The Ibanez PDS1 is a distortion pedal from the company's DCP series, built around a hybrid circuit, meaning a design that combines different circuit technologies rather than being purely one kind. Ibanez designed it, in the words of its PedalPedia listing, "to provide a wide range of tonal possibilities for guitarists"1. It sits among the many distortion designs Ibanez produced through the 1980s, alongside pedals like the DS10 Distortion Charger and the MT10 Mostortion.
History and production
TONEHOME dates the PDS1 Distortion to a Japanese production run from 1987 to 19922. The pedal has not been reissued since it was discontinued, and TONEHOME rates its collectibility as medium2. Its German list price in 1989 was 315 DM2.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Distortion pedal1 |
| Series | Ibanez DCP2 |
| Circuit | Hybrid1 |
| Production | Japan, 1987 to 19922 |
| List price (1989, Germany) | 315 DM2 |
| Collectibility (TONEHOME) | Medium2 |
| Availability (TONEHOME) | Quite good2 |
The PDS1 has been out of production since 1992 and was never reissued, so every example on the used market is a vintage unit2.
Power and setup
The PDS1 runs on 9V DC with a center-negative plug and draws 57 mA1. That current draw is worth noting on a pedalboard: it is higher than many compact distortion pedals need, so a daisy-chain supply shared with several other pedals may not be comfortable with it.
For setting one up, the essentials are:
- A 9V DC supply with a center-negative connector1
- Enough current headroom for its 57 mA draw1
- A supply not shared with several other pedals on a low-current daisy chain1
Finding one today
TONEHOME describes the pedal's availability on the used market as "quite good"2, which for a discontinued 1980s pedal means it turns up regularly enough that a patient player can expect to find one. The site also keeps a German-language owner's manual for the pedal available as a PDF download2.
Videos
The Pedal Guy
guitarstring
Peta Lukács
Questions
Is the Ibanez PDS1 the same as the PDS1 Distortion?
Yes. The pedal appears under both names: RockBoard's PedalPedia lists it as the Ibanez PDS1, and TONEHOME lists it as the PDS1 Distortion, both describing the same distortion pedal from Ibanez's DCP series12.
What power does the Ibanez PDS1 use?
It runs on 9V DC with a center-negative connector and draws 57 mA1. Use a supply that can comfortably cover that draw rather than sharing a low-current daisy chain.
Was the Ibanez PDS1 ever reissued?
No. TONEHOME records the pedal as never having been reissued, and it was discontinued when Japanese production ended in 19922.
Where was the Ibanez PDS1 made?
In Japan. TONEHOME dates production there from 1987 to 19922.
Is the Ibanez PDS1 hard to find?
Not especially. TONEHOME rates its availability as quite good and its collectibility as medium, so examples surface on the used market with some regularity2.
Is there a manual for the Ibanez PDS1?
Yes. TONEHOME hosts the owner's manual as a PDF, in German2.
Sources (2)
- DCP series PDS1 by Ibanez, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME, 1989
