Ibanez are widely known for their fast-playing shred machines, and a big part of this reputation came from their now legendary Wizard necks. The Wizard neck has gone through several iterations since it was first introduced, and some iterations were significantly more popular than others.
In this KillerGuitarRigs Guide you’ll learn:
- When was the Wizard neck first introduced?
- Which guitars have Wizard necks?
- How many Wizard neck profiles are there?
- What makes Wizard necks so fast?
Before jumping into the guide, take a look at these Ibanez Wizard neck fast facts:
- The Wizard neck was first released in 1987.
- The fretboard is very flat, due to the 17” radius.
- There have been more than 10 different versions of the Ibanez Wizard neck.
Contents
When Was the Wizard Neck First Introduced?
The Wizard neck was unveiled to the world on the Ibanez RG550 way back in 1987. Born during the golden age of heavy metal, the Wizard neck made it incredibly easy for guitarists to play lightning-fast licks, riffs, and solos.
What Makes Wizard Necks So Fast?
There are a few factors that impact the playing speed of a guitar’s neck.
Size
It’s well known that thin necks are preferable for those looking to play fast. A thin neck promotes playing with a grip that sees the thumb running straight up the neck, rather than around it. When playing this way, you improve finger reach, which means you need to move your fingers less to hit every fret on every string. Less movement equal more speed.
Ibanez Wizard necks are some of the slimmest. The original Wizard was just 17mm thick at the 1st fret, and 20mm at the base. Compare this with an ’87 Gibson Les Paul, which at the time was around 32mm at the 1st fret, and 36mm at the base. Thickness-wise, the Wizard neck was revolutionary.
Radius
The wider the radius, the flatter the neck. The Wizard neck has a 17” radius, which is absolutely huge when compared with an ’87 Les Paul at 12”, or an ’87 American Strat at just 9.5”. Having that flat fretboard makes a lot of the techniques people like to buy shred-style guitars for that much easier. Things like sweep picking, pinch harmonics, and multiple string fingertapping.
Frets
While the majority of guitars at the time were using a medium jumbo fret, Ibanez installed extra jumbo frets on their Wizard-equipped models. These enormous frets had several benefits that helped to solidify the reputation of the Wizard necks.
First of all, these frets are very tall, which significantly reduces the effort required for huge bends and makes pinch harmonics incredibly easy and replicable. As well as fret height, the width of the extra jumbo frets adds an incredibly smooth, almost effortless playability, which further enhances the player’s ability to play fast.
High Fret Access
The design of the Wizard neck keeps the thickness at the heel to a minimum. This helps to improve speed at the high frets by making it easier to reach across the fretboard.
Finish
Ibanez maximized speed on their Wizard necks by leaving them completely unfinished. They have no oil or lacquer to speak of and are extremely well sanded. This leaves them wonderfully smooth and about as slick as a neck can possibly be. This is ideal for moving up and down the neck, as sweaty palms and neck coatings usually result in friction, which is a killer for speed.
Which Guitars Have Wizard Necks?
Today there are several Ibanez models available with Wizard necks:
- The most popular are the RG series, which are some of the most iconic instruments in the Ibanez range.
- The FR series, which are a modern take on the classic Telecaster style design, are equipped with the Nitro Wizard neck.
- The Axion Label series use the Nitro Wizard neck, but in a stunning 5-piece design complete with luminescent fret marker dots.
- Finally, the Iron Label Series, which are also equipped with Nitro Wizard necks.
There are, of course dozens of historical models available on the used marketplace with sought-after Wizard necks from over the years. If you are able, try out as many as you can before committing to one if you are unsure. On paper, the difference in specifications looks absolutely tiny, but in reality the way the necks look, feel, and play can vary significantly.
How Many Wizard Neck Profiles Are There?
Over the years, Ibanez have continuously adapted and evolved the Wizard neck. Today there are over 10 Wizard necks in existence, with various versions of each available for guitars with extended range, multi scale, etc.
Some of the Wizard models include:
- J Custom Wizard
- Super Wizard
- Nitro Wizard
- Super Wizard Prestige
- Wizard I
- Wizard II
- Wizard III
- Wizard Prestige
- Wizard miKro
- Wizard Premium
Final Thoughts on the Ibanez Wizard Neck
The Wizard neck has seen changes both good and bad over the years. The original Wizard remains among the most sought after, with well-used models still commanding a hefty premium on the second-hand market. Overall, these necks have been proven over time to be some of the smoothest playing and fastest that have ever been made, which has cemented them into guitar lore.
By the way, you might be interested in our rundown on the best guitars for metal, as well as our favorite budget 7-string guitars.
Main image courtesy of Flickr user Wvolution7GSR
