Out of curiosity and from my own lack of knowledge, I wonder how the alt-switch system (and the guitar in general) would work with Hot Rails... Any clue? Also Ichi and Scratchi
Looks like Ibanez actually released something new to the market instead of releasing the same guitar with 1 new feature every year (looking at all mayor guitar brands). I'm not sold yet, but I will sure test it out if I come across it in a store. I'm not saying headless guitars are new or anything, but this headless has a different market to all the headless djent machines.
This is a very interesting guitar. I have developed a taste for headless guitars recently and I find refreshing that they also cover more 'classic' vibes with this model. Makes me feel itchy and scratchy...
exact;y, this is the first headless that has classic tones, not that ice picking, scratchy harsh high sound that comes out of all Strandbergs and other headlesses.
I own the same guitar and I love it. But I made an upgrade according to my taste, I changed pickups, Dimarzio air northon on neck, Dimarzio area 67 in the middle and SD hotrails on bridge. The switch is only used for splitting humbuckers, otherwise it is in a standard binding. I installed ICHI pickups on my Mexico strat and they work perfectly. And of course, the NECK IS PERFECT!!!
This will be my next guitar...really great pickup combinations using the 'alt' switch, and being lightweight and easy to play make this one a winner for me. Thanks again for a great review!
Really interested by this new line. Definitely more guitar-like than something like a Strandberg. There are a few things I'd prefer done differently, but it's a bold step forward into something really cool by Ibanez. I've said before, if they'd come out with the AZ before I went down the Suhr rabbithole, my life might've taken a different path! Cool beans. Also, Itchy and Scratchy ;)
Strandbergs are literally strats with parts of the body cut off/shaved . I own a Strandberg 7 string Original Boden Natural finish. I wouldn't mind getting the Headless Ibanez with the burl top, looks great.
Originally, I wanted the Q52, the Matte Blue Humbucker model, but after considering the fact that I already have a dual humbucker RG that I'll most definitely upgrade the pickups to P-Rails in the future, I've decided that I'd go with the Q54, for different flavor in sounds. And the Q54 (both the Black and Seafoam Green) are the ones that are coming to one of the local store in the upcoming months. I tend to just sit and play my RG for more than 4-5 hours at a time, and it gets very uncomfortable due to the weight. So, a lightweight guitar is something I've been considering and the Quest series was announced just at the right time.
As a long time fan of strandbergs and other headless guitars I love seeing a big name like Ibanez jumping into the market. Would definitely be interesting to see if brands like ESP/LTD, Schecter, and Jackson start making headless instruments as well.
It's on my wish list now thanks to you. The headless that grabbed my heart was the QuestQX54QM but one reviewer came right out and said that if you want to play blues "this guitar is not for you." So when I heard what you were playing and all the mention of Strats and Les Pauls it was like a miracle to me :-) Itchi and scratchi and happier now...
That guy who said it was not right. I have the QX54QM, perfect for blues environment too and I tell you, it is good for literally any kind of guitar music. The neck is a great thing on this guitar, much better than the basic Q54 model's neck, a genius neck profile. So the Ichika neck is also a kinda 'meh' for me: for his style I thought the slanted frets would fit better, also, I cant see the meaning of his bridge single pup choice - silly thing. He does not use this signature guitar as well, look at his present vids. Lol
I only just discovered this guitar and although I am barely a player at all I am curiously in love with it. Your video was one of the first in my search for info about it and I quite enjoyed it. Here’s to Ichi! (and scratchy).
Itchy and scratchy. Nice review! Definitely one I will be considering. Recently watched your review on the Ibanez SEW series, which got me browsing the Ibanez catalog. Definitely some models there to consider now I am looking for my first HSS or SSS style guitar (got a HH style Gretsch G5220 as my first and only electric at the moment).
Japanese always pushing the envelope, best thing we did was give them a transistor they gave it back and made it better. A fantastic culture and people.MUCH RESPECT!
