Ibanez AD202 Analog Delay

I have owned this unit for a while, and having recently bought a Retro-Sonic Analog Delay for my board, and having had a chance to compare the two units, I can't sing the praises of this unit enough. The Retro-Sonic is a very fine update of the Boss DM-2 and I am very pleased with it. However, the Ibanez easily bests it when it comes to sound quality. The repeats maintain a definition and fidelity which the Retro-Sonic or a DM-2 just cannot offer. However, this unit is not true bypass and there is some noticeable "tone loss" when the effect is bypassed. The unit is very much an effect in itself with the original tone of the signal also being affected when the delay is on. I wouldn't necessarily say that this is a negative thing, but rather something that I have noticed more with this delay that with some others I've tried. This may be an issue for some other players. I don't really use the other effects offered (doubling, flanger etc.) but they seem to be of a reasonable enough though not overwhelming quality. It is also stereo and capable of taking line level signals (making it useful to not just guitar players). I have also used a Watkins Copicat Echo (Tube)and this unit offers a similar sound (more so than other analog delays) but without the maintenance or noise issues.

+ Excellent sounds, ability to take line-level signal, stereo input and output.

- Bulky (rack, 2 units high)), it is almost 30 years old (but still going strong, no problems but nothing works perfectly forever), bypass issues (discussed above).

Conclusion: This delay is probably more suited to studio use, although for a player with a rack as part of their live rig and if you are willing to put up with the affect on your tone or decide to put it in a true-bypass loop (these are fairly common nowadays, don't taking up much space on a pedal board, Keeley and some other manufacturers offer them) then you are going to enjoy some fantastic sounds.

Pretty straight forward controls. Very easy to use, but you will spend hours dialing in different settings. The modulation controls provide an endless array of possibilities.

My setup is - Rick 360v64 >> vox wah >> boss tuner >> MXR Phase 100 >> TS-9 (clean boost) >> TS-9 (overdrive) >> ernie ball volume >> AD202 >> maxon AD999 (stereo out) >> Vox AC30 & Roland JC 80

The sound quality on the AD202 is top notch. I've owned many analog delays (maxon ad999, mxr, ibanez ad100) and the 202 is the best sounding and the most versatile. The repeats are just gorgeous, and with a little tweaking of the modulation controls you can really approximate the decay of vintage tape delays. Also, simple slapback has never been better than this. In addition, the 202 has nice sounding chorus, doubling and flanger. I don't really utilize these effects often, but they are there and they sound wonderful.

Haven't had a problem yet, but i have the maxon set up for slapback, and as a backup for the 202.

I play in different bands, instrumental post-rock and heavy psych/grunge/shoegaze/rock. The AD-202 can be used for any type of music. Can go from insane spaceship feedback loops, to simple reverb-like slapback, from over-the-top to subtle coloring. Iv'e played guitar for many, many, years and the AD-202 completes my rig (well, at least until my Space Echo is repaired). Speaking of Space Echoes, the AD-202 is the closest you can get to recreating the lushness of tape delays, but with a lot more reliability, a lot less maintenance and for a fraction of the cost.

As far as rack gear goes there are few that would be simpler than the ad-202. There are no memory pre-sets or edit buttons. A monkey could use this thing. It is the pinnacle of analog design. After the ad-202 was discontinued the digital age hit and good tone went out the window. Anyway, all the controls interact well and if you know the basics behind what makes chorus, flanger, and delay work then you will have no problem tweaking this machine to your hearts delight. It also has an input for any 1/4 inch footswitch so you can run it like a stomp box.

