New headless series from Ibanez

[Chris Pile]

Q | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

Ibanez has just released their new Quest series of headless guitars, along with a new artist signature model - the first Japanese artist Ibanez has ever signed.

Meet Ichika Nito, check out details of his new axe, and watch his new video.

Ichika Nito's first-ever signature model headlines Ibanez's all-new Quest headless guitar range | Guitar World

 

[Kac]

Looks neat. I don’t think I’d ever be able to get into it though.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

These were leaked back in April, but now is the official release. I don't know, the headless guitar market is niche but kinda tough, with the likes of Kiesel, Strandberg, Aristides being some of the top ones, and Harley Benton, Eart and Steinberger being more budget friendly. As usual per Ibanez these days, mostly uninspiring colours upon first release, heh.

Though Ichika is a great player, he's one guy. The reason AZs, for instance, were successful was because Ibanez put them in the hands of many players who are hot these days. Now the Tele shaped one is out, with Lari Basilio and Josh Smith having their own models. These Qs might be a difficult sell, as lots of people think headless is ugly and therefore won't buy.

That said, I do dig the HSS - multiple switching options and C shaped Wizard neck tick boxes for me. It's like an S meets AZ in headless form. If it had a trem, I'd dig it a bit more, though it would be expensive, as Ibanez would probably design their own proprietary unit and have Gotoh make it.

 

[Securb]

Not a big headless guy myself. I am waiting to see Dave's reaction

 

[Chris Pile]

Anyone notice the ones with frets slanted 8 degrees? In the marketing blather, Ibanez claims it's new. Not true - Rickenbacker was doing it on some models back in the late 70's / early 80's. The store I worked at sold them. I loved 'em, but could never afford one. They even slanted the model specific humbuckers which sounded awesome as I remember. The slanted frets were no problem to play, either.

 

[Mincer]

I dig them. Headless guitars are all the rage now. I wish they would have a model with 22 frets, though. I don't think any currently produced headless guitars have 22 frets. But I'd certainly give these a try.

 

[nexion218]

Anyone notice the ones with frets slanted 8 degrees? In the marketing blather, Ibanez claims it's new. Not true - Rickenbacker was doing it on some models back in the late 70's / early 80's. The store I worked at sold them. I loved 'em, but could never afford one. They even slanted the model specific humbuckers which sounded awesome as I remember. The slanted frets were no problem to play, either.

That caught my eye too. Given that they are all slanted towards the body, at first sight I had a feeling that it would compromise the intonation possibilities for lower tunings on the lower strings. But I'm sure the ppl at Ibanez have thought of this and its a non issue (probably the saddles follow the same slant as the frets) but it still feels counter intuitive for me.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Good call, I remember those Ricks. The slanted frets were on the 481 solid, and 360 6 and 12 string models. Like Ibanez, Rickenbacker stipulated an 8˚ slant.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

The nyatoh body is a deal breaker.

 

[idsnowdog]

It looks very derivative of the Strandburg.

 

[beaubrummels]

The switching system looks very useful.

 

[Blille]

I dig them. Headless guitars are all the rage now. I wish they would have a model with 22 frets, though. I don't think any currently produced headless guitars have 22 frets. But I'd certainly give these a try.

Strandberg had a great chance to do a 22 fret with their “jazz” model but didn’t.

 

[Mincer]

Strandberg had a great chance to do a 22 fret with their “jazz” model but didn’t.

Right...they had some prototypes of 22 fret models, and actually built some insanely expensive custom 22 fret models but they never put them in production. Talking to Ola, he didn't see the difference (my guess is that he himself only ever uses the bridge pickup, like most of his endorsers). That turned me off of Strandbergs.

The last production headless with 22 frets was the Steinberger Synapse (in my avatar) which is among one of my favorite instruments.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Do you still have that ZT-3, Dave?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Where are these made? Is it Japan? Or Indo?

 

[Mincer]

Do you still have that ZT-3, Dave?

Nope, traded it for a USA Ernie Ball. The neck of the ZT3 was too big for me, and I really hated the way it sounded- all that maple made it seriously bright no matter what pickups (I think I tried 5 different sets).
I will say that the TransTrem3 was the best vibrato I've ever used. The stuff you can do with a whammy bar when all the strings bend in tune...wow!

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Hm, that's too bad, but if it ain't working, it ain't working. Ned's been supposedly working on a new guitar design as part of his NS brand for years but no cigar yet. The viols seem pretty successful at any rate.

Indeed, the latest incarnation of the Transtrem seems to be universally lauded. I think I first heard a Transtrem being used by Eddie, thinking, 'man, what IS that? So cool!' Fantastic tool, Ned's easily up there with Leo and Lloyd Loar.

Where are these made? Is it Japan? Or Indo?

I think they're Indo.

Ok, I totally forgot that Ibanez did make a headless guitar (and bass) in the mid 80s, as part of the Axstar range. Alder/maple body, active pups, eq controls, HSS or HH options. One cool thing about them is that you didn't need double ball end strings.

You can get them for about the same or less than a new Spirit/Steinbeger if you find one (pretty rare).

There's also the wacky Xing synth guitar.

 

[Mincer]

Ned is flirting with the idea coming out with a new guitar- I've played the prototypes, which were nice. Steve Klein also reverse-engineered the original TransTrem, so pretty soon, you will be able to buy guitars with them, but they won't be cheap.

 

[Chris Pile]

Steve Klein also reverse-engineered the original TransTrem

I've spent time with Steve back in the 80's. VERY smart guy, great designs, built some excellent guitars. I wouldn't think Steve would reverse engineer anything.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Ned is flirting with the idea coming out with a new guitar- I've played the prototypes, which were nice. Steve Klein also reverse-engineered the original TransTrem, so pretty soon, you will be able to buy guitars with them, but they won't be cheap.

That's very cool you got to see and play them. I think there would be some appetite for this - the headless market, while small, is enjoying some new life, and Ned is one of the most reputable instrument designers of the last 40-45 years.

Yes, I saw the recent Fb post of freshly machined hardtail and trem parts, it looks like a superlative piece of kit. Did he use licensed Steinberger units previously?

I first became aware of Steve's work via his acoustic guitars years ago, that arresting looking jumbo with the asymmetric pinless bridge. Another titan in guitar making/design of the last several decades.