The Ibanez DCL Digital Stereo Chorus is a stereo chorus pedal from Ibanez's Master Series L range, produced in 1985 and 1986. It holds a particular place in the company's history: TONEHOME records it as Ibanez's first digital chorus1.
JHS Pedals, in a history of legendary chorus pedals, singled the pedal out by name: "I'm talking about the Ibanez Digital Stereo Chorus DCL, and it's pretty important." The same article describes its digital design as producing a more crisp, clean and subtle chorus sound2. TONEHOME calls the pedal a very advanced, top level device for its time1.
Production, price and availability
TONEHOME dates the DCL's production run to 1985 and 1986, a short window of about two years1. The 1986 list price was 499 DM, given as $235 USD1.
TONEHOME records the DCL as not re-issued. Any DCL on the market today is an original from the mid-1980s production run1.
On the collector's scale, TONEHOME rates the pedal's availability as rare and its collectibility as regular1. In practical terms, that means the DCL does not turn up as often as common vintage Ibanez pedals, though TONEHOME does not place it among the very rarest of the company's vintage range either.
Where the DCL sits in Ibanez's chorus range
Ibanez made a number of chorus pedals in the same period, and the DCL is the digital stereo entry among them. Related models covered on this site include1:
- Ibanez DSC10 Digital Chorus, a later digital chorus from the Power Series 10
- Ibanez SC10 Super Stereo Chorus and Ibanez CSL Stereo Chorus, stereo analog-era designs
- Ibanez CCL Dual Chorus and Ibanez BCL Bi-Mode Chorus, the DCL's Master Series L companions
- Ibanez CS-505 Chorus, an earlier analog chorus from the narrow box series
Manual
TONEHOME's product page for the DCL hosts a download of the pedal's manual, which covers the original documentation for owners of the vintage unit1.
Videos
Alberto Martinez Del Rio Guitar
Questions
Is the Ibanez DCL chorus analog or digital?
It is digital. TONEHOME identifies the DCL as Ibanez's first digital chorus, and JHS Pedals' history of legendary chorus pedals describes the DCL's digital design as producing a more crisp, clean and subtle chorus sound than analog chorus circuits of the era.
Has Ibanez ever re-issued the DCL Digital Stereo Chorus?
No. TONEHOME records the DCL as not re-issued, so the only examples in circulation are the originals from its 1985 to 1986 production run. Players looking for a current Ibanez chorus have to look at other models in the company's lineup.
How much did the Ibanez DCL cost when it was new?
TONEHOME lists the 1986 list price as 499 DM or $235 USD. That was the price when the pedal was still in production; used market values today are another matter.
Is the Ibanez DCL a stereo pedal?
Yes. The DCL is a stereo chorus pedal, part of Ibanez's Master Series L range. Its stereo operation is part of the product's name and is recorded by TONEHOME.
Where can I find a manual for the Ibanez DCL?
TONEHOME's product page for the DCL Digital Chorus hosts a manual download, so the original documentation is available there for owners and buyers of the vintage pedal.
How rare is the Ibanez DCL?
TONEHOME rates the DCL's availability as rare, with a collectibility rating of regular. That combination suggests the pedal turns up less often than common vintage Ibanez pedals, while not sitting at the top of the collectibility scale.
Sources (2)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME, 1986
- 12 LEGENDARY CHORUS PEDALS, JHS Pedals
