The NEW Ibanez 2025 Guitars are...

[@KeyanHoushmandLive]

What guitar are you guys playing going into the new year? Let me know!

[@ridesharesydneydrivers8592]

playing my fender strat hss special. And my 7 string ibanez iron label rgixl7

[@Solaxer]

2013 Schecter Hellraiser and the PRS Mark Holcomb 7 🤩

[@shinokugt]

Got an Aristides 080S about to ship after 7 months of waiting! Couldn't be more excited after playing my 070S nonstop over the last year

[@Paronos]

Im lefty, im niche I dropped ibanez 10 years ago. Scam price for average buildings. Second hand, Schecter, Harley Benton and GOC are the only way

[@Toisen]

EBMM Majesty 7, Firebear Polar. Will probably get myself Strandberg or GOC

[@ocelotl23]

Stainless steel frets on the az standard is such a great deal, not many brands put SS frets on the $500 range

[@Skeletor4753]

Yet a majority of the rest of the range, and guitars that cost 3 times the price don't for some reason.

[@eduardolorandi3628]

Biggest deal maker for me. If you want SS frets you would either go big name brand but big price, or lesser known brands or used. 500 bucks for what they offer seems killer

[@thewebhead6977]

@@Skeletor4753 including Ibanez's own guitars.

[@thisguy2973]

The prestige ones have titanium saddles.

[@dancortes2164]

@@Skeletor4753 I mean, every AZ has SS Frets (Except the AZES). About prestige ones, the 5000 series has SS frets. The old models that are still avaliable dont have SS Frets because they were made already and Ibanez is still running stock with those. If I recall correctly, almost every premium has either Evo Gold or SS frets. J Customs dont have SS because of tone, the master luthiers at Fujigen Gakki dont like the tone of SS Frets.

[@RobMguitar]

Damn I was really expecting a production Wes Hauch sig this year.

[@metalmoto3275]

I want one so bad

[@MattMcloughlin]

If they never gave Vogg a signature based on his LACS Destroyers or Icemans, I doubt Wes will get one either sadly.

[@josuastangl7140]

I was so hoping for one, those would be killer!

[@DrDan1406]

@@MattMcloughlindifference here is that the Destroyer is always in some sort of conflict with intellectual property rights of other brands, whereas the Iceman is an Ibanez original shape

[@bolillo5013]

It would be sick but I didn't expect it.

[@Kideem]

I kinda agree with the statement at the beginning. I absolutely adore Ibanez, but it seems like they’re lacking a little nowadays. Every time I see a cool Ibanez 7 string I look it up just to see it left production 10 years ago. It would have literally perfect specs yet it’s discontinued. However that RGDRB71 looks EXACTLY like what I’ve been wanting from them. More of those pls. Also is it just me or do they lack mid range 8 strings? I just want a straight scale RG 8 string at $1000. Yes you can modify an RG8, but we need a couple more options. Ps: Ibanez needs a hard tail RG2027XL in a different finish too.

[@oscxrjx]

Yeah the RGRB720 looks awesome, bit confused with the 25.5 inch scale since normally the B in the model name would mean baritone like how the R means reversed headstock. I'm hoping it's an error with the specs because that guitar with 26.5 or 27 inch scale length would be killer!

[@Kideem]

@oscxrjx I’m 99% sure it’s an error for retailers like sweetwater. On Ibanez’s website and the showcases of the guitar they all say 26.5” scale

[@oscxrjx]

@@Kideem Amazing, my wallet is already cowering in fear!

[@Kideem]

@oscxrjx Yup, same lol. Also I’m pretty sure all RGD 7 string models are 26.5” (that is if they aren’t multiscale).

[@TaxEvader420]

Really sad they didn't do any Xiphos or Icemans. Or bring back the destroyer even

[@taambul1603]

was hoping for the scotty lepage xiphos

[@Connorloll]

@taambul1603 Tim said if Scott's guitar was to sell the way it is it would be like 5 grand lmaoo I hope they can get it to a reasonable price because that guitar is so sick.

[@donovanolguin977]

Wish they put out a hardtail 2027xl. In North America there is actually a midel called the RGDR4527ET which is actually really cool but the blue richlite fretboard throws me off.

[@dancortes2164]

Unfortunately that RGD with Evertune isnt even avaliable yet due to Evertune taking a long time in producing their bridges.

[@matthrsy]

I thought the same with Manuel Gardener's sig, a gold 8 string RG would have been way cooler

[@johntravoltage959]

Another amusing thing to note is that they were too late to offer his signature quest with the evo gold frets, which would have really completed the black/gold look. I really thought that his first signature would have been a pink raw finish with gold hardware like the ibanez AZ/Quest he's played for a long time prior...

