Ibanez Better Than Strandberg? Review & Comparison

Ibanez Quest Q52 review and comparison to Strandberg.

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0:00 intro
0:38 bloopers
1:27 Neck
2:45 body
4:15 Best Feature
5:20 Annoyance
8:00 Tones
9:55 Final Thoughts
10:12 Ibanez Vs Strandberg

[jonbuckley]

The missing thing with the Ibanez is the ergonomic design of the Strandberg. The Ibanez is just a normal guitar without a headstock.

[GlennMichaelThompson]

I'm with you 110% on the jack relocation. This has bothered me for decades!

[coreyblaisdell]

I've owned two Strandberg 7 strings, a GOC 7 string, and I currently own an Ibanez Q54 and Q547. I think you did an excellent job comparing the Ibanez and Strandberg features. I wanted to expand on the body shape comments you made from the perspective of someone who has always struggled to play standing up. When I started playing shows with my band, I found that most guitars (including the Strandbergs) were easier for me to play sitting vs standing. The Ibanez Q's are the first guitar I've played that really minimizes this difference. The thin body and contours of the Ibanez really help the guitar sit where I want it to when I stand up, and this has been a game changer when it comes to playing live. The Ibanez jack location is a little annoying while sitting, but because the guitar is so light and hangs so well from a strap I'll often just wear it with the strap while sitting. You can also rest it on your leg at an even more vertical angle with the jack between your legs, which I find quite comfortable.

When it comes to the neck profiles I don't mind the Endurneck or the necks on my Ibanez Q's, but neither is perfect for me. I love a thin Jackson/Carvin neck and wish the Q's were more like those.

As for electronics I find the Ibanez superior in most aspects, but I mostly play modern metal, and the bridge pickup could have a little more "oomph" imo.


I do miss the slight fan fret of the Strandbergs. I found the GOC's fan to be too extreme for my needs, but the Strandberg fan is great for drop A on a 7 string without requiring a beefy low string. In Standard tuning I dont think a fan is necessary at all though.

Overall the Ibanez Q features (and value for money) beat the Strandberg for me, which is why I no longer own my Bergs but have two Quests.

[bbbbbbread]

Strandberg is just as iconic to me now as Ibanez fender or Gibson

[nunolance]

Looking forward to your review on the HILS!!

[ACWraith]

Jack placement matters!!! Meanwhile, my favorite thing about the extra strap button is you can just unscrew the damn thing.

[Barflew]

Had 3 Strandbergs over the years.Have a Essential now.Love the straight frets.I asked for them years ago. I have a multi- position switch, in a parts drawer.That's going into the Strandberg. Agree 1/4 in.plug placement, can be a Real Pain. Great comparison video, as always..

[simonpark]

I'm not in the market for any new gear but...well, you've sold me on the Strandberg being the better choice (for my preferences). Your sound is more detailed since you changed over, it's noticeable. As ever, and excellent video that goes into enough detail to help people make an informed choice.

[-ljk-]

I'm a huge advocate of rear mounted output jacks. The strandberg's jack placement is great aswell

[peanutbutteronmyguitar]

Been watching for quite some time now and I love the new tones!
All the best from Germany ❤

[Donald.W.Rissler-ARTS]

Nicely done review on the Ibanez. Wish you could have included a QX model with the parallel slanted frets, because they are unique to Ibanez like the endure neck is to Strandberg. Given your dislike of fan frets it would have been interesting to hear your opinion, but all the same it could have severely hampered the positives you did find. All together well done, as we've come to expect.

[Celllsius]

I just sold my Ichika Quest three weeks ago. I liked it, but I didn’t *love* it like I had originally. My gripes were essentially yours too. The jack is in a very inconvenient location and I just wanted a thicker neck. The more I played it the more I realized the single coils on that particular guitar weren’t for me and that I’m a humbucker guy. I would happily buy another if I could get a thicker neck and a different jack location.

[michaelr.]

I'm digging the haircut, dude. Looks good on you. As a 43 year old who still has his long hair, I have been debating the 'grownup chop' for the last decade...but still haven't found the courage to do it yet. I salute you. When people say, 'it will just grow back', they don't understand how long it takes to grow your hair back.

[lukaslmguitarcorner]

I also have a Q52PB and like it a lot! If I'd have to guess, I'd say that the name can be deciphered as follows: Q = Quest, 5 = 5 way switch, 2 = 2 Humbucker, PB = Poplar Burl.
Cheers, Lukas

[MrAustinMusic]

Glad to see you finally got to try one out! Great video.

[llmn]

I own two Ibanez Q series (q547 and ichi10) and two Strandberg Boden Standard guitars (6 with tremolo and 8 with no tremolo) . If we don't consider that the Strandberg is one and a half times more expensive, based on my experience with a small sample of 4 guitars, I can say that Ibanez is generally worse: the pickups are fizzy, while the stock Strandberg pickups are better—more balanced and versatile. Additionally, the Ibanez doesn't hold tuning as well—I don't know if it's due to the exotic wood types or poor and/or quicker drying. I don't mention thing you've already said like jack location etc. I'm not saying that Ibanez is bad, but Strandberg is a bit better (although slightly overpriced as well).

[El_Fitzy]

Turn the angled cable around... route it through your leg... the common spot for the guitar is gonna be there. it also is not only a problem for headless guitars so it should be changed for every guitar not just headless. I dont disagree that it could be changed, but all the work when you can just route the cable through your leg is crazy. i did it with headless, i did it with normal, it feels fine either way

[courtlaw]

I have the Ibanez Quest Q52 and I love it, one of the best guitars I ever owned. The one I have the frets are slanted. I play this more than my other guitars, never played a strandberg.

[BlackDog]

is that a blue GOC in the back? cant wait for the review!

[james]

Glad you did this, I have the Ibanez, I bought it before the Strandberg price drop, I was wondering if I was missing something in the Berg.