The Ibanez BCL Bi-Mode Chorus is a vintage chorus pedal from Ibanez's Master Series, produced from 1985 to 1986. It is a chorus in pedal form, and TONEHOME notes it is very similar to the BC9 Bi-Mode Chorus, Ibanez's earlier Bi-Mode chorus from the 9 Series1.
What it is and how it relates to the BC9
The BCL belongs to Ibanez's Master Series, and its "Bi-Mode" name it shares with the BC9, which TONEHOME dates to 1984 production and a 1983 photo caption. TONEHOME's note on the BCL reads simply "very similar to BC9", so the two pedals are close relatives within Ibanez's mid-1980s chorus line12.
Ibanez built a wide range of chorus pedals across this era, and several of them have their own pages here: the CSL Stereo Chorus, CCL Dual Chorus, DCL Digital Stereo Chorus, PC10 Prime Dual Chorus and TC10 Twin Cam Chorus among them.
Rarity and collectibility
TONEHOME rates the BCL's availability as rare and its collectibility as high, as of 2026-10-261. The BC9, its close relative, is also rated highly collectible, but TONEHOME lists its availability as good, which makes the BCL the scarcer of the two Bi-Mode chorus pedals on the used market12.
The BCL was never reissued. TONEHOME records "re-issued: no" for the pedal, and its production run ended in 1986, so every example in circulation is an original from that two-year run1.
That scarcity shows in how the pedal is regarded today: the BCL carries a high collectibility rating, and it has never been re-issued, so the originals are the only versions players have ever been able to get1.
Price when new
TONEHOME gives the 1986 US list price as $150 and the 1985 German list price as 330 DM. The two figures come from different years and markets, and no conversion is offered here1.
Manual and documentation
TONEHOME's page for the BCL carries a manual download for the pedal, alongside its other documentation of the Master Series1.
Videos
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Questions
Was the Ibanez BCL Bi-Mode Chorus ever reissued?
No. TONEHOME records the BCL as re-issued: no, and the pedal was produced only from 1985 to 1986. Players looking for a current Ibanez chorus have to look at later designs such as the CS9 Stereo Chorus reissue or the compact Chorus Mini, which are separate circuits rather than reissues of the BCL.
How much did the Ibanez BCL cost when new?
TONEHOME lists a US list price of $150 in 1986. For 1985 it records a list price of 330 DM in West Germany, the currency as stated on the page. Both figures date from the pedal's original production years.
Is the Ibanez BCL Bi-Mode Chorus rare?
Yes. TONEHOME, a reference site for vintage Ibanez effects, rates the BCL's availability as rare and its collectibility as high. Its sibling, the BC9 Bi-Mode Chorus, is also rated highly collectible but is listed as having good availability, so the BCL is the harder of the two to find.
Where can I find the Ibanez BCL manual?
TONEHOME's page for the BCL Bi-Mode Chorus carries a manual download for the pedal, on the same page as its specifications and history.
