Skip to main content
Become a MusicRadar VIP - it's free
- Join our community
SampleRadar
Access over 90,000 royalty-free samples
The MusicRadar app
Full access and custom feeds
MusicRadar Newsletters
The latest music and gear news inboxed
Earn Member Badges
Climb the MusicRadar charts
Coming soon: VIP-only Giveaways
Win pro-grade music gear and more
Join the conversation
Connect with other musicians and fans
BECOME A MUSICRADAR VIP
For the quickest way to join, enter your email below. We’ll send a confirmation email and sign you up to MusicRadar newsletters with the latest music news, gear reviews, tutorials and exclusive offers.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
Get VIP Access Quick

Become a MusicRadar VIP for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to Become a MusicRadar VIP !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Start reading to unlock your first badge
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Hot music news

Hot music news

The latest news from the hottest artists.

Explore
Make better music

Make better music

Explore tutorials, tips and guides for creating music.

Explore

Your membership perks

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Explore now

Get the MusicRadar Newsletter

Get the latest music news, gear reviews, deals and tutorials delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up here

Sign Out
MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Software & Apps
  • Controllers
  • Buying Guides
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • About us
More
  • Styles' sonic secret
  • I'm Still Standing
  • Stevie Wonder’s '70s synth guru
  • 95k+ free music samples
  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 Axe Design Lab Iceman ICMS721
Guitars Ibanez just weaponised the Iceman for metal and refreshed a bunch of its flagship signature models
 
 
Telstar Standard ST14 12-String review
Electric Guitars "Superb playability, a versatile sound set, and pretty unbeatable value": Shergold Telstar Standard ST14 12-String review
 
 
PRS Tekton Series
Guitars PRS goes full-shred with the Tekton series: high-end electrics with pickups voiced for digital rigs
 
 
Gibson Victory Baritone review
Electric Guitars "It sounds thick, tight, and very powerful": Gibson Victory Baritone review
 
 
MusicRadar monthly guitar gear roundup, ft. Lzzy Hale's signature Epiphone Explorer Custom, plus new gear from Hotone, Gibson, JHS Pedals, Death By Audio and more
Guitars “His effects are bonkers in the best way possible”: The MusicRadar guitar gear roundup Aug 2026 edit
 
 
MusicRadar Monthly Guitar Gear Roundup October 2026: ft. Kim Gordon with her Jazzmaster, the Zoom Neurig, Gibson HiFi DNA acoustics and more
Guitars The MusicRadar gear roundup Oct 2026 edit – fresh drops from EBMM, Gibson, JHS Pedals and more
 
 
Latest in Guitars
The Fender x Loog child-friendly guitar lineup now includes a 21.6" scale Precision Bass.
Guitars Fender and Loog transform the P-Bass into a child-friendly 3-string, unveil a classic Tele for kids
 
 
Scott LePage of Polyphia points the way during a 2024 live show.
Guitarists How Scott LePage finds Polyphia’s wildest guitar tones
 
 
Warm Audio Centavo Mod
Guitar Pedals “The Klon formula, minus the oversized enclosure and price tag”: Warm Audio Centavo Mod review
 
 
Full line-up of Positive Grid gear with a man playing guitar in the background
Guitar Amps We loved these Positive Grid practice rigs at full price – now they’re as low as $99 thanks to this early Black Friday sale
 
 
A shot of Behringer's proposed mega-launch of super-cheap guitar effects pedals.
Guitars Behringer teases 100s of $10-$15 stompboxes – but what’s with the TC Electronic stuff in the photo?
 
 
Blackstar Beam Control and wireless rig: the British amp specialist has just expanded its Beam lineup with a wireless four-button footswitch.
Guitars Blackstar’s Beam Mini Wireless Rig has everything you need for cable-free playing
 
 
Latest in News
The Fender x Loog child-friendly guitar lineup now includes a 21.6" scale Precision Bass.
Guitars Fender and Loog transform the P-Bass into a child-friendly 3-string, unveil a classic Tele for kids
 
 
Scott LePage of Polyphia points the way during a 2024 live show.
Guitarists How Scott LePage finds Polyphia’s wildest guitar tones
 
 
Full line-up of Positive Grid gear with a man playing guitar in the background
Guitar Amps We loved these Positive Grid practice rigs at full price – now they’re as low as $99 thanks to this early Black Friday sale
 
 
Brian Johnson from ACDC performs with Dave Grohl (R) of the Foo Fighters during the taping of the Vax Live fundraising concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on May 2, 2021
Guitarists “Sobbing like a baby”: Dave Grohl reveals how jamming with AC/DC reduced him to a blubbing wreck
 
 
Nile and David in 1983
Artists “Billy Idol went, ‘Bloody hell, that's David Bowie!’ And as he says ‘Bowie’, he barfs. Vomits all over the place”
 
 
Martyn Ware
Artists Martyn Ware on how the sound of the city encourages creativity
 
 

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...