : Looks at camera, thinks to himself "Oh shit, I'm supposed to be doing an review on this thing!!"

[BlueSpawnRecords]

not really a gigging amp...more for tone junkies....

[aigmeyer]

How well does this work with pedals?

[manbearpig937]

would this be loud enough for a small to med size gig?



[therealrockpresley]

@manbearpig937 dude, it's plenty for a small to med size club. i've been using mine around nashville and it's superb. although, i'd rather bring out a bassman, this is much quieter and easier for the sound guys to mix. it rules and it's dirt cheap.

[manbearpig937]

@therealrockpresley well 500 isnt exactly dirt cheap but from what ive heard its an awesome amp

[therealrockpresley]

@manbearpig937 around nashville it's dirt cheap =). everybody here is so concerned with boutique amps and just mega expensive stuff, so they look over amps like this. i got mine for $125. check nashville craigslist, there are ALWAYS great deals there. too many stuck up musicians here results in cheap decent gear =). it's awesome.

[Crazytjeuh]

@therealrockpresley 125? That's a steal dude!

I tried one out and it's just amazing value, especially becuase it has an original tubescreamer wich sounds amazing either way! Maybe i'm buying it to gig with my floorboard :D

[wildboydavid]

I have a Ibanez IBZ3 amplifier is that any good? I still haven't tested it because I don't have an electric guitar yet

[amartyathebest]

is the cabinet an 80 watt?



[kevork97]

@amartyathebest ya

[liamMaru]

Shoulda gone with a strat for the demo, A Dimarzio loaded, Basswood guitar is the last thing you want when playing a soft clip style pedal like a tube screamer. A more traditional tonewood - Alder, Ash, or Mahogany - would have been a better choice, with some lower output pickups.

[MwPrice102]

that opening riff would have sounded so much less dull with a fender amp and guitar. without a doubt

[Cheaperthanego]

@MwPrice102 Go to MagnX on youtube for a much better and accurate demo of this amp. I own this amp and no, it certainly doesn't do the fender glassiness sound, but it was never designed to. Deep, woody, organic tube tone is its forte, and it does this exceptionally well. I reckon people are overlooking this amp due to its low cost (cork sniffing) but will emerge before long as a classic in the making. I own super sonic, night train and tiny terror heads. Love them all but plug into this each day

[steeltigerzero]

you remind me of bruce willis

[broomiester]

Is it loud enough to gig with?

[NirvanaRox4Eva]

any good for use with a Boss ME-20 and a Big Muff?

[aleksandersucharski]

tried it yesterday in a music store. i judged it by the looks and amount of wattage. i was planning to buy a fender hot rod. now i'm planning to buy this. it's loud enough to play some rehersals, doesn't distort itself early, has a great TS circuit, which also works great with a few other od/ds pedals i tried with this amp. today i revisited the store, because i couldn't believe that this fancy green-white box can sound that good. but.. it does.

[guitarplayer5559]

Is that Joe Satch's guitar?

[ibanezslinger350]

@guitarplayer5559 no you clown thats steve vai's 

[guitarplayer5559]

@ibanezslinger350 Steve Vai, yes. My bad. I saw both of them live; two different concerts, a couple of years ago. IDK why I thought it was Joe Satch's. errg *BrainFart*

[CreepingDeath1100]

this is a cool little amp to have but ive rather just buy the tubescreamer pedal

[headmonsterzero69]

Awesome playing very smooth. I am not a metal head I like real rock and blues and you do it rockingly!

[GassyBastard]

Can you get heavy metal grade of distortion out of that amp? Dream Theater style?

[shreddy412]

@GassyBastard Nope. I'm uploading my demo of it right now. I wasn't in love with the over drive. Sounded thin IMO.

[SPBTsnyder]

how loud is this?

[calamaya48]

I didn't actually count the number of times the word "actually" was used, but it was actually many.

[Mikeyluvsfootie]

Since the cab is 80 watts but the head is 15 watts, does this make the overall volume 80 watts or 15 watts?

[permian11]

@Mikeyluvsfootie really? it's 15..

[TeleManMeSelf]

Can this gig?

[Saintjimmy000]

how big of a gig can this handle with out being mic'ed?

[nikkisism]

is it good for playing at band rehersals or small live shows or even studio recording is it loud enough?

[unreliabl]

can you use a larger cabinent, say an orange ppc 2x12, or possibly even a 4x12?

[Glockenator]

@unreliabl Of course you can. Just make sure the impedance of the cab is the same as, or higher than, the impedance of the amp

[permian11]

@unreliabl yes as long as the ohms match up

[DeluxeGoldTop]

I have this amp, and I love it. The idea was to build a nice clean amp first then a built-in TS in front of the amp. So if you are looking for a low-wattage amp with great cleans, this is the one. I also own a HT-5 and Tiny Terror.

