I'm a happy owner of a Q54 since February 2022. It's a great pleasure and comfort to play it. Among the guitars I own - all very good indeed - Q54 is the one I play most.
I'm mostly a Gibson player. On a whim I just got the 7-string (Q547) version of this guitar. If feel great in my hands. Intonation is near perfect. Holds tuning very well. So far I'm loving it.
I've tried a couple fanned fret guitars. They were not for me. I also thought the HSS PUPs would offer me some tones I don't have in my current guitar collection. This is my first HSS guitar. @@aidanw6725
Jack, you are an absolute guitar master! so much pleasure watching and listening you playing this headless beauty. I could watch this all day...... uhhh love it!
Headless is kinda tempting to me because I play in incredibly cramped spaces fairly often. If it means bumping into cymbals less often that’s already a selling point
Hi Jack, killer phrasing. Superb. Ive played everyone of the quest models. The 7 string with the angled frets was the one that really got me. Great guitar
Had one, and dealt with stupid electronic issues, the guitar had to be repaired twice before I sold it.. Quality control is still an issue with Indonesian made stuff..
Sounds and looks awesome. I’d really like to see an 8 string in this line, seems likely Ibanez will make one considering there is a 7 already and they have a rich history of extended range guitar innovation.
I've bought my Qx-52 thanks to your review. It's the most comfortable guitar I've ever played. And it sounds so much better than my old RGA-121. I would probably choose QX-54QM because of the HSS setup, but they were and still are unavailable. My QX-52 was like the last one in my country or maybe even in Europe.
I like it. It looks more robust than a Strandberg. The anchor point on the head stock looks heavy duty. I'm not crazy about mixing gold and chrome (silver) together. I think the appearance would be more in harmony if all the hardware matched.
Same. Check out Ibanez Germany's channel, they have a video of Manuel Gardner Fernandes demoing a QX54 in pink with all gold hardware, including the pickup covers and pickguard. I'm not sure if it's a one-off for him, since that's the color scheme he has on his custom AZ too. If they made that a production color for the Q series, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
I have a strandberg(classic 6 string model) aswell as this one. It doesn't really compare tbh, strandberg is miles ahead but considering how much each cost i would have to say that the ibanez offers a better value since its like half the price.
@@bwnnn I always wondered if that was his own aftermarket modifications, seeing as the earliest videos of that guitar are the stock. I agree though, this matte black with all gold everything? Drool.
@@oskarkacin4104 It looks and sounds like a really great guitar,. With over 50 years of semi-pro gigging in many styles of music, I would say that my Strandberg Boden Standard 6 and Salen Jazz were worth every penny. They each only weigh 5 lbs, they have and extra contour on the body for more positioning options. The Endur neck is one of the few true innovations in guitars since Leo Fender imo. This neck makes it easier to play with ANY left hand position whether it be Classical or Country, Blues, etc. Ibanez offers many of the features of a Strandberg and is a a great value but the unique Endur neck is imo and experience is the best anywhere for anyone who wants to play almost effortlessly throughout their lifetime.
I had a strandberg and sold it, great guitar but felt I could live without it if you get me. Im normally playing a fender american strat and a PRS CE24. But now Im really considering a q54 because it is great to have a compact, travel friendly guitar. Sadly in Argentina the brand is not moving this models and I cant try one myself. In the verge of getting another strandberg (at least I know what I’m getting in) or take the plunge on the Q
hi Jack a great video for a great guitar !!! since you were lucky enough to try both the q54 and the q52 what about? what differences did you notice? which is your favorite and why? thanks and more complements
Dear Jack, do you think the slanted version is less convenient to play chords for a longer time? Would its thinner neck result a less beefy sound? thank you
Beautiful guitar but nothing without a really good musician like you. Brother your playing is just on another level. Love from India ❤ & that guitar is sexy 😍
If you ever get a chance/want to do another little lesson video, I'd love to have a breakdown of your finger roll technique and how you incorporate into your licks. The way you do it just seems unique and particularly musical, and I think it would help a lot of people breakout of the usual shapes or "three notes per string" thing. Anyways, awesome as always (alliteration).
