MTM2 Review

The Ibanez MTM2 Mick Thomson electric guitar's 5-piece thru-neck and Mahogany body pump out full, fat tone with strong sustain. Edge FX Edge bridge offers double-locking stability with fixed bridge simplicity and sustain. The new MTM2 offers the Mick Thomson signature design in a powerful, more affordable package.

Features:	9.5
Sound:	10
Action:	10
Reliability:	10
Impression:	9.5
Overall rating:	9.8
Users rating:	8.4
Comments:	65

overall: 9.6

Featured review by: Tummaenkeli, on september 14, 2007

Purchased from: RockStuff Guitars

Features: I literally just got this sent in. My friend Who runs a guitar shop got one accidently, and passed it on to me (by way of apology - he broke my acoustic). The Ibanez MTM2 is Slipknot's signature guitar. Well, to be more specific, it was designed by their guitarist, Mick Thomson. My friend informed me that it was a guitar 'made for metal', and, though I am certainly not a fan of Slipknot, I knew that they played heavy. And this guitar reflected this. I've played signature guitars before, but only this and my DMM1 gave it's promised sound. This wild black puppy has a good, strong mahogany wood neck. You could seriously use this guitar to climb Everest. The frets, however, do stick out a little. This doesn't affect me too much, but it can still be a botheration. It's quite comfy, and has a rather slim body. The tuners were pretty fine, and the hardware looks like it was made to last. My hardware was black. Pretty good at what it does. // 9

Sound: This achieved a very heavy sound, which was certainly not suprising. Much less treble than my DMM1, therefore making it preferable to my JTK1 for certain songs. However, for such a heavy guitar, the range of things you can play on it is astounding. I played songs that could barely even be called rock and it still sounded good. The pickups are powerful, however not as loud as I had expected. But this is the kind of guitar that has sound waves that could kick your ass. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: I could say flawless, were it not that the action was kind of shot on it, apparently. However, my friend fixed it up before he gave it to me, and other than that, it's pretty damn fine. And I'm a pessimistic person. I'm actually trying to find flaws. Sadly, I fail. All in all, the neck was well fitted, and the guitar seems good in this area. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I believe that the core of this guitar is something like titanium, because it is virtually indestructable. That wolverine guy could have just made some claws from the body of an MTM2. I couldn't find anything wrong with this, in a way. Oh, wait. May as well mention that some of the hardware, however, was a little loose. // 10

Impression: For anyone who plays any rock, any kind of rock at all, this guitar is pretty good. It looks as good as it sounds, and is strong enough to make a Terminator out of it. I would certainly recommend this guitar. I'm not sure how widely available it is, but seeming as Slipknot is pretty mainstream, I'm sure this guitar won't be running short of supply soon. // 9

overall: 10

Reviewed by: (SiC)Slipknot, on june 16, 2008

Price paid: £ 600

Purchased from: Local Music Store

Features: Great, traditional Ibnaez body with inverted headstock, 5-piece Wizard 2 maple neck feels great to play with. The mahogany body adds plenty of tone to the sound, the Edge III bridge adds plenty of sustain and in general the whole "missing a tone knob" thing is kind of a lie, by the time you start riffing with the guitar, that thought won't cross your mind once. Jumbo frets ensure that shredding is easy. // 10

Sound: Designed well to help create a bold powerful sound. Like I mentioned, the body and the brigde help add tone and sustain, but the pickups are also amazing, the V7 and V8 add a deep growl to the sound meaning replicating Slipknot's sound is very easy. I use my MTM2 with a Line 6 Spider 3 and a MT-2 Boss Metal Zone pedal (for best sound replace the low action strings to 0.11 gauge Slinky's. Also for most distortion turn the volume knob all the way up and only use the volume on the amp). // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was built in Indonesia and don't let the "poor craftmenship in the Asian area" thing get to you. This is an amazingly well built guitar. The guitar is solidly built with the parts securely fastened on. The wood is of high quality as well. The 5-piece next is very strong and this guitar could stand a lot of punishment. This pickups are the perfect distance from the strings aswell. // 10

Reliability & Durability: Played at many shows and this guitar has never let me down, constantly showing its power and its tone. The hardware is amazing, due to the fact the guitar was constructed so well. The finish is great, the colour scheme of the whole guitar works very well. The strap buttons are very secure and are placed so your strap will never slip out, which is a big relief since my last guitar was a Les Paul replica and the strap came out of that very often. My thought is the strap is like this because of Mick's Headbanging tendancy and it his strap feel out during a 'bang' it would not be very good. // 10

