A Player’s Perspective on the New Ibanez Alpha
by Ryan Voelker
I can understand being on the fence about this model, it certainly looks a lot different than anything else Ibanez has ever made, but let me tell you from a players stand point it is absolutely the most comfortable guitar I have ever played.
Visuals:
Visually, it is right on par with other guitars in this modern, ergonomic vein, which has become especially popular among metal players. Artists like Tosin Abasi, Mike Stringer, Andrew Baena, Karan Katiyar, Sleep Token, and many others have helped push this style into the spotlight.
Comfort:
An area where the Alpha truly shines, though, is comfort - both sitting and standing.
I personally have a habit of shifting how I sit while playing. I spent many years playing with the guitar on my right leg. While I was in college for music, I took classical lessons and switched to a more traditional classical position. After finishing school, I went back to the right leg… and now I do both. This guitar feels great on either leg and in either position, which is something I did not realize I was missing until now.
Innovation:
One sleek feature that stood out immediately is the output jack placement. It is located on the lower string side of the back of the body. This small design choice makes a huge difference. With traditional output jack placements, the cable often ends up in an awkward spot when sitting, sometimes making it uncomfortable or putting unnecessary stress on the cable. On the Alpha, the cable stays completely out of the way. This is also a huge plus when standing.
Immersion:
Part of the design philosophy of this guitar is immersion, and in a strange but very real way, it accomplishes exactly that. You truly feel like you are part of the instrument. The body shape seems to melt into you, making long playing sessions effortless.
Standing up, the guitar remains comfortable in virtually any playing position. A quick note here: the guitar is much lighter and thinner than you would expect, which adds to the overall comfort.
The Neck:
The neck is another standout feature and easily one of the most comfortable necks I have ever played. It features a Parallel Wizard neck profile, meaning the thickness remains consistent along the entire length of the neck. No matter where you are playing, the fretting experience feels smooth and familiar.
The neck grip is also asymmetrical. The back of the neck is incredibly flat, providing a very stable thumb position. On the bass side, it is slightly bulked up, giving you something solid to grab onto for extreme bends. On the treble side, it is shaved down, reducing fretting-hand fatigue and stress.
I have never been particularly fond of multiscale guitars, but this one just feels right. It took little to no time for me to adjust. With a 27.2" scale length on the 7-string and 27.5" on the 8-string, the low end stays tight and defined without the strings feeling floppy.
The neck joint is another area where this guitar differs greatly from anything I have played before -and again, in the best way possible. It is incredibly thin (2.5mm) and completely out of the way, making access to the upper register extremely comfortable.
Surprises:
Another feature that tends to fly under the radar is the bridge system. The bridges offer two-way string mounting, allowing you to either top-load the strings or run them through the body, depending on your preference.
Conclusion:
The Alpha is certainly a niche guitar and will not be for everyone. However, for the right player, it has the potential to be the greatest guitar they have ever played.
My initial reaction when I first saw the Alpha was simply, “This is pretty cool-looking.” The real magic happened once I took it home and spent time with it. After that, I completely fell in love with it.
-Ryan Voelker