[@catastrophic82]

I have my Ibanez Gio in drop A and it's holds the most solid tuning out of all of my guitars. For a

[@eamonnparsons3155]

The thing is. I really don't understand why stainless steel frets aren't standard. Might be a supply issue is my only guess? Based on retail prices for nickel versus stainless steel frets, the difference equates to about $4 more per guitar, so I'm sure at the quantity in which Ibanez as a company is buying fretwire the price difference would be even more negligible. They are harder to work on, having installed them myself on my custom telecaster, so it would add labour to the final product as well.

[@michaelmilburn3094]

Paul Reed Smith said they had some production quality problems with stainless steel on lower end lines. Enough issues that they changed one of the lines from stainless back to nickel. I think it was something about stainless steel on smaller radius necks.

[@Sensei10238]

Some companies like Ibanez have modern production processes and equipment. That's why SS frets are affordable in Ibanez brands. Other companies like fender with super old technologies cannot offer SS. You pay there more for the brand and prestige than for the value. I appreciate that Ibanez makes SS frets as a standard.

[@adamcogan211]

The AZ standard series in gonna go crazy. Everything is basically the same as the premium/higher end models aside from the bridge which you could upgrade. Stainless steel frets for under 500 dollars, I can see this being an insane mod platform.

[@johntravoltage959]

One big thing thats lacking imo though is the lack of trem recess unlike the higher end models. One thing that really made the higher end AZ's stand out compared to other strat copies is the recess so you can have the gotoh bridge floating with a lot of upwards range. Although the AZ standard has a lot of the other nice specs, it still stands out to me as being something like the AZES where that one feature really changes up what guitars it competes against.

[@Guitarandsmokes]

@@johntravoltage959Bro not all of the AZ do that haha

[@johntravoltage959]

@@Guitarandsmokes Yes, the majority of the higher end AZ's have the recess/cutout behind the bridge, which is exactly my point. Premium and prestige line excluding those with the 'N' designation. Its pretty annoying because its a substantial feature, and is often unavailable, let alone also being a feature that is not really advertised by anyone which means you just have to squint at images to figure it out.

[@BkBk-gy6vr]

Everything’s the same lol no not really and especially not once you pick it up and feel how it plays….rough I already played them

[@LiesThatBind]

The nut, Rosewood fretboard, fortuna or hyperion pickups, luminlay side dots, mother of pearl dots, compound radius, the tuners, the bridge the fret quality, brass saddles and brass tremolo block, number of springs in bridge, internal electronics, lots of differences between the higher models. Standard looks like a good deal but let's not pretend it's almost the same.

[@scottmh96]

Just for reference, Nyatoh is basically the local mahogany. It in my experience is slightly lighter, but sounds very similar acoustically

[@MatthiasW97]

no evertune 7 model what is this >:( ?

[@donovanolguin977]

@@MatthiasW97 check out the RGDR4527ET

[@lilchris42424]

12:10 my girlfriend said the same thing about me

[@JohnWiku]

I can confirm, your girlfriend told me the same about you 😂😂😂

[@paulbradshawguitar]

with regards to the RG thing, it was the RGIXL7 , 27" scale baritone 7 string, with fusion edge pickups , I like the move to D-activators here , but it's essentially that look of guitar on a 25.5" with a trem (control placement isn't great IMO either) and the RGR evertune looks cool, but not a huge fan of the gold on there or gloss, but to each their own

[@diegolatorre6793]

I don't feel motivated to buy nothing from Ibanez right now, their best lineup right now is the GIO lol.Budget guitars are destroying the market and the high end market is not meeting expectations. Time for prices and quality to get REAL.

[@vladharanich]

It's extremely annoying that Ibanez can't fix that Zoom-In feature on their website. Maybe they are struggling with creating a bug ticket or something

[@johntravoltage959]

I would have loved the ibanez standard range, if the non locking trem had a recess routed out behind it so it had more range like the premium/prestige AZ's. Never enjoyed floyd roses, and found they have less tuning stability than non locking trems even under heavy use, and the whole locking nut ordeal is a huge pain in the ass, but its so hard to find guitars with a gotoh trem + recess, especially since its not really an advertised feature, so you just have to try look at the images and tell if its got one or not. I believe the reason why they showed the green ibanez prestige on that page is because the guitar isn't new, but its being offered in the new green finish.

