Ibanez

Jim Davies has worked with Prodigy and Pitchshifter; and he owes it all to the Ibanez RG550 and other Ibanezes he's played throughout his career. Well, maybe he owes something to talent and persistence as well; but you know, we're a gear site.  

Jazz legend George Benson is mighty proud of the Ibanez GB10. Benson's signature hollow body jazz box, as well as several other Ibanez GB models, has been around for a few years. Benson has a lot to say about their unique design... especially since he was involved in developing it.  

While lefties have always dreamt of being like Jimi, some of them also dream of being Steve or Satch. Now that opportunity has been realized as the left-handed models Ibanez JEM7VLWH and JS1200CAL have been introduced to the guitar market.  

Beginning and cash-strapped metalheads all desire to have that intimidating nightmarish flash that their more wealthier and experienced counterparts do. The Ibanez Xiphos XP300FXBX will get those metalheads on a budget a good headstart towards that path.  

Alexis Babini is playing at the upcoming Operation Swandive benefit for cancer charity, Lyrics for Life. We are not sure if he will, himself, be leaping from a plane but we are fairly certain his amp -- the Ibanez Troubador T35 -- will not be. Unless he gets tired of it.  

Musicians have long been saved by VSTs from the cruelty of hauling a ton of gear. VST racks have even made VST instruments and effects easier to use onstage. Some of them though have a price tag that could burn holes in your wallets. Ifoundasound, however, gives you that cost-free alternative in their latest version of LiveProfessor.  

Man, you thought the Ibanez Promethean Bass Amplification system was only a myth, but then here comes the news that Ibanez will be unveiling the whole amp and cabinet series at the Upcoming Summer NAMM 2009. What's next, Nessy at AES?  

2009 marks the 20th year that Paul Gilbert has had his name on a signature guitar from Ibanez, and in celebration, Ibanez is rereleasing his first signature axe, the Ibanez PGM100RE. It hasn't aged a day. . . kinda like Gilbert himself.

In further celebration, Ibanez is conducting an online poll asking which of the past twenty years' Paul Gilbert signature models should be the next to be reissued. I don't want to influence your vote, but pick the Talman (PGM900).  

Ryan Fox of Saddle Creek's The Good Life, talks about his trusty old analog delay pedal. The good, the bad and the ugly. Actually, it is mostly good.  

To quote They Might Be Giants, "if I didn't have disappointment, I wouldn't have any appointments." We didn't have an appointment at the Ibanez booth, but that didn't stop us from examining the tastefully-appointed Ibanez SRX470 Bass.  

Back at the Ibanez booth, there were a few new bass models that GW's Owen O'Malley really took a shine to, or rather, a dull luster, in the case of the satin-finished maple-necked Ibanez SR300MCA. He's kinda too into that neck, if you ask me.  

Eve wonder why some restaurants thrive and others fail, regardless of the quality of the food served? The answer, my friend, is best expressed through a song played on a new Ibanez Ambience acoustic-electric guitar.  

Resident guitar guru Owen O'Malley checks out the signature model of Omar Rodriguez Lopez, a man who's proficient in beautifully mutilating everything guitar traditionally is. The Ibanez ORM1WH keeps it simple, because who needs features when you're just going to send your signal through crazy modulators anyway?  

*confession: I literally don't know what "literally" means. But that's OK, because Paul Gilbert doesn't know what "slow the [eff] down" means, just like Ibanez doesn't know what "stop issuing Paul Gilbert signature guitars" means. To whit: the Ibanez PGMFRM1 Paul Gilbert Fireman.  

Without much fanfare (that was saved for the $10,000 Paul Gilbert Fireman), the Ibanez SR7VIISC guitar / bass hybrid axe patiently awaited thrill-seekers at the corner of the Ibanez booth. One of those curious individuals: GW's own Owen O'Malley.  

Most instruments that can be described as "traditional" are intended to be played in "traditional" settings, i.e., non-amplified. The Ibanez 7545r acoustic preamp and transducer system provided Irekani Chavez of Tarima Son with an easy solution for "updating" his traditional Cuban Tres.  

Owen O'Malley gives his take on the Ibanez AEB10E Acoustic-Electric bass, both connected to an amp and with plug pulled. Check out this video to see where this bass shines and where it lands flat.  

Like David Letterman's "Genius Switch," Christopher Leigh's Ibanez Tube Screamer has no off position. It's the base-tone for his dual-path effects pedal layout. Equally surprising: you don't need keyboards to play neo-disco.  

Roving romantic troubadour Owen O'Malley seeks to win his Mistress's fancy with a wee ditty played on the Ibanez AEF30E Acoustic Electric. Hath he chosen the appropriate instrument with which to woo? We ask you.  

We check out another brand squeaking newly arrived Ibanez guitar at Gearwire Studio. The RG350DX comes equipped with a Floyd Rose locking trem system for all of your pitch bending addictions.  

If your average daydream consists of melting faces with brutal metal solos, sweeping arpeggios and double-tapping glory, watch this video. The Ibanez Iceman ICT700 could be the majestic white steed that you ride on to shredder glory.  

Bassists know they can't use any old distortion pedal to get good overdriven tone on their instruments, and the butt of all our in office bassist jokes, Owen O'Malley, checks out the Ibanez PD7 Phat-Hed. It'll preserve your bass tone when overdriven, but if it's worth its salt, it should do a lot more than that, right?  

Back with yet another bass guitar demo, Owen O'Malley shows off the Ibanez SR700 from the ever pop- wait a minute, that's not lovable, affable Owen! Who IS that guy?  

Housed in a folded steel chassis and adorned with some of the prettiest psychedelic art this side of our country's loss of confidence in its own government, the Ibanez FP-777 Flying Pan is a thick, 70s-style panning phaser.  

Owen O'Malley struggles to remember the pi-like string of letters that makes up the name of the Ibanez EWB20SMFE. The important thing is, we don't see too many fretless acoustic-electric bass guitars in Gearwire Studio, so we were anxious to check this one out.  

We're back at Proletariat Productions where Tristan James shows us the Ibanez Soundgear SR406 bass. It's got six strings for extended range both ways and a surefire way to piss off your guitarist.  

Korn's Former guitarist talks about his new baritone by Ibanez (who knows, maybe some day you'll be able to get this guitar) and the sound it gives to his new CD, Flush.  

Mike Mangione's new CD, Tenebrae, due for release August 3, is a departure for the normally acoustic-minded artist. He talks about the departure and the gear he uses.  

Elmira, New York is home to the progressive goth stylings of À Rebours. Ian Stone talks about guitars and recording with the band.  

Now that Bill's applied enough aloe vera to his sunburn, and Britton's -- uhh -- recovered, we've decided to take one last look at the Summer NAMM product debuts that may have been eclipsed in the standard GW news cycle by the mighty Moog Guitar.