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Ibanez V-blade VBT
List: $1,400
Ibanez has reserved the X-series offering to accommodate the more radical guitar design of which the Iceman had been the preferred pick since its inception in the ‘70s. Other notable (former) members in this club include the Rocket Roll V & the Explorer-esque Destroyer. The latter, of course, had been the fancy employee of Edward Van Halen in the band’s ‘Women & Children’ first, till its retirement due to an artistic, but indeed reckless, hacking of the guitar’s tail-end body area.
The V-blade you see here is a current subject of a legal pursuit against the manufacturer (currently removed from the catalogues) but a limited number had made it to these shores. The V outline is indeed an intriguing body design since its debut by Gibson decades ago but had managed to appease fans in droves due to the menacing aura it exudes, particularly appealing to the aggressive musicians better known as ‘metal’ to the rest of us.
Construction/ fit/ finish
Like its Xiphos sibling in this series, the VBT sports a neck-through construction & a wholesome finish from one end to the other. While the essence of it feels synthetic, the guitar does feel full to the touch but isn’t as massive. The Indonesian workmanship illustrates a high degree of conception thus revealing no traces of rudimentary flaws: sharp neck edges & bleeding finishes are thankfully absent.
Particularly appealing is the rosewood fretboard grade here; no dry spots detected.
Rating: 90%
Playability/ tone
The inherent design of the VBT necessitates a strap-on audition but the strap buttons on these guitars are not fitted at the factory, the onus is on the user to do so upon purchasing. The guitar played sitting down isn’t one to adhere to instructions to stay put but if you place one of your laps in between the V’s gap, it would oblige a classical guitar type placement.
The finished neck needs a little getting used to because the lacquer grade isn’t as Gibson appealing, nevertheless it remains playable. The neck profile, while sporting a Wizard II measurement on paper, has a chunky feel; quite an SG-esque affair. The playability plus point is definitely its upper fret access which is virtually unobstructed. Together with the jumbo frets on board, it’s an absolutely enjoyable finger acrobatic platform.
This author would also like to applaud the manufacturer for the inclusion of the Gibraltar Custom bridge, despite being a tune-o-matic variation; it makes its presence felt (similarly in Mike Mushok’s baritone guitar as well as the SZ2020). The bridge unit has a massive base buffer component which dissipates the instrument’s string vibration effectively to the body hence the fine sustain available from this guitar. The other benefit would be the bridge’s ability to be recessed for lower action employment.
All in all, the VBT's ergonomics & non-locking nature would appeal to the 'no-frills & all play' camp.
Moving on to tone, the DiMarzio humbuckers in the VBT are the identical D Activator model residing in the Xiphos but the tonal performance here is rather different. Do note that the clean tones on offer are acceptable but stellar they are not. Driven, both the neck & bridge units are unable to comprehensively capture bottom end chugging. The guitar threatens to be midrange inclined even when plugged into a 12” driver equipped amplifier. Nevertheless, it is heartening to know the pickups retain its rich second order harmonics trigger; it’s simply shred-tastic to say the least.
Tone test equipment:
• Amps: Peavey Triple XXX (1X12)/ Randall RG200/ Roland CUBE 30X
Rating:
• Playability: 90%
• Tone: 75%
Conclusion
The various V designs in the market are especially captivating visually, this VBT included. The guitar has limited sitting-down appeal but let this be the least of your worries as the playability in whole is nothing short of superb. This guitar is also proof enough that, despite having a set of branded humbuckers, tonal appeal would include the overall mass-electronic chemistry & not merely pickups consideration per se. Sensibly, the VBT is not for the proponents of drive-subtlety & sparkling clean jazz tones.
Overall rating: 79%
Likes:
-Playability
-Hard case included
-Impressive QC
Dislikes:
-Bass response could have been more appealing
Worthy competitors;
• ESP Std V
• Jackson JS30KV
• Gibson Flying V Faded
• Dean VX
PS: Thanks Adam @ Swee Lee BB showroom, for the review invitation + Ryan for helping out with the set-up & the 2nd opinion :smt023
