Boasting their trademark blend of pristine tones and ultimate playability, each instrument in the newly-launched Ibanez 2023 range is a masterpiece unto itself. Now available across Australia, the Ibanez 2023 range includes a selection of electric guitars and basses that are spec’d to the eyeballs – meticulously hand-crafted in Japan to Ibanez’s finest degree of quality.
So, without further ado, let’s meet the Ibanez Class Of 2023…
ELECTRIC GUITARS
IBANEZ RG8870 BRE J-CUSTOM ELECTRIC GUITAR
The first cab off the rank is an absolute triumph of form and function – a true beauty-and-the-beast. One look at the AAA flamed maple top and the Macassar ebony fretboard with its glorious Tree Of Life inlay, and you can’t help but fall in love with this RG J-Custom, but once you plug it in and hear the immensity of its sound, it’s hard to ever put it down again.
With the killer combination of the DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary neck pickup, DiMarzio True Velvet middle pickup, and DiMarzio Tone Zone bridge pickup, you are wielding an absolute weapon of sound – capable of delivering the versatility that Ibanez players have come to expect. From honey-toned clean sounds, to the most crushingly heavy rhythm tones, to lead sounds that cut through any mix like a hot knife through butter; the RG8870 has it all.
Of course, being an Ibanez, this instrument is all about playability – from its light weight chambered body, to its lightening fast neck with jumbo frets and J-Custom fret edge treatment.
And you can’t help but look stunning while playing the RG8870. Its flawless flame is a knockout in person, accented by beautiful satin black hardware that blends into the design with stealth and elegance. Subtle yet ferocious, the balance of flair-to-meanness is as exquisite as its tonal range.
If you are ready to take your game to the next level, the RG8870 will get you there and beyond!
SPECIFICATION
- RG J-Custom Super Wizard AS 5pc Maple/Wenge neck
- AAA Flamed Maple (4mm) top/Alder body
- Macassar Ebony fretboard w/ Tree of Life inlay
- Jumbo frets w/ J-Custom fret edge treatment
- DiMarzio® PAF® 36th Anniversary neck pickup
- DiMarzio® True Velvet middle pickup
- DiMarzio® The Tone Zone® bridge pickup
- Coil-tap switch
- Lo-Pro Edge tremolo bridge
- Satin Black hardware
- Gotoh® Strap lock pins
- Asymmetric neck grip
- Chambered body
- Hardshell case included
IBANEZ AZ2203N ATQ PRESTIGE ELECTRIC GUITAR
Hiding ultra modern tones and playability in a classic-looking form, the AZ2203N is the very definition of versatility. Unassuming and understated, this baby is ready to melt faces at a moment’s notice.
With its AZ Oval C S-Tech wood roasted maple neck (radiused at 228mm at the nut, to 305mm at the 22nd fret) – complete with jumbo stainless steel frets with Prestige fret edge treatment – the AZ2203N plays as slick and fast as you can possibly muster… all while looking the business.
With elegant chrome hardware set into a timeless Strat body, the AZ2203N is understated yet bold – making whatever aesthetic statement your playing requires. The alder body delivers rich tones and a perfectly balanced weight, while the Gotoh T1502S tremolo bridge delivers the kind of unwavering precision a true player needs in the studio and on the stage.
Wanna talk tone? Well hot damn, let’s take a closer look at the pickup config on the AZ2203N… three Seymour Duncan Fortunas give you unlimited choices from the neck, middle and bridge positions. Like we said, this one is both a classic and modern weapon rolled into one – perfect for thick solid rhythm tones and flawlessly shaped lead tones.
SPECIFICATION
- AZ Oval C S-TECH WOOD Roasted Maple neck
- 22 frets
- Alder body
- Rosewood fretboard w/ Mother of Pearl dot inlay
- Jumbo Stainless Steel frets w/ Prestige fret edge treatment • Bone nut
- Seymour Duncan® Fortuna neck pickup
- Seymour Duncan® Fortuna middle pickup
- Seymour Duncan® Fortuna bridge pickup
- Blender
- Gotoh® T1502S tremolo bridge
- Chrome hardware
- Gotoh® Magnum Lock machine heads w/ H.A.P.
