The PL5 Power Lead is a distortion pedal made by Ibanez as part of its Soundtank series. TONEHOME describes it as "a very fat and powerful distortion that can almost do overdrive," and characterizes the circuit as "pretty much an MXR Distortion+ with a post-equalization emphazising the bass and low mids"1. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson calls it a "Distoriton / Fuzzstortion," placing it between distortion and fuzz territory2.
What it does
The PL5 sits in the distortion camp but leans toward fuzz in character. Karlsson's description of the sound: "It kind of comes across as slightly fuzz-tinged, with an added sizzle to it." He goes on to describe a vibrant singing lead line profile and a slightly Big Muff-y character on chords2. The bass and low-mid emphasis TONEHOME points to is what separates it from the MXR Distortion+ it is based on, giving it a fuller low end than that circuit delivers on its own1.
For a player, that means a pedal aimed at lead work. The descriptions from TONEHOME and Guitar Pedal X add up to a consistent picture:
- A very fat and powerful distortion that can almost reach overdrive territory at its lower settings1
- A circuit based on the MXR Distortion+, with post-equalization emphasizing the bass and low mids1
- A slightly fuzz-tinged character with an added sizzle2
- A vibrant singing lead line profile2
- A slightly Big Muff-y thickness on chords2
It is closer to the fuzz end of the spectrum than a conventional distortion pedal, though TONEHOME notes it can almost reach overdrive territory at its lower settings1.
History and status
Ibanez manufactured the PL5 over a 10 year period from 1989 to 19992. The pedal has been discontinued for over a quarter of a century2. The enclosure changed partway through that run, which is worth knowing when looking at secondhand units:
| Early PL5 | Soundtank-era PL5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Years | First 2 years of production, from 19892 | Remainder of the run, to 19992 |
| Enclosure | Metal2 | Plastic2 |
| Series | Pre-Soundtank housing2 | The housing associated with the Soundtank series2 |
The PL5 was manufactured over a 10 year period from 1989 to 1999 and is long out of production2. For its first 2 years it came in a metal enclosure, before being rolled out in plastic, which is what the Soundtank series used2.
The Leyland Pedals revival
The PL5 is a 6 x Transistor + Opamp distortion from Ibanez's Soundtank line, manufactured from 1989 to 19992. Guitar Pedal X describes its character as "slightly fuzz-tinged, with an added sizzle to it", with a vibrant singing lead line profile and a slightly Big Muff-y character on chords2.
The two versions line up like this:
| Ibanez PL5 Power Lead | |
|---|---|
| Maker | Ibanez2 |
| Circuit | 6 x Transistor + Opamp2 |
| Enclosure | Metal for the first 2 years, then plastic2 |
| Production | 1989 to 19992 |
Videos
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Questions
Is the Ibanez PL5 Power Lead still in production?
No. Guitar Pedal X notes that the PL5 has been discontinued for over a quarter of a century. It was made by Ibanez from 1989 to 1999, first in a metal enclosure and then in the plastic housing associated with the Soundtank series. Players looking for the circuit today turn to the secondhand market or to Leyland Pedals' Peace Lily revival.
What does the PL5 Power Lead sound like?
TONEHOME describes it as a very fat and powerful distortion that can almost do overdrive, essentially an MXR Distortion+ with post-equalization emphasizing the bass and low mids. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson hears it as slightly fuzz-tinged with an added sizzle, a vibrant singing lead line profile, and a slightly Big Muff-y character on chords.
What is the Leyland Pedals Peace Lily?
The Peace Lily is Leyland Pedals' revival of the discontinued Ibanez Soundtank PL5 Powerlead Distortion circuit, in a vibrant etched enclosure. Guitar Pedal X reviewed it in August 2026, listing it at £150 and noting it was awaiting a new batch at the time.
Sources (2)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-08-05