[@sheldonwright8770]

Can you pull up much on the non locking az trems? Never played one, interested tho

[@johntravoltage959]

@@sheldonwright8770 depending on the string/what fret etc. I can usually get 2 semitones or so. And depending on your floyd rose and setup it changes a lot (relief/action height can lead to the action going so low they just fret out etc.). Theres a video here of a guy pushing it to its limits: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpfYqJejgqh-ibs I think you definitely don't have as much upwards motion, but I actually like how they have a little pad in the recess, so you can basically smack your bridge all the way and bottom it out consistently, especially if you want some really aggressive flutters etc. The gotoh non locking trem seems to flutter really well and feels a lot less stiff compared to most other tremolos imo.

[@shinokugt]

The biggest problem with the SML721 is that they didn't slant the pickups! You need to match the slant of the multiscale or you run into the same tone problem of the Schecter Black Ops where the bridge pickup sounds more like a middle pickup - and it looks so bad

[@bolillo5013]

I love the hardtail Iron Label you referenced, never got one but always had terrible GAS for it

[@ayeapprove]

14:06 Sabian has the RGD3121-PRF which is from the prestige line - so they basically made this a "cheaper" model but Sabian still had a Evertune refitted in his Prestige. The RG61 already was available with an evertune but not this cool finish.

[@eduardolorandi3628]

When I tough about not needing more guitars, boom Ibanez AZ Standard. That Evertune+ gold Fishman one might be on my watch too if not super expensive

[@BrandonWhite-tg8nl]

The all black rgd would be sick with ss frets and no paint on the roasted maple neck

[@mrhamburgler480]

They basically brought back the RGD7421 and I couldn't be more happy lol. The blacked out RGDR7 might be the most typical metal looking guitar by today's standards, but back when the RGD7421 last dropped, you didnt see many affordable 7 strings with the 26.5 in scale length. They're finally realizing the Ibby reverse headstock is loved by most. A lot more RGR models past few years. Sucks the new RGDR7 has the monorail bridge and not the Gibraltar bridge though ngl. I'll take it though 😅

[@Mxyaguitar5150]

Really surprised they're not making an Isaac Hale Signature Iceman thats mass produced. I feel like that would sell like crazy considering how big Knocked Loose are at the moment

[@jessewest2109]

Was hoping for the 5221 in a seven with hard tail. Guess ill check out Jackson

[@nlinebaugh]

Really hoping for an XL iceman eventually

[@Sigma77-n2u]

Me too I’ve always been an Ibanez guy for years and switched to Jackson’s which by the way are amazing! But this year has a pretty good selection

[@benstanfill363]

Ibanez and schecter are a very close second to Jackson for me.

[@ChazzyMcD]

I checked out a Jackson ht6 baritone the other day, the fret job was terrible. It was so sharp I don’t know how it left the factory. If not for that I would have bought it. I know you can fix that issue yourself but for 1400$ I’m good.

[@BarstucksCoffee]

Got my eyes on that AZ24S1F. What they're packing in the Indonesian AZ models this year for less than 500GBP makes it the most exciting in the lineup for me. And Nyatoh is basically Asian Mahogany, so make of that what you will

[@noksha01]

Recently I feel like Ibanez make their regular lineup guitars just for make signature model...

[@cjc2611]

What model is the Ibanez MGF is playing a 1:34?

[@divinemental]

My 08' RGA has the most aggressive and articulate stock pickups imho. I've always preferred them over the EMG 81's which they were benchmarked with at the time. A little less output but all the same clarity and a bit more roundness.

[@benstanfill363]

Ya I’ve been using the Jackson mm1 pickups in my juggernaut and they’ve been perfectly fine, no complaints.

[@slates1969]

The AZ Std look good value. I sense Ibanez have needed to do this because companies such as Harley Benton, Sire, Jet, Cort (plus several others ) are offering variants of this style for about the same money

[@My0wnSavi0r]

Need more production guitars with Evertune bridges.

[@thisguy2973]

After returning an S series after two days of ownership, they’re really small. It makes them hard to get a hold of. Also, the color shifts on both the pinkish one and the green one. In certain light, the pink one goes from purple, to green, and even to copper.

[@jjurii]

A bit sad Ibanez don’t make red guitars anymore. I’ve also been waiting for the to release - color other than black of the AZ7 w: the pick guard. Would have bought one of those a while ago.

[@louderthangod]

Where are the 6 string baritones? A Wes Hauch signature is also very much needed.

[@SergioEnriquez-v8r]

Most brands are so out of touch. I feel like they either they miss the mark on specs, or they make ugly colors and shapes.

