Ibanez Pentatone Gate

A preamp section turned into a dedicated pedal

The Pentatone Gate is the standalone version of the GATE section from the Ibanez Pentatone preamp. The idea is simple: to offer an effective noise gate designed for modern setups (high-gain, loaded pedalboards, amps with effects loops), with a natural playing feel and quick setup. The result is a pedal focused on "musical efficiency": it reduces hiss and interference without giving the impression of crushing the attack or cutting note endings too early.

Who is it for, and in which styles?

This pedal is aimed at guitarists playing with high gain levels (overdrive, distortion, fuzz, modern preamps) who want to keep a clean sound between phrases without sacrificing dynamics. It is particularly comfortable in rock, hard rock, and metal, but remains relevant in the studio whenever your chain generates noise (multiple pedals, power supplies, lights, electric stages). On a pedalboard, it quickly becomes a comfort tool: less hiss, more rhythmic precision, and a cleaner signal for palm-muted passages.

Features and ergonomics: simple, but designed for the field

The Pentatone Gate relies on direct adjustment: a single control knob allows you to fine-tune the gate behavior to achieve effective noise reduction while maintaining a natural sustain feel. A threshold mode switch (high/low) helps set the threshold within the range best suited to your setup: useful if you switch between single-coils and humbuckers, or between light crunch and denser saturation.

Its major strength remains the 4 input/output connections : you can place the gate circuit exactly where it is most useful, for example just after your distortion pedals (to clean up noise generated by gain) or in your amp's effects loop (send/return) to handle hiss at a strategic point. Finally, the true bypass ensures a transparent signal path when the pedal is off.

Sound

A good noise gate should not be "heard": it should mostly go unnoticed. The Pentatone Gate aims for fast noise reduction with a smooth playing feel, avoiding the "choppy" effect that can appear on some overly aggressive gates. It suits tight riffs and clean stops while remaining natural enough not to spoil note endings, vibratos, or sustained leads. If your tone is high-gain, it helps achieve a cleaner and more professional sound, particularly appreciated in direct input, recording, and on stage.

Technical specifications

Effects	Noise Gate, Effects	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Grey
Type	sector

Switches	Threshold mode (high/low)	Weight	455 g (including battery)
Inputs/outputs	GUITAR IN, GUITAR OUT, GATE IN, GATE OUT	Current required	45 mA at 9V
Dimensions	70(L) x 116(D) x 63(H) mm	Power supply	one 9V battery (006P) or external power adapter