Beautiful tone and playing as always. I tried the Q's at a local store, but unfortunately none of the "QX" (with slanted frets) can be delivered actually.
wow sound great and make me want to have one I had been considered to buy charvel dk24 alder but now ... maybe but your music first and thank you for showing how this guitar could done
I bought one it was broken when it came ,the middle pick up had a short, and the action was high !i waited 2 months ,it was during the pandemic,i was so disappointing i really wanted an Ibanez.I couldn't believe how high the action was............Lefuj
Amazing playing as always! I want to like this guitar so much, but I just can't pull the trigger. The contrast of the gold with the silver/nickel doesn't appeal to me. I also wish they would have done something different with the jack and body style allowing for a classical position, similar to the Strandberg and a couple others. That said, for the price especially, that's a heck of an offering.
Little suggestion to you Jack! Maybe you could do a video someday like "Can the Ibanez Q do those classic tones?" And then off you go trying to see if you can do it. At least convincingly. Thanks to your video anyway. I loved the Q series and its versatility !
Wow, love the sound, and headless is great for many reasons. Sound amazing, looks amazing, but.... no trem, so, you know, this guitar is is dead to me :O) Your playing however is always so tasteful - it's not that you have speed (which you do) or that you are soulful (which you are) it's that you know just how to blend those two things to perfection.
Hey Jack! Happy to see another Q headless video. I'm about to pull the trigger on one of these, specifically the 7 string. Would you say the quality of the Q series is on par with Ibanez AZ premium?
Yes. But they played differently tho and a complete different guitar. I have the AZES and AZ22. AZ22 is way better. I have GRG221 and RGT1221 but the RG plays better. I tried this on store and compared it with my Strandberg Boden, but the Boden is better. But not far. Solidbody, Headless, Hollow Bodies, S Types, Les pauls and etc are all different. Only compare when both are the same type or same body. But the AZ premium and prestige are a bit underwhelming once you got them. Seems like you paid a lot of money for the guitar. With this it's worth since other headless are 2x, 3x more expensive than the Q Series.
I'm sure Allan Holdsworth would have loved this. It's stunning. I think PRS make perhaps the best looking and sounding guitars... But why do all serious guitarists use Ibanez guitars? It's because by and large PRS guitars aren't nearly as playable.
I prefer Ibanez to PRS as well, but the thought that all serious guitarists play Ibanez or that PRS are not as playable is completely absurd. PRS has some great players on their roster, like Mark Holcomb, Dustie Waring, Vernon Reid, and Fredrik Åkesson. It's just personal preference, no need to bash.
I don't like the look. This is because we are used to the headstock guitars, so I can't say the guitar is ugly. Maybe I would get used to if they would become popular and standard. Until then almost everyone will say that it is ugly compared to regular guitars. Anyway the problem is, this is supposed to be a super modern edition of today's guitars, with only good and useful features because they are ergonomic after all, right? Then why did they add a tone pot there? Everyone knows this is old solution and rarely used. For this reason, I must say that someone did not think of these guitars as ergonomic modern technological thought, this is just a money-grab.
I want to buy the Ibanez Q so bad but I wanna get the 7 string version and it's only available in Blue Chameleon or Antique Brown with slanted frets. Hopefully they make some better colours for the 7 string version very soon.
Ibanez's best instruments tend to have Dimarzio pickups. I think these would of kicked off more with some well known pickups. In comparison videos the pickups are bright and a little flat compared to premium pickups.
I'm a happy owner of a Q54 since February 2022. It's a great pleasure and comfort to play it.
Among the guitars I own - all very good indeed - Q54 is the one I play most.
Dear Ibanez, this with a tremolo.
Cheers!
(Great demo Jack)
Yes please!
Yes please!!
Yes, I'm waiting for the tremolo bar version in white. like the ICHI10.
