[Editor’s note: I’m fortunate enough to get many guitars across my desk to review, but as a metal player, few impressed me last year quite like the Sterling By Music Man Kaizen 6. The quirky, prog-metal geared offset impressed me so much, in fact, that I gave it 9/10 in my review, and even included it in our roundup of the best new guitar gear of 2025. But is the all-new prog-focused Ibanez Alpha Series set to take its crown? It certainly looks a strong contender, and I’ll pass you on to my colleague, Rachel, to tell you all about the radically innovative new series… – Sam, News Editor]

Ibanez has launched a brand new lineup of prog-rock-ready electrical guitars, the Alpha Collection, providing seven or eight strings and up to date physique types.

The Alpha collection is described by Ibanez as being “solid for the trendy, cutting-edge guitar participant”. It says they “boast an array of really distinctive and up to date options”, together with an ergonomically designed physique silhouette and contours, and claims that the collection “received’t simply change the way you strategy enjoying; it should open utterly new horizons in your music.”

The aesthetics of the Alpha fashions seem like Ibanez’s reply to trendy shred tradition booming on-line, with progressive rock and steel inflicting new traits and needs to emerge amongst guitarists. The Alpha fashions had been developed with each 7- and 8-string multi-scale configurations in thoughts, tailor-made to technically superior gamers who might wish to mess around with tuning and expressive enjoying strategies.

Each the seven-string A527 and eight-string A528 provide a three-dimensional construction designed by way of “intensive evaluation of ergonomics and enjoying posture”. Every additionally has a three-screw neck joint design — utilising two screws mounted inside an oval-shaped stainless-steel plate, and one extra screw pushed instantly from the physique into the neck – for higher joint energy and improved entry to the excessive frets.

The guitars are fitted with Fishman Fluence Trendy humbuckers, accompanied by a Fishman Fluency Voicing swap. Three finishes are on provide: Iron Pewter, Nebula Shift and Coral Mirage. Take a look at the movies beneath for extra:

The options applied in these guitars actually echo that of Abasi Ideas and different trendy manufacturers together with Kiesel and Strandberg. Tosin Abasi of prog outfit Animals As Leaders based Abasi Ideas in 2017, with a concentrate on ergonomic design. Abasi had additionally labored with Ibanez on a prototype signature the yr prior, and extra just lately teamed up with Ernie Ball Music Man on the Kaizen in 2022.

The seven-string Ibanez Alpha mannequin has an estimated value of $1,899, whereas the eight-string is available in round $1,999. Discover out extra concerning the vary through Ibanez. 

Rachel started writing for Guitar.com in 2021 whereas ending up her diploma. A proud DIY guitarist, she has been enjoying for over 10 years and has written for the likes of Kerrang!, The Forty-5, and MusicTech. An enjoyer of all issues heavy, you’ll discover her at a competition or downtuning her guitars when away from her desk.