- Luminlay side dots
- Fretboard radius: 228mm@nut to 305mm@22nd fret compound • Hardshell case included
IBANEZ RGD3121 PRF PRESTIGE ELECTRIC GUITAR
Oh. My. Goodness. Did somebody say heavy? Honestly, it is hard to talk about the RGD3121 without just gushing praise, because it is the exact kind of guitar that makes Ibanez players so relentlessly devoted. It is, without exaggeration, a monster of tone so monolithic that it sounds huge no matter what else you want to put in the signal chain.
Where do we start; sound or design? Hmmm. Well, before you’ve picked this up off the rack, it stands out from every other instrument it’s put next to by being at least 110% more badass looking. From the sleek contours of its rich basswood body, to the kind of ultramodern finish that would look right at home on a UFO, the RGD3121 boasts otherworldly beauty – complemented perfectly by stealth black hardware.
Its dual Fishman FluenceTM Modern Humbucker Ceramic neck and bridge pickups complement the alien aesthetic perfectly with their eye-catching metallic finish, but their true power is revealed as soon as you add electricity. With the most gloriously saturated tones imaginable, the RGD3121 is a heavy player’s dream – rich, immaculate and primal. And did we mention heavy? Oof!
Needless to say, the Wizard HP 5pc maple/wenge neck on the RGD3121 is tailor-made for players who need both precision and speed in equal measure – with a Macassar ebony fretboard armed with jumbo frets (with Prestige fret edge treatment) Ibanez’s Graph Tech BLACK TUSQ XL nut, rounded off by the perfect finishing touch of black Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads.
SPECIFICATION
- Wizard HP 5pc Maple/Wenge neck
- 673mm/26.5” scale
- Basswood body
- Macassar Ebony fretboard w/ white dot inlay • Jumbo frets w/ Prestige fret edge treatment • Graph Tech® BLACK TUSQ XL® nut
- Fishman® FluenceTM Modern Humbucker Ceramic neck pickup • Fishman® FluenceTM Modern Humbucker Ceramic bridge pickup • Fishman® FluenceTM Voicing switch
- Mono-rail bridge
- Black hardware
- Gotoh® MG-T locking machine heads
- Factory Tuning: 1D, 2A, 3F, 4C, 5G, 6D
- String Gauge: .010/.013/.017/.026/.036/.046
- Luminlay side dots
- Hardshell case included
IBANEZ RGA622XH BK PRESTIGE GUITAR
With its gold hardware set against its elegantly curved African mahogany body, it’s safe to say the RGA622XH is an absolute stunner. Minimalist perfection; the off-set mother-of-pearl dot inlay and Luminlay side dots perfectly understate the richly dark bound Macassar ebony fretboard – making this guitar a true black beauty – all with jumbo frets and Prestige fret edge treatment.
Even the pickup config on the RGA622XH looks incredible – from the sleekly angular DiMarzio Air Norton STM neck pickup, to the DiMarzio Tone Zone bridge pickup and coil-tap switch. But that’s where we stop admiring this guitar from afar and start playing it… and, oh my, what an absolute tone monster the Ibanez luthiers have created here.
Capable of darting between rich mids and razor sharp highs, the RGA622XH fills out the sound in any configuration, whether it’s time to sit back on a fat groove, or take centre stage under the solo spotlight. High output and ultra low noise.
The 27-fret Wizard HP 5pc maple/walnut neck is a shredder’s dream – built for the kind of fun that modern progressive playing demands. The Lo-Pro Edge tremolo bridge delivers precision in every situation, so that all you need to concentrate on is flying the RGA622XH like a fighter jet.
SPECIFICATION
- Wizard HP 5pc Maple/Walnut neck
- 27 frets
- African Mahogany body
- Bound Macassar Ebony fretboard w/ off-set Mother of Pearl dot inlay
- Jumbo frets w/Prestige fret edge treatment • DiMarzio® Air Norton STM neck pickup
- DiMarzio® The Tone Zone® bridge pickup • Coil-tap switch
- Lo-Pro Edge tremolo bridge
- Gold hardware
- Luminlay side dots
- Hardshell case included
IBANEZ RG220PA1 BKB ELECTRIC GUITAR
Oof, give us a Sharktooth inlay any day of the week. Few things make a more serious statement than Sharktooth inset on a bound purpleheart fretboard with jumbo frets… but an accompanying okoume body with poplar burl art grain top and chrome hardware does the trick. Elegant and eye-catching, the RG220PA1 simply begs to be picked up and played.
