Ibanez AD9 Analog Delay

I'm writing this review based upon the newer reissue, not the original made by Maxon.

SPECS
Input Impedance 500K ohms
Output Impedance 10K ohms
Maximum Input Level +5 dBv
Gain 0 dB
Delay Time 20ms – 300ms
Equivalent Input Noise - 100 dbm (IHF-A)
Power Supply One 9 Volt Battery or external AC adaptor (9V)
Size 124 (D) × 74 (W) × 53 (H) mm 4.9 (D) × 3 (W) × 2 (H) inch.
Weight 580g 1.3lbs


THE BUZZ
The Ibanez AD9 Analog Delay Effect Pedal uses a compander with pre- and de-emphasis for an exceptionally clean delay. Time and level controls allow mixing between dry and delayed signals. Repeat control lets you adjust the number of repeats without runaway. 2 outputs enable dry and delayed signals to be routed separately.

UTILIZATION

The pedal is easy to use. It comes in a very durable metal housing. The fact that the pedal only gets to 300 milliseconds means it will primarily be used as a slap-back for many people.

I give the pedal a 7 in this category as an Ibanez DE7 can get up to 2.6 seconds, with a similar tone, for much cheaper.

SOUND QUALITY

The pedal sounds great. Regeneration capabilities on this box are incredible, if you're into that sort of thing. This pedal can nail down an East Bay Ray Dead Kennedy's style like none other. There aren't any options for voicings, so you'll get a dark echo tone and like it, thank you very much.

A Keeley-modded Ibanez AD9 can offer better quality tone, with a true bypass, and with some other neat features like expression pedal jacks. This pedal is worth looking at potential capability for that alone, if one has the cash to make it happen.

OVERALL OPINION

The stock pedal is good, but an Ibanez DE7 blows it away by providing similar tones PLUS an option for much different tones, along with way longer delay times, for cheaper on the used market.

If I knew I had the extra cash to find a Keeley-modded AD9 to get the better capabilities and tones, I'd probably do it, as used Keeley AD9s can be found for reasonable prices. However, buying an AD9 and then having Keeley mod it - the costs involve seem prohibitive for the amount of features one gets in return.

Bottom line - if you don't want a modded AD9, get a DE7. If you do want a modded AD9, buy a used and already modded-one, or mod it yourself!

The Ibanez AD9 Analog Delay is a pedal designed for electric guitar but suitable for use with any electronic instrument. The pedal can be found both as an older vintage version and a newer reissue. There's also the Maxon AD9 version which is the holy grail of the AD9. The one that I recently purchased is a vintage Ibanez AD9, although it can be hard to tell when exactly it was made. Of course the Maxon is the best AD9 available, but it's a couple times the price as the Ibanez version, which in my opinion sounds stellar. The pedal is an analog one, consisting of 1/4" connections for input, output, and dry output. It runs on 9 volt power via a battery or power supply and isn't rack mountable as it's a stomp box.

UTILIZATION

Using the Ibanez AD9 Analog Delay is super simple. It only has three parameters in the form of knobs, for controlling delay time, repeats, and delay level. That's really all there is to using the pedal, so even if you're not totally used to delay pedals, this shouldn't present any issues. A manual isn't really necessary...

SOUND QUALITY

The sound of the Ibanez AD9 Analog Delay is outstanding. It's a true analog delay as it's got a super warm sound. The reason I got the AD9 was to compliment my Line 6 DL4 digital delay pedal, as I love the DL4's versatility and looper, but there aren't any true sounding analog delays on it. The AD9 definitely has that classic sound and is a pedal that I've seen some of my favorite guitarists use. It's the type of pedal I keep on almost all of the time now, mostly for simple slapback. I'm eager to try this pedal on vocals too just to hear how it sounds...

OVERALL OPINION

The Ibanez AD9 Analog Delay gives you some great bang for your buck when it comes to an analog delay pedal. The best analog delay pedals cost a ton of money, and while this isn't up there with the Maxon AD9 or the Moog Analog Delay, it still has a great sound and costs a fraction of what those pedals do. If you're looking for a great analog delay pedal for a cheap price, look no further than the AD9.