The Ibanez AF9 Auto Filter is a vintage auto filter pedal, an automatic wah-style effect that sweeps a filter in response to your playing rather than under your foot. Ibanez produced it from 1982 to 1984, and it was the second version of the company's Auto Filter line, following the Ibanez AF 201 Auto Filter12. It has never been reissued, and the vintage reference site TONEHOME lists its availability as rare and its collectibility as high1.
The Ibanez Auto Filter line
Vintage Guitar's history of the Ibanez Auto Filter line records that the first two versions, including the AF9, "offered the same controls" as the earlier AF-20123. Ibanez also made a later Auto Filter, the Ibanez AFL Auto Filter, as part of the same family2.
| Version | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ibanez AF 201 Auto Filter | before 1982 | first version of the line21 |
| AF9 Auto Filter | 1982 to 1984 | second version, same controls as the AF-20112 |
| Ibanez AFL Auto Filter | after the AF9 | later Auto Filter in the family3 |
For how auto filters and envelope-driven filters work in general, see the Filter Pedals page.
Rarity and finding one
Because the AF9 was only made for a short window in the early 1980s and never brought back, finding one means watching the used and collector market. TONEHOME periodically lists very rare vintage Ibanez pedals for sale, and it also hosts a scanned copy of the AF9 manual as a PDF download on its AF9 page1.
The AF9 has never been reissued. TONEHOME lists its availability as rare and its collectibility as high, so examples turn up infrequently on the used market1.
The Maxon AF-9: the same idea, still in production
For players who want the effect without hunting a vintage pedal, Maxon makes its own Maxon AF-9 Auto Filter, which the maker describes as taking "the most desirable auto-wah and swept filter effects" in a compact pedal3. Vintage Guitar's reviewer found its filter switch, with high pass, band pass and low pass options, let them tailor the sound more than with other auto-wahs4. MusicRadar's review notes that its two range options allow both guitar and bass, or drop tunings, to be used5. On Pedal of the Day, the reviewer wrote:
"These three switches, when combined with the Threshold and Peak sliders, open up a world of outer space, funk and super-wah exploration, giving you a myriad of sonic choices to test and examine."
What the reviews cover, in brief:
- Filter types: high pass, band pass and low pass, selectable by switch4
- Ranges: two range options, covering guitar and bass or drop tunings5
- Controls: Threshold and Peak sliders, alongside the three filter switches6
- Documented player: Marty Friedman, ex-Megadeth and Cacophony, named on Maxon's product page3
The Maxon AF-9 is a separate product from Maxon, not an Ibanez reissue. Godlyke Distributing's product page for it currently shows it as sold out3.
Videos
Rui Sousa
The Q Show
Vintage Guitar Workshop
Questions
Has the Ibanez AF9 been reissued?
No. TONEHOME lists the AF9 as not re-issued, with rare availability and high collectibility. The closest thing to a reissue is the Maxon AF-9 Auto Filter, a current-style pedal from Maxon that carries the same auto filter concept, though it is its own product rather than a reissue of the Ibanez original.
How much did the Ibanez AF9 cost when new?
TONEHOME gives a 1984 US list price of $119 and a 1983 German list price of 267 DM. Those are the prices from the pedal's original production period, not what a used example sells for today.
Is the Maxon AF-9 the same pedal as the Ibanez AF9?
They are closely related but not the same product. The Ibanez AF9 was the second version of Ibanez's Auto Filter line, and Maxon later made its own AF-9 Auto Filter, an auto-wah and swept filter pedal. The Maxon version adds two range options so it works for both guitar and bass or drop tunings.
How rare is the Ibanez AF9 Auto Filter?
TONEHOME, a reference site for vintage guitar effects, lists the AF9's availability as rare and its collectibility as high. It was only produced from 1982 to 1984 and has never been reissued, so examples turn up infrequently on the used market.
Where can I find the Ibanez AF9 manual?
TONEHOME hosts a scanned copy of the Ibanez AF9 manual as a PDF on its AF9 Auto Filter page, available for download from the site.
Sources (6)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME, 1984
- Ibanez Auto-Filter, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2004-05-25
- AUTO FILTER (AF-9), Godlyke Distributing, Inc.
- Maxon OD-9, SD-9, and AF-9, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2004-05-25
- Maxon AF-9 Auto Filter review, MusicRadar, 2017-12-26
- Maxon AF-9 Auto Wah Optical Envelope Filter, Pedal of the Day, 2017-07-07
