The Ibanez PT-900 Phase Tone is a phaser pedal produced from 1974 to 1976, and it holds a particular place in the company's history: it was Ibanez's first guitar effect pedal sold officially and internationally1. It belongs to the wider family of phaser pedals, the sweeping, whooshing effect that shaped much of 1970s rock.
A Phase 90 design under another name
TONEHOME, the reference site for Ibanez effects, is direct about the pedal's origins: "The Phase Tone is a MXR Phase 90 knock-off"1. The MXR Phase 90 was the dominant phaser of the era, and the PT-900 follows its circuit closely. TONEHOME notes that "like the MXR the PT-900 has a slightly distorted sound with humbucking pickups," so players using humbuckers can expect the same touch of grit mixed into the phase sweep that the Phase 90 is known for1.
Two versions
The PT-900 was made in two issues, and the difference is easy to spot and hear1.
| Version | How to identify it | Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| First issue | No "Phase Tone" inscription below the Ibanez name | Original circuit, slightly distorted with humbuckers1 |
| Second issue | Inscription "Phase Tone" below Ibanez | Modified circuit with less distortion1 |
The second issue's modified circuit "sports a modified circuit with less distortion," which makes it the cleaner-sounding of the two1.
Rebrands and market availability
The same pedal was not sold only as an Ibanez. TONEHOME records that "The PT-900 was available through different brand names like Greco, Pax and Foot System," so examples turn up under those names as well1.
The PT-900 has never been reissued: TONEHOME lists its status as "re-issued: no"1. Every PT-900 is a 1970s original.
For players hunting one today, TONEHOME rates availability as good and collectibility as high1. In other words, the pedal is sought after, but examples come onto the used market often enough that finding one is realistic. Ibanez went on to sell other Phase Tone models in later series, including the PT-999 Phase Tone, the PT-909 Phase Tone and the PT-707 Phase Tone II, which are separate pedals from this first-series original.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Ibanez PT-900 a copy of the MXR Phase 90?
Yes. TONEHOME, a reference site for Ibanez effects, describes the Phase Tone as an MXR Phase 90 knock-off. Like the MXR, the PT-900 has a slightly distorted sound when used with humbucking pickups, so the two pedals behave in a similar way in a rig.
When was the Ibanez PT-900 made?
TONEHOME dates the PT-900 to 1974 through 1976. It was Ibanez's first guitar effect pedal sold officially and internationally, and it has not been reissued since production ended.
Has the Ibanez PT-900 been reissued?
No. TONEHOME lists the PT-900 as re-issued: no. The pedal exists only as the original 1974 to 1976 production run, though Ibanez has sold other Phase Tone models such as the PT-999 and PT-909 in later series.
What is the difference between the two Ibanez PT-900 versions?
There are two issues. The second one carries the inscription Phase Tone below the Ibanez name and has a modified circuit with less distortion than the first. Checking the inscription under the Ibanez logo tells you which version you are looking at.
Is the Ibanez PT-900 collectible?
TONEHOME rates the PT-900's collectibility as high and its availability as good, meaning examples turn up on the used market regularly enough that a player who wants one can realistically find one.
Sources (1)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