I'm mostly a Gibson player. On a whim I just got the 7-string (Q547) version of this guitar. If feel great in my hands. Intonation is near perfect. Holds tuning very well. So far I'm loving it.
I've tried a couple fanned fret guitars. They were not for me. I also thought the HSS PUPs would offer me some tones I don't have in my current guitar collection. This is my first HSS guitar. @@aidanw6725
Jack, you are an absolute guitar master! so much pleasure watching and listening you playing this headless beauty. I could watch this all day...... uhhh love it!
Headless is kinda tempting to me because I play in incredibly cramped spaces fairly often. If it means bumping into cymbals less often that’s already a selling point
I always struggle with my desk - headless definitely gets rid of that problem haha! 🙏
Hi Jack, killer phrasing. Superb. Ive played everyone of the quest models. The 7 string with the angled frets was the one that really got me. Great guitar
Had one, and dealt with stupid electronic issues, the guitar had to be repaired twice before I sold it.. Quality control is still an issue with Indonesian made stuff..
Sounds and looks awesome. I’d really like to see an 8 string in this line, seems likely Ibanez will make one considering there is a 7 already and they have a rich history of extended range guitar innovation.
Got the same guitar, but in the sea green this past weekend. I am really enjoying it!!!
I've bought my Qx-52 thanks to your review. It's the most comfortable guitar I've ever played. And it sounds so much better than my old RGA-121. I would probably choose QX-54QM because of the HSS setup, but they were and still are unavailable. My QX-52 was like the last one in my country or maybe even in Europe.
I'm just here for the music. Can't get enough of these licks.
I like it. It looks more robust than a Strandberg. The anchor point on the head stock looks heavy duty. I'm not crazy about mixing gold and chrome (silver) together. I think the appearance would be more in harmony if all the hardware matched.
sorry but the strandberg looks ugly as fuck
Same. Check out Ibanez Germany's channel, they have a video of Manuel Gardner Fernandes demoing a QX54 in pink with all gold hardware, including the pickup covers and pickguard. I'm not sure if it's a one-off for him, since that's the color scheme he has on his custom AZ too. If they made that a production color for the Q series, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
I have a strandberg(classic 6 string model) aswell as this one. It doesn't really compare tbh, strandberg is miles ahead but considering how much each cost i would have to say that the ibanez offers a better value since its like half the price.
@@bwnnn I always wondered if that was his own aftermarket modifications, seeing as the earliest videos of that guitar are the stock. I agree though, this matte black with all gold everything? Drool.
@@oskarkacin4104 It looks and sounds like a really great guitar,. With over 50 years of semi-pro gigging in many styles of music, I would say that my Strandberg Boden Standard 6 and Salen Jazz were worth every penny. They each only weigh 5 lbs, they have and extra contour on the body for more positioning options. The Endur neck is one of the few true innovations in guitars since Leo Fender imo. This neck makes it easier to play with ANY left hand position whether it be Classical or Country, Blues, etc. Ibanez offers many of the features of a Strandberg and is a a great value but the unique Endur neck is imo and experience is the best anywhere for anyone who wants to play almost effortlessly throughout their lifetime.
At around 12:08 it looks like you pushed the string over the fretboard accidentally, but you hit a high E that sounds perfect right there ✨
I had a strandberg and sold it, great guitar but felt I could live without it if you get me. Im normally playing a fender american strat and a PRS CE24. But now Im really considering a q54 because it is great to have a compact, travel friendly guitar. Sadly in Argentina the brand is not moving this models and I cant try one myself. In the verge of getting another strandberg (at least I know what I’m getting in) or take the plunge on the Q
Nice tone. The other videos with these pickups didn't sound as good to me. Thanks.
hi Jack a great video for a great guitar !!! since you were lucky enough to try both the q54 and the q52 what about? what differences did you notice? which is your favorite and why? thanks and more complements
Dear Jack, do you think the slanted version is less convenient to play chords for a longer time? Would its thinner neck result a less beefy sound? thank you
„… Straight frets, I guess that‘s the boomer in me…“ 🤣😂🤣 made my day… me too… Super nice review and playing 👍
I'm an "older guy" & I'm not put off by this headless gtr in the least. You sound very nice; great neck position sounds.