The sounds are excellent. The unit is very quiet. I had a vintage Ibanez ad-80 delay pedal that was great sounding, and, as you may know are quite expensive these days, and the ad-202 excedes its quality easily. The delay time is longer, around 400ms, and the delays are cleaner. I remember my ad-80 had a fairly dark sound and the repeats were a bit noisy, not so with the 202. The 202 has a tone knob that controls the tone of the effect only which I find to be a GREAT feature. You can still do all the crazy feeback and spaceship sounds that you can do with the floor pedals. The unit works exceedingly well in an effects loop and also in line as it has a wet-dry control. The chorus and flange effects are also great, vintage analog sound all the way. I think ALL studios should have one of these on hand, you can not get this kind of warmth from digital gear.

Well, what year are we now, 2006? I think it's reliable. As I said earlier, there are fewer things to go wrong, no complicated memory functions or pre-sets that can break. Because these are analog units, any good tech could figure out whatever problem might come up in no time at all and be able to fix it without ordering a new cheap circuit board from China.

As if!?

Even with the vintage market the way it is, with these things selling for $250 and up if in good shape, you couldn't buy the effects in this thing new for under $600. I have a new Diamond Memory Lane analog delay that is a fantastic delay pedal with nice features like tap tempo and 550ms delay time but honestly the delay does not sound as good as the ad-202. It cost me $429.00 too. At the price that an ad-202 goes for they are a killer deal.

I had to learn how to use the AD202 without a manual. Although usable sounds can be had from the get go, some focused alone time is required to really learn what each knob does in each particular mode, how each mode is related to the other modes, and how each knob can affect the sound-aspect controlled by the other knobs. I'm somewhat familiar with using delay, flanger, chorus, but separately in pedal form, which also means I'm new to the idea that these three effects are related. Having the capability to morph them into each other at varying degrees, depending on the emphasis of the effect mode, took awhile to get used to, in fact, it still does.

I own a Roland BC-60 amp and a Schecter C1 Classic guitar. I have the AD202 plugged into the effects loop of the BC-60. The AD202 adds no unwanted noise, neither does it subtract any wanted noise. Utilizing the LEVEL, TONE, and BLEND knobs, the effects are as weak or as strong in the mix as you adjust them to be. Clean, distorted, and or with other effects from other sources, the sound quality is excellent.

I believe my friend purchased the AD202 in the 1980's. He should be credited for maintaining it in its prime condition; no problems cosmetically or functionally. Any remaining doubts I did have about its reliability were put to rest by certain reviewers here.

I enjoy playing folk, blues, rock-- and so does the AD202 (I can tell by the bounce of its headroom level meter). Although I can't speak to the superiority or inferiority of this box compared to others, I can recommend it without reservation to any guitarist who has the opportunity to lay hold of one, as it would add luminescence and dimension to their sound.

Knobs. Turn 'em and they do stuff. Keep turning until you find the tone monster. Use a marker so you remember the sweet spots.

I originally used this box with a Strings & Things prototype > Sho-Bud volume pedal > Proco Ratt > Silverface Fender Twin. Other than the delay, the additional effects were very secondary, just for a touch of flavor. With the delay I noticed a lot of frequencies dropping out and depending on the settings it really seemed to mute pick attack as well. Overall though I found it to be sweeter, cleaner and quiter than an Echoplex. Superb for slow spacy minor blues ala David Gilmour. Having discovered that pick attack was muted at certain settings, I set up a pedal steel rig using the same components with phenomenal results. At the time Garcia and Weir were marketing for Ibanez and from the results I got with the pedal steel rig, I'm almost certain this box was in Garcia's bag of tricks.

Built like a tank...too bad I hate rack mount gear. Throw it on the floor and forget it. I have gigged with it without backup, cause I've never run across another. Lookout Ebay bidders...

I've got Mike Clarks phone number on speed dial.

This is a phenomenal sound coloring effect with the rigs mentioned. I've wasted too much money on digital crap that won't hold a candle to this box. Again, it is exceptional in a pedal steel (and probably lap steel ) rig and does wonders for that slow spacy sound. If it were stolen or lost, I would buy two more. It would be sweet if the circuit fit in a stomp box. (I'm looking for another one now.)