The OD will do blues, hendrix tones, classic rock sounds really well, but if you want to do metal or hard rock an additional pedal will be necessary.

It does not have reverb, but it does come with an FX loop for any delay and reverb pedals, etc.

Great amp!

[Phil55au]

''Metal housing, built like a tank'' love that

[Phil55au]

you Move your head like each note haha

[alexandroskonidaris]

is it good for metal?????and hard rock of course...

[alexandroskonidaris]

is it good for metal?????

[Guitarstring187]

Loud enough fr gigs small ones 50 people?

[abonfini]

nice hair

[gillan64]

I really dig your playing bro! I'M looking to buy a small 1x12 cab to mate with Blackhart HT5 head. Is this one good quality in your opinion? I'm also loking at the Jet City's and Epiphone 1x12, both with Eminance speaker. Any preference? Thanks.

[DeluxeGoldTop]

@gillan64 If you are feeling handy, you can do what I did. I bought a 1x10 blackstar cabinet for my tiny terror and ht-5. I got it used for $80. I took out the speaker and sold it for $30 on ebay. Bought a 12" Celestion Greenback and installed it. You will have to cut a larger hole out for the 12" with a jigsaw and restaple the grillcloth and piping back on. Takes about an hour. Worth it.

[DeluxeGoldTop]

@gillan64 If you are feeling handy, you can do what I did. I bought a 1x10 blackstar cabinet for my tiny terror and ht-5. I got it used for $80. I took out the speaker and sold it for $30 on ebay. Bought a 12" Celestion Greenback and installed it. You will have to cut a larger hole out for the 12" with a jigsaw and restaple the grillcloth and piping back on. Takes about an hour. Worth it.

[rushpython100]

i want want.. nap

[yanava]

This guy demos it like a pro. Some people made this amp sound shitty, like Tone King. This guy got a pretty decent sound out of it and told us customers how to use the amp within our gear. Very good!

[Dragondicer]

Honest?? :

Sounds like shit with that small speaber box!!

Let me see if I can find a vid where it's plugged in a REAL speaker cabinet.....

[toekick1]

@Dragondicer You have a lot to learn.

[Dragondicer]

@toekick1

Yeah, sure dude!

Anyway, I got myself the 15 Watts Vox Nighttrain with a vintage Vox boutique cabinet twice the price of the Nighttrain! Now you gonna tell me shit about sound! *laugh*

You probably don't even play the guitar, you only have subscribed vids on your channel! :-)

[toekick1]

@Dragondicer Hello. I apologize for the tone of my comment. I just fail to see how the TSA112C is not a real cabinet. It is a solidly built cab with a popular Celestion speaker. If you are implying that a 1x12 can not produce a good tone then i feel you are mistaken. Anyways, congratulation on the Nighttrain. Those are cool amps.

[Dragondicer]

@toekick1

Apology accepted and same to you! I really didn't mean to say that THIS cab in the vid isn't a real cab, but imho it really sounds bad!! Of course you can get a great sound out of a 1 x 12 cab, but definitely not THIS ONE! After stumbling across the 15W Nighttrain I didn't bother to try this neat little Ibanez amp with any other cab, but I'm sure that you can get a killer sound when using a high quality speaker! I use a Vox V 112 VHT (vintage boutique cab) and it sounds brilliant!

[skilled0like0slash]

HEY man could i play this through a marshall 4x12 or a line 6 4x12

[pietruk2]

@skilled0like0slash Yes you could, however if you WANT to is another thing...

[underwoodblog]

your camera mic is clipping!

[qwertyamman]

I play in a Jazz big band and Jazz combo. Would this amp be loud enough for both situations?

[meherdad]

Is he High?

[loggsoul]

Ibanez guitars gave amazingly bad clean sound , Amp looks fine .

[lighteningboy]

@loggsoul Ibanez is the last guitar you could call a "tone" guitar, I agree completely. Too bad this amp doesn't have reverb.

[avw94]

Is the footswitch included?

[Maxx61]

Ibanez is trying to market this as a low-watt amp with a "built in" pedal but essentially it's just an amp with a gain section. Nothing extraordinary there. Definitely not a metal amp without additional help, even with the tube screamer dimed. Sounds great for stoner rock or 70's era music but falls short for anything that demands high gain.

[lighteningboy]

@Maxx61 This amp is not marketed as a high gain metal amp.

[Maxx61]

@lighteningboy which is why I wrote what I wrote.

[thenpancrea]

@Maxx61 Seriously, who the fuck cares for "high gain" bullshit? It's just you and some lonesome metalheads, playing alone in there basement, trying to sound like a evil-black-metal-poser band.

[Maxx61]

@thenpancrea Metals heads? Thanks for the chuckle. I'm turning 50 years old this year and have owned more than 400 guitars and 300 amps since the late 70's.  Go back to Guitar Hero.

