Ibanez PGM401 Paul Gilbert Signature

Paul has recently been going through a transition lately into a more classic rock kinda vibe as opposed to his usually full blown shred. This guitar is one of his recent creations, and it's not nearly as "shreddy" as the older ones were. The guitar features an ash body with a five piece maple/walnut neck, rosewood fretboard with 24 frets, a hardtail bridge, a volume pot, a 5 way switch, his signature f-holes, and a slightly thicker neck than the normal wizard.

UTILIZATION

The guitar feels pretty nice for those looking for a hardtail Ibanez guitar. It's a Prestige, so it'll always have good fretwork. The ends are rounded fairly nicely, and all the frets are leveled like they should be. This will guarantee you can get super low action if you want. The hardtail bridge isn't bad, but there are better hardtail bridges that Ibanez used to make. The neck itself feels real nice, and anybody who has used a Prestige Ibanez should feel right at home.

SOUNDS

The sound is where the major change occurs. The guitar is made out of ash and has Air Classic pickups made by DiMarzio. These pickups are unique in that they're super low output and very PAF-ish. The bridge gives an awesome classic rock kinda vibe that really makes everything sing. You gotta work a little harder than his normal pickups, but it's worth it for the clarity. The neck is fat, smooth and low output. This gives you extreme clarity. However, the guitar also has a 5 way switch for parallel and split modes. That brings this guitar into a completely new dimension. It's so much more versatile than a standard 3 way switch thanks to the additional parallel and coil split features.

OVERALL OPINION

This guitar is great for those looking for that lower output kinda sound. The ash body will be a bit love/hate, but the rest of the guitar is pretty awesome, and anybody should love it. The neck is fairly thin, so keep that in mind if you're buying it.

- Made in Japan, it is very good, violin, mechanical .. nothing to say!

- The handle: The handle is larger than other PGM (100, 301 ...), it is done in 5 parts, maple, walnut and rosewood key removed 24 frets.

- Micro: Very big advantage of this guitar, it has two Dimarzio Air Classic but in a special config selector!
let me explain:
Selector 5 positions: - 1 positions, severe micro only
- 2nd Micro grave with the coils in parallel
- 3rd, the two microphone Full
- 4 th, both serious coil (micro his splite)
- 5 th, bridge pickup only

therefore abstract volume and selector 5 positions!

UTILIZATION

The handle:

- The most: Despite being the biggest handle is very nice it's bigger than a Fender Stratocaster same but it gives a feeling of great game!

- Cons: Despite of the bisotage body (beautiful) for access to acute I think to the 19 th we begin to no longer be at ease!

if in terms of weight, balance, etc. I've played 4 hours standing with no worries, just have a nice strap and want to play

SOUNDS

Sound:

- Definition: This is a versatile guitar but with a strong personality!

- 1st position (neck pickup): The sound is powerful, with a big attack, it is well balanced rather typical blues rock riff as the intro vibrato paul gilbert without the phaser

- 2nd position (handle PARALLEL) was the less powerful blues rock sound still a bit dry but softer you lose a bit of volume and attack but it is very helpful and always sounds!

- 3rd position (full): Then there its powerful snap that offers beautiful possibilities, rather blues funk with attack range and rhythmic banging!

- 4th position (2 serious winding) and my god it's good! take a strat, the supercharged you have a Charvel San Dimas with a single and a double and it was very good and then you take the same strat you boosted more and you have the PGM 401 with its strat bodybuilder, we lower the volume knob that is progressive and we funk! (The best possition to play all)

- 5th position (micro acute): Ah, here is missing the sound of Paul Gilbert in his solos therefore not worth given more detail picks an insane attack in his slice bacon as they say and sustain very well managed!

I would have liked a tone knob for even more possibilities!

OVERALL OPINION

So to summarize:

I had a lot of guitars, ibanez pgm 301 frm 100 rpm, charvel san dimas, Vigier Excalibur, shawn lane etc. .. and this is my 2nd favorite so far I do like to play a wide repertoire with a single guitar.

more: - Beauty
- Manufacturing quality
- Handle geometrically perfect
- Sound Blues / funk / rock
- A sound and slice the bacon

Cons: - the lack of a tone knob to play more "jazz"
- Access not perfect in acute
- A handle too nail the back (the mod and make faster but I wanted the original kept)

With the experience I would do is choose eyes closed justify value for money is I had a lot of guitar and we can find a little better in terms of violin for the price but not value for full price!

Bought the carefree you will not regret it!

thank you for taking the time to read I hope I was clear