Ibanez RGA8QM

SPECS
Neck Material: 5pc Maple/ Walnut
Neck Type: Wizard II-8 (27")
Body: Mahogany body/ Quilted Maple top
Frets: Jumbo frets
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Inlay: Pearl dot inlay
Bridge: Fixed Edge III-8 bridge
NeckPU: LZ8-N
BridgePU: LZ8-B
HW Color: BK
Finishes: TGB

NECK DIMENSIONS

Scale/Length 685.8mm/27"
a: Width at Nut 55mm
b: Width Last Fret 80mm
c: Thickness 1st Fret 20mm
d: Thickness 12th Fret 21.5mm
Radius 400mm
PICKUPS
Bridge Pickup
Name: LZ8-B
Model No: LZ8-B
Construction: Humbucking
Magnet: Ceramic
Description: Low noise and high power 8-string active pickup

Neck Pickup
Name: LZ8-N
Model No: LZ8-N
Construction: Humbucking
Magnet: Ceramic
Description: Low noise and high power 8-string active pickup

UTILIZATION

This is an extremely cool instrument. The RGA8QM follows in a line of recent advances from Ibanez. The Universe, Steve Vai's 7-string signature model, was the first mass-marketed solidbody 7-string guitar, and that came out in about 1990. Metal wunderkinds Meshuggah from Sweden decided to adopt that guitar for their low-chugging riffs, and after a couple of albums of writing on a 7, they decided to go for what was unheard of at the time - an 8 string guitar. After Meshuggah switched to go to a custom builder for their 8s, Ibanez though they should keep up with the changing times, and so they designed their own 8-string guitars to bring Meshuggah back into the fold. The RG2228 was the first solidbody 8 offered from Ibanez, followed by the much less expensive import the RGA8. This RGA8QM is the cosmetically enhanced version of that guitar. Whew!

Brief history lesson aside, this RGA8QM is a dream to play. Access to the highest and lowest notes is very easy, as the neck is thin and incredibly flat. This guitar was designed for ease of playing with precision at high speeds, and it delivers. The bridge is substantial as well - it offers the benefits of a locking tremolo system's finer tuners, yet with a fixed bridge!

SOUNDS

The guitar sounds HUGE. Thunderous, even! All the strings are balanced very well in terms of output, and there is a depth of clarity in this guitar that most axes cannot match. The lowest strings are mighty powerful, and all around the neck the tone is very even. This is a metal guitar, through and through, yet I'm sure some other experimentalists and jazzers could find a use for it.

OVERALL OPINION

What a neat guitar! It is a stunner with that top, and the sound is enormous. The fact that it plays so well is almost unfair! I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I really enjoyed playing this guitar.