[@MarmaladeMaki]

Yeah i completly share the frustration with Ibanez's selective usage of SS Frets. RGD71ALMS would be THE perfect guitar for me: 7 Strings, Fanned, Locking Tuner, Fishman and under 1.5k. The lack of SS Frets though. If you want all of that you are looking at Legator (very little trust in their QC), Ormsby (if you are okay with Ormsby PU...according to people who have them they are still very good), Solar (again no Fishman). Changing electronics, PUs, tuner and stuff is all pretty easily done. Switching the fret Material afterwards is far more difficult and expensive.

[@shinokugt]

This years collection looking about as optimistic and hopeful as 2025 is

[@AzureNightsMusic]

I think it's more of a miss than a hit. I've been through and through Ibanez for years. But I'm considering getting a Jackson - got an 8 string schecter the other year and love it, got an Aria strat too and love it. So I don't think I'd be too worried about getting a Jackson. Just going to wait and see if they do a new Mike stringer or Misha sig. Can I ask though for people's opinion? I currently have an Ibanez RG321EX. Had it for well over 10 years. Wasn't sure whether to bother getting a 6 string with an evertune? I know my guitar will stay in tune, but my Ibanez RG321EX hardly goes out of tune / I don't mind that too much. Or would you only really get an evertune for a guitar with 7+ strings?

[@fvguranias]

Ibanez could've gone so much further with the XL series! So much potential but in stead they release guitars that feel pointless. There are a few very cool ones every year, but I feel there is so much potential being missed.

[@ontiretsemagome9154]

Any opnion on the bass?

[@gohamm8629]

Those signatures are all already out tho… They were supposed to drop the prestige Tim Henson TOD100. That’s what I’m waiting for.

[@Alguiz]

No production line 7 with an ET is criminal asf

[@cjc2611]

RGRB720-BKF

[@shaun64vet]

They need a hard reset. If it was me i would push mij genesis series to front and centre with an rg550, 560 and some more hard tail models.

[@didtoknan8128]

I'm more excited by the 2 7-string acoustics !

[@Pyr0nEx]

Something that I think makes a guitar look really cheap is the pickup selector on that SML721. Idk what the point of the black plastic is around the switch but it kinda knocks down the perceived value for me.

[@daflepail]

My thoughts exactly on the RGD model. no SS frets 😞

[@danthemanmillan]

If anyones curious I have a review of the RGRTBB21 on my channel! It's a beast of a baritone

[@AbsoluteTerritory-md3jl]

You didn't spend as much time on the RG's as I had hoped but my biggest gripe is the lack of a "standard" Prestige RG. All the RG's these days are so whack. The RG1570 was the pinnacle of RG's. Simple design and finish options, but high quality specs. Those blue and orange RG460DX's are the closest thing.

[@josuastangl7140]

Ibanez's AZ and RGD lines have been great for years! Just wish Wes Hauch would've got his sig Iceman by now... Or at least give us the blue or red 27 fret Jake Bowen RGA!

[@Itsnotsafe2swim2day]

The blue Jake Bowen sig is available for sale already

[@josuastangl7140]

​@@Itsnotsafe2swim2day Ah you're right! I completely forgot about that. It's retailing for 2,700-3,200€, damn. I just remember it only coming like 5 years late after people were initially interested in his LACS. So I guess there is still hope for a Wes Hauch sig in 1-2 years.

[@Itsnotsafe2swim2day]

@@josuastangl7140 I will say though, as someone who owns one of the blue jbm’s, it’s 100% worth it. I’d say it’s more like a j custom than a prestige for what it’s worth.

[@josuastangl7140]

@@Itsnotsafe2swim2day I'd imagine, certainly one of my favorite models ever, regardless of brand. I have a Japanese Prestige RG and an Indonesian RGD and the build quality difference is already huge. Still both great guitars.

[@taambul1603]

i love how he said oldies buy genisis coz im literally 13 and have a genisis rg550😂

[@Gloomshimmer]

seems Like good value. change the Bridge with a gotoh and you have it

[@eitanmetcalf6198]

I do agree I was disappointed in this year’s overall output. Of the ones I did like, of course they didn’t have the strings I wanted. Not familiar with Manuel but I saw his and thought how I wish that would’ve been in an 8 string as it looks killer. And the new ehb bass with pale moon ebony top…wish they offered it with 6 strings also.

[@pramusetyakanca1552]

I'm not an instrument person, but I'd fucking kill for an SRC6MS with extra scale length and in an all white body instead

[@TheRooster04]

I already don’t find Ibanez guitars to be particularly appealing to me personally but this is a particularly weak list of guitars. Basses look neat though. As for the signatures, no Isaac Hale? No Jesse Cash? Maybe it’s too soon for an Isaac Hale signature considering he only asked if people would want one on twitter last month but Jesse has been with Ibanez for years and was diehard for them before he was endorsed. Idk dude’s earned a signature at this point. Maybe there’ll be an announcement later this year.

