Why I Would Rather Gouge My Own Eyes Out Than Play An Ibanez

Hollowaxis · 2009-11-14T23:33:05+00:00

Hmmmm. After much consideration & many years of playing (Mostly Fenders), I've come a simple conclusion. I will never, by my own free will or choice, choose to play a guitar made by Ibanez. For a few reasons.... Build quality. Having seen many many RG model electrics I just think they seem inferior? And the two buckers one single coil 'versatility' these things claim seems like a 'Stuff more bits in to fool people' philosophy. As for their high end models. One word. Ugly. And as for who plays them. Weeeelll, that brings me to the Main gripe I have with these things. Image. Image. Ibanez as a brand overall just speaks to me of 'heavy metal' wankery and overblown cock-rock guitarists. When I picture Ibanez I picture uncreative, speed obsessed, non-musical 'bands' making bland & uninteresting noise. (not good noise as one would find being thoughfully constructed by the likes of Sonic Youth, Battles, Mogwai or Slint) but rather terrible noise as you might hear from those mighty twats Vai & Satriani. I picture that self obsessed wanking when I picture Ibanez and it just puts me off. I might consider an entry level semi hollow like one of the Jet Kings as a spare guitar for kicks, but i guess if I really was that way inclined I would just do an epiphone casino or dot. I dunno man. Fenders for me. Some Gibsons, maybe a Rickenbacker. But no no Ibanez. ?

DonovanB

why not conform to the practice of not conforming?

I'm afraid it's much like being un-fashionable has become fashionable. Or if you try defy the man and be late and you arrive at the time you intended you are still on time even though it's your time...

There's no winning with people like that. Play what you like because you like it. and when people say,"That so common, everyone plays a strat." you can say thats because everyone isn't stupid....

Bob-Dubery

Stratisfear wrote I went to Jagger's local three weeks ago (it's right next to his house) and there wasn't a dartboard. Guess that scuppers his dreams...

Despite his fears about not being able to just be one of the boys down at the pub he might well get away with it.

English cricketer Ian Botham once won some kind of bet with Eric Clapton, with the deal being that Clapton would go down to some pub or other where Botham hung out and play a solo set. Apparently most of the punters refused to believe it was Clapton but thought the guy with the guitar did a pretty good Slowhand imitation, though he didn't play all that well. Didn't Dylan once win 3rd prize in a Dylan sound-a-like competition?

I recall an incident many years ago at a launch party for a brand of musical instruments who were trying to make a big splash in SA. They invited all kinds of people and were amazed when they started arriving. Leslie Rae Dowling was there. She is every bit as gorgeous as you might imagine and a thoroughly nice person with no airs and graces and perfect manners.

At a certain point the chief rep of the company that I am busy not naming says hello to her, all part of his corporate schmoozing. She shakes his hand and says "Pleased to meet you, Mr Bloggs (name changed), I'm Leslie Rae Dowling."

Mr Bloggs replied with "Yeah right! And I'm the Queen of %$*&ing England."

Keira-WitherKay

DonovanB wrote why not conform to the practice of not conforming?

I'm afraid it's much like being un-fashionable has become fashionable. Or if you try defy the man and be late and you arrive at the time you intended you are still on time even though it's your time...

There's no winning with people like that. Play what you like because you like it. and when people say,"That so common, everyone plays a strat." you can say thats because everyone isn't stupid....

i think the industry has blinded many if not all (for a time) musicians into thinking one needs "name" gear to be a pro......... and yes the top end gear is pro quality ....... but defintely the global capitalistic game has moredone more to influence our choices......... and yeah players like jack white with cheapo plastic guitars....still gets a great sound and wins awards and sells millions of cd's ......

the thing with being 'unique" or non comformist ....is that you must take that out into the market which favours the conformists and still succeed........ no good being the rebel and not getting great sound..........

but i do blame the "industry" for this........ but it's not just music it's sport /computers ect ect ........

so yeah if you getting great tone.......... and remember no one wants you to mimmick someone elses tone..........we already have a slash/vai/satriani........ but if you get a great tone no matter what guitar you using and it's anot got structural issues like ..going out of tune or a neck thats too flexible...... then you sorted F*&k whats on the headstock or if it's the top end model..or if it's endoresed by someone famous......... cos lets face music is art .and who can tell you what your art should be.........

TomCat

@ Keire..... :applause: :applause:.....Well said.

I happen to have a number of Ibanez Guitars.......If some people don't like that and think less of me for having an Ibanez than a XXXX brand......Sorry for you

I'm happy with them and with my current skill level....they are a far better guitar than I am a player playing them....

[deleted]

singemonkey wrote Actually it's pronounced like the "g" in "gevrek." ?

Actually, it depends very much on which country you're in, and which region. Castilian j (probably the hardest-sounding region) is "gevrek"; this is very different from some South American regions (like Colombia), where it is much more like an h, as vic said.

vic

TomCat wrote @ Keire..... :applause: :applause:.....Well said.