Impression: I tend to play nu-metal and Slipknot is my favourite band, hence why I purchased this guitar. I have been playing for 5 years now and this is the best guitar I have used by far. If you are thinking about this guitar, stop thinking, buy it! You will not be disapointed. // 10

Comments

[bitter.sweet]

Well. I think it's a nice review, but I'm not sure this guitar is actually like the GUITAR OF GUITARS. This guitar is, or what I've heard of it, definately heavy metal. How much is the price range for this thing? I'm thinking of buying a new guitar, so I'd be pleased if someone could recommend a guitar that played rock, jazz/blues, but also some heavy stuff. Thinking of an SG or Les Paul so far.

[bitter.sweet]

This guitar doesn't look really "elegant" either..

[sepultura alma]

Don't look to bad, like to havce a go on one if i get the chance, i think there about £300 new...

[greasemonkey]

You see how these reviews are all pretty much flawed; everyone always gives what they're reviewing a 9 or 10.

Sure it's good to read some details, but they're always biased beyond reliability, as whoever is reviewing is only bothering because they really like what they just bought (which is pretty much 9 times out of 10) and it's probably the only guitar they'll by for several years.

To top it off half of em are newbies who have only been playing for a year.

My point: don't take UG reviews too seriously.

To bitter.sweet: don't get a SG or Les Paul. EVERYONE has an SG or Les Paul. Just for the sake of being anti-mainstream, at least TRY finding something else.

[loly_alx]

somoene her at ug, said that u lose substain if u have a "floyd rose" i want to know wy, cause i think its bullshit
Anyway maybe u like this osund of this guitar, i guess it make a lot of gain, cause of the pick ups, but i agree this is truely a good guitar, but my opinion is that ibanez is only "problems" , i had my rg in 6 mounth, and i had to send it to reparation 5 times, yes 5 times!!!

[malodesi]

I already thought about to by this guitar,I hope I'll get enough money till next year....

loly_alx: It right that you lose some sustain. A Floyd Rose has got less contact with the body than maybe a vintage tremolo or a string thru constuction, so your body resonates less. But a Floyd Rose is much more helpful, if your guitar is tuned down. By using a vintage tremolo the strings get misstuned then, even from one dive. A floyd rose makes the strings remaining at the same tension after a dive.

[autonationrule]

can i just say how annoying i find it on these reviews when there arent many pictures of instruments, let alone one of the whole instrument. i know this must seem annoying but can any1 tell where i could take a complaint like this.....?

[Jawkster]

i've played this (in standard tuning though), it's truly a beast. However, the V7 pickups aren't as pwoerful as I'd thought they'd be. Reverse Ibanez headstocks makes my heart melt. I could have bought for 150 quid anyway, bu I got a DJ-600 instead.

[BluesGuitar23]

lol, u can make a terminator outta it! lik description, dude.
awesome. ill get this one!

[heartagram256]

this is cool but i like the MTM1 better.

[CLIFF_BURTON]

i would never touch this guitar because of the description had Mick Thomson in it. I stopped reading at posted this comment.

[ExtremeMetalFTW]

But...the guitar in the picture has Floyd Rose trem!

[COWlan]

A Floyd Rose guitar definitely has less sustain than say a fixed bridge guitar because 1)The Floyd Rose bridge is connected to several springs loaded in the back of the guitar and how does guitar make sounds? From vibration of the strings which resonate through the body, the springs will counteract to the vibrations of the strings and absorb some of its energy thats why the sustain is less. 2)A Floyd Rose tremolo is a big bridge, you are carving ALOT of wood out of your guitar to make way for the bridge and its springs in the back, the less wood, the less sustain, simple.

Check out the Kahler pro double locking tremolo, I personally prefer that to the Floyd Rose, it fixes the problems with the FR.

[synth002]

Well this guitar looks cool and has a whammy bar.. thats about it.. play a live gig with this (inc solo's) then play a live gig with a les paul.. now you know why les pauls rock. NUF SED!

[reaper846]

CLIFF_BURTON wrote:

i would never touch this guitar because of the description had Mick Thomson in it. I stopped reading at posted this comment.

shows how narrow minded UG users are

[Tedward]

looks like a RG2EX1 with a signature.

