The Ibanez SC10 Super Stereo Chorus is an analog stereo chorus pedal from Ibanez's Power Series, produced in Japan from 1986 to 19931. It uses analog BBD (bucket brigade device) circuitry, the chip-based method of delaying a signal in the analog domain that defined chorus pedals of that era. TONEHOME describes the result as rich, mellow tones with very little current draw and long battery life1.
Like any chorus, it works by mixing constantly changing, short delayed signals with the normal, dry signal, which TONEHOME describes as producing a deep, melodic type of vibrato1. What sets the SC10 apart from many choruses is a third control beyond the usual speed and width: a delay time knob. TONEHOME calls it a new delay time control that lets you capture even the most subtle chorusing effects1.
The controls
The SC10 carries three knobs, and the two sources describe them consistently:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Controls the rate at which the effect moves1; described by Pedal of the Day as the rate of the effect2 |
| Width | Controls the range of the effect1; described by Pedal of the Day as the intensity of the chorus2 |
| D-Time (Delay Time) | Varies the point in time where the effect is created1; sets when the effect is brought into the mix, with a range of 1ms to 7ms2 |
The D-Time control is the pedal's distinguishing feature. Where a typical chorus gives you speed and depth and nothing else, the SC10's delay time range of 1ms to 7ms lets a player choose how far behind the dry signal the modulated copy sits, which shapes whether the chorus reads as a subtle thickening or a more pronounced sweep2.
Stereo outputs
The SC10 features normal and inverted stereo outputs, which TONEHOME describes as allowing you to play in full, rich, true stereo1. The inverted output carries a phase-flipped version of the modulated signal, so feeding two amplifiers or two channels from the pair of outputs spreads the chorus across the stereo field rather than doubling it identically on both sides.
Where it came from
The SC10 is the basic chorus unit of the Power Series, Ibanez's line of 1980s pedals12. Pedal of the Day's reviewer noted that the Power Series pedals Ibanez made back in the 80s have come to be a well sought-after group2. The series also included the Ibanez DCF10 Digital Chorus/Flanger, the Ibanez SS10 Session-Man distortion chorus, and the Ibanez TC10 Twin Cam Chorus1.
TONEHOME records the SC10 as not re-issued, so any example on the market comes from the original 1986 to 1993 Japanese production run1. TONEHOME rates its current availability as very good and its collectibility as average1. Ibanez has reissued other choruses from its catalog, including the Ibanez CS9 Stereo Chorus, and offers modern compact choruses such as the Ibanez CSMINI, but the SC10 itself has not returned1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the SC10 in July 2015, with the review submitted by Mike B, who called it a great little blue box full of charm and character2. His verdict:
"If you're looking for a cheap, awesome, stereo chorus pedal that sounds great and has a couple of cool options as well, look no further than the Ibanez SC10 Super Stereo Chorus."
The same review ran alongside a demo by West Coast Pedalboard2. For context on where the SC10 sits among choruses generally, see the site's page on Chorus Pedals.
Videos
MetalSpuddy2
Pedal of the Day
Carters Talk Tone
Questions
Is the Ibanez SC10 analog or digital?
The SC10 uses analog BBD circuitry, meaning bucket brigade device chips that delay the signal in the analog domain. TONEHOME notes that this analog approach provides rich, mellow tones while drawing very little current, which also gives long battery life. It is not a digital chorus, and it belongs to the same Power Series family as Ibanez's separate digital chorus models of the era.
Was the Ibanez SC10 ever reissued?
No. TONEHOME records the SC10 as not re-issued, with a production period running from 1986 to 1993. Ibanez has reissued other choruses from its history, such as the CS9 Stereo Chorus, but the SC10 itself has not returned, so surviving examples come from the original run.
Where was the Ibanez SC10 made?
The SC10 was made in Japan. TONEHOME dates the pedal's production period from 1986 to 1993 and lists a 1988 Japanese example, consistent with Ibanez's Power Series pedals of the 1980s.
Does the Ibanez SC10 have stereo outputs?
Yes. The SC10 features normal and inverted stereo outputs, which TONEHOME describes as allowing you to play in full, rich, true stereo. Running both outputs to two amplifiers or channels is how the pedal is meant to show its stereo character.
What is the D-Time knob on the SC10?
D-Time is the SC10's delay time control. TONEHOME describes it as varying the point in time where the effect is created, and Pedal of the Day's review puts its range at 1ms to 7ms, setting when the effect is brought into the mix. It is the control that sets the SC10 apart from choruses offering only speed and width.
Sources (2)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME, 1988
- Ibanez SC10 Super Stereo Chorus, Pedal of the Day, 2015-07-23