I happen to have a number of Ibanez Guitars.......If some people don't like that and think less of me for having an Ibanez than a XXXX brand......Sorry for you

I'm happy with them and with my current skill level....they are a far better guitar than I am a player playing them....

Hi Tomcat....this thread is really ALL tongue-in-cheek...honestly, the majority of posters here have no quibbles with the Ibanez brand.....the thread started out as a shocker and people started building on that....I still wonder who the REAL author is ?...I have my suspicions ?.....but yeah, nothing serious here. ?

TomCat

vic wrote
TomCat wrote @ Keire..... :applause: :applause:.....Well said.

I happen to have a number of Ibanez Guitars.......If some people don't like that and think less of me for having an Ibanez than a XXXX brand......Sorry for you

I'm happy with them and with my current skill level....they are a far better guitar than I am a player playing them....
Hi Tomcat....this thread is really ALL tongue-in-cheek...honestly, the majority of posters here have no quibbles with the Ibanez brand.....the thread started out as a shocker and people started building on that....I still wonder who the REAL author is ?...I have my suspicions ?.....but yeah, nothing serious here. ?

@ Vic........HeHe....I Know.....Thought I'd eventually add my 2c worth.......without accidentally gouging my eye out with my Ibanez.......... ? ? ?

singemonkey

Another reminder of the not-all-Ibanae-are-created-equal argument. Our own Danny B's Artist. I wonder if this is a guitar MIKA could get behind?

It's like a cooling wash of Bausch and Lomb eye-cleanser...

It also, as someone pointed out, proves that Danny B should maybe be called Danny D ?

MIKA-the-better-one

Its ok, and does not strike me as hideous..... dunno if i would buy it, kinda looks like josh hommes guitar in KYUSS ?

Squonk

I know this thread is a bit long in the tooth, but........

I had my first real encounter with Ibanez guitars this weekend.

Ibanez JS1000
Ibanez JEM (it could be the JEM7V)

The JS1000 IMO is a brilliant guitar, at least in my limited experience in electric guitars. Easy to play, bridge humbucker got some real good tones, especially with distortion. Looks good as well

The JEM didn't do anything for me (Sorry Aubs)

there you go

arjunmenon

I agree with you Sqounk on the JS, but i'll have to disagree with you on the JEM.

My only issue with the JS is that its not a 24 fretter.

The JEM on the other hand is not as aerodynamic as the JS.

Jack-Flash-Jr

Arjun Menon wrote The JEM on the other hand is not as aerodynamic as the JS.

Aaaaaand we're back on topic. Aerodynamics play an important role in gouging techniques.

evolucian

When Jeff Beck decides to do an album with an Ibanez I may pick one up and do the same. They do fly nicely though... and the sharp point is good for stabbing people too... that must be why its a metalhead lover... those dark scary people everyone fears... they have goldfish you know... evil

NorioDS

Squonk, I'm a huge fan of the JS design - makes me droool. Just wish there was a black JS1200 ?

Tamago

Back in 2005....
my wife bought me an Ibanez GIO for my birthday. Was supplied by Andy McGibbon, and was pre set-up and everything was perfect...
I have never looked back, honestly it has been a really good instrument.

Furthermore, who really cares if you can afford a Fender Strat at over R30k, at the end of the day it is all about sound. How many world renowned musicians made their fortunes on guitars purchased from pawn shops and dime stores?

Hell, my teacher uses a cheap Cort acoustic in class that he has had for 10 years, judging by the amount of wear and how dirty it is.

It is the same with electronics. I can design and build a really good sounding amp using standard components. Then you have those who go the whole hog with gold plated this and that, and flipping expensive DACs and tubes and OFC cables and crap. Yet it sounds the same to me, except a small few who claim to hear a difference

BMU

I feel it my duty to mention at this point that ESP and Jackson have headstocks far better suited to eye removal. ESP especially looks dangerous even to me, who flirts daily with traumatic vision impairment courtesy of my two Ibanez.

Renesongs

I somehow get the feeling that Jackson used to make medieval armaments before they went into the guitar business.

inflames

I somehow get the feeling that Jackson used to make medievil armaments before they went into the guitar business.

I agree! Jackson will remove an eye before Ibanez! ?
I Love Jackson guitars!

Renesongs

In the same vein I think Leo Fender used to pimp prostitutes before he made guitars. My Strat sort of hums " Hey baby I was built for comfort not for speed" when I try an shred her particularly up past the 15th fret. ?

[deleted]

Renesongs wrote In the same vein I think Leo Fender used to pimp prostitutes before he made guitars. My Strat sort of hums " Hey baby I was built for comfort not for speed" when I try an shred her particularly up past the 15th fret. ?

+1, Rene. My '72's baseball bat neck is just not made for such things. On the other hand, funnily enough my Japanese Strat - which was made in the factory that then started turning out Ibanezeseses - has a neck that's perfectly suited to the fast-and-high stuff. Go figure.

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