The Ibanez GE-601 Graphic Equalizer is a vintage graphic EQ pedal made in Japan, dated 1980 to 1981 for the standard box version1. It belongs to Ibanez's narrow box series with the square switch, the compact pedal format the company used at the end of the 1970s and the start of the 1980s2. As a graphic EQ, it gives the player fixed bands of cut and boost across the frequency range, the usual tool for shaping a rig's tone rather than adding gain or time effects.
Versions and rarity
The GE-601 exists in four versions, and the differences matter to anyone hunting one down. TONEHOME, the independent Ibanez reference site, splits them this way1:
| Version | Enclosure | Rarity |
|---|---|---|
| v1 | Narrow box, with flying fingers side graphics | Extremely rare |
| v2 | Narrow box, without flying fingers graphics | Still rare |
| v3 / v4 | Standard box | See the "0 Series" |
The flying fingers are the side graphics on the earliest narrow box issue. A first version with them is described as extremely rare, and even the second version, without them, is described as still rare2. The later standard box versions are a different story: the site records their availability as good1.
The narrow box versions and the standard box versions are not equally findable. If a GE-601 turns up for sale, which enclosure it has tells you a lot about how unusual it is.
What it cost when new
TONEHOME gives two list prices for the GE-601: 198 DM, which the site pairs with a figure of $90 USD, for the 1979 list price, and 227 DM for 198121. Both are quoted in the currency the source states.
Where it sits in Ibanez's EQ history
The GE-601 was part of a run of Ibanez EQ pedals through the late 1970s and 1980s. The Ibanez PE-105 Power Equalizer was in production from 1977 to 1978, the Ibanez GE-300 Graphic EQ followed in 1979 to 1980, and later came the Ibanez GE10 Graphic EQ from 1985 to 1989 and the Ibanez BE10 Bass EQ from 1986 to 1993. Ibanez also made the parametric Ibanez PQ 401 and Ibanez PQ9 Parametric EQ for players who wanted sweepable bands instead of fixed ones.
Manuals
TONEHOME hosts both documents for the GE-601 as downloads1:
- Owner's manual: Ibanez_GE601_Manual.pdf
- Service manual: Ibanez_GE601sbfi_servicemanual.pdf
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Questions
Was the Ibanez GE-601 ever reissued?
No. TONEHOME, the independent Ibanez reference site, records the GE-601 as never having been reissued. Players looking for a later Ibanez graphic EQ in a similar role have to look at other models from the company's history, such as the GE10 or GE9 from the 1980s, rather than a modern reissue of the GE-601 itself.
Where was the Ibanez GE-601 made?
The GE-601 was made in Japan. TONEHOME dates the standard box version of the pedal to 1980 to 1981, placing it in Ibanez's narrow box series with the square switch.
What did the Ibanez GE-601 cost when new?
TONEHOME lists a 1979 list price of 198 DM, which it gives as $90 USD, and a 1981 list price of 227 DM. Both figures are in the currency the source states, and the dollar figure applies to the 1979 list price.
What are flying fingers on the Ibanez GE-601?
Flying fingers refers to the side graphics on the first version of the GE-601. TONEHOME distinguishes a version 1 with flying fingers graphics, which it calls extremely rare, from a version 2 without them, which it calls still rare.
Where can I find the Ibanez GE-601 manual?
TONEHOME hosts downloadable copies of both the GE-601 owner's manual and the service manual as PDF files on its GE-601 pages, linked from the pedal's product entries on the site.
How rare is the Ibanez GE-601?
It depends on the version. TONEHOME calls the version 1, with flying fingers side graphics, extremely rare, and the version 2, without them, still rare. The later standard box versions are described as having good availability, and the site rates the pedal's overall collectibility as average.
