Ibanez CS505 Stereo Chorus

Simplicity itself...

I own a vintage Roland Jazz Chorus amplifier, and the famous JC-120 chorus sound, even as beautiful as it is, pales in comparison to this pedal. The CS-505 is quite simply the most sublime chorus sound I have ever heard.

My pedal belonged to country music hall of fame inductee Grover Jackson, and was handed down through the ages, and has never ceased to provide equisite sound.

Not needed. However a side note: If you are looking for the power supply for this pedal, it took me a lot of messing around, but in the end, just buy the Dunlop ECB004 18 volt pedal. That's the one you need.

I'm a 30 year pro. I know whereof I speak. If you have the chance to get one of these pedals, please don't do it, because I want to always sound better than you can.

This review is for a CS-505 that I owned years ago. The reason I'm reviewing this now is because with every chorus I've chosen since, I've made the choice based on what would get me close to the sound this unit makes.

I remember it being quite simple to use. Only two knobs for tweaking but with this unit two were all that was needed.

It was a little 'hissy', not noisy in the sense of buzz, just a fairly moderate soft hiss in some situations, but it was also seventy's technology, so you lived with that. It was no more hissy than a Phase 90.

The sound was lush and shimmering, not at all metallic-sounding or brittle. It will not do Andy Summers, you'll need a Boss or a later Ibanez for that, or perhaps one of the fine newer boutique choruses available. It was more Robin Trower-ey. I remember a very slight loss of -- I won't say volume, more like presence in a way. But this may have been because it sounded like it had a bit of added reverb. But it made the overall sound beautiful and gave the unit's sound an interesting dimension, and when I say slight I mean very, very slight, not enough to worry about.

Overall pedal technology was still in it's infancy when these were made. I had to replace the switch a couple of times. I also remember having to spray electronic cleaner in the jacks every so often, but that's a good idea anyway if they're not on a board plugged in all the time.

The long and the short of it is I miss this pedal.

To put it abstractly, if sound were smell, the CS-505 is like breathing the air after it rains. The CS-505 is really true, vintage analog chorus. When Ibanez reissued the TS-808 I was hoping they'd reissue this one two, but that doesn't look likely now.

As I said at the beginning of this review, every chorus I've chosen since I have chosen trying to get as close to that sound as possible. The chorus in the original 4-function ART MultiVerb rack units came fairly close, but sounded a bit too digital.

My advice: if you're looking for one of these and can't find one, try picking up an early 80's DOD FX-65 in the blue enclosure (not the black one). This is what I currently use and they're as close as I've heard to the CS-505 and much easier to find.

I play professionally for a living and have since 1974. My standard set up: In-line: '06 Clapton Strat, AudioTech A/B/C Selector, Planet Waves CT-04 Tuner into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with the HRD extension cabinet. Effects loop: Telenordia TA-100 overdrive, Road Rage Pro Gear 8-channel looper, routing: Boss Blues Driver (stock), CMATMODS Brownie distortion, DOD FX-65, Retro-Sonic Phaser, Catalinbread Semaphore tremolo, Retro-Sonic Analog Delay.

Do me a favor. If you run across one of these, buy it. If you don't like it, sell it to me.

Two knobs: speed and "width" which means depth in a stereo chorus. And that's the only "layer" you have to deal with!

Very, very good. Run it out mono and it's got great analog depth and smoothness. I guess that means warmth. Run it out in stereo and you've got quite a special effect. And it's just a floor effect with two knobs!

The thing is built like whatever it is that takes out the tank! A solid little unit like a brick of lead . I've had mine since the 1970's without a hitch. That's coming up on 30 years now!

Who needs to deal with Ibanez when they make something like this!

This unit has a nice little range from barely there to warble universe. This is one of the first effects I ever bought back in the 70's. I fell away from playing for a while and then the digital age came upon us. The unit basically stayed in the closet for about 15 years. I recently pulled it out, feeling it was just some cheap little effects box I used back when I was a beginner. Then it hit me. This is now a vintage unit and, yeah, it does sound different! After years of using digital effects boxes the sound coming out of this thing was really refreshing. Yes, it will help you make music. Somewhere, it'll fit right in.

Only a chimp wouldn't be able to use this, 2 knobs which control speed and depth.
The speed controls, yes u guessed it, the speed of the modulation, and the depth is how much its present in the output signal

You get that great vintage chorus sound. Sorry but words can not express how i feel about this sound

great, i've owned mine for about 2yrs and i got it 2nd, 3rd or maybe 4th hand, maybe even more. it looks absolutly trashed but still sounds great and have had no problems with it at all.
Only down fall as stated on previous reviews, needs 2 9v batteries

Never hand to contact them

absolutly love the little bugger, part from it needing 2 9v batteries.

Two knobs - Chorus sounds great no matter where they point.

I think it sounds much better than the CS-9 that is in my UE-300. I use it with a Fulltone Fulldrive II and an Ibanez AD-80 going straight to a Juke 112 or a Silverface Deluxe Reverb. My main guitar is a 1990 Fender Am. Strat and my other is a 1996 Guild Starfire. It is very quiet and nails Robin Trower's "No Time". I also use it on Golden Earring's "Twilight Zone" and to beef up my clean sound.

I believe the 808 Series pedals are the most reliable pedals made.

