Glaive- deactivated

One of the reasons why I seldom play this one is because it sports a pair of in-house Ibanez CAP active humbuckers. My ears are a little fatigued listening to such responses not that those CAP pickups were under-performing (certainly not!) but because I don't fancy such manifestations.

Made a quick trip to Beez's yesterday to have these replace the CAPs: PATB Distortion (b)/ Jazz (n). A rather peculiar pairing of a menacing bridge model with a reserved neck counterpart. Not really. Seymour Duncan's Jazz (SH-2) humbucker should not be overlooked to deliver outstanding lead tones just because it's labelled to project a reserved demeanour. It's one of those versatile pickups equally adept in clean as well as driven tones. And then some in semi-hollow guitars.

The X-series weapons model are extinct now. They can be identified easily at the headstock less the early Xiphos models which were cataloged without that specific label. 

A quick cuppa before heading home.

FYI, the rest of the family members seen here. These were definitely interesting additions to the Ibanez fold but there were very few takers & it's all about the outlines. Ibanez fans are still hardcore when it comes to the RG. It remains to be the manufacturer's formidable model in terms of sales & no frills offering when it comes to design pleasantries. 

Shoutout to brother Joshua- good to have met you at Beez's! 

RIP: Oli Herbert

Announcing the departure of an incredibly talented guitarist in the metal scene- Oli Herbert (All that Remains). At press release, no further details were available pertaining to the cause of death.

I remember him for his embrace of the Ibanez Xiphos before moving on to the Jackson camp in 2012. There were mentions of him in the entries here: Link 1/ Link 2/ Link 3. Rest in Peace. 

Ibanez: Xiphos Iron Label

Totally unexpected- the Ibanez Xiphos returns this year, now in the Iron Label fold. This means, the instrument gets an active make-over in terms of electronics & finished in a dark tinge, em... black. The guitar also gets an EZ2 bridge & an ebony fretboard so instead of just re-hashing some jaded features, the instrument moves up (albeit a little bit) in terms of features.

Ibanez: XP500

The are many Ibanez Xiphos fans out there & they are not too keen with having a dual action whammy in this guitar. I used to own an XP300 which I gave up because I found out that a subsequent model would be released which promises a fixed bridge as well but it didn't appear (in the manufacturer's catalog) until now. The XP500 here is that model, featuring a Gibraltar Standard fixed bridge & a pair of DiMarzio D' Activator humbuckers- my kinda guitar.

Separated at birth... Episode III

Do you remember Jackson's Warrior model? Yes, it's the one which ignited a character clash of sorts with Ibanez's Xiphos. But we learnt that both guitars was inspired by a certain BC Rich model. But Jackson's discontinued Demon (pic above)...

...& Ibanez's 540P (also discontinued) looked very similar, yes? So maybe the Xiphos episode wasn't the first design bout between the manufacturers.

Cradle of X

James McIlroy (Cradle of Filth) seen here very happy with his new customized Ibanez Xiphos X-Series model. From the looks of it, it's satin finished- I want one. Many people who had seen this picture thought they saw Linda Blair holding a guitar. They look equally possessed, we could agree on that.

Xiphos Suicmez

Md Suicmez (Necrophagist) with his work-in-progress Ibanez custom Xiphos. Note:

• 7-string model
• 27 frets
• single coil cavity for neck pickup

Number indicators

You might know Oli Herbert- a very capable player- maybe you know his band; All That Remains. He has a super cool Ibanez Xiphos (custom).

I saw a close-up pic of his fretboard & those number-cum-inlay markers are rather fascinating. But I recall someone with a more outgoing markers & there wasn't any attempt at being discreet either...

... Jason Becker.

Stealth

Ibanez's Xiphos model might have gotten its outline from...

 ...Jackson's Warrior. But we must remember, the guitar that started it all with this body outline...

...is BC Rich's Stealth model.

Cant' sleep. Radio is broadcasting haunted tales, some of which are semi-comedy. Reminded me of a lunch time moment when my colleague advised me not to keep up late nights too often, because soon enough, I might hear someone play guitar in my other room... & I know it's not me. Told him I welcome any jam-moments of the spectral kind, sure beats playing with jam-mates who won't listen to you.

Double pointed

Things are getting too pointed & excessive at Ibanez but for a good cause, nevertheless. This year, the absolutely protrusive Xiphos model is incarnated in a double neck version with a total of 13 strings to keep you busy.

Seeing red again

The Ibanez XP300 is now available in red but not permanently, the manufacturer says it's a 2009 limited edition finish... Hope it comes around.

Ibanez 2009: Touchdown! (Part 1)

The above 2009 Ibanez (Indonesian) guitars are now available @ Swee Lee (thanks Adam @ BB showroom for the heads-up!):

• RGA32: List- $856
• DTT700: List- $1,920
• XP300: List- $735 (bag included- wise move, Ibanez...)
  

The weekend crowd prevented me from trying them all, I just managed to try the RGA32 & it sounds very commanding in the midrange partly attributable to its light nature, unlike its Destroyer sibling which makes the average Les Paul easy handling. One of the above guitars would be following me home tomorrow (Monday 12th Jan)...

Ibanez: 2009 anticipations (Part 5)

New additions to the Xiphos family this 2009:

• XP300- a simple Xiphos model featuring a non-whammy bridge; something I'd like to own this year
• XPT700- the 700 model has a regular (non-reversed) headstock on offer & a new neck pickup; a DiMarzio Norton (single coil size)
  

Ibanez: Xiphos (new Summer 08)

This is good news indeed: This summer, the good people at Ibanez had decided to offer a fixed bridge, 6-string version of the Xiphos (yes, that Jackson Warrior clone...). I deem the Edge III equipped version to be very impressive but some of us prefer much less hassle when it comes to tuning/ re-stringing. Hope this one makes it here soon...