The Ibanez AD-80 Analog Delay is a vintage analog delay pedal made in Japan by Ibanez. It came in two versions: a narrow box built from 1979 to 1980, and a standard box built from 1980 to 1981 that belongs to Ibanez's 0 Series, the same series as the TS-808 Tube Screamer123. TONEHOME, the vintage effects reference site, counts the AD-80 among Ibanez's reference pedals, saying that "especially the TS-808 Tube Screamer and the AD-80 Analog Delay are esteemed as reference pedals"3.
Power and what it means for a player
The AD-80 is not a standard single-9V pedal. TONEHOME notes that it "runs on 18 volts"1. General Guitar Gadgets, describing the circuit, explains the arrangement this way: "The AD-80 runs at 12v and has a 2-battery compartment, so to retain the '80' in the name, 9 volts power into the circuit"4. The two accounts differ, and players powering an original unit today should treat the power requirement as unusual for its era rather than assuming a modern 9V supply will suit it.
Because the AD-80 runs on 18 volts according to TONEHOME, a standard 9V daisy-chain output is not a like-for-like power source. Check what your supply offers before plugging one in.
The two versions
| Version 1 | Version 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure | Narrow box | Standard box |
| Years | 1979 to 1980 | 1980 to 1981 |
| Series | Narrow Box Series with square switch | 0 Series |
The standard box version sits in the 0 Series alongside the TS-8081.
List prices by year
The 1979 figure is the only one TONEHOME gives in US dollars; the later figures are given in Deutsche Marks only, and no conversion is offered here12.
Collectibility and the vintage market
TONEHOME rates the AD-80's collectibility as very high, with good availability2. Writing in Vintage Guitar Magazine in November 2000, Lisa Sharken said of the pedal: "The original Ibanez AD80 is one of the more sought after pedals in the vintage world and prices can range pretty high"5. The related Maxon AD80 is covered on its own page, the Maxon AD80 Analog Delay.
Later Ibanez delays
Ibanez has not reissued the AD-802. Alongside the Ibanez TS-808 Tube Screamer, the AD-80 is esteemed as a reference pedal63. Players after a modern delay can find more options on the Delay Pedals page.
Videos
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Questions
What voltage does the Ibanez AD-80 run on?
TONEHOME notes that the AD-80 runs on 18 volts. General Guitar Gadgets, describing the circuit, says the AD-80 runs at 12 volts and has a two-battery compartment, with 9 volts powering the circuit itself. Either way, this is not a standard single-9V pedal, so power supply choices matter for anyone running one today.
Has the Ibanez AD-80 been reissued?
No. TONEHOME lists the AD-80 as never having been reissued. Players looking for a modern Ibanez delay have to look at other models in the company's current and past ranges rather than a reissue of this one.
What is the difference between the narrow box and standard box AD-80?
The AD-80 came in two versions. Version 1 is the narrow box, made from 1979 to 1980. Version 2 is the standard box, made from 1980 to 1981, and it belongs to Ibanez's 0 Series, the same series as the TS-808 Tube Screamer.
Where was the Ibanez AD-80 made?
The AD-80 was made in Japan. The standard box version was built between 1980 and 1981, and the earlier narrow box version between 1979 and 1980.
Is the Ibanez AD-80 collectible?
Yes. TONEHOME rates the AD-80's collectibility as very high, with good availability. Writing in Vintage Guitar Magazine in November 2000, Lisa Sharken said the original Ibanez AD80 is one of the more sought after pedals in the vintage world and that prices can range pretty high.
Sources (6)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME (tonehome.de), 1980
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME (tonehome.de)
- PT-80 Digital Delay: DIY Delay Pedal Kit, PCB & Schematic, General Guitar Gadgets, 2014-05-18
- Maxon Reissue Series Effects Review, Vintage Guitar Magazine (republished on maxonfx.com, Godlyke, Inc.), 2000-11
- Delay Basics: Uses, Misuses & Why Quick Delay Times Are Awesome, That Pedal Show, 2015-11-13