And once you do have the RG220PA1 in your hands, the trademark Ibanez precision is all that matters. Perfectly weighted, and showing off a versatile tonal spectrum, the RG220PA1 is all about balance. On stage, in the studio or even in the bedroom, this guitar shines like a superstar.
The dual Classic Elite neck and bridge pickup configuration is capable of just about everything a modern player needs at their fingertips – whether you are melting faces with Herculean heaviness or running jazz licks with a feather-light touch.
SPECIFICATION
- Poplar Burl Art Grain top/Okoume body
- Bound purpleheart fretboard w/ white Sharktooth inlay • Jumbo frets
- Classic Elite neck pickup
- Classic Elite bridge pickup
- T106 tremolo bridge
- Chrome hardware
IBANEZ RG120QASP BGD ELECTRIC GUITAR
Part workhorse, part racehorse; the RG120QASP is both a masterclass in craftsmanship and a reliable weapon worthy of even the most skilled player. Like a Samurai sword, the RG120QASP is equal parts form and function.
On the rack, the stunning quilted maple art grain top, complete with sleek black hardware, beckons like a Siren. In the hand, it is even more impressive. Beautifully sculpted, the poplar body feels perfectly balanced against the GRG maple neck – delivering that classic Ibanez experience.
Full of grunt, the dual Infinity neck and bridge pickups have tone up the yin-yang – giving players of all styles everything they need to bring their music to life. The T102 tremolo bridge is neverfail and rock-steady (even in the hands of the most trigger-happy whammy bar users), and the classic white dot inlay and jumbo frets of the bound purpleheart fretboard gives players the precision of a sniper.
SPECIFICATION
- GRG Maple neck
- Quilted Maple Art Grain top/Poplar body
- Bound purpleheart fretboard w/ white dot inlay • Jumbo frets
- Infinity R neck pickup
- Infinity R bridge pickup
- T102 tremolo bridge
- Black hardware
IBANEZ Q547 BMM PREMIUM GUITAR
So, you wanna make a statement? Before you’ve even played a single note, the 7-string Q547 announces your arrival like a royal fanfare. With its unmistakably-shaped nyatoh body and headless neck, the Q547 is a marvel of design – reminiscent of the golden era of classic cars that had curves for days.
The Wizard C-7 5pc roasted maple/bubinga neck is as wonderful to play as it is to look at; built for speed and smoothness from the first to the 22nd fret. The mother-of-pearl step off-set dot inlay seems to dance its way up the roasted birdseye maple fretboard, giving your audience an extra aesthetic spectacle as they watch you pull monster tones.
Driven by a Dyna-MIX9 switching system with alter switch, the combination of the R1-7 neck pickup, R1-7 middle pickup, and Q58-7 bridge pickup make all things possible. Warm and full-bodied, the tonal range of the Q547 is purely enviable, while the Ibanez Mono-Tune bridge and Ibanez Custom String Lock keeps the bullet train on track as it screams along in a blinding fury. And with the luminescent side dot inlay, you’ll never miss the mark ever again.
And did we mention how beautiful this guitar is? Holy smokes it’s a looker! Beyond just its striking body shape and badass decapitated neck, every detail on the Q547 makes it an absolute head-turner. The Cosmo black hardware brings depth and subtlety, while the jumbo Jescar EVO gold frets add classical flair and elegance – making the Q547 as glorious to look at as it is to play.
SPECIFICATION
- Wizard C-7 5pc Roasted Maple/Bubinga neck
- Nyatoh body
- Roasted Birdseye Maple fretboard w/ Mother of Pearl Step off-set dot inlay
- Jumbo JESCAR EVO gold frets
- R1-7 neck pickup, R1-7 middle pickup, Q58-7 bridge pickup
- dyna-MIX9 switching system w/Alter Switch • Ibanez Mono-Tune bridge
- Cosmo Black hardware
- Ibanez Custom String Lock
- Luminescent side dot inlay
- Gig bag included
ELECTRIC BASSES
IBANEZ EHB1005F AOM ELECTRIC BASS
This 5-string monster is spec’d-out to the gills, and rightly so, as it is designed for today’s most discerning bassists. Playing, sounding and looking like an absolute 10-outta-10, The EHB1005F is, in a word, perfect.
