Ibanez HR Giger

This is the guitar that H.R. Giger painted and helped design with Ibanez. It's really the same as any other Iceman out there, but it has the fancy graphics on it. Great for those who like something a bit different. The guitar features a mahogany body, a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard, 22 extra jumbo frets, block inlays, a hard tail bridge, two humbuckers, two volumes, two tones and a three way switch.

UTILIZATION

The first thing you notice is the paint job on this. That's pretty obvious as that's the main reason you're going to be buying this guitar. The paint on this is pretty much flawless, and I didn't find any issues with paint runs or anything like that. The graphic itself is definitely a love/hate thing, and I'm not sure how much I like it. It's somewhat unique, but I can't help but think of the Aliens movies when I see this. The fretwork ont his was pretty good. There were no sharp ends, and I didn't experience any issues with the frets being under dressed. The nut was cut properly, although it was a touch high for my tastes.

SOUNDS

This guitar had dual EMG 81s installed in it. The EMG 81 in the bridge was great for heavy metal rhythm tones. It was very clear under gain, but it was also super compressed. It's kinda like playing on air because notes keep popping out with ease. Some people dislike that, but it works great for metal. The EMG 81 in the neck is a bit too bright for me. Some people like the clarity, but I find it to be a bit too much for me. I much prefer the EMG 85 in the neck instead of the 81. Even the 60 would be better, although I'd probably go with the A version.

OVERALL OPINION

The guitar is great if you like those funky alien-esque paintjobs. After all, that's what Giger specializes in. That said, it's definitely an acquired taste, and I'm not sure if I completely acquired that taste. The guitar itself is put together decently, but I find that it's a bit too expensive for what you're getting. Then again, there aren't many Icemen out on the market to begin with.

Guitar made in Korea South

Same general characteristics as the IC400:
Full Tone Bridge II
Stopbar tailpiece and rapidly changing strings
2 volume and 2 tone controls (knobs 500 kOhm)
3-way switch like Toggle-Switch (bridge, bridge / neck, sleeve)
Mahogany body,
Set neck, short scale 628 mm,
Rosewood fretboard, 22 medium frets,
Ibanez mechanical 3x3
INLAYS pearly parallelepiped,
Binding along the handle ...

On my model, the original Ibanez pickups have been changed to DiMarzio DP192 Air Zone in the bridge and DP193 Air Norton in the neck ...

And of course, the famous finish of the late Hans Rudi Giger ...



UTILIZATION

The handle is a beautiful beast: C-section, rather thick and very wide (42 mm in the first box and 56 mm in the 22 th) with a fairly flat button "on Ibanez." This handle is definitely not made for little hands. The finish is between varnish and satin, so the feeling is quite nice and makes some stunts although it's definitely not a guitar shredder! The key is classic, good enough clear rosewood, while the high radius does not present a problem (regulars Ibanez are not left without attention!). So it's a good holder whose only fault its quality: it is very solid ... The pearl binding along it is quite aesthetic but has a flaw: It is very difficult to see the marks key knowing more than the cuboid inlays are very dark and confused quite easily with the wood of the key. Negative point: he will have to tame the neck of this guitar, especially on stage ... For my part, my predecessor had added markers in red paint on the binding, even if it does not look great, it proves to be very useful!

Surprisingly, the guitar is pretty light considering its size. It is very, very long, despite a short scale. It exceeds a Les Paul 15 centimeters, which is due to a very long body and a head ... The weight is OK but not necessarily evenly distributed. The guitar has a tendency to dive head, and it will take a bit to compensate. The problem is less serious than a Jackson Kelly for example. The game sitting is allowed, no problem ... Access to acute is okay. With my big catches, no problem, but access is a reflection of the handle: not for small mimines. Considerations imperative ...

Obvious qualities, but some defects due to the specific shape and choice of the designers ...

