The FL-305 is a flanger pedal from Ibanez, part of the maker's Big Box series, produced from 1976 to 19801. It is a vintage original: ToneHome, an independent reference site for Ibanez products, records it as never re-issued, and rates its collectibility as high for both of its two versions1.
Two versions, and how to tell them apart
The FL-305 was made in two versions across its production run1:
| Version | Logo | Years | Availability today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Version 1 | Script logo | 1976 to 1977 | Rare1 |
| Version 2 | Block logo | 1978 to 1980 | Very rare1 |
The logo is the identifying mark: a script logo means the earlier version 1, a block logo means the later version 21. For anyone comparing it with Ibanez's later flangers, the company went on to make the FL9 Flanger and the Mini Flanger FLMINI, among others in the flanger family.
The block logo version 2 is rated very rare. ToneHome also notes on its site that it is still seeking an FL-305 for its own collection, which gives a sense of how hard the pedal is to come by1.
When it was new
The pedal was tested in its day: the German music magazine Fachblatt ran a gear test on the FL-305 in its February 1978 issue1. ToneHome lists the 1980 list price as 365 DM, the German mark, which is the currency and date as recorded; no US dollar price is given for the pedal1.
Manual
ToneHome hosts the FL-305 manual as a PDF download on its product page, so the original documentation is available to read even without the pedal1.
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Questions
Has the Ibanez FL-305 been reissued?
No. ToneHome, an independent reference for Ibanez products, records the FL-305 as never having been re-issued. Ibanez has made other flangers since, including the FL9 and the recent Mini Flanger FLMINI, but the FL-305 itself remains a 1976 to 1980 original only.
What is the difference between the script logo and block logo FL-305?
They are the two production versions of the pedal. Version 1, made from 1976 to 1977, carries the script logo. Version 2, made from 1978 to 1980, carries the block logo. The block logo version is the harder one to find.
How can I tell which version of the FL-305 I have?
Look at the logo on the pedal. The script logo marks version 1, produced from 1976 to 1977. The block logo marks version 2, produced from 1978 to 1980. ToneHome lists the script logo version as rare and the block logo version as very rare.
Is the Ibanez FL-305 rare?
Both versions are considered collectible. ToneHome rates the script logo version 1 as rare and the block logo version 2 as very rare, and gives the pedal an overall collectibility rating of high for both versions.
Where can I find the Ibanez FL-305 manual?
ToneHome hosts a scan of the FL-305 manual as a PDF download on its FL-305 product page, so the original documentation can be read without owning the pedal.
What did the Ibanez FL-305 cost when new?
ToneHome lists the 1980 list price as 365 DM, the German mark, since the pedal was sold in Germany at the time. No US dollar list price is recorded for it.
Sources (1)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME, 1978-02