The Toggle switch is actually nothing to do with bridge position,
1:18-1:33 You made your point, sold, whatever, good lord. I gotta learn that.
Beautiful guitar but nothing without a really good musician like you. Brother your playing is just on another level. Love from India ❤ & that guitar is sexy 😍
If you ever get a chance/want to do another little lesson video, I'd love to have a breakdown of your finger roll technique and how you incorporate into your licks. The way you do it just seems unique and particularly musical, and I think it would help a lot of people breakout of the usual shapes or "three notes per string" thing. Anyways, awesome as always (alliteration).
I think I know what ur talking about and I’m curious too. What’s a time stamp in the video he does it?
@@caseyacrabtree He does it in a lot of his runs, but around 02:00 is a good example I think.
@@kelseystickney8663 he’s just rolling the chromatic passing notes.
Thanks Kelsey! Definitely added to my notes for future videos! 🙏
Hi Jack🙋🏻♂️ Which song were you playing at 8:40？
Ahh it’s a really old demo of mine called High Impact haha! 🙏
@@JackGardiner Thank you so much! Wish you all the best
I would really like to actually play one.
Though, if they did a version with a wizard neck similar to the RG range, I’d be far happier.
monstrous! great fret work and love the guitar
Beautiful tone and playing as always. I tried the Q's at a local store, but unfortunately none of the "QX" (with slanted frets) can be delivered actually.
Don't pick that up by the neck, unreal. It has a body.
wow sound great and make me want to have one I had been considered to buy charvel dk24 alder but now ... maybe but your music first and thank you for showing how this guitar could done
Jack: rips licks that most will never approach being able to play.
Also Jack: "Oooof. I need to warm up."
I get my Ichika in December.....cries.
Taiwan shipping and containers....pfff
Are the bodies full size on these?
Incase when one of the pickups gets busted, can we buy somewhere a spare one OR can we change it to a different brand. Thanks in advance.
I bought one it was broken when it came ,the middle pick up had a short, and the action was high !i waited 2 months ,it was during the pandemic,i was so disappointing i really wanted an Ibanez.I couldn't believe how high the action was............Lefuj
Amazing playing as always! I want to like this guitar so much, but I just can't pull the trigger. The contrast of the gold with the silver/nickel doesn't appeal to me. I also wish they would have done something different with the jack and body style allowing for a classical position, similar to the Strandberg and a couple others. That said, for the price especially, that's a heck of an offering.
Little suggestion to you Jack! Maybe you could do a video someday like "Can the Ibanez Q do those classic tones?" And then off you go trying to see if you can do it. At least convincingly. Thanks to your video anyway. I loved the Q series and its versatility !
Your playing is so good, I don't know whether to buy the guitar or give up. :P Just kidding... great vid.
The playing towards the beginning it the ultimate ad for this guitar. I wish I could play like that
How well do you think this axe would be through an old JMP Marshall?
Dude, I own the same guitar, I don't deserve it. You're an amazing guitarist, just found your channel you've got a new fan and subscriber.
What amp and processing were you using please? It sounds amazing, but the guitar is just the half of it.
Wow, love the sound, and headless is great for many reasons. Sound amazing, looks amazing, but.... no trem, so, you know, this guitar is is dead to me :O)
Your playing however is always so tasteful - it's not that you have speed (which you do) or that you are soulful (which you are) it's that you know just how to blend those two things to perfection.
Too kind man! ❤️🙏 Hoping they make a trem version soon! 👀
@@JackGardiner I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
In my Q54 I don't miss the tremolo bridge at all. "Less is more" 😎
The sustain of this guitar is awesome, and it holds tuning like a Telly,.
the tremolo is missing so much. I would have bought it - with a trem
11:03-12:10 Clean Tone Improve
I can heard some beautiful Hym there, thank you Jack 🙏 God Bless
Great presentation… but Ibanez, where’s the trem model???
