I ditched my Les Paul for this Ibanez Iceman

Here are some words to keep the youtube gods happy:

Welcome back to another in-depth guitar review! In this video, I dive into the Ibanez Iceman 420 FM VLS—a guitar that’s truly captivated me from the moment it arrived. From its striking flamed maple top on an Okoume body and neck to its versatile Super 80 pickups, this guitar is all about delivering that classic rock and roll vibe. But don't be fooled—this isn't just a love letter to the Iceman 420. I'll walk you through both the highs and lows of this guitar, giving you an honest take on what works and what doesn’t.

If you're into guitars that stand out on stage and deliver a solid performance, you’ll want to watch this. Whether you’re rocking out with a Fender Deluxe Reverb or cranking up the gain on a Boss Katana Artist MkII, I’ll show you exactly what this guitar can do across a range of tones. And let’s not forget the comfort factor—this Iceman isn’t just for show, it’s surprisingly comfortable, making it a great choice for both gigging and home use.

Stick around as I explore the good, the bad, and the quirky about the Iceman 420 FM VLS. From the impressive build quality and hardware to the minor quirks in the tone controls, I’ve got it all covered. Plus, I’ve made a couple of key changes that I think really enhance this guitar’s performance. If you’re in the market for something unique, reliable, and with a bit of an edge, this might just be the guitar for you. Don’t forget to check the links in the description for more details, and make sure to subscribe for more honest and detailed guitar reviews. Thanks for watching, and see you in the next one!

00:00 Why I love the Ibanez Iceman IC420FM-VLS
01:00 Ibanez Iceman IC420FM-VLS Specs
02:07 Pickup Playthrough Fender
03:14 Pickup Playthrough Victory
05:33 Tone Examples
10:21 Why you should buy this guitar (and why you shouldn't)

𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟

𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗦
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙙𝙚, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙤 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪!
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨.

#TheGuitarGeek #ibanez #icemanderfranke #ic420fm-vls #ibaneziceman #lespaulkiller

[TheGuitarGeek]

Is the Iceman 420's design a hit or too out there for your taste?

[chancemiller]

The joy on your face near the start is really fun to see.

I’m just past the intro, but had to post, because I am already grinning.

[AmyAlbert-xcyi]

Hi Andy... I love watching your videos. I started watching them when I was just scrolling. Since then, you've encouraged me to pick up my guitar again!! I'm 71 yrs old and your channel has made a positive impact on my life.. so I just wanted to thank you.

[timkopp]

I agree. I picked up a 1982 Iceman and the thing that most impressed me was how comfortable it was to sit and play. Not sure I’d give up my les Paul’s for it but there is no denying that it’s more comfortable to play.

[matthewcyahoo]

I love this channel. You can see how excited Andy is to get this guitar. You can't fake that..Not my guitar jam but it is cool..

[davepatterson]

I've been trying to decide if I really want one for months now. Thank you, Andy. I'll be getting one fairly soon. You're a good influence. 😄

[benspeeds]

Congratulations! You totally absolutely most definitely had some genuine stank faces going in that first sounds clip. Those are the kind of moments that make life worth living, my friend. It's always uplifting to see someone genuinely enjoying themselves.

[matthewgonzales]

Just had a friend come record at my studio, and he brought this guitar. It sounded incredible, and we didn't use another guitar for the whole session - leads and rhythm. Fantastic!

[jonahcornish]

Utterly bonkers yet totally beautiful! I want it in blue

[AncientMarinerYT]

You are a bad, bad man. I've always wanted an Iceman - love wild guitars in unconventional shapes, and this just looks and sounds so good. Sounds fabulous with the amp tweaks.

[michaelg.]

Had a friend who almost exclusively played the Iceman Paul Stanley signature and a JCM 900 and I can tell you, he blew everyone away with his sound. That guitar is at lower (5-7) gain on the JCM 900 an absolute beast of a mids monster and cuts through every mix. Love the sound of it, as it has that gnarly mid rock drive. The only time I heard something similar was when Morley of Thunder played on Backstreet Symphony, which is still one of the greatest Les Paul and Marshall sounds ever.

[UseTheSupeRsonic]

Iceman's are SO underrated. My ESP star is a Les Paul config (except only a volume knob and a toggle) and it's ensured I never want a Les Paul style guitar. But I for collection's sake, I'm DEFINITELY wanting an Iceman as well.

[classicalthrasher]

Nothing ugly about it. :) Glad you are enjoying it!

I had my misgivings due to its provenance, but whichever factory makes these for Ibanez did a great work on this model. If I recall correctly, the slightest dirt in a corner was all I found. It could also be the shop I bought it from did a great job (and they did well), but I feel it just didn't have problems.

The cheapest aspect of this Love is the plastic nut, but it's well-cut, and looks so good, fitting the aesthetics so well I won't ever change it.

The flamed maple top looks so awesome in my guitar. Addictive, it is one of those instruments you do not want to stop playing.

The pickups are A+++ for me-no need to switch. Any problems people have had with Super 80 pickups never occurred on my guitar. No noises, no issues, and a beguiling, beautiful tone for both positions.

Definitely share your enthusiasm for this newer Iceman! I do not find it "outrageous" at all, and I feel it would not be out of place anywhere, with any sort of music. Happy Ibanez is still embracing this amazing classic from the late 80s!

[mazingaball]

Love these guitars! Awesome look and they just sound really good. Awesome review as always.

[SEVNTIGERS]

I'm too biased with the Iceman, the new IC420 line is really great, sounds great, plays like a Champ, and I've waited 42 years for them to release another Iceman with sunburst finish (FMVLS). ❤
Totally worth the cost. Great review!

[I-Libertine]

I really enjoy your reviews. Loads of fun. Thanks for what you do, man.

[mpashalian]

Subscribed, because I gotta say I really enjoyed watching this review . I won’t be buying one of these, but I have a friend who has a few Iceman’s and loves them. You really made this guitar sound great, tasteful playing more in the way people actually play and not just noodley.

[classicalthrasher]

When I first saw the review, I did not have my guitar nearby, but can state now that the tone pots work correctly on my model. Of course it's also a relatively easy fix/switch, but just wanted to mention it since I would have also thought the same in your place, had the tuners worked that way for me-that all IC420FM pots should be the same. It is obviously less noticeable on the topmost range, but really audible, so something is not normal with your stock pots.

Apologies, and thanks for your honest and enthusiastic review.

[saarangnarayan]

SO. MUCH. YES. The "bad" stuff is pretty easily fixable, IMO. And the whole Okoume-Jatoba thing is no biggie for me as well. I own an AR325, which has the same woods and is one of the best guitars I have ever come across, so much so that a guitar tech friend of mine asked to buy it from me within 15 minutes of the first time he played it. This Iceman seems to be a lot like that AR, just with a better body shape, haha! Would love to get my hands on one some day!

[benemreevren]

13:30 That's a very impressive screenshot..