The Ibanez DE-7 is a delay/echo pedal from Ibanez's Tone-Lok series, a line Pedal of the Day dates to the late 90s12. It gives a player two delay characters in one box, a digital-style Delay mode and an analog-style Echo mode, with a Delay Time control that switches between three time ranges and stereo outputs for running two amplifiers12. It is no longer in current production: as of Pedal of the Day's 2015 review it was a secondhand find, with the reviewer advising, "If you see one of these at a pawn shop or Craigslist for a good price, don't hesitate to snatch it up with a quickness"1.
Controls and modes
The control section is simple. "Delay Time, Repeat and Delay Level are the main attractions in the control section of the DE7," Pedal of the Day's reviewer wrote1. A separate selection switch moves between the two modes1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Delay Time | Sets the delay length, with three selectable ranges: 30-160, 120-650 and 480-2600 ms12 |
| Repeat | Sets the number of repeats1 |
| Delay Level | Sets the level of the delayed signal1 |
| Mode switch | Selects between Echo and Delay modes1 |
The two modes sound different by design. Delicious Audio's review describes the Delay setting as "a basic digital delay sound. The delays are crisp and pristine, and similar to the Boss DD line," while Pedal of the Day's product page says the Echo mode "gives analog-like repeats and warm echoes"23.
The three time ranges divide the pedal's reach. Delicious Audio found that "Most of the best settings fall within the 120-650 ms range," and the reviewer also found the 30-160 ms range adequate for rockabilly or quick slapback effects2. Pedal of the Day's reviewer heard the sound as usable for slap back, rockabilly, solo boost echo, or long ambient tones1.
Stereo outputs
Unlike many compact delays, the DE-7 carries stereo outputs. "It also offers stereo outputs to run to two separate amplifiers," Delicious Audio's review notes2, which lets a player spread repeats across two amps.
What reviewers said
Reviewers have been consistently warm on the DE-7, especially given its original market position as an inexpensive pedal. Pedal of the Day's 2015 review called the sound "really remarkable, too, from such an underrated and inexpensive piece of guitar gear"12, and the site's 2018 piece on a rehoused example said it "has become a true go-to delay for many players around the world, and absolutely debunks the myth that pedals have to be expensive to sound incredible"4. The earlier product page called it "an excellent addition to any pedal board or keyboard setup"3.
"The actual sound of the DE7 is really remarkable, too, from such an underrated and inexpensive piece of guitar gear"
The Loophole Pedals rehouse
Because the pedal is out of production, secondhand examples are the route for most players, and one custom shop has taken them on. Loophole Pedals rehoused a DE7, and in the process "toggle switches are added in place of those hard-to-use slider switches on the original," Pedal of the Day reported4. The result, in the site's words: "We just love how this DE7 came back to us, clean, crisp, looking shiny and new and sounding better than ever"4.
The DE-7 is out of current production, so examples are found secondhand rather than new1.
Where it sits in Ibanez's delay line
The DE-7 belongs to a long line of Ibanez delays. Players comparing it today may also come across later and related designs such as the Ibanez Echo Shifter, the Ibanez Analog Delay Mini, the Ibanez AD9 Analog Delay and the current Ibanez LD303 Layer Delayer, alongside the wider field of delay pedals. The DE-7's distinction within that line is its two-mode design and its three-range Delay Time control in a compact Tone-Lok enclosure12.
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Questions
Is the Ibanez DE-7 analog or digital?
The DE-7 offers two modes with different characters. Pedal of the Day's product page describes the Echo mode as giving analog-like repeats and warm echoes, while Delicious Audio describes the Delay mode as a basic digital delay sound, crisp and pristine, similar to the Boss DD line. So it covers both flavors in one pedal rather than being strictly one or the other.
What are the three delay time ranges on the DE7?
The Delay Time control has three selectable ranges: 30 to 160 ms, 120 to 650 ms, and 480 to 2600 ms. Delicious Audio's review notes that most of the best settings fall within the 120 to 650 ms range, while the shortest range suits quick slapback effects.
Is the Ibanez DE7 still in production?
No. As of Pedal of the Day's 2015 review, the DE7 was out of current production, and the reviewer suggested looking for one secondhand at pawn shops or Craigslist. It remains part of Ibanez's Tone-Lok series from the late 90s.
Does the DE-7 have stereo outputs?
Yes. Delicious Audio's review notes that the DE-7 offers stereo outputs, which can be used to run to two separate amplifiers.
What is the difference between Echo and Delay mode on the DE7?
The DE-7 has two modes selected by a switch. According to reviews, the Delay mode is a basic, crisp and pristine digital delay sound similar to the Boss DD line, while the Echo mode gives analog-like repeats and warm echoes.
What series is the Ibanez DE7 part of?
The DE7 is part of Ibanez's Tone-Lok series of effects, which Pedal of the Day dates to the late 90s.
Sources (4)
- Ibanez DE7 Delay Echo, Pedal of the Day, 2015-11-27
- Oldie But Goldie: Ibanez DE-7 Delay, Delicious Audio, 2011-05-13
- Ibanez Tone-Lok DE7 Delay/Echo, Pedal of the Day, 2014-06-13
- Loophole Pedals Rehoused Ibanez DE7 Delay Echo, Pedal of the Day, 2018-11-01
