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"A glittering, player-friendly Paul Stanley signature that gives big rock tone without a big price tag."
I picked up the Ibanez PS60-SSL wanting a stage-ready Iceman-style guitar that wouldn’t break the bank, and it surprised me by delivering immediately usable rock tone and a flashy presence. I approached it as a working gig and rehearsal instrument - compact, eye-catching, and purpose-built for straightforward, aggressive playing.
First Impressions
Out of the gig bag the Silver Sparkle finish grabbed attention - it really does sparkle under lights and the Iceman-derived silhouette looks stage-ready. Neck thickness and balance felt comfortable right away; the maple neck with the bound fretboard gave me a familiar, confident feel that translated to fast runs and chording without fuss.
Design & Features
At its core the PS60 is a simple, honest package - poplar body, PS-style maple neck, and a bound purpleheart fretboard with white block inlays, all finished in a crisp Silver Sparkle that reads as classic glam rock. The scale is 628 mm (24.75 inches) and it comes with 22 medium frets - dimensions that make it comfortable for both rhythm chunks and upper-register leads. Hardware is chrome throughout and the bridge/tailpiece arrangement on current production models is the Gibraltar Performer with a Quik Change III tailpiece which gives solid tuning stability and quick string changes.
Playability & Usability
Playing the PS60 felt intuitive from the first chord - the fretboard radius and nut width are in a familiar sweet spot so I didn’t have to adapt my technique. The neck profile is thin enough for faster runs yet substantial enough to feel supportive when playing chords; string spacing at the bridge is reasonably tight which helps for palm muting and fast picking. The included gig bag is lightweight and handy for local gigs and rehearsals, though I’d prefer a hard case for air travel.
Sound & Electronics
The PS60 ships with a pair of Infinity R ceramic humbuckers - they’re high-output and assertive, which is exactly what I wanted for crunchy, mid-forward rock tones. With two volumes and one tone plus a 3-way selector you can dial thick bridge crunch, a fuller neck voice, or a balanced middle position; however there’s no coil-split or push-pull options, so the tones are honest but not endlessly versatile. Through a tube amp the bridge pickup cut through rhythm mixes nicely and the neck pickup had a warm, singing quality for solos when I backed off the amp gain.
Real-World Experience
I took this guitar into rehearsals and a couple of small club gigs - the PS60’s stage presence turned heads and its tuning stability held up when I dialed aggressive gain. For live rhythm work the ceramic humbuckers helped me sit forward in the mix without extra EQ, and the sustain from the fixed bridge was dependable for single-note lines. I did notice that on very high-gain patches the pickups can get a touch harsh compared with warmer ceramic or PAF-style humbuckers, but rolling back the amp tone or guitar volume tames that quickly.
The Trade-Offs
To hit a friendly price point Ibanez uses poplar for the body and straightforward hardware - which keeps weight down but also means this guitar lacks the woody depth you’d get from mahogany. The electronics are functional and rock-focused but limited - no coil-splits or advanced switching, so tone-shaping happens at the amp or pedals. Finally, while the sparkle finish looks spectacular, it’s also a little more prone to showing light dings and finish chips than a satin top would be - not a dealbreaker but worth noting for touring players.
Final Verdict
The Ibanez PS60-SSL is a successful budget-friendly signature that gives you unmistakable Paul Stanley styling, stage-ready looks, and crunchy, aggressive humbucker tone right out of the bag. If you want a no-nonsense rock instrument that looks the part, plays comfortably, and won’t force you to upgrade immediately, this is a solid pick - I recommend it for gigging rock players, fans of glam and classic hard rock, and anyone after a distinctive stage guitar without a premium price tag.
Helpful Tips & Answers
- Does it come with a case?
- It ships with a gig bag, which is fine for local transport and rehearsals but I would use a hard case for airline or long-haul travel.
- Is the neck good for fast playing and bends?
- The maple PS neck is comfortable for fast runs and bends; the profile is thin enough to be speedy yet comfortable for chord work.
- Are the pickups usable for classic rock and heavy tones?
- Yes - the Infinity R humbuckers are high-output and cut through nicely for classic rock and heavier styles, though they get a bit bright at extreme gain settings.
- Can I get vintage or single-coil tones from this guitar?
- Not without pedals or amp voicing - there’s no coil-split or special wiring on the stock PS60, so I use pedals to get cleaner, chimey single-coil-like textures.
- How does it balance weight and comfort for stage use?
- It’s relatively light and balances well on a strap, so it’s comfortable for multi-song sets and doesn’t fatigue my shoulder quickly.
- Would you recommend it for beginners?
- Yes - it’s straightforward, playable, and provides real rock tone, making it a good option for beginners who want something stage-worthy from day one.
Reviewed Sep 20, 2024by Musicngear Verified Community Reviews
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Review of ESP Alexi Laiho STD Katakana
I came to the Alexi Laiho STD Katakana wanting an instrument that could handle fast melodic death‑metal runs while still feeling precise and immediate under my fingers; this guitar delivered on that brief in almost every respect. My time with it focused on heavy riffing, fast alternate picking, and tapping passages - the neck, hardware and overall construction are all geared toward players who demand speed and upper‑fret access.
