With developments in instrument technology, the prominence of more technical playing styles, and players' desire for lighter, more portable instruments, today's headless guitars are pushing far beyond designs of the past. However, even with all these advancements, Ibanez still saw an exciting opportunity in this space.

The Q or Quest series is a radical concept for Ibanez. The "Quest" in this case was to not just to adapt an existing instrument into a headless design, but to develop an entirely new guitar from the ground up. This range features a number of unique elements intended to maximize tone, performance, and playing comfort.

These include custom designed R1 single coil and Q58 humbucker pickups, a mono tune bridge, and a proprietary custom string locking mechanism. The QX subseries is also equipped with innovative 8-degree inward slanted frets, uniquely tailoring their ergonomics to the benefit of highly technical players.

Ultimately, this series offers a diverse and versatile enough feature set to attract not only the modern, technical guitarist, but also players who may have never even considered a headless guitar before. Regardless of genre, Q (Quest) allows guitarists of every background to question the full scope of their creative possibilities.

Parallel Wizard 3pc Roasted Maple/Bubinga neck:

The Parallel Wizard neck is 19mm thick all the way through the entire length. It provides an amazing fretting-hand experience for the players who prefer their instrument… read more held in a higher playing position. The 3pc Roasted Maple/Bubinga construction also offers excellent stability and long-term durability.

Roasted Birdseye Maple fretboard:

The beautiful Birdseye Maple fretboard imbues this bass with an exotic appearance. The fretboard is heat-treated for a balanced attack and rich sustain.

Jescar EVO Gold:

Jescar EVO gold frets are known for their bright tone, gorgeous appearance, and excellent features such as long-lasting durability and smooth note bending.

Quilted Maple top/Nyatoh body:

The Quilted Maple top sonically enriches the response for picking. Nyatoh used as body wood provides a rich mid-low end.

R1/Q58 S-S-H pickups:

The R1/Q58 pickup combo is designed specifically for use in headless guitars. They provide a clearly defined sound, facilitating excellent tonal balance through all frequencies. The lows are powerful without being muddy, and the highs are bright and clear, but never harsh. As a result, every single note within the chord structure is well defined, and clearly audible. The R1 design, with its tonal balance, and extremely low noise performance, works extremely well with both digital and analog effects.

Custom string lock:

This custom string lock is one-piece unit that features very simple construction. This means the hardware requires less maintenance, is highly durable, and allows for very easy string changes. Additionally, no proprietary string is required, so you can continue to use your favorite gauge and brand.

Mono tune bridges:

The Mono tune bridges offer a wide intonation range so that you can easily set the instrument up for tuning down a whole step or even further. The string height is also easily adjustable, and each saddle generally has less material, which leads to more natural and organic tone.

dyna-MIX9 switching system with Alter Switch:

The dyna-MIX 9 offers nine sound variations and can switch between humbucker and single coil modes with just a flick of the mini switch. One mode even simulates a humbucking sound from the combination of two single coil pickups.

Gig bag included:

Ibanez Gig bags are made out of durable materials.

Ergonomic body design (Q):

The body features a number of strategically placed curves on both the top and back of the instrument. This complex, yet sophisticated design provides maximum playing comfort.

Compact and light-weight, yet resonant body:

While it is really compact and light-weight, its non-chambered, solid body provides great sound with rich woody tones.

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