It’s a tradition for me to eagerly await Rich’s (ibanezrules.com) NAMM pics, and this year there are some crackers on show:

Ibanez J Custom

Ibanez RG Premium Series

The RG Premium models look very intersting, Ibanez say:

For 2011, we offer the new Premium series of guitars designed for hardworking musicians. These guitars are for players who push their guitars to the fullest every night on stage and who demand real professional quality instruments, both functionally and visually.

RG PREMIUM SERIES BASICS

• Made at Ibanez Premium factory, built to Prestige model quality standards
• Specially rounded Premium fret edges for smooth play and comfortable neck grip
• Premium grade, select woods
• Wizard Premium neck has same construction and thickness as Prestige Wizard
• High-end DiMarzio and CAP-VM pickups
• Ultimate tuning stability with Edge-Zero II bridge/tremolo w/ZPS 3

I really do wonder if the luthiers are bored over at Ibanez, spotted this yesterday amongst the new Ibanez line-up, the Limited Edition Ibanez RG Extreme Shredding Machine RG2011SC.

Wonder if the SC stands for ‘Silly Cutaway’ ?

As industry pioneers of 7 & 8 string guitars and extended range instruments for production models, Ibanez has always been on the cutting edge. Instead of focusing on the lower register, we’ve added higher notes, with an extended 30 fret fingerboard to create an extreme shredding machine!

The rosewood fingerboard contains 30 Jumbo frets at the standard long scale length (25.5”). Also featured is an eye catching extra-deep cutaway that allows access to the higher frets effortlessly while retaining the beauty of an authentic RG body shape. Other key features include 5 screws All-Access Neck Joint with a smoother heel scoop for your thumb, which allows the maple neck to be firmly and seamlessly bolted to the resonant Alder body.

This guitar is equipped with the famous Ibanez Edge-Zero tremolo with the Zero Point System, a recessed output jack and white DiMarzio® pickups.

Furthermore, this guitar includes a special hidden feature. We didn’t want to sacrifice the tone of a Neck pickup for the extra length of fingerboard. Instead, we retained the popular 5-way split switch, and developed a Neck Pickup Simulator Circuit powered by a 9v battery, specially designed for this extremely limited edition RG. This allows for the ultimate shredding machine without compromise!

Brings back memories of the 36 fret Kramers and Washburns from back in the day. Oh you don’t remember them?

Probably a reason for that.

Ibanez announces two new Steve Vai signature Euphoria acoustics, the EP5BP and EP10BP.

Both guitars have a thinline body and Mahogany neck. The EP5BP has a mahogany laminate back and sides with a solid Engelmann spruce top and a Fishman Sonicore Pickup.

The higher end EP10BP has solid mahogany back and sides, Fishman® Acoustic Matrix Pickup and of course, a Tree Of Life Inlay .

Mr Vai has picked his favourite of the Design the JEM entries and here is it:

Congratulations to user “ALEX” on his winning design submission for the Ibanez Design a JEM Contest! Ibanez will be manufacturing two JEM guitars featuring Alex’s design– one for Alex and one for Steve.

Check out the finalists here. Some interesting ideas there!