Ive had this guitar for a few months. I live on the beach in Florida and play 4 nights a week on average, mostly outdoor. Basically the worst conditions possible. Tons of heat, humidity, sweat, and other guitar abuses. This thing has been perfect. My band does big dance steps and runs around and stuff, so the reduced weight is phenomenal. The ergonomic shape is great. The electronics have been 100% reliable. It stays in tune well even in poor conditions. The tonal options give me everything I i need for a 4hr show covering several genres and styles. I have several fairly expensive guitars (to me, at least), but they all just sit at home now. My Les Paul is too heavy and cant give me those chimey single coil sounds. My Strat isnt quite as heavy as the Les Paul, but it's so much heavier than my Ichi, and there are certain beefy tomes i cant get with the Strat. My SG doesnt stay in tune, and the neck dive messes up dance moves. The Ichi checks every box.
Purchase one Saturday it's great it's like a 6th generation fighter jet. It's really fast and sleek and comfortable like a high-performance EV car this is something totally different super sleek play ability Ultra fast but the neck is not thin. This is even a generation or two ahead of Ibanez S models. It definitely fits in 2024
I am definitely thinking of getting one of these...I like the black one with 2 humbuckers ...even though I have no creative synapses, I can say itchy-scratchy!!!!!
I love it already so will definitely look at it before buying a Stratocaster because it has the look of a Stratocaster to a degree but has a sound all its own .
@@TheGuitarGeek I know I will haha I’m a huge fan of ichika and Tim Henson but the thing about the thbb guitar is that it had gold but since gold isn’t magnetic they can’t use real gold which means it will lose color later in the guitars life 😢
Now I've clicked the like button because you asked from the past, and maybe you will see this comment in the future.. which is now, for you, the present and I'm writing from the past, which is my present.. Man! Time traveling is indeed confusing.
You definitely sold me on this guitar. I already own one of the Ibanez headless basses and it is wonderful to play, so I can't wait to get this headless guitar!
I am liking guitar guitar. I am looking for something like that. I saw it in a shot some time ago and ignore it completelly. I think the strings were in a very bad condition that destroy any intention of picking it up. Lets say the strings were a bit... itchy and scratchy :) . But I went back to the same shot looking for some light guitar, and try the same line but a 7 strings. This thing is so light that I had to get used to it. I went to to shop looking for an strandberg, but for some reasong they don't want to have them. The sound is a bit modern no matter the single coils and the one I try hada a HB on bridge. But it is soooooo light and confortable and inspiring in a weird way that I will get one to do the final test. I was missing studing siting placement from the strandberg. And I don't like the tele type socket. Very good review. I also don;t like how they place the bridge pickup on this model.
Recently got the 7 string version, already have issue I'm not sure how to fix. After some bends the high E dropped out tune by a few tones, tried tuning back up but I'm out of turns and still a tone out. What do you do in this situation?
I have been eyeing Kiesel for a while because Osiris/Zeus pull off the headless strat/tele look so well, but the new Q series seems to get it right on so many levels, including price. Ichi made a scratchy out of this one for sure.
Itchy and scratchy L O L. Yeah I definitely think I'm going to pick one of these up soon. Seems like a great travel guitar that is also worthy of being on stage.
Ichi and scratchy! Excellent review of this new awesome Ibanez model. I love the look of the guitar and was surprised by how fulsome it sounded. (Heh-heh, he said fulsome!) As a Strandberg owner, I'm really curious to try one of these, especially curious about the build. For a future video, I'd love to see how the guitar sounds through some distortion settings!
Great review. I picked up the Q52 the other day whilst in a store as it looked interesting. I have enough guitars and yet I bought it as it is fun to play and totally different to everything I have. Itchy and scratchy. Even if 10 months late.
Damn, if this thing had a tremolo and stainless steel frets, then this would be the guitar that would be the new best headless. Strandbergs are too expensive IMO. Now they've cut out some major features and uped the price. At a time when everyone is lowering their prices. Damn. I suppose they have become the Apple of the guitar world.
