Review quickie: Ibanez IC420

The Ibanez Iceman was the iconic model for the manufacturer in the mid '70s. It's a clever embodiment of the Les Paul (no hiding this) in a more unrestrained outline. This 2024, the Iceman returns in its 'standard' incarnation as the IC420.

Likes

• playability
• tone (Super 80 pickups are awesome)
• electronics
• overall feel / handling
• price

 Dislikes

• unslotted bridge string saddles
• no elbow relief

This IC420 is a likeable guitar from the start. The Chinese craftsmanship is above expectations; no visible flaws except for a minor binding lifting mark at the neck heel (bass side) which is unnoticeable lest you scrutinize the craftsmanship excessively. Every functional feature here works fine; from the tuners to the electronics underlining some standard of dedication at the factory. Two things that makes this Iceman stand out in terms of value-for-money: 1) Playability. One of the best finished necks I've come across, suitable for all manner of playing - chords, taps, legatos. 2) Pickups. The Super 80 is ceramic-based but vintage voiced. This is basically a charged up PAF which conforms to your needs regardless of the genre. On that note, some shredders / metal heads out there might not fancy the rounded neck tone (aka Les Paul woman tone) but it's something an EQ / treble boost unit might cure. 

My only beef with the instrument - the bridge saddles are not slotted so if you detune & do not compensate the tension (with thicker gauged strings), intense bends would displace strings. Do not despair, saddle slotting is a user-friendly affair with the proper tools, of course. 

FInal rating: 94%

Ibanez: Iceman IC420 (bag included)

Availability: Swee Lee Co.

Price: $899

Pic: Ibanez

Ice is back

Heck, yeah - Ibanez brought the Iceman back! OK so the Iceman wasn't totally discontinued as it lives in the Paul Stanley realm. For someone like me who dislikes signature affiliations, this IC420 is good news indeed. Nothing fancy here, but I need to check those Super 80 humbuckers. 

Pic: Ibanez

Ice-kelele

This is why you would be the first rocker in your ukulele circle: Ibanez UICT10.

PIC: Ibanez

Chrome & Ice

In addition to Martin Miller, Tom Quayle & Nita Straus getting themselves onto the Ibanez endorsers roster, Ibanez has 2 commemorative signature models this 2018. The highly reflective model you see here is the JS1CR30, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Chrome Boy. The chrome plating was a nightmare to produce with the previous versions (eventual flaking was the bane) but they got it right this time & we know a certain Mr. Satriani is currently very happy with the end product.

Paul Stanley's Iceman is seeing a 40th anniversary incarnation with the PS1DM here- behold the bling. I don't mean to be the party pooper but Mr. Stanley parted ways with the manufacturer along the way so I question the legitimacy of this commemoration (unlike Satch who stayed true to form in terms of endorsement). 

By the time you read this, NAMM 2018 is over & we know that whatever commemorative models Ibanez churned out this year, they were over-shadow by the AZ series debut, backed by the Quayle & Miller show. Heads up, people, it's already Tuesday. 

No ice

As the Ibanez Iceman gets refined over time, it returns to its original form (very close in this case, save for some contemporary appointments). That's very assuring but some good things are simply not available here (IC520GB- Japan only). Bummer.

Cracked piggy (maybe)

In commemoration of Paul Stanley's return to Ibanez, this one has got to be one of most celebrated release by the manufacturer- the Iceman in cracked mirror finish. It's made in the Sugi custom shop & now available at Swee Lee for a whopping $10,489. In addition to the cracked novelty, included in this purchase are (highly likely) a cracked relationship (because your gf/ spouse thinks that this amount of money should be spent on more mortal affairs of the intimate kind) & a cracked piggy bank (granted it's the immediate access to a large sum of money at home but we doubt if you keep that much cash there).

Affordable ice

New at Swee Lee- the most affordable Paul Stanley Ibanez Iceman, the PS40 (List: $299). Unlike it's bigger brothers, this one is of poplar body & features the Infinity humbucker pair. If you don't mind the signature association, this one's a no-frills & should be a good leverage for those of us starting out as well.

Return to ice

Kiss' Paul Stanley came full circle & returns to Ibanez. All those Washburns & Silvertones aren't quite 'it', yes? Personally, I feel he's the right ambassador for this guitar.