Never dealt with Ibanez.

I am currently playing classic to current covers and some originals (www.theurge2rock.com). I have been playing for 22 years and own the following amps: Juke 112, Fender Silverface Deluxe Reverb, Guild Thunder I, Fender Silverface Bronco, Fender 30, Randall Commander II, Fender Blackface Bassman w/2 X 15 Cab. and a Randall RG-30. Guitars: 1990 Fender Am. Strat., 1996 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby, Danelectro Innuendo Barritone, 1976 Fender Precision Bass, Gibson CL-45 Artist and a Vintage Silvertone Acoustic. Effects: Ibanez: TS-808, CS-505, AD-80, PQ-???, GE-601, CP-9, UE-300, Fulltone Fulldrive II, Maxon AD-80, MXR Micro Amp, and a Thomas Organ Cry Baby. If my CS-505 were stolen I would cry like a schoolgirl. I am currently looking for another one so I can have a backup.

If you can't use this...seek help!!

Beautiful sounding chorus!The CS-505 is a very bright and airy chorus.The MXR(yellow)chorus has more vibrato and is richer,more liquid.But it's a little noisy and it's big(heavier).I love them both!!The 505,however,is more portable and for a good basic chorus ya' can't go wrong.I found myself grinning from ear to ear when I ran it in stereo.Oh yeah,it's also very quiet.

I don't need a backup with this box.

???

I was going to buy a Maxon chorus...NOW I DON'T NEED ONE!! As far as basic choruses go,the 505 can get the job done.The wild-ass Small Clone and the juicey MXR(love it)are good for what they do.But the subtle,airy 505 will color your sound with SUNSHINE!It has to be matched up with the right dist./od box for a hot sound.However,YOU WILL CREAM YOUR GEANS over this little,purple pill.My 505's gonna get lots of work!!

Two knobs, but if you want it to sound CREAM you need to open it up and play with the trim pots.

I'm using a tele with a Fender Roc Pro. It's as smooth as something REALLY quiet, the FX can be a little too subtle for my tastes, but you have to screw with the trimp-pots to remedy this.
This sounds almost exactly like a Clone, Nirvana was easyish to dial, so was under the bridge.

Dunno, had it a day, but it has survive 20 years without my care so...

???? Dunno ?????

Yeah, very good, especiialy for the price.

Two knobs, "Speed" and "Width". Try not to get a headache figuring this one out.

Lush. Like Michael's old review said, it just sounds really nice and pretty transparent. This pedal runs on two 9V batteries or (if you're a lucky bastard like myself), you can get the original AC adapter with it. My old adapter is actually putting out 21V. This pedal sucks alot of power but it's sound is worth it. I also have the Ibanez CS9, CSL, SC10 and the Soundtank Chorus; I hate to admit it but the oldest one does sound the best out of all the other Ibanez analog choruses.

This pedal is almost as old as me! The original owner took very good care of it; gotta love people that do that. The pedal works perfectly, no problems. The paint has some chips in it but that's common on this series. The AC adapter wire had become frayed but I fixed this easily.

Haven't called Ibanez in several months.

It sounds great. I have alot of other Ibanez pedals, but I've never been thrilled with their simple, analog chorus pedals. But it sounds so good I'm sure it's going to get alot of use.

2 knobs: Speed and width. One input, 2 outputs. How easy to use? Let me put it this way: There is no bad setting on this pedal. I bought it used (of course, it is an early eighties pedal) so no manual. This was the precursor to the CS9 series (I think). The only drawback? It takes 2 nine volt batteries (and those suckers ain't cheap!).

This pedal is unbelievably quiet. I mainly play a Fender Am. St. Strat with the EMG DG20 pickup system, and also an ad-hoc Warmoth tele w/ Van Zandts. Sometimes I even play my Gibson LP custom. I currently run through a PV Classic 30. I had been using a Boss Super Chorus (CH1) for about 5 years, and I gradually became less & less enamored with it. It sucked the tone out of my guitar, it was too subtle, and sounded very artificial. So I went to the local used music shop and just started comparing chorus pedals. I a/b'd the CS-505 with an old Ross chorus and an Ibanez CS9, and some other one I can't remember. Simply put - no comparison. This chorus is warm, watery, natural, and doesn't hurt my tone (it does smooth out the highest of the high end but I have no problem with that). I can't believe a pedal this old can sound this good - it was THE chorus sound I was looking for.

It's been around the block. The battery cover is missing (duct tape), it is scratched and the paint is kinda dull, but everything - the knobs, the LED, the switch - work perfectly and whisper quiet. Since I just bought it a few days ago I'll give it a 9.

To be honest, I was originally trying to find a Boss CE2 (old 80's chorus), but no one is fessin them up. Besides, the CE2 is mono; the CS-505 is stereo. I play blues, blues-based, psychedelic, rock, and miscellaneous. I've owned quite a few effects and this is by far the best chorus I've ever owned or heard. It has what I sought: Awesome sound on any setting (try that with a Boss), simplicity, and reliability. If it were stolen I'd weep like a little girl. Some might say I paid too much considering its cosmetic condition (it was selling for 70), but since I never used my Boss chorus I feel a.) I got what I wanted and I'll use it; and b.) these pedals will only increase in value.