Ibanez HD1500 Harmonics/Delay Rackmount Rack Maxon HD 1500 1984

Firstly, a cool feature of this unit is the effects loop that allows you to add other effects to the delay repeats. Originally I thought the effects loop did not work because the effects were not being applied to the overall input but I did some research and figured this out. The effects loop is for delay repeats only and it functions as intended.

I can see why so many say they miss having this rack unit. For me, I really love the 80’s Chorus sound and the Harmonic section. The tracking on the pitch shift in the Harmonics section is all glitchy and lo-fi compared to today’s stuff- in the best way. It can sound like the Yes- Owner of A Lonely Heart guitar solo and from what I’ve read this unit was used in conjunction with a Morley Power Wah and volume swells on 12 tracks of basses for the intro to Metallica’s Damage Inc. That was all Bass Guitars pitch shifted. Cliff Burton also used this unit in his live rig for solos. This unit was also in Steve Lukather's 80's studio rig.

This Rack unit is in excellent condition for it's age. 37 years old now, that's older than my boss at work. There is a bit of rack rash along the front edge of the top but cosmetically, that's about it. I cleaned all of the pots and switches, they weren't dirty sounding I just did it anyway. If you want a solid HD1500, this is it.