The Music Man Kaizen Is UnPlayable (For Me) 

I played one at guitar center. I almost always play standing up, so I brought a strap with me. The Kaizen is extremely comfortable to play standing. The body carve is amazing. I love it, but the infinity radius is weird on my picking hand like you said. Jumping between strings just feels odd when doing fast picking runs and I was constantly missing the next string. If the Kaizen didn't have the infinity radius, it would be an instant buy for me.

You and I have wildly different tastes in guitars. I have basically zero interest in owning most of the guitars you review, but I absolutely love your reviews on them.

The $4,000 price makes it unplayable for most people. I suppose if you're a professional though thats just the cost of doing business.

I have a fanned-fret 6 string Strandberg. You are right that it doesn’t make much difference on a 6 string. I think it is a bit more ergonomic as your hand goes up the fretboard, but it’s minor. I like it mostly for the aesthetics.

i personally have considered getting a 6-string multiscale guitar for tuning in all 5ths. the difference between the lowest and highest strings becomes massive and i think fanned frets would help it feel more consistent.

man, this channel is just so good. Love how picky (in a great way) you are with every detail. Means alot to see someone talking about the necessary things!

You’re reviews are so different from others. I very appreciate the unbiased content, presentation and ability to think outside the box. I wish I could take you with me when I’m guitar shopping.

Subtle multiscale helps when the neck is angled upwards to match the position of the elbow. I got my degree in classical guitar, and with it I got a chance to delve into alexander technique (essentially trying to assert ergonomic priority onto your instrument). Generally the forearm needs to be parallel to the fret, so the elbow rises and drops as you play in different positions. When you have multiscale, you can do this with less elbow movement, which now instead swivels rather than completely has to relocate.

Great review. I picked up a Kaizen 7 Spectraflare and it’s incredible. The neck is unique and super fast. The shape of the body is wonderful and the weight is great, super light and contours to my body. Distribution of weight is the best I’ve felt. Sound is incredible - full and sustains great. Don’t agree with your conclusion but love the detail you go into 🤘

Great video man! Really dig your style and approach. I also went through a bit of a phase of trying out different kinds of guitars, tried headless, multiscale, tremolo, hardtale etc etc. Ended up on a regular superstrat with a slim neck and blocked floyd rose haha. Just feels the most comfortable to me.

Thank you once again for an informative and well presented video. These guitars are outlandishly expensive here in Australia so I won't be trying one out, but it's always interesting to hear your detailed opinions and observations on this kind of high-end gear.

See that RC Ormsby in the background 👀 I can't wait for your ormsby video review. I recently purchased one, and I love it. I'm curious as to your take on that brand.

First of genuine fan of your content! Love the way you lay out your reviews love the genuine responses while your playing holding the instruments and the counter questions and engagement with the viewers. Personally the fan fret is a must have not necessarily on just any guitar but almost every guitar and idk how to explain it but imagine your a big ish person but proportion wise your hands are massive and maybe less long arms lol and long torso no matter how i sit or stand with a straight fret guitar it’s uncomfortable to bar accross the fretboard while playing not that I can’t make my fingers do it but my arm has to twist weird on the low frets by the headstock and my wrist is getting put under weird tension while pickup a fan fret guitar even with extended scale lengths the feeling of barring those low frets and the position your hand is in feels more natural like it feels like the guitar should always be like that and specially when the instrument is designed well when you get up to those high frets for anything as well the fan fret follows the natural position your fretting hand is in while moving up and down the fretboard. While it is weird for sure specially in the first couple months- a year of playing only on fan fret guitars it is now something that is a must and I have straight scale guitars and they are fine but it’s that quality thing if it costs just a bit more to have it better quality and better designed why would I skimp on it? Like do you want a wagu steak or a regular steak or do you want a iPhone or an old fliphone it works but that doesn’t mean that the design couldn’t be improved and hence why I do prefer fan fret because of comfortably fretting with my left hand and moving up and down the fret board the angle follows my hand position and the added benefit of the extended scale length means having the guitar in weird tunings is much easier. Put that 6 string in standard c and you could get away with light strings that’s the whole point of fan fret mainly is tuning. If you ever tried to go super low on a normal guitar you’ve put thick strings on and it’s not always comfy well 9-59 which is standard ish pretty slinky for a 7 I play down in g or f I put brand new pack of 10-65 or something and god dam I can play below a 4 string bass tuned standard. So imagine your building a guitar and your like well do I want a 75 in g# or a 65 in double drop D? Easy choice there but say no more. When you tune weird you don’t realize how much the extend range on the other strings besides just the lowest string it can really help. Yeah obviously we do all have our own opinion like you said you don’t get why people would want that on a six string so that’s my two sense. One final note before everyone in the comments has a shitcunt attitude I just want to say that some people do only want to play 6 strings so for them playing a 7 string to downtune isn’t there thing so downtuning their 6 string is the only way they want to do it so while I myself find it odd to put multiscale on a 6 string that could be the right persons saving grace.

