The Ibanez FL-301 Flanger is a vintage analog flanger pedal from Ibanez's narrow-box series, made in Japan around 1979 to 198012. It is a flanger in the classic mold: a pedal that sweeps a short delay line against the dry signal to produce the jet-plane whoosh players associate with flanging. ToneHome, the independent Ibanez reference site, records the FL-301 as having never been re-issued, with good availability on the used market and high collectibility12.
Three versions of the narrow-box FL-301
The FL-301 went through three versions, and telling them apart is mostly a matter of the box and the graphics12:
| Version | Box | Identifying detail | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| v1 | Narrow box | Flying fingers side graphics | Standard first issue |
| v2 | Narrow box | No flying fingers | Very very rare1 |
| v3 | Standard box | Knurled nut on power jack | See the 0 Series2 |
The flying fingers graphics are the signature of the first-issue narrow box pedals. ToneHome's own collecting notes show how prized they are: the site has said it is still looking for an Ibanez CS-505 narrow box first issue with flying finger side graphics to complete its collection1. Version 2, the narrow box without the flying fingers, is described by ToneHome as very very rare1.
Version 3 is a different animal: it is the standard box version, which ToneHome catalogs under Ibanez's 0 Series rather than the narrow-box series12.
Power and price
The FL-301 runs on 18 volts, according to ToneHome2. That is worth knowing before plugging anything in: it is not a 9V pedal, and it predates the center-negative standards most modern pedalboard power supplies are built around.
The original list price was 198 DM, or $120 USD, in 1979, rising to 208 DM in 198012.
Where it sits among Ibanez flangers
The FL-301 was never reissued: both the Ibanez and Maxon listings record it as "re-issued: no"12. It remains a Japan-made original from the narrow-box years, and the listings describe its availability as good2.
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Questions
Has the Ibanez FL-301 been reissued?
No. According to the reference site ToneHome, the FL-301 has never been re-issued. Players looking for a modern Ibanez flanger have to look at later designs such as the FL9 or the Mini Flanger FLMINI, which Ibanez unveiled in 2021 as a true bypass, 100% analog mini pedal made in Japan.
What voltage does the Ibanez FL-301 run on?
ToneHome notes that the FL-301 runs on 18 volts. That is higher than the 9 volts most modern pedals use, so it needs a power supply suited to vintage Ibanez pedals rather than a standard 9V supply.
What are the flying fingers on the Ibanez FL-301?
Flying fingers refers to the side graphics on the first version of the FL-301. Version 1 carries the flying fingers artwork, while version 2, which is described as very very rare, has no flying fingers. The same flying fingers graphics appeared on other first-issue narrow box Ibanez pedals such as the CS-505.
How much did the Ibanez FL-301 cost when it came out?
ToneHome lists the 1979 list price as 198 DM, which was $120 USD. In 1980 the German list price rose to 208 DM.
Where was the Ibanez FL-301 made?
Japan. ToneHome records the standard box version as made in Japan in 1980.
How can you tell which version of the FL-301 you have?
By the box and the graphics. Version 1 is the narrow box with flying fingers graphics, version 2 is the narrow box without them and is very very rare, and version 3 is the standard box, which ToneHome treats as part of Ibanez's 0 Series.
