This video compares the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer to the electro-harmonix East River Drive. The TS9 is a well known commodity; the East River Drive is a clone of the TS808 circuit designed in conjunction with Analog Mike of Analog Man fame. The East River Drive’s 808 style circuit means it has a slightly smoother sound and a little less gain than the TS9. Overall, though, the two pedals sound similar. Both have the JRC chip and come in green. The East River has nice graphics, a nice green led, is true bypass, and is less expensive. Also, my version said “Made in NYC, USA.” The Ibanez pedal is made in Japan, has easier access to the battery, and has heftier construction than the East River Drive. The led on the TS9 is not very bright, though.

This demo was recorded with a Fender MIM Strat (w/ Texas Special pickups, Ernie Ball Classic Rock-n-Roll nickel strings) and a Fender Champ II (Rivera, with Eminence Ragin’ Cajun speaker) amp miked with a Sennheiser e906 dynamic microphone. Also note, the Tube Screamer has the JRC 4558D chip.

Ibanez page for the TS9: http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_effect_page14.php?year=2014&cat_id=6&series_id=153&effect_id=5

EHX page for the East River Drive: http://www.ehx.com/products/east-river-drive

Analog Man – http://www.buyanalogman.com

You may also want to check out my comparison between the Tube Screamer and the Soul Food: GEAR 402 • Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer vs Electro-Harmonix Soul Food

For additional reading, here is an interesting article about the history of Tube Screamers with Analog Mike. He mentions the East River Drive too: https://reverb.com/blog/inside-the-overdrive-overlord-an-ibanez-tube-screamer-primer-with-analogman