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Ibanez IC200 Iceman

 

Review of the Ibanez Iceman by The Man in the Jar

Features of the Ibanez Iceman

Tuners - Unbranded mini-tuners that are smooth and accurate. The large headstock means there's no hint of overcrowding.

Headstock - The elongated headstock nods briefly in the direction of the Gibson Explorer but retains the distinction of three-a-side. It is longer than you think so be careful when walking around with this beast on a strap for the first time. 

Nut - Tidy black plastic nut abuts the end of the fretboard.

Neck - The neck is the best and most consistent feature of all Ibanez guitars that have passed through my hands. This particular maple neck is beautifully slim and playable with great access to the upper frets. Although it's a bolt-on neck the moulded heel gives the playability of a set neck. The smooth satin finish rounds off a lovely overall feel.  

Fretboard - Medium-dark rosewood board with a nice close grain and traditional dot markers.

Frets - Medium frets with a medium low profile.

Action - Low and slinky enough with the 9 gauge strings fitted, but I judged there was room to drop a little further.

Body - Ask Salvador Dali to paint a Gibson Explorer and you might end up with an Ibanez Iceman. I personally like Explorer types and find the rather less extreme Iceman version to have an attractive quirkiness. I'm assured that any likeness between the lower horn and Eeyore's body parts is entirely accidental, though it does make for an interesting seated playing position.
The pointy bit on the bottom of the body makes it impossible to lean this guitar safely against the wall although it doesn't interfere when the instrument is on a guitar stand (which is more than can be said for an Explorer). The Iceman's body is essentially a flat slab of mahogany with some contouring on the top of the back. The brown finish on the model I tried showed off the mahogany really well. The upper bout meets the neck at the 17th fret and the lower bout meets at the 20th. Fret access is great, just look at the picture!  

Bridge - This is the Ibanez take on the tune-o-matic. The main difference is the ingenious quick-change tailpiece. The strings are not threaded through the tailpiece but are dropped into diagonal slots. A dog-leg at the bottom of the slot secures the ball-end of the string. 

Pickups - Two Ibanez AH pickups, open coil in black with black surrounds, add a touch of attitude to the visuals.  

Controls - Straightforward volume and tone with Gibson style speed knobs. A three-way pickup selector sits on the upper bout and has a very positive feel. 

Strap-buttons - Medium sized strap buttons, one on the tail on the lower part of the pointy bit and one on the heel (the heel button is removed for shipping so search the shipping box carefully before discarding).  

Output Jack - On the bottom of the body about three inches below the pointy bit.

Finish - Extremely good throughout.

 

Sound of the Ibanez IC200 Iceman

The Iceman played clean produces very musky tones with great depth of character in the neck and two-up positions. Dial in a touch of overdrive here and you've got a marvellously aggressive blues tone. The bridge pickup alone has an edgy grind to it which really responds to a spot of overdrive to deliver a cutting rock rhythm sound. Laying on more overdrive reveals the true voice of the Iceman. Aggressive rock tones with a modern edge. My favourite sound came from running both pickups together. Lovely layered tones that make your power chords sound more complex than they actually are. Knock it down to bridge only and cut the mix with a lead sound that bites like a cat.

 

Overall Impressions of the Ibanez IC200 Iceman 

The Iceman cooks on so many levels, proprietary Ibanez playability fitted as standard, distinctive Ibanez voicing and a rockin' shape with bags of attitude. At the price the IC200 is a very attractive proposition for heavy rock and metal merchants. The powerful modern rock voicing and the great upper fret access make it a shredder's paradise. But I'd also recommend it for rhythm guitarists (the forgotten heroes of rock and roll) because the tonal complexity will add a lot to your show.
If I didn't already own an Ibanez Destroyer I'd get myself an Iceman. It's a beautiful axe.  

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