NGD - Ibanez Q54

[LucSulla]

So since May 2011, more years than not, I've led a study abroad program in Europe for a month. I started taking a guitar with me in 2014, a baby Taylor. Unfortunately, that guitar started falling apart in the last few years, and since I like it a lot, I stopped taking it on trips. 

Last year, I bought a Blackstar Carry On. It's actually not a bad little guitar, but it is a little guitar. I also found myself getting into more situations where people wanted me to sit in on stuff when I had an electric, but I never could for obvious reasons. The Carry On is a fine guitar for noodling, but it's not something you'd really want to play seriously. It kinda keeps your callouses hard, but because of the short scale, strings just feel like rubber bands. So it was better than nothing - a lot better to be honest - but It still wasn't a real guitar though. 

I saw an Ibanez Q54 for pretty cheap and decided to give it a shot. Believe it or not, it's a super cool guitar. The neck is great. I've never owned an Indonesian guitar, but I'm happy that the good things I hear about Ibanez's Indo production are true. Pickups are solid too. Pretty good for high gain stuff and fantastic for cleans.

It's actually a tad smaller in length that the baby Taylor even with the full 25.5" neck. Overall, the gig back is about the same width and length, but quite a bit slimmer. I never had a problem throwing the Taylor in an overhead, and I suspect this one will be even easier. Plus the last two inches or so of the gig bag can be folded over.

Overall, happily surprised with this guitar. I'd be 100% fine taking it to a real gig. I'm really excited to have a real instrument to play for a month this time around. 

 

[Brooks]

I have the Q52, I dig it. Actually bought it because we were talking about headless guitars here on HFC, and I was probably bored on a 24 hour shift so I started perusing thru GC.com used stuff. The pups were just ok on mine, and I don't like 5 ways switches because when I'm singing and playing and I go to swap pups I often wind up in the wrong position, ha. I had my tech swap it all out w/ DiMarzios & a 3 way switch. If you need a gigbag there are 32" gun bags on amazon that work great
Amazon.com: DULCE DOM 32/36/42/48/52 inch Double Rifle Case Soft Bag Gun Case, Perfect for Rifle Pistol Firearm Storage and Transportation, All Around Shooting Range Tactical Rifle Backpack, Indoor Outdoor : Sports & Outdoors

Edited April 24 by Brooks

[ZR]

Man, you got me thinking I could be one of the cool kids too! 😀 

That's pretty baddass!!!!

[LucSulla]

32 minutes ago, ZR said:

Man, you got me thinking I could be one of the cool kids too! 😀 

That's pretty baddass!!!!

I’ve been playing it all day. I’m honestly shocked by how much I like it. I’m not ready to sell my Tallys and Lesters, but this thing is definitely a kick. Way better than I was expecting. 

This started off as just getting the best guitar I could for under a grand that would fit in an overhead bin. However, I can actually see using this thing a lot for open mics, practice, and maybe even the odd gig when I want keep things light and need a good multitasker. 
 

Pickups are kinda borderline. They could be a tad better, but they also aren’t bad. Not sure it’s worth the hassle of soldering new ones in for a little bit more oomph in a guitar that isn’t going to be my main ax for anything really important.  The pickup selection options are really quite cool though. It’s got nine different combinations.