I don't know about Itchy & Scratchy, but your review is what sold me on this guitar. 90% of what I play is acoustic. However, when I play electric, it's dripping in reverb and delay, and is downright shoegazy. Had to wait for them to come back in stock here in the States. But, super excited to explore with this gorgeous thing.
Thank you now I have visions of Itchy smashing a strat on Scratchy to get a DIY Ichi 10. I like the looks of it and I hope I`ll be able to play one in a guitar store near me very soon.
I loved Ren and Stimpy! The Itchy and Scratchy show was just as hilarious thrown in to boot Great demo of this cool guitar I had just finished watching Thomas McRocklin explain why he left Ibanez and went to Kiesel because of their headless guitars Ooops! Guess he should have just asked for one lol
Also because of the 24 frets the pickups do not sit in the positions like in a Strat. Use 22 frets and Vintage Pickups and you are very close to nail that Strat sound
isnt the reason why it doesnt sound like a strat because normally the neck pickup gets placed right where the harmonics are, but here its slightly lower since it has 24 frets
Ichi and scratchy. Been looking at picking up guitar (I'm already a musician, so I'm willing to spend a little more cause I know I'll stick with it) and this is the most helpful review I've found. Sure I don't know a ton about pickups and materials and all that, but the plain English of - it's light, it's comfortable, and it's easy to play may have made the decision for me. The couch guitar comment especially. TBH I was already wanting this guitar anyway. I guess its an Ichika bias.
Hello!! great Video! i ask you.. what do u think about this guitar? do u like in comparision with Strat or Les Paul? How are the pickups ? Has the guitar a good single coil sound and a good humbuker sound or not? Do you ever try stranberg guitars? Do you prefer ibanez or Strandberg? Thanks a lot! Max
from what i heard about the pickups its something ichika was able to tune somewhat and he wanted the talman guitar but with more bass to them and from what ive heard these pickups do REALLY well at that goal
1st of all , thank you for the video/review. i rarely find them not good. and you’re always funny, so that’s a bonus. this guitar has been on my top 10 list for a while, now… i’m more of a Tele guy, but i am 3PUp Tele guy. And i was under the impression that this design would be great ergonomically..great to play. and you’ve just confirmed that. ;) But the tones…. MEH… i was looking for a more trebly tone. not glassy. But not as dark as this sounds.. and it is too expensive to being a modding guitar. PS: one of the reasons i liked it in the 1st place..was actually the fixed bridge. ;) but each to his own take, right :P thanks,again, cheers from Portugal
My first thought when I saw the chrome PU covers was Red Special. Just for the look. But it would be very cool to change the wiring so you could get the "normal" RS sounds (all PU in series, in or out of phase) with "normal" strat sounds (all PU in parallel, but with the "non-strat" bonus of in phase or out of phase, as well as the option to hear all 3 PU at once or the Neck and Bridge without the middle.) Looks like a moders dream!
It was worth the wait ! it was only a matter of time before Ibanez release headless models, and honestly I think these Q serie is the best looking headless designed guitar line... I just couldn't play a Strandberg and I am soo found of the Q shape, which reminds me a bit of the Saber serie. I still will wait for a Prestige made in Japan model, since I have read some bad reviews about finish and electronics on some of those Q models. I have myself tried a Q52 and Q54 last week. If the Q52 was released in black, I think I would have bought it... I am not so found of this lazer blue matte finsih.... the QX52 is in black, but I don't like the slanted frets.... When it will be available in back, in the Prestige serie, I will be in...
This guitar is very tempting does it sound similar to like a vintage fender if so I'm so down it would be a merge of my favorite sounds and my favorite look I'm a big single coil guy
a headless fender strat like guitar looks better than expected. best thing for small studios, better get one with singelcoils and one with humbuckers. the pus sounded stunningly good on my tannoy monitors. very acoustic so to say
