CS9 Stereo Chorus
The Ibanez 9 Series, unveiled in 1982, really cemented the
company’s place as a top purveyor of fine stompboxes and a
serious competitor to contemporaries like Boss and ElectroHarmonix. Among the most steadfast members of the 9 series
is the CS9 Stereo Chorus, a pedal that combines supreme
simplicity with rich analog tones and a surprisingly broad range
of sonic possibilities. Key to the CS9’s unique sonic footprint,
which has been effectively exploited for decades by players
ranging from John Scofield to Kim Thayil, is its decidedly dark,
lush voicing. Many choruses can be overly bright or watery
sounding, but the CS9 has a warm, almost chewy quality that
sets it apart, and also happens to pair exceptionally well with
distortion. It lends clarity, ambience, and girth to monolithic
riffing and delicate arpeggios alike, and its pair of knobs can
dial in a broad spectrum of sounds from subtle enhancement
to over-the-top whoosh. Like the AD9, the CS9 is currently
out of production, but it can be procured easily on the used
market for between 70 and 100 dollars.