Ibanez started selling effect pedals in 1974 when the company signed an agreement with Maxon to market and distribute their products outside of Japan. These early Made-in-Japan Maxon-made boxes represent some of the earliest and most influential effect pedal designs. Forty years later, it's amazing how musical and useable these vintage relics prove to be.
Along with the big-box FL-305, the Ibanez FL-303 was released in 1976. One of the first Flangers available on the market, the FL-303 handles a wide range of flanging/modulation sounds. It uses two 9V batteries and straightforward controls: Speed, Width, and Regen.
This 1978 FL-303 is the second generation of the '70s "Wide Box" enclosure. Unlike the first generation, the second adds an LED indicator, which is a huge plus. This particular Maxon design also features the way cool "butterfly wing" decals on the sides, and we've noticed subtle variations in the fonts used for "Flanger."
This 1978 Ibanez FL-303 shows some scuffs, scratches, and general wear and tear, but it functions 100% as it should and sounds fantastic. These early MIJ imports paved the way for the boutique pedals of today, but the right ones still hold their own and sound better than any modern derivative. Too much fun!