Hey thanks. I’ve been designing a similar body shape (minimal body material between forearm and bridge) and your title had me a little worried lol. Glad to know I’m on the right track after all.

I bought an Ormsby 6 string fan fret specifically for drop tuning. I wanted to go Drop C without going thicker on the low string. It's hard sometimes to get the percussiveness on the bass strings, while still keeping the highs slinky.

One possible benefit of multiscale may be making stretching/certain chord voicings easier - I can't say for certain on guitar, but I definitely notice this on my multiscale bass Great in-depth review as usual!

Best review yet. I believe (said this before) you make the best reviews, all the details makes me feel physically close to the instrument. It’s worth to mention that the script, the preparation and the passion are present on every vid. Thanks again Andre.

Rabea Massad's review described the infinity radius in a way that I have not seen in any others and allowed me to finally understand it. The fretboard has a radius - akin to any other fretboard. The difference is that the top of the curve is NOT centred down the middle of the fretboard - it is closer to the high e string side. If you have a look at the freboard - on the low E side, the thickness is less than on the high e side. Not sure if it's just the one radius or compound. I'm assuming single radius because the maths involved in a compound radius on top of the infinity radius would be hell to get right/consistent. While I've entertained the though of fan fret on a 6 string - I get your point and maybe it is better for something like a 7 or 8 string.

I also agree with your offset comparison. My fav Fender are Jags, I sold a Marr Jag and a MIJ Jag (among other guitars; now down to one Jag) to cover some of my costs. It's a modern offset for sure, IMO The fan frets are barely noticeable, more of an aesthetic IMO, keeping it consistent with the 7-string models. Even though the Kaizen 6 quickly became my favorite guitar (to near obsession lol), the Majesty is more versatile and effortless to play in comparison. The Kaizen 6 just works well for me / feels right...though difficult to explain. It's the, "when you find a guitar that works for you, you just know it" sentiment. Cheers!

I don't have a multi-scale guitar but I have one of the Ibanez QX54QM headless guitars. All of the frets are slanted equally rather then it being multi scale so its a little bit different. The slanted frets look perfectly straight when you have the guitar in "classical" position, and it keeps my wrist in a more relaxed position. For years I have struggled with wrist pain while playing guitar due to a metal plate in my left wrist from an injury. With this guitar I am able to play for much longer periods of time and experience very little of the pain I use to experience. I am now in the market for a strandberg because I think having the straighter frets closer to fret 1 might be better then having them slanted all the way down the neck like this Ibanez. I think some multi-scale guitars where the frets closer to fret 1 start to slant away from the player like on the kiesel vader would probably put more strain on my wrist so I would probably never get one of those in multi-scale.

Agree you don’t need a Multiscale neck on a six string but I built one into my custom made OD 6 string and I love it. It just feels like it flows more naturally for my fingers when I’m playing. I guess it’s a personal thing for each player. Great review 👏🏻

Another great review, Andre. Hit the nail on the head with the car driving analogy and it’s why your channel is such a standout. I think multi scales are a social media fad. I’m a 7 string player and I own 2 MS currently (been doing my own Strandberg experiment with MS7’s) Ergonomics in first position are terrible on every one I’ve played. You hit the nut with your hand like you do on the Strandberg and the more aggressive fan (25.5-27) works against the natural motion of the wrist. I have big hands, but to really get into the lowest notes of that B the wrist has to be bent. Every person’s hand, when bending the wrist, naturally points toward the body. Well, the frets point the other way forcing you to tuck your elbow to reach the first fret. I’ve considered that a standard scale where the frets are angle toward the player on the bass side would be the most ergonomic design due to this natural wrist motion, but haven’t seen one made.

Great review.I would love that guitar

I have both a Kaizen 6 and a Strandberg neck-thru. I find the Kaizen much more comfortable and playable... and I don't exactly know why. One thing I do like is the fact that the point where the multi-scale transitions on the Kaizen is in a much better place on the neck. I find the upper registers more difficult to play on the Strandberg because the multi-scale starts at the head, making the frets much more angled and closer together as you go down the neck. Whereas the Kaizen has the non-angled fret being in the middle of the fretboard, and thus everything is less slanted overall (if that makes sense!).