[the.spine.surfs]

This guitar does not have a floyd rose or, a licensed anything. It has a double locking bridge. No whammy bar. More sustain than a floyd, more stability than a tune-o-matic, but not vibrato or pitch bending.

[xXChimairaXx]

the reason why mick does not use a floyd rose and instead uses a double locking bridge is because of the extremely harsh conditions this guitar goes through. many of their songs are in A, so he definitely needs that bridge, and who needs a whammy when you have a sound fx master in your band.

[knotslip]

what pickups does it have.
nd r they passives or actives

[Jawkster]

knotslip wrote:

what pickups does it have.
nd r they passives or actives

active V7s

Checked.

[Donkey Fly]

bitter.sweet wrote:

Well. I think it's a nice review, but I'm not sure this guitar is actually like the GUITAR OF GUITARS. This guitar is, or what I've heard of it, definately heavy metal. How much is the price range for this thing? I'm thinking of buying a new guitar, so I'd be pleased if someone could recommend a guitar that played rock, jazz/blues, but also some heavy stuff. Thinking of an SG or Les Paul so far.

You need to think outside of the boring Gibson range.

[zoomzoom]

hey i want a guitar that i can shred on and play some heavy riffs on, but also have the great tone and playability for soft chords and melodic tunes. anyone have any advice on what a good guitar would be for my needs?

[Horlicks]

zoomzoom wrote:

hey i want a guitar that i can shred on and play some heavy riffs on, but also have the great tone and playability for soft chords and melodic tunes. anyone have any advice on what a good guitar would be for my needs?

go to the forums

[MetalMusicGod]

This is a Great Guitar, I have it, and it is mind-blowing how good it is for the price you pay. The V7's are pretty good but you need to put some EMGS in it. I have, i've gone with an 81(b)/60(n). This isn't a guitar to go out and play Rock, Punk, Clean on. This is for Metal and nothing else. And for Metal, there's not much better.

[ChoPxSueY]

You forgot to mention one thing. Guy in my college class bought this guitar. It was tuned to drop B when he got it, and then he tuned it to standard. At this point the neck snapped off because of the "tension of the strings". He wasnt told the strings were designed for heavymetal only when he bought it and that he couldnt tune to standard. So advice to anybody considering one, if you want to tune to standard get some lighters strings.

[somethingcool76]

ChoPxSueY wrote:

You forgot to mention one thing. Guy in my college class bought this guitar. It was tuned to drop B when he got it, and then he tuned it to standard. At this point the neck snapped off because of the "tension of the strings". He wasnt told the strings were designed for heavymetal only when he bought it and that he couldnt tune to standard. So advice to anybody considering one, if you want to tune to standard get some lighters strings.

sounds like your friend is a dumbass, did he fail to notice either the warping of the neck or even the difficulty of turning the tuning pegs before the snap?

[kradamek]

Donkey Fly wrote:

bitter.sweet wrote:

Well. I think it's a nice review, but I'm not sure this guitar is actually like the GUITAR OF GUITARS. This guitar is, or what I've heard of it, definately heavy metal. How much is the price range for this thing? I'm thinking of buying a new guitar, so I'd be pleased if someone could recommend a guitar that played rock, jazz/blues, but also some heavy stuff. Thinking of an SG or Les Paul so far.



You need to think outside of the boring Gibson range.

yes people r to caught up wit tradtional instruments like gibson and fender. dont get me wrong, i love fender and though they r great instruments they stick to wut has worked for 50 or 60 years. companies like ibanez really push boundries in guitar innovation. good review.

[Paul Carbonella]

The thing with Ibanez is they could make electric guitars that are really good for shredding. Perfect for it, but then they go and make acoustics and they suck. This is a good shredder's guitar, but not much else.

[ibanezgio4]

this guitar looks perty sweet, but i cant decide between a Dunlop Crybaby or a Boss V-wah

[TeddyRamone]

ibanezgio4 :
this guitar looks perty sweet, but i cant decide between a Dunlop Crybaby or a Boss V-wah

Dude, we're talking about guitars here, not freakin' wahs.

[leony03]

[/quote]

greasemonkey wrote:

You see how these reviews are all pretty much flawed; everyone always gives what they're reviewing a 9 or 10.

Sure it's good to read some details, but they're always biased beyond reliability, as whoever is reviewing is only bothering because they really like what they just bought (which is pretty much 9 times out of 10) and it's probably the only guitar they'll by for several years.

