The Ibanez FL-303 Flanger is a vintage flanger pedal made by Ibanez between 1976 and 1978 as part of the company's Wide Box series1. It has never been reissued, and both of its versions are hard to find today, which makes it a pedal that turns up mostly in collector circles rather than on working pedalboards1.
Two versions: script logo and block logo
The FL-303 was produced in two versions, told apart by the logo on the enclosure1:
ToneHome rates collectibility as high for both versions1. For a player hunting one secondhand, that means neither version turns up often, and the block logo version is the scarcer of the two.
Where it sits in Ibanez's flanger line
The FL-303 is a flanger, filed by ToneHome under that effect type1. It dates from Ibanez's vintage era: the pedal carried a 1977 list price of 369 DM German marks, a figure that places it in the company's late-1970s range rather than its later designs1. Players comparing it against other Ibanez flangers should note that the FL-303 belongs to that vintage period, and its controls and circuit are those of the original Wide Box-era pedal described on this page.
The FL-303's 1977 list price was given in German marks, 369 DM, so it was priced for the European market at the time1. It is a vintage pedal, and a modern Ibanez flanger is a different product, not a reissue of this one.
For a sense of how the FL-303 compares with flangers from other makers of its era and after, see the Flanger Pedals type page, which covers designs from the MXR Flanger and Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress through to modern units like the Strymon Orbit.
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Questions
Has the Ibanez FL-303 been reissued?
No. ToneHome, an independent reference for vintage guitar effects, records the FL-303 as not re-issued. Players who want 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, fully analog mini pedal made in Japan.
What is the difference between the script logo and block logo FL-303?
The FL-303 was made in two versions, distinguished by the logo on the pedal. The first version carries a script logo and is described as rare. The second version carries a block logo and is described as very rare. Both versions are rated high in collectibility.
What series does the Ibanez FL-303 belong to?
The FL-303 belongs to Ibanez's Wide Box series, the pedal family ToneHome files it under. Other Ibanez flangers sat in different series, such as the narrow box FL-301 and the big box FL-305.
When was the Ibanez FL-303 made?
ToneHome gives a production period of 1976 to 1978 for the FL-303. The pedal carried a 1977 list price of 369 DM, German marks, in its home market.
Sources (1)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME, 1977