You have the best reviews! Thank you so much for being so comprehensive! Love your channel

Very good explanation, how you review guitars in comparison to cars -really like your channel. Cheers

Always great reviews on this channel. Also the clarity between objective facts and subjective opinions is nice. Good job, man!!! Love your channel.

I would like to see you try some of the john petrucci models. The sterling ones seem like some of the most comfortable guitars below the price of a strandberg. Also, wht do you think of the narrower string spacing of a music man vs the wider spacing on other guitars?

Maybe one day they’ll make one without the fanned frets. Other than that I think it’s great! Never had interest in the Kaizen before, but I think you sold me on it.

I have a few fanned fret 6 string guitars, I don't think i would go back it's not the tuning or the scale length that matters to me, its how the frets match my fingers when doing wide stretches on the neck, the slight angle is so much more comfortable and i find myself having to strain way less to get large chord shapes, but i have really tiny hands

Vox made the SSC-33 and similar models in the 00’s that I believe had the body curved backwards subtly like that. They were actually pretty comfortable. No forearm contour though.

I do think a fan fret can be useful on a 6 string, but I’d assume the fan would need to be more dramatic to be VERY useful. Thoughts?

Great vid, thanks. I really appreciate you showing the guitar support. I never knew that even existed.

Thanks Andre. Great, detailed review.

oh and the multiscale even though it is so light is for baritone scale.. the warm mids and lows will come through, just depends how well you want to drop D or C#? and how you converse with your guitar to back down to E...

What gets me is how thin the body is and how big the neck is especially for the 7 string. My favorite guitar I've picked up is a kiesel thanos headless I currently own 2 it is much like a strandberg super nice

The background color changes for information vs opinion is GENIUS, I wish more youtubers did that... in all fields!

this is my very first video from you, subbed! nice work mate, truly! I loved the changing background color for the opinions. Never seen that. Awesome idea! Much success man! 🤍

Great job. You have saved me a butt load of cash. If they could make a Kaizen with the Axis neck, I would be so there. God Bless, keep up the good work

The subtle fan fret is ergonomic for how your wrist rotates as it goes toward your body. My Strandberg has helped me out so much with dealing with carpel tunnel.

Your attention to detail is fantastic.

Enjoy your Vids !! Learn a lot form you !! Thank You !!!

Awesome review. Been wanting to try one of these out for a while. Thanks Andre!

Hi there! Awesome video, in reply to why a fanned fret might be desirable to some is simply the slight angle. I always play with my fingers angled/slanted, so fanned frets make chord shapes feel more natural! :)

I have a 33 inch scale, 29 fret guitar. That behemoth felt more comfortable than a Kaizen. Never really thought so much about it but your points makes A LOT of sense. ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE TUNERS, PEOPLE CALLED ME TOO NITPICKY. I'd say price point is too high for the guitar to not feel 100% for the player. It is still an amazing instrument but, not for me. Glad I returned it asap. Great breakdown man!

I have been waiting for this video

The subtle fanned fret imo is NOT for drop tunings, but predominantly open tunings. It’s subtle enough to let people get away with certain string gauges and when tuning the ebg strings can be tedious meanwhile the lower strings are still good for smaller drops

I'd be interested in seeing you checkout the Charvel Guthrie Govan model. It's really become the guitar I default to when something is difficult to play or need one for everything. It may look like a simple super Strat at first look, but the little refinement are all player-centric and the sum of them just gets the guitar out of your way and gives you about any tone you'd ever need to pull off a gig. It's truly sublime, imo.

Cheers for the Sylosis riff during the tremolo problem footage. \m/

A fun thought: if they ever make a cheaper "Sterling by Musiclan" version, that will certainly have a normal radius fingerboard. And you'll probably like it better 😂

Andre, FANTASTIC review. Very well thought out and extremely detailed. A+. Definitely made me hit the subscribe button based on your content alone.

WOW! Kaizen 6 is my favorite guitar! I purchased one (indigo blue), and had two more (white and mint) within a week, and just purchased my fourth (Kryptonite)! I plan to buy more once I sell other gear. Cheers! edit: a floating trem would be nice tho

Neat looking futuristic guitar, is that Ormsby RC One actually made by Perry, or is it made elsewhere?