Where do we even start with this one? How about tone. With its masterfully shaped American basswood body, the EHB1005F has impeccable natural resonance before we even look at its carefully-chosen pickup configuration. Dual-wielding a neck/bridge combo of Bartolini BH2 pickups, the EHB1005F is armed with a Vari-mid 3-band EQ and EQ bypass switch, with passive tone control on the treble pot. Anything is possible here. Nay, everything is possible.
Playing like a dream, the EHB5 5pc roasted maple/walnut neck is built with graphite reinforcement rods, and completed with a lightning fast Richlite fretboard and 18mm string spacing courtesy of the MR5HS bridge. The luminescent side dot inlay will keep you on target even in the vacuum of space, while the Schaller S-Locks strap lock pins will make sure every performance goes off without a hitch.
Allowing the unique body shape and headless neck to take centre stage, the EHB5 is remarkably understated in appearance, with its distinguished combination of a rich, deep finish and classic black hardware. Like we said at the start… from its look, to its feel, to its behemoth sound… the EHB5 is an absolute 10.
SPECIFICATION
- EHB5 5pcRoastedMaple/Walnut neck w/Graphite reinforcement rods
- American Basswood body
- Richlite fretboard
- Bartolini® BH2 neck pickup
- Bartolini® BH2 bridge pickup
- Vari-mid 3-band EQ
- EQ bypass switch (passive tone control on treble pot)
- MR5HS bridge (18mm string spacing)
- Black hardware
- Ibanez custom headpieces
- Schaller S-Locks strap lock pins
- Luminescent side dot inlay
- Gig bag included
IBANEZ SR5FMDX2 NTL PREMIUM BASS
Yet another 5-string masterpiece from Ibanez, the SR5FMDX2 offers a versatility never before seen. If you’re a studio gun, the SR5FMDX2 provides every tone combination under the sun; on stage it is playable on an unparalleled scale; and for road dogs it is the very definition of reliability. Everything today’s demanding player needs, all rolled into one.
There aren’t enough Os in the word ‘smooth’ to accurately describe the Atlas-5 5pc panga/purpleheart neck. Flawlessly intonated, courtesy of its KTSTM titanium rods, the neck runs from a Graph Tech Black TUSQ XL nut to a MR5S bridge (with 16.5mm string spacing) and is laden with medium frets (with Premium fret edge treatment) and abalone oval inlays atop the gloriously fast flamed maple fretboard. Just beautiful.
The African mahogany body is a matching flamed maple/ash top, with comfortable grooves and perfect weight balance for ease of playing. The elegant black hardware contrasts beautifully against the flame – from the robust machine heads to the SR5FMDX2’s most outstanding feature: its electronics.
Starting with the fatter-than-fat sound of the dual Nordstrand Big Single neck and bridge pickups (wood-covered to disappear right back into that flamed top), the SR5FMDX2 has all the bells and whistles needed to pull any tone on Earth: an Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band EQ, an EQ bypass switch (with passive tone control on the treble pot), and the versatility of a 3-way Mid frequency switch. As you can probably tell, we love this bass immensely, and can’t wait for you to play it and see for yourself.
SPECIFICATION
- Atlas-5 5pc Panga Panga/Purpleheart neck w/ KTSTM TITANIUM rods
- Flamed Maple/Ash top/African Mahogany body
- Flamed Maple fretboard w/ Abalone oval inlay
- Medium frets w/Premium fret edge treatment
- Graph Tech® BLACK TUSQ XL® nut
- NordstrandTM Big Single wood covered neck pickup
- NordstrandTM Big Single wood covered bridge pickup
- Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band EQ
- EQ bypass switch (passive tone control on treble pot)
- 3-way Mid frequency switch
- MR5S bridge (16.5mm string spacing)
- Black hardware
- Gig bag included
So there you have it… some of the best instruments on the planet, all lined up for you to sink your teeth into. To see Ibanez’s full 2023 range, visit the official Australis Music website or your local Authorised Ibanez Dealer.
Happy playing!
