Ibanez Mini Round-Up

ManualsBrandsIbanez ManualsChorus/Flanger/Phaser PedalsEffect Pedal for Guitar

ROUND-UP

UNLIKE SOME mini ‘analogue’ delays

that are actually digital, this is the real

deal, and it’s a masterful recreation of

the AD-9. With times ranging from 20

to 600ms, it delivers similarly moody

repeats, which don’t interfere with your

playing, and are perfect for creating an

atmosphere rather than dominating

your sound. Longer delay times get

muddier and fuzzier, and it boasts some

of the best pitch-bending oscillation in

the business. As far as dark-voiced mini

delays go, it doesn’t get much better.

WHERE MANY minis end up going

down the pristine Boss CE-2 route, the

Chorus Mini takes the denser path of

Ibanez’s CS-9. It’s a sweet, syrupy

chorus that’s very 80s (think Prince,

Metallica), but the level control – a new

addition for this mini version – affords

extra versatility, with near-vibrato

wobbles at higher levels and speeds,

while you can nab a decent flanger

approximation down the other end of

the rate knob. It all adds up to one of the

best mini-choruses on the market.

IBANEZ

CHORUS MINI

£65

Chorus that doesn’t bore us

IBANEZ ANALOG

DELAY MINI

£75

Sweet repeats

IBANEZ MINI ROUND-UP £59-£75

The Japanese guitar giant aims its shrink ray at three more 9 series stompboxes,

accompanying the Tube Screamer Mini in the company’s diminutive pedal line-up

THE

Ibanez 9 series is an effects

institution. Pedals such as the

TS-9 Tube Screamer, AD-9 Analog Delay and

CS-9 Stereo Chorus have been mainstays on

pro pedalboards since their introduction in

the early 80s, and remain sought-after in

tonehound circles. Last year, we saw the first

mini-pedal to join the Ibanez effects stable, as

the Tube Screamer Mini incited guitarists to

involuntarily “aww!” in unison. Now, three new

shrunken stompers join the TS – the Analog

Delay Mini, Chorus Mini and Super Metal

Mini – and all of ’em pack reassuringly weighty

9 series-style housings, true bypass switching

and nine-volt power supply operation. Plus,

compared with their big-box counterparts’

£100-plus price tags, they’re bargains to boot.

Let’s see how the tones stack up…

90 MAY 2016

IBANEZ MINI PEDALS

ROUND-UP

TGR279.gear_round2.indd 90 3/21/16 5:13 PM

Summary of content (2 pages)

PAGE 1
ROUND-UP IBANEZ MINI PEDALS IBANEZ MINI ROUND-UP £59-£75 The Japanese guitar giant aims its shrink ray at three more 9 series stompboxes, accompanying the Tube Screamer Mini in the company’s diminutive pedal line-up THE Ibanez 9 series is an effects institution. Pedals such as the TS-9 Tube Screamer, AD-9 Analog Delay and CS-9 Stereo Chorus have been mainstays on pro pedalboards since their introduction in the early 80s, and remain sought-after in tonehound circles.
PAGE 2
GEAR ROUND-UP IBANEZ SUPER METAL MINI £75 It is a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Super Metal THE ORIGINAL Super Metal never garnered legendary status, but Ibanez has seen fit to revive it here, complete with natty stacked controls: edge adjusts treble, while attack tweaks presence, and punch adds or subtracts bass. Given that the Super Metal was born in the 80s, it’s surprising how well it adapts to modern playing.