Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Tiny Dancer
  • Browser DAWs
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Restring your guitar
  1. Guitars

In pictures: Ibanez RG9 unboxed

News
By Michael Brown
Published 16 October 2014

The nine-string beast outta the box

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Ibanez RG9

Ibanez RG9

Back at Winter NAMM 2013, audiences were freaking out at the sight of the Ibanez RG9 – why? Because it has nine strings, that's why.

We've had one of these behemoths for a while, so we thought we'd share a closer look with you – for even more info, check out our 90-second video demo below.

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

For the full review of the Ibanez RG9, check out Total Guitar issue 259.

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Ibanez RG9

Ibanez RG9

There it be: a none-more-black riffing machine

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Ibanez RG9

Ibanez RG9

The RG9 is tuned C# F# B E A D G B E, with string gauges starting at 0.009 inches for the high E, down to a 0.090 for the C#

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Ibanez RG9

Ibanez RG9

A pair of QM-9 humbuckers provide the tonal firepower, and offer a host of tones via the five-way pickup selector

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Ibanez RG9

Ibanez RG9

With a 712mm (28inch) scale length and 950mm radius, the RG9's rosewood fingerboard is certainly a handful

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Ibanez RG9

Ibanez RG9

To handle the tension exerted by those nine strings, the RG9's maple/bubinga neck is supported by two titanium rods, with a pair of truss rods for neck adjustments

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Michael Brown
Michael Brown
Social Links Navigation

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

Read more
Ibanez QX527B headless guitar shot on grey surface
Electric Guitars “For those who find Strandberg’s space-age designs a little too alien, Ibanez’s Q series is the perfect middle ground”: Ibanez QX527B review
 
 
The Ibanez Standard Series RGR431PB finished in Charcoal Gray Flat
Electric Guitars “Ibanez serves up another RG that’s built for stunt guitar, priced for virtuosos-in-training, and with enough sounds to please the fusion kid and headbanger alike”: Ibanez RGR431PB review
 
 
Jackson Pro Plus Misha Mansoor Juggernaut ET8
Artists Misha Mansoor’s Evertune-equipped 8-string might be the heaviest signature Jackson of all time
 
 
A Strandberg Boden Original N2.6T headless electric guitar with a Fender Tone Master amp modeler
Electric Guitars “If this is the future of guitar, then sign me up”: Strandberg Boden Original N2.6T review
 
 
Harley Benton JA-Baritone HH BK
Guitars Harley Benton drops a sub-$250 baritone that proves you can do low tunings at low prices – and stay fashionably offset
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
Latest in Guitars
Jimmy Eat World
Artists Jim Adkins and Zach Lind on the making of Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American
 
 
Sophie Lloyd shreds on her signature Kiesel
Artists Sophie Lloyd pays tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne with a shred cover of Black Sabbath’s Paranoid
 
 
Blackstar Beam Mini
Guitar Amps “What sets it apart is access to a humongous range of amp captures”: Blackstar Beam Mini review
 
 
Harley Benton Fusion-T II: these humbucker-loaded T-styles are packed with features and are offered with myriad hardware, pickups and finish options
Guitars Harley Benton throws a big ol' T party and you are all invited, as it debuts the Fusion-T II series
 
 
A Charvel Type 2 Tele headstock with an inset of the company's founder, the late Wayne Charvel, who died on 12 July
Guitars Remembering Wayne Charvel, visionary luthier and Superstrat pioneer
 
 
Pete Townshend with a freshly smashed Rickenbacker in 1966
Artists Pete Townshend on how Stevie Wonder's producer inspired him to smash guitars
 
 
Latest in News
MACY'S 4th OF JULY FIREWORKS -- 2026 -- Pictured: Noah Kahan performs at the "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks" -- (Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/NBC via Getty Images)
Gigs & Festivals Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan wants nappies at gigs amid troubling rise in concertgoers defecating
 
 
Sander De Keere
Artists Sander de Keere reimagines the church organ as an 'ancient synthesizer'
 
 
Rolling Stones earbuds
Headphones Technics drops limited-edition wireless earbuds in collaboration with the Rolling Stones
 
 
U2 and Martin Garrix
Bands "We go back a long way": U2 join forces with DJ and producer Martin Garrix for new track Fireflies
 
 
Sophie Lloyd shreds on her signature Kiesel
Artists Sophie Lloyd pays tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne with a shred cover of Black Sabbath’s Paranoid
 
 
Human brain listens to yellow headphones isolated view on blue background 3d render image
Artists One more time: It's MusicRadar's Quiz of the Week #15!
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...