JHS Bonsai Screamer Overdrive Pedal
Featuring a rotary knob with the classic sounds of 9 different Tube Screamer pedals, the JHS Bonsai Screamer is sure to fulfill any player's overdrive zen.
$249.00
- No Credit Check6 x$41.50
- No Credit Check4 x$62.25
Overall User Ratings (based on 5 ratings)
Submitted November 14, 2018 by Jod M in Valparaiso, IN
"Delivers what it promises"
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Awesome buy. Not sure why there aren't 50 five star ratings. I'll probably never buy another tube screamer again. Individually these would all be more than a thousand dollars. It's simple math. An essential addition to any classic rock/SRV style pedal board. Probably a little more expensive than some would want to pay but yes....I'm here to tell you it's worth every penny. Absolutely worth the investment.
Musical Background:
10 years+ better than average amateur.
Musical Style:
A little bit of everything.
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Submitted September 13, 2022 by a customer from gmail.com
"Anyone who says save money and just buy 1 ts9 doesn’t get it!!!"
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Most people understand the whole point of this creation. There are many people who love one ts over another just go on a forum about the tube screamer and you will be blown away by the absolute plethora of “opinions” on which is better and which version of the exact tube screamer is better. It will make you laugh and cry and then dose off from the thousands of “correct” answers about which one is the best. So get 9 and have the options. Yes the 808 and ts9 sound very similar on this pedal but that’s because they pretty much do when u compare the pedals individually. So complaining about how there isn’t a big enough difference to warrant paying for this and just buy 1 screamer is not that straightforward. The boss od-1 sounds totally different. The ts10 the now deemed “John Mayer pedal” is noticeably different than the original 2. But then the other clones that are replicated are definitely different and the ts7 has its own sound exactly like the original. The Keeley mod of the 808 is great but the jhs mod is amazing more headroom and a crisper sound makes it worth the pedal just for the 808 the ts9. The ts10 and the jhs mod. They give u options for sound depending on the situation and then there is the od-1 and four more to get your sound that u love. U don’t need forums or buying an 808 or ts9 or ts10 to see which one is for you. You have them all at a click of a dial and they sound exact. So don’t think this is an overpriced ts. Because it is more I promise you that even if u find 3 go to versions that pays for itself. And you probably will find yourself getting lost in finding which screamer fits what application u need and that’s the whole point. Just want people to know that it isn’t 1 tube screamer with different sounds or settings it’s 9 fully independent pedals in 1
Ease of Use
Very easy
Quality
Built great
Value
Priced appropriately for its feature set
The Wow Factor
It saves time and money you don’t have to listen to what other people say is the best ts or have to try and buy multiple to find out for yourself which is your sound they are all there instantly by turning the knob
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Submitted December 31, 2020 by Joe Griego in Bishop, CA
"JHS Bonsai - the last Tube Screamer You'll Ever Need"
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This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
What can I say, except this is the first and last Tube Screamer pedal you'll ever need to buy. Nine (9) pedals in one - what's not to love? I get all the classic tube screamer tones through my Fender Deluxe Reverb & Li'l Dawg Champster Special (tweed Champ clone), and man, they sound great. I *love* this pedal, and so will you. Two bills for every classic tube screamer a player could ever want? It's a great deal.
Sound
So how does it sound? Well, just like a Tube Screamer. Having owned several over the years, the tone is exactly what you'd expect. The difference between the 808 and TS9 modes are quite similar (still great!), and the other modes offer distinct variations on the classic Tube Screamer sound. I'm currently running it through a Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb, as well as a Li'l Dawg Champster Special (Fender Champ tweed hand-wired clone) and it sounds fantastic. I really love the versatility and ease of use.
Features
What was the most useful feature(s)? Well, it's gotta be the fact that you get nine (9) Tube Screamers in one! Want that classic SRV tone? Some badass ZZ-top style grind? Don't want to spend a grand collecting each of those vintage pedals? Well, here you go. True analog circuits with digital switching between them, and you've got an interesting range of tones at your fingertips.
Ease of Use
It's simple to get great tones from the Bonsai. At the twist of a knob, you can go from classic Boss OD sounds, to classic Ibanez TS sounds, they're all there. There's even a Keeley modded TS sound. For anyone looking for a range of Tube Screamer tones, this is the be-all and end-all pedal, really. Get this one, and you won't need to spend another dime tone-chasing classic TS sounds.
Quality
Well made? It's got a solid metal box, and the switch is provides solid foot feedback. The LED is bright, and let's you know it's on. Reliable? Hard to say, since I'm using it on a bedroom pedalboard that includes a Boss DD-2 digital delay from 1984. Will the Bonsai last 36 years like my DD-2? I guess I'll update my review in a few decades... ;)
Value
Is it worth the price compared to other products? Well, compared to buying nine different pedals, it's a fantastic value. I love flipping between modes and trying different tones at different volumes. You can get a *wide* range of tones from it, so it's a great product. I don't think there's another pedal quite like it on the market, so good job, JHS!
Manufacturer Support
Didn't have to contact JHS for support, so I can't speak to their customer service.
The Wow Factor
The appeal of this product? The sheer number of different modes in one single pedal is, well, unique in the market. Now that I've tried this, I'll be looking for similar products that can put several circuit designs in one pedal. Muffaletta - you're next on the list, baby!
Musical Background:
Recreational player
Musical Style:
All styles, really. Just love music.
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Submitted March 5, 2022 by a customer from gmail.com
"Bonsai delivers"
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It does exactly what it says. It's a ton of od pedals squished into one pedal. And as previously stated in another review: well worth the money. It has way more gain (drive) available than I had anticipated and I don't think I'll ever need another overdrive. Emailed JHS a question, they got back to me in less than 12hours on it. A+ Only 4* for value because it's over 200$ for a pedal. An extremely nice pedal mind you but a pedal none the less
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Submitted December 19, 2019 by Drew S in Buford, GA
"Just buy a TS9 or 808"
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2 or 3 of the sounds are different enough, which makes for some tonal differences. But it’s a bunch of tube screamers.. save $130 and buy the TS9!
Sound
It’s a tubescreamer...
Features
There’s lots of tubescreamers that sound very similar, choose which one you like best
Ease of Use
Assuming you have hands, it’s easy to use
Quality
Awesome, looks great too
Value
It’s not worth the purchase price, especially given the options for tubescreamer clones out there
Manufacturer Support
Haven’t Death with JHS directly, but I’d assume they’re awesome
The Wow Factor
I think the appeal is the fact that JHS is trendy/cool. They make great products, but this is a tubescreamer. Save the money and buy an Ibanez one or you can spend $230 on a real vintage tube screamer
Musical Background:
Professional of many years
Musical Style:
Rock, worship, and indie rock
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