This thing couldn't be easier - just tap the 'edit' button and...
NOT!
All knobs. If you need a manual, why are you reading this?

Tom Anderson Hollow DropTop into a Bogner Ecstasy 101B; I use this in the loop. It's got a LINE IN, so you can do that without appreciable signal difference. It sounds velvety and liquid in the chorus and flanger, but my favorite is the doubling. Set it for a short(nearly imperceptible) delay, and start to turn the modulation controls ever so slightly. Super-deep chorusing without the peaky modulation. It doesn't sound pristine - it's like stuffing two Reese's cups in your mouth at once! Sweet and slightly gritty. Satisfying!

Built like a tank - rugged steel case. Standard parts. Apparently, the former owner thought there was something noisy about it. Maybe. I opened it and found two capacitors lying real close together. I moved them apart. Noise gone. I have since overclocked the delay to get much longer delays out of it. There is serious grit well beyond the >400mSec range. It's only supposed to do about 300, but it's built well enough to do Gilmour's "Run Like Hell". It was modded by a former owner to get the input/output from the rear. Nice.

See above. Maxon made it, Ibanez marketed it, but neither of them wants to know about it now. Especially since it pretty much pisses on the analog delays they put out now that cost $200+. This was $38 on eBay.

Get 'em while they're cold. eBay idiots want $200 for their Boss and Maxon delays (that don't even have modulation or Line Level input/output). They can go scratch. If you wait, you can snap one up cheap. Don't be afraid if it's dead. It can be refurbished easily by a competent tech. Make someone else's loss your gain. These units were not cheap when they were new and plentiful. They are relatively cheap considering they will most likely never be made again.

Very Easy to get a good sound because the unit sounds good!
Editing schmediting, turn the knob and go!
No manual included, purchased used off of Ebay.
All original, no upgrades.

I run anything and everything through this unit and get interesting results all the time. If you need an equipment list though, my fav's are running a Moog Voyager synth or any electric guitar with warm humbuckers and a volume pedal for swells into it.

I've noticed no noise to annoy me from this unit, it's getting old too.

The effects are buttery sweet. Analog and very tweakable. Try running the regeneration full on (max feedback) and tweek the delay from long setting to a low time setting while you've got sound coming in and you'll get the idea of what this thing can do.

I run the delay both into a Mackie 1202vlz mixer or into a tube amp, both deliver nicely delayed sounds or mayhem whichever you choose.

I don't emulate other artists per se, I have my fav's and occasionally do things that may be considered similar although I don't copy styles. I like all music.

This delay is best for tweeking maxed out delays and feedback although all delay times are very warm and can be used in anyway you like to compliment what you are sending into the unit. It does a very decent flange with lots'o versatility. The chorus is a bit mundane but all depends on what you like, or better yet, what you can do with what you've got.

Okay, the unit is used and aging day by day. So far so good. I believe the unit will last a very long time with proper care, and I care for my gear. All is used in a studio (smoke free-pet free) so I expect no problems.

This thing is no longer manufactured but may be serviced by a decent electronic tech if it ever craps out. The components (especially the chips) may be irreplaceable though as analog parts are getting more scarce in this wonderful, squeaky, digital age of nonsense.

It has been working for me with no pain.

I play spacey ambient stuff to avante guard, it works perfect for both styles.

I've been playing all my adult life and then some. I own a sizeable home studio with lots o'goodies.

My stuff is insured so if it's stolen I'm filing a claim. These delay units are not made anymore so replacement would be a bitch.

I love the way this unit can be tweaked and made to degenerate into a slosh of delayed madness or.......lightly season your creative juices to taste.

My favorite feature is the delay knob and the regeneration (feedback) knob. Used in conjunction with one another can make for some wild stuff. A perfect device for those of you out there, like myself, who like to reamp things into a work of art.

There are tons of delays, I have a crapload in addition to this one but this one does what the others do not and that's what sets it apart.

