Ibanez TS5 Tube Screamerchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

The tone holds up even decades later. Multiple long-time owners describe the TS5's sound as magical, excellent, or on par with the pricier TS9, and several still use it on their pedalboards or as a boost into amps like a Marshall today. Even people who initially hated it came to appreciate it, with one saying it became a staple in their rig after years of disliking it.

The footswitch is the pedal's defining flaw. An overwhelming number of comments describe the footswitch failing to engage reliably, being a 'gamble' whether it switches on, or outright sucking. Owners have devised various fixes, including replacing a resistor, cleaning the switch contacts with electrical cleaner, or gluing a cut guitar pick under the pedal to restore contact.

Build quality is cheap but surprisingly durable for some. Commenters call the enclosure cheap plastic, with loose knobs and jacks reported by some, though early production runs reportedly used metal casings before switching to plastic. Despite the flimsy reputation, several owners note their units have survived decades of use, including one pedal that literally caught fire but kept functioning afterward.