SOUNDS

When empty, the guitar sounds ever! The sound is quite unusual, rather dull and very smooth, with nice low mids and a lot of power. The body vibrates a lot, which proves that a big part of the string vibration is transmitted to the body quickly, making it a rather lively guitar! Great promise coming in a good amp ...

Having recovered the guitar with DiMarzio instead of Ibanez, I'll go straight to the point.

In the bridge position, the Air Zone is doing wonderfully whether clean or overdriven sound: no screaming highs, beautiful harmonics that rain, a nice power even if it has a medium level of output, and course specific to the accuracy DiMarzio, whatever tuning (tested in drop D, C and B.!). To my surprise, on a rather serious tuning (thus Si), guitar and mic is doing beautifully, whether plans for Blues or Metal. Of course, you will not have the sound of an EMG or Blackout, but it is enough to drive any amp so energetic, clean, and very organic.

In the neck position, the Air Norton literally stuck me on the ass. What warmth and roundness ... For what plans or acoustic solos of any kind (blues, funk, hardcore, metal, etc.), the association Air Norton / Iceman works great. Lots of bass and lower midrange, and chef's surprise, artificial harmonics out extremely well. A real surprise that this guitar mic.

Middle, and my opinion is more mixed: it loses power, sound-off phases attenuating harmonic own both mics separately. On his plans clear it can fly, but it does strictly saturation brings nothing ...

In conclusion, very complementary association Air Zone / Air Norton / Iceman HRG2 is a success, a nice surprise, and provides good versatility in many styles.


OVERALL OPINION

I do have that for three weeks but I've played well.
It is part of a purchase heart stroke because a friend of mine was selling his stock of guitars (thank you ... the crisis), hence a price I did not negotiate (over this guitar has a history, she saw the studio and the stage ...). Also, I am an avid fan of the late HR Giger, so ... However, I have always made a mental block about Ibanez, hating all over the handle GR, regardless of the range. So I tried this guitar before buying, and I'm more convinced by the handle. So I passed the course and earned my first Ibanez in over 20 years of guitar!
I like the features are fairly obvious: the Iceman shape the course Giger finish, the sound is wonderful and the weight about right given the volume of wood ... As for the handle, it's good but not great (it not worth a handle Lag Arkane Absolute what!).
Where I am a little more mixed is the balance of the guitar and the binding of the handle which is more aesthetic than practical. Fortunately, more good points than bad!

With experience, I do it again this choice. That said, I would not put the money if it was not a friend who was selling it. But ultimately this is the guitar (with DiMarzio of course ...), knowing that the more it is becoming increasingly rare on the market.

Here is good news for it takes the same characteristic of a single design change IC400 appointment so the ibanez site for technical doc.

UTILIZATION

So as I said above is an iceman namely an enjoyable round is rapid and the ibanez not too heavy. Against it by n'chape no exception in this range namely trs Ingala equilibrated it pitches down (well enough to fasten the top of the body and hop it rgler)

SOUNDS

My musical genres ranging from rock to metal, for the moment I tried it on a Hughes & Kettner Matrix 100W (transistor). I must admit that it is doing no evil against for demanding (like me) I think a change is needed microphones away from the microphones to say that the ibanez (AH1 and AH2 bridge neck) are the shit it's just that I got used to the sound and DiMarzio sounds I won (in clean and distortion)

OVERALL OPINION

It's going to do now 2 months that I possde, I like its look (it's not everyone's taste but I like nah!) And its sound. Qestions report qualitprix I can not go too far I've had the 500 (drisoire), but I thought seeing it on some site is between 800 and 1000 according to the dealers and I should ca me say that revolt a bit because for that price it was a good RG or other mark mieu TeamMS among other quip ltd emg in!). In addition, the microphones surrounding acastillage senss be colored gray detaignent a force of contact with the hand of the sudden it's a little dirty and faded ca crome I think we should really be addicted to iceman to put such a sum then to wait for a super opportunity. With the experience I think I would do this choice (but only for the price I got it if not).