First Impressions
Out of the case the Katakana makes an instant visual statement - gloss black with yellow pinstripes and that katakana "Alexi" at the 12th fret gives it a unique identity that’s not just cosmetic. The neck felt slim but substantial in hand - thin U contour with a well‑finished satin grip on the 3‑piece maple neck‑through body that encouraged fast fretting and extended position work. The ebony fingerboard feels glassy and the sawtooth markers plus the scalloped upper frets on some variants give you visual and tactile cues that make shredding and precise vibrato very comfortable.
Design & Features
The Katakana is built around a neck‑through alder body and three‑piece hard maple neck which gives it a long, singing sustain I noticed right away when I palm‑muted open strings and then moved into fast lead lines. The guitar is fitted with an EMG HZ FH‑2 bridge humbucker and the ESP MM‑04 on/off preamp/boost that a lot of Alexi signature models use - that combo creates a focused, forward midrange that sits in a mix with authority but can be very bright if you push treble heavy amp settings. Hardware is top shelf for the price bracket - Gotoh SG360‑07 style tuners (or equivalent on E/Edwards variants), and a Floyd Rose style locking tremolo that, once set up, holds tuning well while allowing aggressive whammy use. The fretwork and nut setup were clean on my sample, and the 24 extra‑jumbo frets with the sawtooth inlays make fretting and bends feel immediate.
Playability & Usability
I played the Katakana through a tight high‑gain amp and also through a cleaner channel with an overdrive on the loop; the neck profile made fast chord changes and single‑note runs effortless, and the upper fret scalloping (present on certain Alexi models/variants) made controlled bends and tapped squeals more intuitive. The V‑style body favors standing play and stage looks - when seated I found it a bit awkward to balance, which is common with that body shape, but on a strap it felt locked to my torso and exploded under heavy alternate‑picking. The Floyd required a proper setup to keep intonation perfect, but once dialed in it was stable even with dive bombs.
Tone & Real‑World Experience
Tonally the FH‑2 (passive HZ style EMG) plus the MM‑04 booster gives the Katakana a snappy, cutting voice - excellent for palm‑muted chug and harmonized lead lines, and it stays articulate at low tunings. I found the bridge pickup leans toward the upper mids and treble, which helps solos cut through but can seem thin with scooped EQ; dialing some body in from the amp, or using a fuller neck pickup in cleans, balanced it out. In rehearsal and a small club gig the guitar sat very well in the mix and the sustain from the neck‑through alder/maple combination is very usable for long lead notes and feedback control.
The Trade‑Offs
Despite the strengths, there are compromises - the aggressive tonal character isn’t as versatile for jazzier or vintage clean tones without swapping pickups or heavy EQ; the FH‑2 can sound brittle with high treble settings. The neck‑through/alder construction and quality hardware push the price up on Japan‑made/Custom Shop models, which makes the Katakana a specialist instrument rather than an all‑rounder for players on a strict budget. Finally, the V shape is polarizing - it’s a killer stage piece but less practical for prolonged seated practice.
Maintenance & Setup Notes
If you’re buying one, budget time for a proper Floyd setup and intonation session - the bridge geometry and locking nut need careful attention to stay rock‑steady. I also recommend a light fret dress if you notice any buzzing on altered‑tuning setups and checking the MM‑04 switch wiring for clean contact - the preamp is simple but it can be sensitive to cable/connector issues if neglected. Routine string changes with the locking nut procedure become second nature after a couple of swaps.
Final Verdict
The Alexi Laiho STD Katakana is a purpose‑built signature V for players who want a fast neck, razor attack and stage presence right out of the case - it’s not trying to be a Swiss Army knife, and I appreciated that clarity of purpose. I’d recommend it to shredders, melodic‑death or modern metal players who value immediate playability and focused tone, and who don’t mind spending a bit more for Japan‑made build and proprietary cosmetic touches. If you need warm, vintage cleans or a workhorse for multiple genres, you may want to audition one alongside other, more versatile models.
by Musicngear Verified Community ReviewsHelpful Tips & Answers
- Is the neck comfortable for long lead runs and tapping?
- Yes - the thin U profile and ebony board make long runs and tapping feel very natural and speedy for me.
- Does the Floyd Rose hold tuning with heavy trem use?
- Once I had it properly set up and the nut clamped correctly, the tremolo held tuning reliably even with aggressive dives.
- How usable is this guitar clean or for different genres?
- It sounds great clean with the right amp voicing, but its natural voice is more modern/bright so I found it less ideal for vintage‑voiced jazz or blues without pickup or EQ changes.
- Are the scalloped frets a factory feature on this model?
- On the variants I handled the upper frets were scalloped on certain Alexi runs, which helped in controlled bends and tap phrasing; check the specific serial/spec for your unit.
- How's the hardware—tuners, bridge, and electronics—out of the box?
- The hardware felt high quality and robust; tuners are precise and the MM‑04 preamp switch is useful, though the Floyd requires a careful initial setup for best performance.
- Would I need to change pickups to get a better tone?
- I didn’t feel it was required for all styles—FH‑2 is great for cutting high‑gain tone—but swapping pickups is a simple route if you want more warmth or a different flavor.
- Is this model worth buying over the more affordable LTD/Edwards versions?
- For me the Japan‑made build quality and finishing details justified the premium, but the Edwards/LTD alternatives offer a lot of the same playability at a lower price if you’re budget‑conscious.