This Guitar Is MASSIVE! (Ibanez FTM33 Meshuggah 8 String Guitar) 

One of my absolute dream guitars. All the Meshuggah sigs and customs are pure GAS. I just wish they’d give this an ebony board (but a DIY staining job should get the job done too)

Love the body shape on this guitar. Really makes it look like a weapon ❤

The floyd-style locking bridge is probably to add tuning stability. They’ve been always known to be very particular about guitars that can hold tune well on tour.

Yeah, that style bridge is a pain in the ass. In theory, once those strings are clamped down, there should be no way for it to go out of tune, because it's impossible for the strings to twist, or to move with the tuners. No different than any other floating bridge, but more stable. But in my experience, Ibanez use very soft alloys for the bridge pieces and screws, and to lock the strings down as hard as is required for that lowest string, you're using an amount of force that risks damaging the bridge pieces. Had the same bridge on my RGA8 years ago, and I hated it enough to get rid of the guitar!

Aesthetically, it's my favourite guitar design of all time, other than your standard RG shaped Ibanez', it's an art piece. Great vid man, nice to see some insight on this beauty!

Looks super heavy. Love Meshuggah. DTADS is so amazing, so cool you played it.

I like the idea of a different shape other then the super strat. I was looking at a Schecter Avenger 8 just because it was something different. Someone bought it before I could so I am just going to go with the RG8 and do different type of upgrades. Great stuff, love the channel.

My problem with 8 string guitars that this model seems like it doesn’t have is how top-heavy they typically are. Nice haircut and thanks for the review!

drums sounding crispy man holy

I remember seeing this on Ibanez's site a few years ago and thought it was a really cool design. I've never actually seen any videos of it or how it sounds. I had always assumed it was a limited run signature guitar because no retailers have them; especially here in the US. It just always seemed weird to release a signature guitar but never send any out to say, Sweetwater. I can't say I'm surprised that its only 22 frets. My first guitar was an Iceman (IC 200 to be exact) and it was 22 frets due to the body design and had a lot of neck drop. Great video :)

Looks wise, this is probably the most badass guitar ive ever seen

You def pulled out THALL the stops for this one!!!

Gotta admit, I'm pretty jealous that you have it, it's my dream guitar haha enjoy it!

Great playing & demo. Really cool to hear an honest review. I would love that guitar but the bridge is too much hassle for me. Got yourself a new sub - cheers 👍🤘🤘

The fact that they did a limited run of the jatoba fretboard could make that a collectors item one day. Could be a dope Pawn Stars moment in the future LUL

Mick Thomson is also known for the locking non-floating bridge, his were called the Ibanez edge and he had them in all his guitars, when he switched over to jackson a while ago he had them design the exact same system for his new soloist models and you say mileage may vary but honestly I find if you set that bridge up right and lock in that nut properly you can really abuse the hell out of these guitars and rarely too far out of tune, the newer hard tail bridges are the "Gibraltar" I have one on my SIR27FD and they're an absolutely rock solid unit but I dont think they compare to a well made locking nut system. just my opinion! dope mix dope playing and good info as always! 🤘

Demo was 🔥

Killer Axe, Killer demosong, Killer Haircut!

Oh my former love:) I saw this guitar few years ago in Ibanez site as well as Mr. Thordendal's videos. I searched everywhere but sadly it was made very selectively back then. Glad they mass produce this model.

I love this bridge. I have on on my RG8.

I'm waiting on delivery of this beast today :)

Good review

Sold mine after getting my Singularity 8, as it was just far more comfortable and did everything the FTM33 did better. I loved everything about the guitar except the horn (as I’d smack the top of my hand off it during some styles of leads), the knob config/toggle position, and that it was only 22 frets. Aside from those things, that was the first guitar with the M8’s, and those quickly became my favorite pups. I also loved it cosmetically, as that body shape and headstock are my fav. I kinda wish I kept it, as I’m a huge Meshuggah fanboy, but I’m happier it’s in somebody else’s hands and not just looking good on my rack. I’m also with ya on the cost, without SS frets, and some manufacturers errors (which I fixed on mine), it definitely shouldn’t be priced that high. I will say the bridge is intended for better tuning and intonation; though, it’s a pain to get setup if it wasn’t setup right or begin with. But good vid, man. Glad you dig it! :)

I could really see these guitars being worth a lot of money in the future.

Ya the lock hardtail bridge was also used by mic from slipknot. And tosin used it on his Ibanez he had. Basically they liked locking the string in place, and using fine tuners to tune it.

usually I do not caree about explorer style bodyshapes, but this looks amazing!

I know how you love guitar body types that aren't normally seen for metal guitars ( Tele, explorer, etc) have you considered reviewing the M80M or getting one in general?