To top it off half of em are newbies who have only been playing for a year.

My point: don't take UG reviews too seriously.

To bitter.sweet: don't get a SG or Les Paul. EVERYONE has an SG or Les Paul. Just for the sake of being anti-mainstream, at least TRY finding something else.

WTF r u tlkin about? les pauls are awesome. sure there common because they r good guitars. i hv played both but i only have a les paul and im happy with it

[Tummaenkeli]

I wasn't joking with the Terminator joke I put in the review. I just got 2 more (free!) guitars, and I thought, "Well, I don't need this too much." So, being an occaisional skateboarder, I took it to the local park for a few stunts. Not even getting heelflip-melon'd on top of broke this thing.
I say they smelted adamantium into the body.

[Tummaenkeli]

Also, to that guy, Greasemonkey:
I have piles of guitars. So far, the only one's I've reviewed are the MTM2 and the DMM1. Both were actually good guitars. I have guitars that are shit, and if they're not already on this site, then I will review them. But this guitar was actually good. I don't even like Slipknot, and I still can't be so narrowminded as to say it 'sucks'.
So, what's the phrase I'm looking for?
Oh yeah.
Suck it.

[Tummaenkeli]

In a few hours, I'll review this guitar I just got that rocks...and another one that sucks the big one.

[delizio37]

read this...it comes factory tuned to C# ....
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-MTM2-Ele ctric-Guitar?sku=512568

[742627000017]

Bullshit Mick Thomson usualy plays in Drob B

[soopersnowman]

He said that it comes from the factory at C#, he didn't say anything about Mick playing it that way.

[ready2breakdown]

Jawkster wrote:

i've played this (in standard tuning though), it's truly a beast. However, the V7 pickups aren't as pwoerful as I'd thought they'd be. Reverse Ibanez headstocks makes my heart melt. I could have bought for 150 quid anyway, bu I got a DJ-600 instead.

Dude these DONT come with V7 pickps! They totally come stock with EMG 81/85s

[ready2breakdown]

ChoPxSueY wrote:

You forgot to mention one thing. Guy in my college class bought this guitar. It was tuned to drop B when he got it, and then he tuned it to standard. At this point the neck snapped off because of the "tension of the strings". He wasnt told the strings were designed for heavymetal only when he bought it and that he couldnt tune to standard. So advice to anybody considering one, if you want to tune to standard get some lighters strings.

WTF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT! No Neck would snap off from having too high tension on lower gauge strings. The friggin strings would break before the neck would! And this is a set neck! You know how impossible that would be!

[MetalMusicGod]

Ready2Breakdown... This hasn't got a set neck, it's a Bolt-on. Secondly, i have an BC Rich Mick Thomson Model, I put on a set of 13-56 Gauge strings, and after tuning it to Drop-B, the ****ing neck came apart from the body. Thirdly, They do come with V7's, The MTM1 Set-Neck version comes with EMG's, even though Mick Doesn't use 'em now.

[rg7aaron]

MetalMusicGod wrote:

Ready2Breakdown... This hasn't got a set neck, it's a Bolt-on. Secondly, i have an BC Rich Mick Thomson Model, I put on a set of 13-56 Gauge strings, and after tuning it to Drop-B, the ****ing neck came apart from the body. Thirdly, They do come with V7's, The MTM1 Set-Neck version comes with EMG's, even though Mick Doesn't use 'em now.

The MTM1 is a neck through not set neck, but thanks for acting like you know everything, and to all the people who are saying this has a wammy bar, take a closer look.

[i_play_bass]

synth002 wrote:

Well this guitar looks cool and has a whammy bar.. thats about it.. play a live gig with this (inc solo's) then play a live gig with a les paul.. now you know why les pauls rock. NUF SED!

i would honestly take my mid-range Ibanez over a Les Paul...i just never liked any of them that i've played

it's all a matter of opinion bro

[rg7aaron]

The les paul aint shit, at least its not worth the money, imo very ugly and uncomfortable, hate um!

[742627000017]

Jeeez...this is such a bullshit MTM2 has beter reviews than MTM1

[johndou]

I have a question.

I'm thinking of getting an MTM2. My current tuning is AEADF#B and I am not sure whether the Trem III bridge's saddle will be able to move back far enough to handle an A on the top string and keep a proper intonation.