It would be nice if it had more memory or delay time but technology just wasn't there yet when it was made, nevertheless I like it and it works.

This unit will absolutely compliment the sound of anyone with the smarts to use it. I concur with previous reviewers who are willing to buy all the old analog stuff nobody else wants and bust out with wicked sounds all the others are trying to emulate with the digital stuff. This IS the stuff.

Get one if you can, I can see the prices increasing as time wears on for these things.

I put my MINIMOOG through this thing. Hell yeah! Other delays I own: Symetrix 606, Digitech Time Machine 7.6, Ibanez DM1100, Roland RE-201, Roland SDE-1000, MXR Time Machine. This is my favorite by a long shot. Sound is big country and full figured!

Hell yeah! It's the beast- looks like Military gear!

I'll fix it myself

I like my sound and my ladies full figured and this one's the real deal fa sho...This is the sound you're looking for. I live by this great old music shop that is chalk full of old rack delays, I don't know where they all come from- the owner of the store hates rack gear- so all these shiftless crackheads sell them their 70s and 80s gear for like 2 bucks so they can go get a fix. The owner, he's all into MIDI, software, he once sold me an Oberheim OBXA for 500 bucks. He said it sucked because it doesn't have MIDI. BWAHAHAHA!!! Hell yeah that's my favorite store- gimme all your old crusty shit for like 5 bucks and I'm going to go make the mad sick ass tunes with wide sounding gear- have fun with your computer, your plugins and your lame state of the art 24 bit, 192khz, cold sterile new gear-dumb ass! Everyone things 24bit, 96khz, blah blah blah- to me that's no soul gear. Your effects have to have old slow chips in em, delays are slow, sleepy,spacey, groovy not all gacked out, cracked out, hyped up like some crackhead- like all the fast chip delays of today. I'll take the old school thanks! You got to keep it sexy- you can't have all this hyped up fast ass modern gear. If you want the old school trim of yesteryear and be partyin like it's 1977, you gotta throw down yo sick tracks with the old school gear yo. I'm from the BD! Creekside! 831

very simple !!!
you got to play with the knobs--hear what they do and then you are ready to stat

this is a great device to experiment with

this unit is very fat sounding and warm.
it has a little noise (very very little).
you can make it sound clean or abit dirty it all depends what you do with the TONE control and the MIC/INSTRUMENT GAIN
i like the delays very much i use a bit of the flanger and the chorus but most of the use is the delay

yes for sure

if you want an old analog delay--get this one !!!
the AD 202 rocks!!!!

ANALOG! Very simple to understand - one nice thing about this unit is the lushness of the delay ALONG WITH MODULATION. THat is, you can add a slight modulation to even short delays for a rich rich sound. THe AD9 and AD100 cannot do that. I like the fact that all the knobs are big, all the nubers are bright - I don't like digital at all.

Lush, better than the AD9 I had, and better than the AD100 I had. (I sold both of them after settling on this one.) THere is no distinguishable noise. THis unit can do a longer delay than the the AD9 and AD100 - past 600 ms I think.

A workhorse - lasted 20 years so far, another 100 no problem. Rugged.

No comment

I play everything - this thing doubles and phases slightly and flanges slightly and can delay wonderfully. Good for knob-people. I have played through about 9 delays, this is the one I stick with....

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.

its not as simple as most delays. it is a modulation delay. which a selector for normal, chorus, doubling flanger and delay. it also has depth and width controls for chorus and flanger but these are also usable in the delay mode. the secret weapom of this box is the regeneration knob (repeat). this is the knob that will make you love this or any other analog delay box.

it is musical. this is the term used for noisy but in a totally cool way. the chorus and flanger are very good but the delay is very very cool.

it is a two space rack mount unit and its at least 15 years old which is the golden age of analog delay. if it was any older it would be from an era from which the memory chips would be hard to come by.

never asked

this is a sound machine .it is a musical instrument all unto itself