[rushpython100]

as i am a metalhead. If i were to buy another OD could i get the sounds of megadeth/metallica/buckethead

[duvall375]

@rushpython100 if I were you, I'd buy a peavey valveking.

Megadeth and Metallica use Marshalls, and Buckethead used Peaveys and Marshalls.

Both Peaveys and Marshalls have that british mid voicing, so for 100 more $ you could have a much more metal sounding amp.

and you don't need an OD pedal to make it sound metal :P

[drone713]

@duvall375 Buckethead uses a Mesa, always has....

[duvall375]

@drone713 well I just googled bucketheads rig, and a site towards the top of the list said he uses peaveys and marshalls.

so blame that site, not me lol :P

[ShivaTheAuspicious]

@rushpython100 You wouldnt buy two ODs to play metal..you need a distortion because it acts as an actual second channel. Overdrives are an effect that sits on top of the signal (thats why if you set your amp clean and slap on OD on you can still hear your clean sound clucking under it) thus, get a distortion and use an OD to make it thicker, meaner and more pushed sounding.

[gwugluud]

This or the Valve Senior?

[Acronso]

@BigTy3986 whit a for by twelve

[ryankuisti]

loud enuf for a gig????

[McTatzi]

AT LAST!!! a good review! THX

[klv400]

great demo!!!!!

[nbfan]

is this loud enough for a full band situation? nice review btw!

[Joseph1Krautheim]

shut off the auto focus!

[maufonseca17]

Hello! I want to know if this half stack is a lot louder than a Roland cube 30x. Thank you

[MrElfro89]

@maufonseca17 most likely since this is a tube amp.

[AHMADF93]

I think Ibanez should make this amp bigger than 15 watts. This is awesome. Imagine this amp is 100 watts or something

[remedym]

@AHMADF93 This is a FULL TUBE Amp which is different from Transistor amps so it can handle a 4x12 Marshall Cabinet, mine could simple do that

[MrSpookiegoogie]

@AHMADF93 are you retarded the whole point is so you can get full power out of the tubes with out having to put your amp on ten therefore making it unusably loud read up on tube amps you jabroni 15 watts through a four twelve is loud enough for any venue esp if you mike the amp lol

[jst601]

Superb video. Details & sound are very good. Thank you.

[liamzuid]

Would this amp combine good with another distortion pedal such as the ds-1?

[andifranssatto]

Fuck! There is a Looop there!

[Fichtezxc]

That's some sick, sick tone.

[tatsandteles]

Cute. $300 for a head. Hmm...

[alapunk13]

can this do metal?

[jamiebmxrider]

for some reason i cant take anyone but steve vai playing a jem seriously

great playing though man

[guitarguy1002]

@jamiebmxrider the jem is joe satrianis guitar not steve vais

[jamiebmxrider]

@guitarguy except its not and ur retarted....

[guitarguy1002]

@jamiebmxrider  mybad i get those mixed up alot

[miket163]

@guitarguy1002 nope

[eFlare1]

is the 15 watt mode louder than the 5 watt?

[GeorgesMusic]

@eFlare1 Yep. Substantially louder at 15 watts.

[maufonseca17]

Thanks! Would it be good enough the overdrive circuit built in this amp? I mean, good enough that i won't have to buy an extra od pedal? i don't really want something really heavy, just nice dirty tone

[GeorgesMusic]

@maufonseca17 Absolutely! The Tube Screamer is plenty of OD for just about any application. Just listen to the difference in the example. Get the whole package on sale for a limited time at GeorgesMusicOnline [dot] com

[5Harring]

@GeorgesMusic I use overdrives and a vintage styled fuzz (EHX Big Muff Pi). Would this be good for that?

[TJayee1]

@maufonseca17 Ok I just bought this amp. The TS is really good. You wont get metal but there is plenty of overdrive. It has a lot of bottom end. Great for rock. Can do british blues and the funk / soul sound is really good.. At 5 watts you get nice tone in a bedroom. 15 watts is much louder and no ggod for a bedroom but OK for a small gig. It has killer looks. If you love thr Tube Screamer sound you will love this amp.

[maufonseca17]

I think i saw it says made in China! should it be something to worry about? isn't it better the mexican made blues junior?

[maufonseca17]

Hi! does somebody knows where is this nice amp manufactured?

[lumaric01]

I know this isnt designed for metal but could I get a decent metal tone on this?

Because im really wanting to invest in a cheap but good tube amp

[pastorkev777]

@lumaric01 No metal with this amp without a od or distortion pedal (I recommend a MXR Zakk Wylde od pedal for metal sound) and you might also need a Eq to tighten up the low end. Sweet amp but too flabby rock/ blues sound not tight metal. -PK

[squierkid]

@lumaric01 I think Amp+Cab is more than 500 bucks..

[bondman00794]

@lumaric01 if you throw a great heavy distortion pedal infront of it