The LM7 L.A. Metal is a distortion pedal made by Ibanez as part of the Power Series 10. It was produced from 1987 to 1993 and built in Taiwan1. It has never been re-issued1.
The enclosure and the series
TONEHOME describes the LM7's housing as a "heavy duty metal enclosure - different to the rest of the 10 series"1. That sets it apart visually and physically from other pedals in the same family, such as the Ibanez FC10 Fat Cat and the Ibanez MS10 Metal Charger, which share the series but not this case1.
Circuit lineage and the RAT connection
The LM7's circuit is closely tied to the FC10 Fat Cat. TONEHOME states plainly: "The LM7 can easily be modded to an Ibanez FC10 aka ProCo Rat"1. For players who tinker, that makes the LM7 a practical base for a RAT-style build in Ibanez clothing.
For DIY builders, Guitar FX Layouts published a verified stripboard layout, "Ibanez LM7 L.A. Metal (layout v2)", drawn from Dirk's schematic and tagged Distortion2.
Related Ibanez dirt pedals
- Ibanez FC10 Fat Cat, the series sibling the LM7 can be modded into1
- Ibanez TM5 Trash Metal, a Soundtank-era metal pedal that TONEHOME says lacks the tonal qualities of the FC1034
- Ibanez MT10 Mostortion and Ibanez DS10 Distortion Charger, other 10 series distortions4
Videos
Six string to rock
60 Cycle Hum
Rail City
Questions
Has the Ibanez LM7 L.A. Metal been reissued?
No. TONEHOME lists the LM7 as never having been re-issued. Ibanez produced it from 1987 to 1993, and the pedal remains reasonably easy to find secondhand, with what TONEHOME calls good availability and average collectibility. Players looking for the circuit today hunt the original or consider a verified DIY layout.
Where was the Ibanez LM7 made?
The LM7 was made in Taiwan. TONEHOME dates the pedal to 1987 there, and lists overall production as running from 1987 through 1993. It was part of Ibanez's Power Series 10, though its enclosure differs from the rest of that series.
Can the Ibanez LM7 be modded into a RAT?
According to TONEHOME, yes: the LM7 can easily be modded to an Ibanez FC10, which is also known as the ProCo RAT. That makes the LM7 a starting point for players comfortable with a soldering iron who want the RAT-style circuit in a different box.
Why is the LM7 enclosure different from the rest of the 10 series?
TONEHOME describes the LM7's housing as a heavy duty metal enclosure that is different to the rest of the 10 series. The page does not give a reason for the difference, only the fact of it, so the honest answer is that Ibanez built this model into a sturdier case than its series siblings.
Sources (4)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME, 1987
- Guitar FX Layouts: Ibanez LM7 L.A. Metal (layout v2), Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2013-10-15
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME - the World of Vintage Guitar Effects Pedals