Pic: Ibanez UK

Ibanez 2014: Signatures

Tosin Abasi fans, this is the more affordable make of the 8-string model. It costs significantly lesser than the Prestige version (a good USD2,700 difference!). Summary of the differences:

• Neck is maple/walnut as opposed to the wenge/bubinga of the Prestige. To put it nicely- it's a regular neck, nothing special.
• Rosewood fretboard (Prestige version sports a wenge fretboard)
• Non-locking bridge & nut. Black finish as well, no gold flash here
• Basswood body, no maple cap
• Coil tap switch is under the pickguard unlike the Prestige version which is embedded in the body. Implication- it's a standard basswood body meant for the standard RG, no extra cavities in the body equals less production costs
• Fretboard markers- side dots

Periphery's Jack Bowen gets his signature model based on the RGA with a Lo-Pro Edge bridge (yeah!). Pickups are Bowen's signature Titan humbuckers. Together with the ebony fretboard, it should be a sleek player- available in Summer 2014.

Mick Thompson's MTM100 is still in tact with a preserved Glaive-type body shape but his budget alternative reverts to the RG-type outline as seen here. So the MTM20 is new despite reverting to its initial body design.

Korn's Munky is still with Ibanez this 2014 & he gets a new signature; wondering if his band's current status makes this a worthy inclusion but personal sentiments aside, the APEX200/ 20 are there for the taking. The APEX 20 has a blank fretboard & it should be neutral enough to attract non-Korn fans. 

And if that's not Korn-y enough (no pun intended), Brian Welch gets a new signature as well (it's called the Komrad) & hopefully that's not due to his return to Korn per se. I've talked to people about this, the guitar is Ibanez's appreciation of his brand commitment because during his non-Korn days, Mr. Welch stayed true to Ibanez. Despite its RGD looks, the guitar sports a standard 25.5" scale length but it's factory strung with a set of .011s. Debut: Summer 2014.

Saving the best for last- Ibanez's Paul Gilbert Fireman FRM250M, celebrating his 25 years with the brand name. What's new?

• Humbuckers for neck & bridge
• Flamed maple top
• Bound neck

Let Mr. Gilbert do the talking:

Ibanez 2013: The Iceman cometh

How's everyone's Saturday coming along? My Saturday is good (thusfar) with the knowledge that Ibanez still has the Iceman in production this year. It marks the return of its original headstock seen here & block inlays.

It's still offered in 2 finishes; black/ white. However, it now sports the Gibraltar bridge as seen here. Is this in any way inferior to its predecessor sporting a string-through body feature? You'd do well by asking why the typical Les Paul sounds very intriguing & it doesn't sport a string-through body implement. Ditto sustain.

Also new this year, the Iceman in a 7-string incarnation. This is on my want list :-)

G-ice

OK, so we don't get this one as well; a GIO Iceman, a shorter-scaled Mikro series. The only Mikro model available here is an RG.

Headstock- forgotten?

We know this Ibanez guitar; it's the Iceman model. One of the coolest design (no pun intended) in the history of electric guitar.

Paul Gilbert's Fireman model is based on the inversion of the Iceman, yes? But hey, why is the headstock not inverted? Hmm...

Ibanez: Reverse Iceman (Part 2)

You remember seeing Paul Gilbert with a reversed Iceman guitar here, yes? Well, here's the dual humbucking version.

Ibanez: 2008 (selected)

I managed to try 3 Ibanez guitars (2008) today from the Indonesian line-up, here are some preliminary comments:ICT700:

• A revised manifestation of the 'aternative' Ibanez, revisions namely in the headstock, pickups & string/ bridge components
• Headstock: very un-Iceman together with the reverse shark tooth fretboard markers but let's read between the lines- this Iceman hails from the same series as the Xiphos so the economics of production dictates a common neck for both models...
• Pickups: DiMarzio D'Activator- strong drive response with that typical DiMarzio cream, definitely a move up in terms of tone
• Bridge: The Iceman now features a through-body stringing & the Gibraltar Custom bridge which is a wise inclusion in terms of sustain. This bridge is currently in my SZ2020 (discont'd) & it was engineered to sit inside a cavity & disperse string resonance more effectively hence the healthy sustain.
  

Rg370DX-RRD

• Another RG in the fold but this one featuring a satin body finish
• Nothing new here just that Rubber Red stain; stare at it for too long & it'll burn your eyes...
  

RG420EG

• Yet another RG... (same ol'... same ol' but we keep falling for them)
• Yet another body highlight but that's not a graphic finish, it's an engraved top (+ satin overcoat). Unless you are keen to feel the indentations, it's novelty
• Also, the body depth is slightly increased here to accomodate all that engraving & the design is such that both volume & tone knobs are submerged into the body so these aren't as grab-friendly as the ones in the regular RG models
• Tone-wise, there are no indications by the manufacturer that the covered V-series humbuckers you see here are hotwired but these are audibly hotter which also entails the bland cleans