Pale

I got this one for a good price. The previous owner basically gave up because he screwed the bridge pickup too much into the body, the screws literally pierced through the rear end. Nothing special here, just an Ibanez Q52 model given an ebony treatment (fretboard + body top is pale moon ebony).

The pickups you see there are my spare DiMarzio X2N humbuckers. I've been saving them for an RGD but they look very intimidating in this guitar. 

I have 10s in this guitar in the mean time because it's tuned down to Eb. 

To come?

I'm intrigued by this image. It's the latest Ibanez Martin Miller signature model featuring: 1) A Lo-Pro Edge bridge 2) Active pickups. So this might signal the things to come (2027), the AZ model featuring locking bridges & active electronics. Also, the volume knob had been moved away from the bridge pickup.

Upon a closer look, this guitar's body edges weren't rounded like an AZ model, so interestingly, why refer to it as an AZ model? Unless, the inevitable happened - Ibanez bowed down to the Fender pressure & made sure their AZ models look significantly different from a Strat. If that's the case, my respect for Ibanez would be diminished. Then again, it might be a case of Martin Miller having things his way. Let's see how this pans out.

Pic: MMFB

SL exclusive

That's right, if you look this up at the Ibanez home page, you won't find it there; this RG550 in Antique Turquoise is exclusive to Swee Lee.

Pic: SL webstore

Revstar MM

About time. Yamaha released the Matteo Mancuso signature Revstar (RS20MM). I respect the Revstar, it's a very respectable guitar but this finish & the gold hardware won't win me over. Folks, DiMarzio PAF 36th humbuckers in this one if you are interested.

Pic: Yamaha

PIII HH

Ending September with the knowledge that Ibanez is currently so in love with the Genesis 540PIII that this HH version featuring a throwback pickguard is one of the September 2026 highlights. Are you enticed?

Pic: Ibanez

Rotos for Kala

Needed some time away from guitars so it's a good time spent with the ukulele today.

Trying these Rotosound set. These are non-ball ends so some tying up is required. Nothing different from dealing with classical guitars. Immediate impression - strings give off a good volume projection. These are loud. 

But I'm not too agreeable with blue strings against a dark fretboard. That's about it. Nothing averse in terms of quality & performance, just that some of our vision (due to old age) are affected / easily fatigued by certain colour schemes.