The Ibanez No.83 (New) Fuzz is a fuzz pedal made by Ibanez in Japan, produced from 1974 as part of the company's first series of effects pedals. It is possibly the rarest of all Ibanez effects pedals: ToneHome, the vintage Ibanez reference site, knows of only three examples in existence, two in Europe and one in the United States1.
One of the rarest Ibanez pedals
The No.83 sits among the earliest Ibanez effects, alongside first-series pedals like the No.59 Standard Fuzz, the No.84 Double Sound and the No.91 Tone Machine. ToneHome describes it as "possibly the rarest of all Ibanez effects pedals," with availability listed as extremely rare and collectibility rated very high1. The No.84 Double Sound's own page calls it "the ephemeral and extremely sought after Ibanez No.83 Fuzz"2.
One example surfaced for sale through the ToneHome shop in August 2026, described as "Ibanez No. 83 Fuzz, Japan 1976, vgc," a very good condition unit dated 19761. That listing is also the source for the pedal's Japanese origin3.
The Balance and Fuzz knob fault
Every known No.83 carries a manufacturing fault: the potentiometers for Balance and Fuzz Depth were interchanged at the factory1.
| Knob | What it was meant to do | What it actually does |
|---|---|---|
| Balance | Set the balance | Turning it clockwise increases the amount of fuzz1 |
| Fuzz | Set the fuzz depth | Adjusts the volume1 |
ToneHome's assessment of the fault is blunt:
"This simple error may have led to the short life cycle of this pedal."
So a player who picks one up today works with the controls as wired: the Balance knob is the fuzz control, and the Fuzz knob is the volume control. There has been no reissue, so all three known pedals behave this way1.
Questions
How many Ibanez No.83 fuzz pedals are known to exist?
ToneHome, which maintains a reference on early Ibanez pedals, reports only three known examples: two in Europe and one in the United States. That scarcity makes it possibly the rarest of all Ibanez effects pedals, with very high collectibility among vintage pedal hunters.
Was the Ibanez No.83 ever reissued?
No. ToneHome states there has been no reissue of the No.83 (New) Fuzz. Unlike some other vintage Ibanez circuits that have been revived by other builders, the No.83 exists only as the original 1970s units.
Where was the Ibanez No.83 made?
It was made in Japan. A known example listed for sale by ToneHome is dated Japan 1976, and the pedal belongs to Ibanez's first series of effects pedals produced in the mid 1970s.
What was wrong with the Balance and Fuzz knobs on the No.83?
The pots for Balance and Fuzz Depth were interchanged at the factory. Turning the Balance knob clockwise increases the amount of fuzz, while the Fuzz knob adjusts the volume. Every known pedal shows this flaw, and ToneHome suggests the error may have led to the pedal's short life cycle.