The Lundgren M series pickups are sick, I play drop G on a 7 strings and the M7’s are just perfect

The FTM33 Stoneman, the Music Man Majesty 8 String and the Mad Max Ormsby Guitar of Dino Cazares are My Favorite 8 String Guitars of all time

Yeah the bridge has put me off getting it all this while. That said the firebird shape is tempting so my mind goes back and forth.

I love the body shape I agree with you completely.

I had always wish they made this model in a prestige version. I have not had any good experiences with Indonesian Ibanez, but love the look. I really feel this shouldn't be over $1000 based on other indo models.

Can't wait to get my grubby little hands all over this

Oooo. Fucking goosebumps on the Dancers intro

if that intro doesn't tell you it's Meshuggah idk what will. That timing in ridiculous.

That's a very cool design, they should do it in 6 strings (don't know if they do)

Super beautiful 🤗

That looks like a meshuggah weapon...I'd expect no less.

hi there bro , you said the new ones have rosewood again ? which supplier are you talking about ? would i find it in the uk ?

I'm surprised how well yours balances. The neck on mine wants to go straight down. Maybe that is something they fixed with the newer versions (mine is from the first run in 2017).

Happy New Year with the "Ultimate Machine to make a Tacos of Peshuggah and Leshuggah...

It's a monster for sure. You should def get a black pickguard replacement for it. The mirror makes it cheesy IMO. Cheers!

Yes.

living the dream fredriks guitar

I love mine. Got it 13% off 1999.99 on ebay...so it was 1739 before tax and shipping. I like the bridge. I think it's their answer to the bridge Fredrick has on his that's a stopbar, but has fine tuners. I definitely prefer it to the run of the mill hipshot string thru style thats on EVERY 7/8 STRING. my biggest complaint is the F string is directly over the neck pickup poles, but to the left of the poles on the bridge, and by the time you get to the eb string, the string is to the left of the poles on the neck but dead center on the bridge pickup. I expect this on my sub 500 agile's, but wad linda disappointed when i saw it on this guitar, which is the most expensive thing i've ever bought that wasnt my house, or a vehicle. M80M is next on my wishlist.

I love the bridges man, it’s all about the feel for me when palm muting, having grown up with floyds, and always blocking them, (I know right, go figure?) Using any other bridge feels weird! Although I gotta say the mono-rail on my RGD71ALPA is the next best thing… 🤘🏽 that guitar would be perfect if they dropped the locking nuts and swapped the tuners out for Gotoh MGT’s…

Are you planning or do you want to mod the guitar with an evertune bridge?

my man lookin badass with the new haircut

Have you checked out the esp Ltd ec-258? There are very few reviews about it on RU-vid and it's a cheaper option for anyone who wants an 8 string in a non super strat body. I've had one for about a year and I love it.

Dancers!!!

What gauge are you using? Mine sounds sloppy as hell on the lows…

i love that Ibanez uses its classic logo on a guitar that's played by one of the forefathers of Modern Metal.

What are your ears gauges to? I am gauging mine and just wondering

Sick axe look for you. It suits you better than all that neon green stuff.

I have that guitar also and its just sooo brutal 😀 in Finland it was ”only” ~1400€ wich translates pretty much 1:1 to CAD (custom guitar would be 3-3,5k€ also). I’m not a huge fan of that bridge either and wanted to play it live so I got it Evertuned 😅

Kinda looks like a firebird, pretty dope

I agree about the body shape, it looks imposing as fuck in my opinion. I like the RG shape a lot, but it's refreshing to see something else for an 8 string. The price for new guitars are astronomical now. Plus a lot of companies seem to have bad QC. Really not worth buying something new unless you absolutely have to have that guitar. I wanted a Brandon Ellis signature Kelly but no way am I paying that kind of money.

Do you think you review the m80m?

I'm pretty sure the bridge is there because of microtuners and a locking nut. Cool review though and really nice playing.

Which amps do you recommend for the FTM33?

yessssss finalyyyyyy

Have you looked into Hapas guitars? They have a model that can be made into an 8 string with this body shape, I believe it’s called the Deus!

Question for you, Sir! What guitar is comparable to this? Not price point wise, but quality wise...

Damn 3600 bucks Canadian! Fun fact if 10 timbits are $1.99... add tax... That guitar is worth 15720 timbits Ayyyyoooooo! I'll see myself out. Other than the price that thing is a beast! Killer review

Your points on the bridge are exactly what keeps me away from investing. I don't know if it's possible or worthwhile to replace, but do you see yourself swapping the bridge out for something else? Or just going to get used to it and enjoy for what it is?

That pricing is so weird to me cuz even with exchange rate, that's more than that guitar is new in America (its about $2000 new from what I can see and $3600 CAD is $2800 USD). You did get a good price for it though regardless of currency.