I had a set of those Steinberger tuners on an older Gibson Firebird and I liked them quite a bit for their precision and light weight. What I didn't like was how I'd make my fingers raw tightening the wing nut at the top tight enough so the plain strings didn't slip. I'm partial to split shaft traditional tuners. Locking tuners speed up string changes. That's it. A geared tuner in good working order with sufficient winds around the post does not contribute to tuning instability. Friction points such as improperly cut nut slots and bridge saddles do. Locking tuners are unnecessary.

Commenting on the fan frets for a 6 string: it is about even tension, but I think it’s also about placing the frets in a position that allows more comfort at the wrist.

Have you ever thought of designing your own perfect guitar? By now you have so much knowledge on ergonomics and which parts to use I am sure you would come up with a very interesting design. Also it would be a cool series to watch. Food for thought!

The big thing about fanned frets for me is that they’re more ergonomic - they match the way my wrist naturally twists as my arm moves up and down the fretboard and I find them more comfortable to play even if I’m not realizing any benefits in string tension from detuning.

Fanned frets are good on 6 string when you have short fingers. That slight shift is nice

i like strandbergs fan as it is pretty comfortable. first fret is neutral and the fan follows the angle of my hand as it moves up the neck. I had an Ormsby 6 string with their fan and i hated it as it was too extreme

Thanks, really great vid in my opinion, actually useful. The car/driving analogy is spot on I think.

I was ordering a replacement neck for my first guitar and after watching this vid did so with infinity radius. Luthier really doubted my choice, but it ended up being just perfect shred machine

I just got in my new Sabre. The Kaizen just didn't speak to me personally. Loving the Sabre. Best guitar for recording... and I'm about to find out how it does live after this coming weekend.

Hey Andre, you should try the Schecter AM-6 and the Nick Johnston, pretty sure you would love them

The closest thing I've seen to the Kaizen "infinity radius" is probably a bass that has a twisted neck. I can't remember the builder's name, but the concept was interesting as it made the headstock end being twisted downwards (when playing it) so that you don't have to wrap your wrist and hand around the neck as far, while at the same time making the body twist upwards towards you so you can still maintain a comfortable placement of your right-hand down towards the bridge. Very interesting concept, but completely unpractical for mass-production.

Andre, what do you think about the tremolo itself? I've read that it only allows you to dive and it produces a knock when the springs pulls it back into position. I've played that type of tremolos on music mans before and that knocking drives me mad. Definitely a deal breaker for me! Thanks for the review, it's always fun to watch your videos :)

I will say I appreciate how Music Man and Tosin incorporated very different and innovative specs in a modern guitar...but many of said specs are some things I simply can't get behind lmao. That radius and shallow fan-fret definitely sound like they aren't for me. I'd still love to try one though, because the Kaizen looks so amazing to me. Who knows, I've bought guitars with specs I know I wouldn't like (floating trems, very round radii, etc) but ended up loving them instead of leaving them to be trade fodder.

will there ever be an ibanez experiment? i know thin necks are not your thing but az and azs series might be worth investigating. + im really curious about your toughts in the azs line since you like tele’s so much and i think it has a neck thats on the thicker side

The direction they've thinned it on feels like the opposite of what it should be, having the thinner edge on the top would make it harder to grip without your thumb creeping too high Like having the thinner side on the side the thumb approaches from feels like it'd be ergonomically appropriate

Kudos for wearing an Oathbreaker t-shirt! Greetings from Belgium!

Fan fret seems to only really help out 7 strings and up, in my experience. Most 6 strings fare pretty well with standard fret layouts.

The only reason I can think for the 24.9 scale is for an a high A string. For example a Devin Townsend tuning. Other than that I can't think of one.

Hey...good output jack placement 😂 that's a plus

Multi scale 6 string guitars make a lot of sense actually. It allows you to get the sting tension you want to get without having to use heavier gauges. In other words, 9s on a Gibson scale feel totally different than 9s on a Fender scale. The fanning of the frets is so subtle that you barely even notice it, and it provides a lot of benefit for feel on the string gauges, especially for bending and tension.

I think on a 6 string fanned frets are more so for ergonomics. It's what manufacturers say anyway. I have never tried a fanned 6 string.

