Manufactured in Japan by the Maxon corporation, the Ibanez 9 Series pedals are some of the most historically-significant pedals ever made. These analog designs are the reference pedals that inspired today's high-end boutique units, and the rich sounds they evoke can be heard on many iconic recordings.
The CS9 covered the chorus end of the 9 Series. In the Ibanez line, the CS9 replaced the earlier CS-505, which required an 18v power supply (whereas the CS9 is powered by a standard center-pin-negative 9v barrel). The chorus effect uses a small time delay that is varied to produce a slight pitch bend. When the delay signal is mixed with the dry input signal, the resulting sound moves with a rich, thick undulation as if multiple voices are played in unison. With stereo outputs, the CS9 adds an interesting dimension of movement to the sound. The sweep speed and width controls allow the artist to illicit slow, wide-ranging sweeps or a more rapid vibrato. While earlier units paved the way, the CS9 is the a reference pedal for many of today's boutique pedal designers.
This circa-1982 Ibanez CS9 shows some wear and tear, but it functions 100% as it should. The paint is chipped and worn around the edges, and there is a big dent in the Ibanez badge, next to the "I" (it does get stepped on, after all), but the chorus effect it produces is rich and musical. It is missing the battery compartment cover, but the battery clip still works like it should. This is a fun chorus pedal! It's impressive how much these old units stand up against all the modern-day stuff.