[@np094]

MGF is definitely one of the pioneers of editing and miming on videos, for sure

[@firstnamesecondname8280]

This years drop was kinda disappointing to me because there were no new proper baritones. I need that 28.5" and 30" baritone 6 or 7. Also I wish the MGF signature was his pink AZ...

[@Horseffect]

More of the same. Very disappointing that one of the biggest player in the game is not willing to go into new territories. This will push the rise of smaller companies even more in the future (which is good)

[@1-eye-willy]

i dont even bother looking at their new offerings because i wont be able to afford them 😂

[@TommyGunzzz]

Have never liked Ibanez, but looking at picking up a GOC this year. But cant put down my Chapman ML3.

[@eduardolorandi3628]

I've got a Chapman ML3 Pro Hybrid for my modern straty needs but my favorite model for this style was the AZ. Having a more budget friendly version is a really good surprise

[@stefanchernev4996]

For these money, HB or Cort! :)

[@edh2524]

I use to prefer Ibanez but they seem to have fallen behind. I got a $1000 Jackson with ss frets. Lum side dots. Seymour Duncan’s . Woudl be 2k Ibanez specs

[@cvv6384]

So much room for longer scales and more Evertunes.....just not there. AZ standards are a bitchin deal though.

[@krisbramleydrums2261]

Ibanez always have bizarre design choices on their import guitars. Like they'll have high end features like after market pickups and then slap a plastic nut on it 🤷🏻

[@thedroptuner1448]

Super disappointed. None of them even really look like new models. They all look like refinished older models.

[@bolillo5013]

I only really care about Manuel's sig and Tim's 7

[@mmaviator22]

They finally make a nice lefty that I would buy and its not a fkin reverse headstock!!!! WHY IBANEZ?! XD

[@ramsay777]

Ibanez have been going downhill for years, I miss the days of through-neck prestige models and piezo edge trems etc

[@HogGaming9000]

I'm so mad they gave the AZ standard 's these cheap looking flamed veneers and ugly finishes, everything else about them is SO GOOD and a solid finish would LITERALLY be cheaper. I was really hoping for standard line AZ's but this aint it chief

[@Destroytheskymusic]

i wish S series guitars didnt have the plastic around the selector it drives me nuts and looks so ugly

[@mhyst1353]

Every year it's the same thing with Ibanez. I'm excited for new guitars, then I look at them and I'm just like meh, I will just buy used prestige from 10 years ago for the same price as the new axion label models (maybe cheaper) and it will be a 100% better guitar. They used to put out solid guitars but now most of them just look like cheap copies of what Ibanez used to be.

[@AntonOhlin]

Im an Ibanez fan, definitely my prefered brand, but this release is so weak and disappointing. Especially when they work with sooo many bands in the modern metalcore scene, like Erra, Alpha wolf, Currents, Invent Animate which all get custom shops to fit their style and demands, but when the production release drops it's just your average cookie cutter specs that you can get from literally any big production brand

[@jamus1217]

It seems like Ibanez is slowly abandoning the S series

[@BkBk-gy6vr]

The new cheap AZs are what they are cheap with a few nice features which still don’t make them good. You’re going to have to swap out the pickups and the 2 point trem, that isn’t worth it. I’d rather spend another 200 and get a better playing, sounding Pacifica with a great trem and Duncan’s already in the guitar. The new AZs are getting attention for their cake decorating no thanks.

[@BlazonStone]

AZ = Stainless frets RG = not Stainless frets So dissapointing, and price wise, makes no sense! I dont like the AZ look, I prefer the RG and just cannot justify buying any of their Genesis models because they are all regular frets

[@Manley156]

I greatly dislike that they have championed the AZ'S. They sell well, are used by inffluencer guitar dorks and teenagers in turn want them. They are alright, but it would be nice to see some MiJ rg, rga and S models coming out

[@Ortizjan2227]

They suck tbh coming from an Ibanez guy The rgdr is the only decent looking one but it’ll prob be like 2k at this point

[@shelbyrockstar]

Worst release I've seen in years! No Jems, Pia's, Universe, or Prestige, j Customs, JS's. Just meat and potatoes. No candy. Please tell me they are planning a surprise at the namm show.

[@Cognitoman]

Yeah don’t care 😂

[@philfort7886]

for bass it is pretty awesome 🚀🚀👀

[@kambion]

a stainless steel fret guitar for $500 is pretty amazing.

[@jjjjjjjjjjjhjjjjjhjj]

No evertune? This is an outrage 😡