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
Blackstar DA5 Ruby Doug Aldrich Combo
Artists Blackstar shrinks Doug Aldrich’s fire-breathing tube head into a compact 5-watt combo
 
 
Jennifer Finch of music group L7 performs onstage at The Art Of Elysium Presents WE ARE HEAR'S HEAVEN 2020 at Hollywood Palladium on January 04, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
Bass Guitars "We are devastated”: L7 bassist Jennifer Finch diagnosed with brain cancer
 
 
Jake Bowen plays a headless Strandberg Sälen Jazz NX 6.
Artists Periphery's Jake Bowen unveiled as a Strandberg artist – when will we see a signature model?
 
 
Marshall Billie Joe Armstrong 1959BJA Artist Signature
Artists A baby blue amp for a Green Day frontman: Marshall launches Billie Joe Armstrong’s “Dookie Mod” head
 
 
Simon Gallup of The Cure performs at Riot Fest 2023
Gigs & Festivals “Hope you will joining us in wishing Simon the speediest of recoveries. And Eden – thanks”: Son of Gallup saves the day for The Cure
 
 
Este Haim performs onstage at The Kia Forum on October 09, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for ABA)
Artists Este Haim says sibling rivalry, Princess Peach and Tina Weymouth led her to the bass guitar
 
 
Latest in News
LONDON - JUNE 20: David Bowie and Mick Jagger performing on stage at The Prince's Trust 10th Birthday Party at Wembley Arena, London, United Kingdom on 20th June 1986. (Photo by Brian Cooke/Redferns)
Artists “I took John's advice. It was stupid of me”: So why does Mick Jagger still regret listening to John Lennon?
 
 
launchkey
Tech Novation tops off its Launchkey MK4 range with 88-key MIDI controller keyboard
 
 
Morrissey in swimming pool
Artists Bernard Butler shares with us the odd events that led to him almost teaming up with Morrissey
 
 
Blackstar DA5 Ruby Doug Aldrich Combo
Artists Blackstar shrinks Doug Aldrich’s fire-breathing tube head into a compact 5-watt combo
 
 
Nopia
Tech We got an exclusive look at Nopia, the viral synth and "harmony machine" that broke the internet
 
 
Jennifer Finch of music group L7 performs onstage at The Art Of Elysium Presents WE ARE HEAR'S HEAVEN 2020 at Hollywood Palladium on January 04, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
Bass Guitars "We are devastated”: L7 bassist Jennifer Finch diagnosed with brain cancer
 
 

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...