New Loathe single, homey.

I bought one back in 2018 for 2700 AUD = 2450 CAD. As far as quality control goes, the fretwork is probably that of a budget/mid tier $1000 Schecter, as the frets aren't polished and some of them aren't level with a bit of fret buzz on the higher frets. The Jatoba fretboard is very out of place, like as if someone slabbed on some wood from a kitchen table onto the fretboard, so I stained mine with some of that higgins ink. Now it looks like a dark rosewood/ebony fretboard, especially when it darkens with some dunlop lemon fretboard oil. Also, the acrylic pick guard is very susceptible to tiny little scratches so you will get picky about it but eventually learn to deal with it as no one is going to see it unless they put their face into it. The bridge is a pain in the ass to intonate because the screw is perpendicular to the saddle, so you have to loosen the string completely to be able to adjust the position of the saddle and then re tune it when you're satisfied with the intonation. With that being said, it still has great sounding pickups - Chewy and meaty, whilst still having a low enough output to do great clean tones. The tuning stability is great with the locking nut and the body shape allows you to rest your picking hand on the top of the guitar when chugging. And in terms of the fretwork, all you really need is some fret polish and it's mostly fine. As you pointed out, it also doesn't suffer from neck dive. With that being said, it's basically an awesome guitar design with high quality pickups and good enough to rely on for composing studio/live performances. *TL:DR The build quality is probably worthy of a budget/mid tier Schecter, except it looks awesome which makes it kind of worth it IMO.*

The shape looks like the iceman going into beast mode

Iv always wanted one (dream guitar)

WANT

All of us watching the review even though we'll never even see one of these in person

How is the neck and playability? Is it manageable without multi-scale?

I had to wait to watch this video because I am so jealous....yea dumb... but thats a dream guitar of mine. I am grateful that I have my RG 2228 but ill get one of those some day. I am on the side that really likes the bridge but to each their own. I dont understand why it has "many" of the inconveniences of a floyd though. Floating-no, springs-no, hassle of blocking to change strings-no, tuning instability- no, bitch to intonate-well yeah.... that is a pain in the ass, and im sure there a few others things that may be a bit vexing to others. Great review!...keep it up.

Please, i am begging you, do a cover of either i am colossus or combustion. I know that colossus isnt the most technically challenging and it pretty one note. But i for some Reason love it. And love the guitar, have been wanting it ever since i Saw it first time. Though i am a beginner with only 4 or so years of experience. Had been playing classical for 11 years before that with a Big break

Nissssssssssssssssssce 🍻 Still needs green pickguard!🍀

It's just an adaptation on the Explorer. You're completely right about the RRP being ridiculous. I'd rather have a vintage for that price which would also appreciate over time.

would have loved a run through of the tones and what not

So fucking sickk

I'm surprised that they shortened the string length on this versus the M8* guitars. It seems to still have amazing definition despite this change.

What was his single HB iceman called?

As far as I know the original Ibanez 8 string guitars are the ones they made for Fredrik and Marten somewhere around 2004.

How long is this guitar overall? Looks like it’s almost the length of a bass.

How do you thing, is it possible to put FR bridge on it?

I’m kinda sad for the demo you didn’t play the coda. It’s like the best part.😂

👌🏼

Would be the most comfortable 8 string lapsteel with an elbow rest.

Love that body shape

In Sweden ive seen them for about 2000 us dollars new, =) Love cheers

IT HAS THE OLD IBANEZ LOGO FOR FUCKS SAKE I NEED IT NOW

3600 canadian is pretty expensive for it tbh. In Finland it retails atm for 2000 euros which is roughy 2900 canadian. I bouth this guitar mostly because it might be the coolest body shape there is. In fact I ordered a custom 7 string guitar from a friend luthier with this exact body shape, but in white, with a reverse banana-style headstock and Kahler tremolo. I'm also a big fan of meshuggah and if I was to have an 8 string this would be it. I love the look of the Floyd Rose type fixed bridge. Only downside I have with it is the 27 inch scale. I think it's just too short for the 8th string. it need minimum 28 to work. 1st through 7th string are fine even in 25,5 inch.

I like your cut G

That's a boat rudder

Looks like a Thunderbird and the Iceman had a baby…… ….a really, really awesome-looking baby…..

yea after playing the carpenter tele ltd's live most guitars arent that heavy to me now.

I still don’t understand how you can get good intonation and tuning stability for F Standard from a 27“ scale?! I own 27“ 28“ and 30“ guitars, but everything below 28“ does not provide sufficient string tension or intonation capabilities for G Standard or lower. Any ideas anyone?

Buffed firebird

For a 3k guitar it better be pretty fuckin amazing

I never knew you could spell DJENT by using a guitar

Could literally see the difference in weight when you picked up the evertune wow