From what I understand the slightly fanned frets aren't for tuning down but for tapping (with multiple fingers) in music like AAL, Covet or Polyphia. Since you can slightly angle your hand when playing on those upper frets. Personally I really like how it looks as a slightly modern touch and like to think it makes the guitar sound a little more unique as well :)

I also feel like palm mutes on multi scale guitars feel/ sound weird. For reference I'm talking about 25.5-27 inch scale lengths... very interesting...I've never seen this brought up before...but yes it is a thing

I think fanned frets are hit in and miss for people, some like them and some don't, some also only like certain scales lengths to have a fanned fret, for example my strandberg boden 8 and Larada 8 feel totally different from one another due to the scale lengths each guitar uses (I like both but there is a difference) if I was to buy a Kaizen, I'd want a 7 string Apollo black, but honestly hope one day an 8 string option comes because if I'm playing an extended range guitar, I always want an 8th string with it for deeper chord voicing.

fanned frets do way more for bass, since they already make longer scale guitars more standard, and the longer high strings slinky as u mentioned, agree with you

I've come to the conclusion that multi-scale just isn't for me, but I also don't play 7+ string guitars. I'd still love to check one of these out because they look so striking.

You got expensive tastes in guitars. I give you props for not going down the traditional route, I don't get to see too many high end models on review sites. Looking forward to more episodes.

There is a newer Ibanez s model that has the fan fret 6 string. It has a 25.5 to a PRS 25 inch scale, for me that that is the most comfortable fan on 6 string, you get that slinky ness from a prs and the chugging ability of a fender. Coupled with the thinner neck its just comfy to me.

A good, detailed review. At least you explained what you didn't like and tried to explain. I think it looks cool, nicer than the Abasi, but I'm fairly sure not for me :)

For me, because I play in the sit down classical position, the fan fret is a little more comfortable. Not a dealbreaker, just a personal choice.

With you on the oversized Fender headstocks!

I tune to Drop A, so I would only personally see the point of a fan fret guitar that goes from 25.5 to 26.5 or something like this. That would allow me to have a thinner Low A string instead of a thick 65.

Fanned frets for me have always felt more ergonomic. My hand feels like it chords make more sense. It is hard to describe but that is why I like them on all of my guitars.

Couldn't help it @16:09 my head went straight to metheny's dream box. Album of the year for me

You went to the GC at West 14th?? I love that place.

Totally agree on your example about guitars and cars reviews, watching someone shredding like a beast doesn’t tell me anything useful. Ps: Oathbreaker shirt? What a great band 😍

I really like how you made it clear that, although this wasn’t the guitar for YOU, it is still an outstanding instrument quality-wise. You also have a knack for demoing guitars I have never heard of. This, along with your excellent presentation skills, makes your channel one of my favorites.

I bought a Kaizen 6, amazing guitar, but it is unplayable. After playing it for a few days, my wrist hurts, I get a sharp burning pain in my fretting hand in wrist/tendon area. I don't have that issue with my thicker neck guitars, my 59 LP or my Tom Andersons are great, I can play them for hours. I imagine it is the thin neck that causes the issues. I never liked ernie ball necks, way too thin, kinda like Ibanez wizard necks. I took a chance on this guitar and now I am disappointed. I can't play it. I am gonna return it and get something else. It sucks because they got so many things right on the Kaizen. The weight, the feel of the neck, high access, switch position, feel of the knobs. Not sure if you will read this Andre, but your videos are much appreciated, you provide a lot of valuable information. How do you compare the Kaizen neck to the Abasi Emi? Thanks and I've been subscribed for a while. Keep up the good work!

You were playing Mercy by Sylosis!

I agree that multiscale makes less sense on a guitar than bass. If you want different tension, just change strings. A bass guitar needs a more even tones across the range, whereas the different tones among the strings is a feature of the guitar.

5:18 i believe the use of Infinity in the Infinity Radius is more akin to the Infinity of an Infinity Pool design vs. Infinity in a mathematical sense

Just curious, does Kaizen translate to "ugly as sin"? However, i dig the headstock.

It’s worth a solid 2500. If it didn’t have the fanned fret, and regular tuners, it would be SUCH a sick metal shaped guitar.

the radius messing with you sounds right, but personally i feel like adaping to it would be fine, just fine if everything else is nice... but im an infamous all rounder citizen.. idk ill be on my computer haha

on first sight, the jack sticking out at that spot, definitely not a between the legs thing, to spare my wrists i'd need a tween the legs guitar most of the time.

For me the best thing about this guitar is the body shape, tuners and adapters!

I'm in the same boat with you regarding fanned frets on a 6 string, at least when it is gibson scale to fender scale. Make sense for a 6 string Ormsby where the fanning is more pronounced. Also, new pickups in the EMI?