Ibanez AD202 Analog Delay

once you understand what unique take on a true analog delay this is, how awsome the ease of use is takes bakc seat to the sounds you are making.

This effect is a devine thing. It has complimented my playing in such a intimate may, slowly it has defined the way I execute certain sounds not only in soloing but also in rhythm, this thing is deep. Large range of possibilities including the regency button, wich should be standard on every delay pedal but is unique to this effect only. I have experiemented with many delay units and spend many hours in deep delay meditations. This is the only ananlog delay unit wich tries not to replicate a tape echo unit, but streches the possibilities of analog delay as a separate concept. It briges the full range of delay influenced effects including a doubler, a flanger ect..
But it is delay from hell and full of inspiring possibilities.

Thrack Tank

i gotta tech

One of my great pawn shop scores this year, I would say as a player this effect is worth paying over four hundred dollars although street value is more like two, these are more rare than most echoplex units and facinating as a effect concept. My playing is better because this delay stretches with you, just as you think you can't get any stronger, it kicks it up a notch complimenting the player as well as defining the guitar itself.

No manual or schematic. Rack mounted. Big. Good Maxon circuit inside.

Tele copy through ton of effects into Marshall. This delay is different in that you can add width and regeneration modulation along with the warm analog delay. I haven't found another analog delay that can do that. The doubling effect is better as a chorus than anything else. For flange or chorus , I would recommend the Series 9 foot pedals from Ibanez, much richer and stronger than this unit.

Also contains a tone control which is useful for determining which part of the frequency you would like to delay.

This is a unique effect, very useful for U2 and other warm delay sounds.

Would like to know which trimmer pots noted in the post below are tweakable, maybe that person can tell us? Please?

Dependable and giggable. Maintains its value

No support, would hate to have to touch this circuit, even with a schematic. Op amps, transistors and good soldering all over the place. Very good well thought out design and layout. Only needs a stereo out to be improved. Oh well.

A keeper. Definitely useful. Cuts through with my band, unlike other cheaper delays, like DOD etc.

9

4 or 10. Depends on what you're looking for. For "tone in->engaging tone out" operation it's stunning. For normal boring regeneration, get a digital and let the good boys use it. ;)

10

-

If delay are your game, analog is fun and this is one of the best. If you don't fall in love with it, as most owners do, give it to someone who does. ;)


Just wanted to give a tip for the DIY'ers. Inside the unit are three trimpots(tiny trimming knobs) for tuning the three individual delays. These can be brought to the front panel for easy access thru normal knobs. Some soldering skills and it should be obvious how to do it if you open the box. There's plenty of space on the panel. I put the bare metal pins of the pot's on the lower end of the front panel, to avoid moving them unintentionally. They are very sensitive, a typical "set and use for a while" affair, but they add a lot to the usefullness of the box.

The knobs alter the fundamental characteristics of the samples as they travel thru the analogue memory. Tuned correctly they sound normal, warm and nice to the ears as usual from such a machine. Out of tune they change the tone from subtle to extreme. Since it's three delays in series the sound can change as the delay time changes. Perfect for electronic music. Makes it a true "sound in->techno out" box. Enjoy. =)

Very simple and fun to use.I love knobs!!!

I very much appreciate the previous review/reviewers! I had never heard of this unit and I was in the market for a warm,classic sounding analog delay.After reading the reviews I bought one on Ebay.I am absolutely in Love with this delay!! As the other reviewers wrote it is indeed the warmest delay I've heard!!
I have owned an RE-201 & RE-501 Space echoes as well as several digital delays including a lexicon PCM-41 and an Eventide Harmonizer and honestly feel that the AD-202 is my favorite!

Haven't had it long but it seems very well put together.

N/A

I play all styles,but mostly classic rock (led zep,Hendrix,Trower,etc.)I've been playing for 25 years.I own several Strats,1 Tele,2 L.P. customs,2 Heritage Milleniums,and 3 Electra's(Motsomuko/Japan).JMP-1 Preamp,Triaxis Preamp,Roland VG-8/GR-09 Synth.And several stomp boxes.If the AD-202 were lost/stolen I would be really SAD!! and would absolutely try to find another one to buy!I also bought (buy a previous reviewers recommendation)an AD-100 which as he stated is another INCREDIBLE delay!! I sincerely thank and agree with the previous reviewers!!!

