Ibanez September 2026: Gold leaf

We all know this was inevitable; Ibanez doing iterations for one of their iconic / flagship models. Gold leaf (yes real gold) was added to this one with gold hardware completing the overall looks. We all darn know as well, this adds nothing to tone & playability. The collector dweebs among us will of course race to the stores to grab this for their wall decor. 

It seems that the promo shot for this guitar featured Vai showing his bandaid. Sincerely hope this was part of the plan. Otherwise, we have specific AIs out there to edit this out. Kids in school could do it, no excuse for a big corp like Ibanez to plead ignorance unless they assigned this editing task to the vulnerable, dementia prone senior folks out there. IYKYK.

Anyway, the only Gold Leaf that left an impact on me were the cigarettes my late granny used to smoke back in the day. She would send us to the village store to buy a pack when we were there for sleepovers. We were duly rewarded for this of course, extra reward for those who dared to purchase a pack for her at night because our grandparents used to live just next to the Chinese cemetery.

Pics: Ibanez / HSG

Summer NAMM 2022: PIA

In my opinion, this is an undeserving inclusion in the Ibanez Summer NAMM release list; it's not new, just a new colour. Vai's PIA is now offered in a blue powder finish. How exciting, yes? Hmph.

I prefer Tom Quayle's TQMS1's celeste blue which was also on the same release list.

Also new this 2022, the AZ2204N in mint green which has a shade of blue in there. In fact, I see more blue than green in this one.

EDIT

Someone alerted me that the previous guitar on this list of blues, is not an AZES but an AZ. Then it occured to me that the AZES has its own blue guitar - the AZES40

And another someone mentioned that Tom Quayle's guitar is not the only other blue signature model on this list, Jake Bowen's latest is blue.

Have no idea if there's a blue revival going on at the Ibanez camp but even their latest, stunning GIO model is... blue (GRX120SP)

Whatever the case may be, leaving this here - some people with Ibanez guitars singing something with 'blue' in there. 

Pics: Ibanez

Pia?

They kept this under wraps till NAMM. Looks familiar? It better be, otherwise, the affiliations would be lost & that spells trouble for sales. Vai's JEM lost its monkey grip in favour of that Ying-Yang teardrops. While the JEM's monkey grip facilitates handling, these do not serve a similar purpose. Oh, they call them the petal grip & you won't be the only one who believe petals are supposed to look like, em... petals. 

In case you forget it's not a JEM... Well, if they move the label up a wee bit, there's space to turn this into 'pig'. 

The new DiMarzio pickups for this model are named UtoPIA, featuring a scooped tone with a more pronounced bottom end. 

If you get this version in gold, they did you a favour by having colourful inlays there so life would be a little more exciting for you & your loved ones. 

Folks, I'm not a JEM fan. In fact, I'm not a fan of signature models. They might inject some major excitement for those of us who embrace our heroes like no other. Good for you because such instruments are indeed of the higher tier offerings & they should be above expectations in every way. I respect Vai but this iteration of the JEM doesn't sit well with me because it took a lame turn. I own two signature models in the mean time & rest in the comfort of them being tasteful in every way. I can't seem to come to terms with this Pia model; it reeks desperation & bordering on being pathetic. I shouldn't try too hard in any case - I'm not a fan to begin with.