Ibanez QX52 Electric Guitar
My Verdict and Review Summary
While I'm a newbie to the slanted-fret neck designs, I could tell quickly that it was fast and addictive to play. It encourages horizontal fretboard movement and somehow makes the note transitions feel smoother. Aside from just feeling really slick, the QX52 looks and sounds the part as well. It's incredibly warm and full when pushed through my Boss Katana and a Bose monitor. It's a big sound for an incredibly light and fast-playing guitar.
BEST FOR: Speed, lead, legato, horizontal fretboard movement, lower tunings, progressive rock, metal, and technical lead styles.
TONE
92
CONTROL
90
PLAY/FEEL
96
PRICE/VALUE
90
- Multi-scale neck (slanted frets) plays awesome.
- Tons of warmth and bass (despite the slim design).
- Slimmed body and lighter weight is easy to hold and play.
- Look is modern and sleek.
- Great for technical and progressive rock styles.
- Weight disbursement can throw you off if you're not used to the headless design.
My review of the QX52 was my first experience with both slanted frets and the headless design. Back in the day the only brand I knew of that made these was Steinberger and I never owned one. But now that Ibanez is in the same game (and Strandberg), I got the chance to play one for myself. This review is my first-hand account of the Ibanez QX52 electric guitar. Enjoy and leave comments below.
My first go-round with this kind of guitar. Exciting!
Tone and Style of the QX52
These guitars are typically intended for heavy and technical playing styles. High gain and some delay or reverb really make this guitar fun, especially since the neck plays so fast.
And we're off.
But I was surprised at how heavy and full the tone was, even on the bridge pickup. I was using a Boss Katana amp going through a Bose monitor, which certainly contributed to the thickness of the tone. But it was definitely capable of heavy and percussive rhythm duties, despite being clearly designed for speed and lead styles.
The Q58 humbuckers are passive, but they definitely have an active quality. They come off smooth, with a lot of sustain. But are also fairly articulate, especially on cleaner tones.
This guitar catches attention with looks and playability, but the tone is honestly one of the best I've heard in awhile. For a guitar around $1000, I have zero audio-related complaints.
It's a speed guitar, being light and smaller, but the heavy chord progressions sound great too. Maybe Nyatoh is some kind of miracle tonewood.
Neck Playability and Feel
The QX52 has a Wizard neck, which Ibanez fans will already know about. These necks are already fast, and when combined with the slanted fret design, the play speeds up even more.
After all that, the headless design makes the neck feel far lighter than what you would notice with a regular Ibanez guitar outfitted with a Wizard neck.
Now, if you're not used to the headless design, the weight disbursement will be somewhat disorienting and unfamiliar. But after a couple hours you'll develop some familiarity and comfort with it. I should note, the weight disbursement was more of an issue when playing standing up with a strap, as opposed to sitting down.
The combination of a Wizard neck, slanted frets, headless design, and a thin body makes this an incredibly light and fast-playing guitar.
Cost and Overall Value
When I reviewed the QX52 it was right at $1k. This puts it in the upper-middle tier of Ibanez electrics, like the RG Standard, Genesis, and Premium S series models. Assuming you're interested in the narrow niche this guitar fills (fast, technical progressive playing styles), the asking price is expected and in line with the early ranks of pro-level instruments.
Ibanez QX52 Review Summary
While this guitar can be addictive to play in just about any style, it's definitely built for speed and technical movement.
Assuming that's your niche, this guitar is a fantastic fit and a good price point for those in the high intermediate to early pro playing levels. It's niche-specific, but a great instrument if we assume the right job description.
If you have questions about my Ibanez QX52 review, feel free to hit me up in the comments section below. I'll do my best to help out.
More Electric Guitar Reviews
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Electrics & Reviews
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Electrics & Reviews
We link to products on Sweetwater that help support our site and keep the lights on. If you click through our orange buttons, we might earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you all for your generous support over the years! ~ Bobby and Danielle
Our disclosure↬
The guitar has angled frets; it’s not a multiscale instrument.
Wouldn’t it be considered multi-scale since the strings are slightly different lengths?
Bobby, the frets are slanted to the same degree, and the scale length of 25.5″ is identical from string to string.
Ok – thank for the info Pete. I updated the article to specify “slanted-fret design” instead of multi-scale.