Cool new gear: 2011 Ibanez X series additions

Some new extreme shapes for the X series from Ibanez.

MusikMesse 2011 has seen the launch of some new Ibanez X series models that are sure to blow the minds of fans of extreme shaped guitars. I personally like the Halberd the best, as it’s not too out there. It kind of reminds me of the Iceman/Fireman shapes  a little bit too, which I like. The Falchion and Glaive are definitely bad-ass though.

Here’s what Ibanez have to say about the new X series guitars:

Ibanez guitars are everywhere in today’s heavy metal scene. Countless players have had them in their hands, played them on stage and written countless songs on them. However today’s music, even looking at heavy metal alone, has been broadened and demands guitars with as much variety as the music itself. Keeping that in mind, Ibanez introduces these brand new guitars, developed through day to day communication with artists, which combine originally designed shapes with killer tone and playability. The Ibanez X-series are designed for players aiming to have guitars on the cutting edge. Together with the Xiphos, which has already been welcomed into the scene, the three new blades, Halberd, Falchion and Glaive are unveiled, to help you break into the new world.

HALBERD

The HALBERD’s body design is inspired by the flow curves. Not only beautifully lined, the body is also functional. It offers easy access to high frets, a sleek, body-fitting back contour, and great balance, all which lead to excellent playing comfort. The original CAP active pickups in both neck and bridge positions create massive, full-bodied tone. The headstock design is based on the legendary Ibanez Iceman with an additional cut to sharpen it up. Among all the X-series models, the HALBERD is suited to a broad range of music due to its appearance and hard-tail bridge/tailpiece. Available colors are “LUNA SHADOW (LSH)” and “MARS SHADOW (MSH)”, which highlight the beautiful contrast between the body outline and contour.

FALCHION

“A goal of ergonomic design” would describe the FALCHION the best. The FALCHION is recommended for those who seek identity, because this shred machine has a striking and unforgettable look. However, you will never be able to tell how comfortable it is to play from its extreme appearance. The Ibanez original Edge III double locking tremolo guarantees tuning stability even under aggressive tremolo use. The original CAP active pickups are mounted for heavy, yet easy to control, sound. Available colors are “BLACK FLAT (BKF)” for the classic metal vibe, and “Red Iron Oxide (RIX)”, where the red burst finish emphasizes the body shape.

GLAIVE

Despite its demonic appearance, the GLAIVE will surprise you with its solid form and comfortable ergonomics. Its high-performance playability works perfectly for young musicians longing for an extreme shaped axe. The killer tone, with roaring low end, comes from the CAP active pickups mounted in both neck and bridge positions, along with the string-through-body construction. Available colors are the glossy “DARK NIGHT BLACK (DNK)” and the pure “SNOW WHITE (SWW)”. The GLAIVE will satisfy XH300-LSH your need for aggressive style and sound.

It’s cool to see Ibanez catering for the extreme shape guitar crowd now. They have a number of cool shapes to suit almost everyone.
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