More complex than some other delays. Not a bad thing. You can make it sound closer to what your looking for. It's still only knobs though.

Fat, smooth analog sound. Very thick. Used it through a 2x12 ampeg ss. Best sounding delay I've ever owned.

Solid steel. I gig 3 nights a week and have been doing it for 3 years. Hasn't failed me yet. Same thick, warm tone every night

Great for all styles. I would buy again. They're pretty rare now though. The analog kills any other delay I've tried. Meets all my needs for classic and hard rock. I use a fender h/s/h strat w/ floyd rose and an Ibanez RG760 H/S/S. Both have dimarzios. I highly reccomend this unit

Takes some getting used to but after a while your on the mark.

Im in love. What can I say? I have owned a lot of analog delays, but this one makes me forget all the others. This is IT for me.

idestructable

really dont know

While this did cost me some $, its really the nicest analog delay I have ever seen or heard.....and I have checked em all out pretty much since the 60's. This one is very very sweet and even looks killer on top of that. Once you get one of these and use it for a while, you may never shop for analog delays again. I would definately buy another if I could find one.

This baby pure & simple. Just twist your way into AWESOME delays!! I could not be easier!

Pristine sound is the way to describe this AD-202. Very very cool device. I can hardly believe how good it sounds compared to anything else (other than my trusty AD-100). The AD-202 and the AD-100 are slightly different in a way thats hard to describe, but both are just incredible sounding analog delays. PERFECT!!

Built rugged, like a tank, it will never die!

I dont know.

This AD-202 is one of the most awesome pieces of analog gear that I own. I could not replace it with anything on the market other than my AD-100. Other analog delays, do not even come close.
Ibanez is the real thing, or was the real thing, for high quality analog delays. You gotta find one of these puppies. Not too many around that anyone wants to let go of these days, but if you are lucky enough to find one, pounce on it!! A buddy of mine got offered $350 cash for his, and he refused the offer, and I would too. There is simply nothing better than the AD-202 or AD-100 by Ibanez. You can try all the others, or you can just go with the best, and forget all that other trash. btw--I usually dont give out 10's like this, but in this case, I simply have no other choice but to give a 10. Actually, maybe it really deserves an 11. You wont find anything better anywhere.

Easy. It got da knobs.

Excellent. Beautiful. Chewy, fat analog warmth. Just like my girlfriends big beefy butt.

100% reliable. Toured from T.O. to Bumfuck Eygpt to Timbuck3, never, ever had any issues.

Nono.

I have 2 of these babies. I bought 'em in 1982 before going on tour in the U.S., they sat in a rack with a Furman PQ3 and other assorted goodies. I ran them with 2 Marshall 100w heads and 2 4x12 cabs. The AD202's went into the back of one head thru the effects loop for the "wet" sound, the other head ran "dry".The sound was awesomely huge, almost too huge, soundman complained, other band members ragged, and when we returned to Toronto, I got the sack!!! I went on using them all through the 80's and early 90's, I still have them, and I'll probably be buried with them.

There's knobs. It's analog. All realtime. No menus. All good.

I use my AD-202 for my bass. I rarely utilize the delay which is a shame since it's a wonderful delay, I use the flanger mostly. I like it, it's not a hard sweep but very effective. The delay is the best I've ever heard. Great Warmth to Noise ratio compared to the old tape units while maintaining most of the warmth. (disclaimer: I don't listen to lots of delays)

Analog Warmth, with a mild noise penalty. Worth it.

I don't fear problems. If there were issues, I'd spend a minute and wire around it. I'd be surprised if it failed.

N/A
Old Product.

Worth buying. Worth replacing.

Very 'organic' and 'analog' sounding.

Dead easy to use. It has knobs for everything. Just dial in the setting you want by ear.

Mine has been modded to put out a stereo image. I use it to stereoize mono synths and as a mixer delay. Definitly not clean, it has its own sound. The delay with regeneration can get wonderfully wild. The doubling and phasing are both good, and very useful on certain voices. The chorus is OK but not striking.

So far it has worked well. It is ancient.

Never dealt with them.

This piece is great for easy tweaking of your sound, with the possibility of 'bad craziness'. I like Analog Delays. This one is my second favorite.