There are several versions of the Tube Screamer manufactured both from within the Ibanez camp and from outside. After doing a shootout in my local music store I picked this one, which unfortunately also happened to be one of the more expensive ones! The Tube Screamer is subject to a lot of scrutiny between models and reissues as to what parts and style of manufacture makes it sound most "authentic". You can learn a bit about this at the Ibanez website if you're so inclined.

The bottom line for me was I wanted my clients to be able to plug it into my Plexi clone and sound like Eddie Van Halen...as much as is possible when you're NOT Eddie. This is the most realistic facsimile in my shootout to the '79 screamer sound.