There's been a few flanger-oriented posts around here lately, so i thought I'd chime in with my latest pedal grab. I got it today and spent a few hours playing with it this evening.
It's an MIJ Ibanez FL-9 flanger, the banana yellow one. Mono output, takes 9VDC, four knobs for regen, speed, width, and delay. A quick peek under the hood reveals it's stock. All analog goodness with no unmoddable stamped-in parts on the PCB.
I like it a lot! For $100 I was expecting something good but not fantastic... it's not the most amazing flange sound I've ever heard (i need true stereo for that) but it's very very cool. Very warm, detailed, crisp sound... no tone loss at all and an almost imperceptible amount of noise when engaged. No drop in signal like my old reissue MXR unit I used to have, either. Different settings revealed subtle flanges and chorus-like effects, cool warbles, deep/wide spacious sounds for solos, etc. There's probably some tricks I haven't figured out yet. No big jet-planes to be found in here like in the MXR units but careful blending of the regen and delay knobs can get a subtle sweep that makes playing And The Cradle Will Rock passable and fun.
It sounds good in front of the amp as well as in the loop... I don't quite know where I'll keep it in the chain yet for my regular rig. Probably in the loop, knowing me. Paired up with some delay it really sounds beautiful.
I've never tried the reissues, so i can't compare them... but for the Original MIJ units I give a thumbs up!
It's an MIJ Ibanez FL-9 flanger, the banana yellow one. Mono output, takes 9VDC, four knobs for regen, speed, width, and delay. A quick peek under the hood reveals it's stock. All analog goodness with no unmoddable stamped-in parts on the PCB.
I like it a lot! For $100 I was expecting something good but not fantastic... it's not the most amazing flange sound I've ever heard (i need true stereo for that) but it's very very cool. Very warm, detailed, crisp sound... no tone loss at all and an almost imperceptible amount of noise when engaged. No drop in signal like my old reissue MXR unit I used to have, either. Different settings revealed subtle flanges and chorus-like effects, cool warbles, deep/wide spacious sounds for solos, etc. There's probably some tricks I haven't figured out yet. No big jet-planes to be found in here like in the MXR units but careful blending of the regen and delay knobs can get a subtle sweep that makes playing And The Cradle Will Rock passable and fun.
It sounds good in front of the amp as well as in the loop... I don't quite know where I'll keep it in the chain yet for my regular rig. Probably in the loop, knowing me. Paired up with some delay it really sounds beautiful.
I've never tried the reissues, so i can't compare them... but for the Original MIJ units I give a thumbs up!
