Ibanez Revives the Echo Shifter, Unveils Mini Flanger and Tremolo

January 2, 2020 · 3 sources

ES3 Echo Shifter

The Echo Shifter ES3 was the third iteration of Ibanez's Echo Shifter delay, and it carried over the dual-mode design of its predecessors with both analog and digital delay modes¹. In analog mode the pedal is built with actual analog circuitry rather than a digital simulation, and delivers what RockBoard's PedalPedia describes as "a warm, natural tone with delay times between 40ms and 600ms"². The digital mode extends delay times up to 1500ms².

The ES3 also refined the oscillation feature from the earlier ES2, which Guitar World reviewed in October 2014². On the ES2, the oscillation function had to be engaged by hand using a mini toggle switch; on the ES3 it can be triggered simply by stepping on and holding the right footswitch, which doubles as the tap tempo switch¹². New to the ES3 is a modulation speed control, which RockBoard reports "offers increased options to tailor the effect to the player," alongside a delay time slider¹².

Flanger Mini

The Flanger Mini joined Ibanez's downsized series and took its cues from the company's FL9 flanger of the eighties, with the yellow finish serving as a nod to the original 9 Series pedal³¹.

Tremolo Mini

The Tremolo Mini was a fresh design rather than a reissue, with wave, depth and speed controls on the surface plus an internal level trimpot¹.