The Ibanez BP10 Bass Compressor is a compressor pedal for bass, built by Ibanez as part of its Power Series 10 range. It was produced from 1986 to 1993, and a documented unit dated 1988 was made in Japan1. The pedal is essentially the bass sibling of the Ibanez CP10 Compressor/Sustainer, sharing what TONEHOME describes as "all of the high tech specs and characteristics of the CP10, including it's low noise characteristics"1.
The BP10 has never been reissued, and TONEHOME rates its availability as rare, with average collectibility1. For a player who wants the circuit today, the practical route is a replica kit from General Guitar Gadgets, which describes the design as "A very nice (and under-rated) compressor"2.
Controls and how they shape the sound
The BP10 carries three controls, matching the CP10's setup of attack time, sustain and output level32. TONEHOME's notes on the BP10 explain what the two compression controls do in practice1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sustain | Sets sustain time; increases as turned clockwise. Too high a setting flattens the output dynamically, while a moderate amount can improve consistency from note to note1 |
| Attack | Shapes how the compressor responds to the front of a note. High attack levels enhance pizzicato techniques but can deprive picked or "popped" tones of crispness1 |
| Level | Sets the output level2 |
Those two behaviors are the everyday trade-off of a bass compressor: more sustain evens out note-to-note volume, and a slower, higher attack setting lets the pluck of a fingerstyle note through before compression clamps down. TONEHOME's guidance points a player toward moderate sustain settings for consistency, and toward backing off the attack control if picked or popped notes start losing their edge1.
The CP10 connection
The BP10 sits in a line of Ibanez compressors that includes the earlier CP9 Compressor/Limiter, produced from 1982 to 1984, and the CP10 Compressor/Sustainer, produced from 1986 through 19931. The CP10 is a guitar pedal with three controls for attack time, sustain and output level, and TONEHOME credits it with ultra low input noise of -107dBv3.
The BP10 takes that same platform and voices it for bass. TONEHOME's description of the BP10 as carrying the CP10's specs and low noise characteristics1 is confirmed at the circuit level by General Guitar Gadgets, which has replicated both pedals: the two are nearly the same circuit, with only two capacitor values differing2. Where the CP10 is described as a Compressor/Sustainer, the BP10 is identified simply as a bass compressor1.
The CP10 remains easier to find than its bass counterpart: TONEHOME rates the CP10's availability as good, against the BP10's rare13.
The General Guitar Gadgets replica kit
In August 2015, General Guitar Gadgets released new kits and PCBs replicating both the Ibanez BP10 Bass Compressor and the CP10 Compressor2. The BP10 kit is a replica of the original pedal, and the complete kit "Includes all the parts and materials you need to build one, all for about the price you would pay for a PCB and parts"2. An original Ibanez BP10 schematic is provided with the project for reference2.
The kit's bill of materials, version 2015July02, and its instructions, version 2015August19, both by JD Sleep, detail the build2. Key parts include:
- IC1: BA6110 op amp2
- VR2, Sustain: 500k reverse log potentiometer2
- VR3, Attack: 100k linear taper potentiometer2
- VR4, Level: 100k linear taper potentiometer2
- D1, D2, D7: 1N914 diodes2
- Sw1: Heavy duty 3PDT footswitch2
- J1: Stereo quarter-inch input jack2
- J2: Mono quarter-inch output jack2
- J3: DC power jack2
The kit uses the same PCB as the General Guitar Gadgets CP10 Compressor replica, reflecting how close the two circuits are2. General Guitar Gadgets calls the result "An excellent sounding bass compressor"2.
The original Ibanez BP10 is a discontinued, 1980s-era pedal with no modern reissue. Powering an original unit today means working with the pedal's original power arrangement, and the General Guitar Gadgets kit's DC jack (J3) is a feature of the replica build, not a documented specification of the 1986 to 1993 original12.
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Questions
Has the Ibanez BP10 been reissued?
No. TONEHOME, which tracks vintage Ibanez pedals, lists the BP10 as not re-issued, and original units are described as rare on the secondhand market. Ibanez has not brought the pedal back in any modern series, so players wanting the circuit today generally look to used originals or the General Guitar Gadgets replica kit.
Is there a kit to build an Ibanez BP10 clone?
Yes. General Guitar Gadgets sells a replica kit of the BP10 Bass Compressor, released in August 2015 alongside a CP10 Compressor kit. The complete kit includes all the parts and materials needed to build one, and an original Ibanez BP10 schematic is provided for reference. The kit uses the same PCB as the CP10 replica, with only two capacitor values differing.
Where was the Ibanez BP10 made?
Japan. TONEHOME documents a BP10 unit dated 1988 as made in Japan, which fits the pedal's 1986 to 1993 production run during Ibanez's Power Series era. Like other Power Series 10 pedals of that period, the BP10 was a Japanese-built compact effects pedal.
What do the sustain and attack controls do on the BP10?
The sustain control sets sustain time, and it increases as you turn it clockwise. TONEHOME notes that too high a setting flattens the output dynamically, while a moderate amount can improve consistency from note to note. The attack control shapes how quickly the compressor grabs a note: high attack levels enhance pizzicato techniques but can deprive picked or popped tones of crispness.
What is the difference between the Ibanez BP10 and the CP10?
The BP10 is the bass version of the CP10 Compressor/Sustainer, sharing its specs and low noise characteristics. According to General Guitar Gadgets, which has replicated both circuits, they are nearly the same circuit with only two capacitor values differing. The CP10 is a guitar Compressor/Sustainer; the BP10 is voiced as a bass compressor.
Sources (3)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME, 1988
- Ibanez™ BP10™ Bass Compressor Clone: DIY Kit, PCB & Schematic, General Guitar Gadgets, 2015-08-12
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