M waiting for the headless with a fully floating trem 🤗🤞🏽
What amp/sim was used for this? Sounds amazing.
brooooo whats the song over the intro? made me teary
Awesome guitar !!!!🐴🐴🐴🔝🐴🐴🐴
Wish this had tremolo bridge!
That intro piece is achingly beautiful
idont know if the guitar is good or you
Jesus! Your playing is just getting more and more insane
this desk looks great , what is it ?
Hey Jack! Happy to see another Q headless video. I'm about to pull the trigger on one of these, specifically the 7 string. Would you say the quality of the Q series is on par with Ibanez AZ premium?
Yes. But they played differently tho and a complete different guitar. I have the AZES and AZ22. AZ22 is way better.
I have GRG221 and RGT1221 but the RG plays better. I tried this on store and compared it with my Strandberg Boden, but the Boden is better. But not far.
Solidbody, Headless, Hollow Bodies, S Types, Les pauls and etc are all different. Only compare when both are the same type or same body. But the AZ premium and prestige are a bit underwhelming once you got them. Seems like you paid a lot of money for the guitar. With this it's worth since other headless are 2x, 3x more expensive than the Q Series.
Great demo and very versatile instrument…looks pretty too
It's all neck!
A Jack hasta una escoba con cuerdas le suena estupendo!!! 👍🙏
You and Andre Nieri should jam together!
Andre’s one of my favourites!
How do we get that tone? You using an amp or software? I'm sure you've answered this a bunch so sorry if I'm asking you to repeat yourself.
Hey man! I’m using the Fortin Cali Suite and the Tone King Imperial MKII plugins for these tones! 🙏
@@JackGardiner thanks, Jack. You and owane are KILLING IT!
Awesome guitarist
THAT WAS SICK LOVE IT!
Is it good for metal?
It can play good for anything
quite literally ANYTHING
it can sound like a Strat, a Les Paul, and a Tele
I'm sure Allan Holdsworth would have loved this. It's stunning.
I think PRS make perhaps the best looking and sounding guitars... But why do all serious guitarists use Ibanez guitars?
It's because by and large PRS guitars aren't nearly as playable.
I prefer Ibanez to PRS as well, but the thought that all serious guitarists play Ibanez or that PRS are not as playable is completely absurd. PRS has some great players on their roster, like Mark Holcomb, Dustie Waring, Vernon Reid, and Fredrik Åkesson.
It's just personal preference, no need to bash.
8:40 what song is that ?
That's one of Jack's old tunes that he wrote for Guitar Idol. High impact 👊
Amazing
dude i loved your distorted intro. which scale did you use? or did you just go by feel? i loved those arpeggios. much love brother!
I don't like the look. This is because we are used to the headstock guitars, so I can't say the guitar is ugly. Maybe I would get used to if they would become popular and standard. Until then almost everyone will say that it is ugly compared to regular guitars. Anyway the problem is, this is supposed to be a super modern edition of today's guitars, with only good and useful features because they are ergonomic after all, right? Then why did they add a tone pot there? Everyone knows this is old solution and rarely used. For this reason, I must say that someone did not think of these guitars as ergonomic modern technological thought, this is just a money-grab.
I'm just thinking Oh wow it sound so incredible, I want one and I just realize I'm not Jack Gardiner
That intro sent me dude. Incredible.
I want to buy the Ibanez Q so bad but I wanna get the 7 string version and it's only available in Blue Chameleon or Antique Brown with slanted frets. Hopefully they make some better colours for the 7 string version very soon.
Is this really a guitar review or a means to showcase your playing? The answer is @ 12:10
Ibanez's best instruments tend to have Dimarzio pickups. I think these would of kicked off more with some well known pickups. In comparison videos the pickups are bright and a little flat compared to premium pickups.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ what a sound.
Mines coming in a week :D
Awesome playin man!🤟