As the popularity of headless guitars continues to boom, the Japanese firm has dropped four new models in a bid to make its Quest range more appealing than ever before
The drop – headlined by Ichika Nito’s first-ever signature model – pitted the Japanese firm in a completely new arena and saw them square up to the likes of Strandberg, who are considered to be the market’s leading headless manufacturer.
As such, Ibanez has decided to double down on its quest to dominate the headless guitar market with a revamped Q Series expansion pack, some of which has been helpfully demoed by Ichika Nito himself.
Four models have been unveiled in Ibanez’s latest wave of headless guitars, and all of them stand up to be the lineup’s best-looking models to date.
(Image credit: Ibanez)
The most accessible model, the HSS-configured Q54W six-string, arrives with a Copper Metallic Matte finish, and looks to be a new-look take on the flagship Q54.
Its specs – aside from the white pickguard – are all the same, meaning there’s a nyatoh body, three-piece roasted maple/bubinga Wizard C neck and a 24-fret roasted maple fingerboard. Q58 and R1 pickups are in charge of tones, with the guitar also offering an Ibanez Mono-Tune bridge.
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(Image credit: Ibanez)
Ibanez has also dropped a seven-string version of that model, which has the added bonus of a Cosmic Blue Low Gloss finish that sits atop a poplar burl top. It is, notably, the first time poplar burl has been used for this particular model, which otherwise follows the spec sheet of the Q54W.
Elsewhere, two updated dual-humbucker Quest guitars have been added. The first, the Q52PB, also introduces that new Cosmic Blue Low Gloss poplar burl top finish to the regular variant, while the QX52-MGM adds a Metallic Gray Matte colorway to the multi-scale six-string (that's what the 'X' is for).
Like the HSS models, the two humbucker builds boast nyatoh bodies, three-piece necks and an assortment of other top-tier appointments, including 24 stainless steel frets and proprietary Q pickups.
(Image credit: Ibanez)
We considered the original Q54 to be one of the best headless guitars currently available, giving the flagship model a five-star rating and failing to find any faults with it. By adding some flashy new tops and finishes to the range, Ibanez has made its Quest family even more appealing.
Now, we see only one direction Ibanez can take its Q Series in next: tremolos…
Visit Ibanez to find out more about its updated Q models.
Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.