Do you guys think the Trem III / MTM2 be able to pull this off?

[JerkyChid]

I've heard very bad things about the neck and the tone seems to be lacking imo

[Shredder Guitar]

floyd rose DOES make fixed bridges, too, people.

[Shredder Guitar]

you're all acting as if its the end of the world because it has a trem bridge, when its fixed.

[x_Dunkelheit]

Slipknot is gaaaaay

[Spl!nTeRgu!tAr]

delizio37 wrote:

read this...it comes factory tuned to C# ....
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-MTM2-Ele ctric-Guitar?sku=512568

and if you drop the c# what is it?

B F# B E G# C#

[Spl!nTeRgu!tAr]

johndou wrote:

I have a question.

I'm thinking of getting an MTM2. My current tuning is AEADF#B and I am not sure whether the Trem III bridge's saddle will be able to move back far enough to handle an A on the top string and keep a proper intonation.

Do you guys think the Trem III / MTM2 be able to pull this off?

itll be a pain in the ass but yeah

every half step you tune down your gunna have to rip off the back plate and tighten the springs

[Serial 177]

looks great

[Runow]

x_Dunkelheit wrote:

Slipknot is gaaaaay

Dude, we aren't talking about slipknot we are talking about a guitar that the guitarist of slipknot happens to have designed, why even post when you post something stupid like that? The guy who reviewed didn't even like slipknot!

[Rock&MetalLover]

ok people i just orders that guitar and i love it and it cheep it like 400 dolars or $499 i think well it awsome so i like it and everything said about it here is true and it a fliping awsome guitar

[phanthix]

742627000017 wrote:

Bullshit Mick Thomson usualy plays in Drob B

this guitar comes standart at C# with a dropped B

[morbidtom]

i got the guitar and tuned from everything from standard down to drop A# and it was fine. Then one day it just randomly fell off the stand and the neck snapped out. I got it repaired and the repairman set the truss to D : (. Does anyone know what will happen if i tune it down to drop a#?

[XSider]

Y2K will happen.

[Barnstable]

I'm thinkin' of buying this guitar, but I want to replace the p-pus with Seymour Duncan Blackouts.

Does anyone think this a good idea/bad idea?

[SlipKnutta81]

dude its a sick idea.....the MTM-1 comes with black outs.....so the ibanez website says. i have one of these.....and its sick as.....wack it through a digitech rp-250 and a half decent amp.....ur cookin!!

[SlipKnutta81]

correction....i have a mtm-2.....and although its cheaper with a bolt on neck and ibanez v7/v8 pick ups.....as i said....use a digitech rp-250 like i did or any modelling processor.....and mate.....ur cookin with Fire with this guitar.

[SlipKnutta81]

and yeh.....people shoul;d actuall know what their talkin about when commenting on this guitar....in stead of just running mouths.....1- double locking fixed bridge no floyd rose....2-snapped neck from tuning up.....f*^k off mate!....ever heard a truss rod adjustments....and if u dont know what ur doin.....find/pay someone who does. 3- overall sick guitar for the price...i just paid 1100 aussie dollars for it.....well worth evry dollar.....even without the modelling processor.....get one.....if its ur style that is.

[SlipKnutta81]

ill put up a link at a later date for a video im gonna make.....playin this guitar and me other guitars.....for people to see just how good value for money this beast is. for naw....keep jammin....and strive to perfect urself....i have a lot a that to do, lmao.

[shreddymurphy]

ChoPxSueY wrote:

You forgot to mention one thing. Guy in my college class bought this guitar. It was tuned to drop B when he got it, and then he tuned it to standard. At this point the neck snapped off because of the "tension of the strings". He wasnt told the strings were designed for heavymetal only when he bought it and that he couldnt tune to standard. So advice to anybody considering one, if you want to tune to standard get some lighters strings.

I'm 100% positive that the strings would break before the neck. In all of my years of playing I've never heard of a neck breaking because of someone up-tuning. Even if you had the highest gauged strings possible... I can't imagine that happening. Even if this was true, he'd have to be a complete dumbass.

[Vhmarduk]

The MTM 2 is a nice guitar for the price. A few things you should know before you go out and by one.
If you like to play solos like Steve Via don't buy this guitar because you won't be doing any dive bombs. You will also notice that you will really have to push the strings to bend them. Because there is no spring relief tension you are more likely to brake strings. It is harder to bend on this than a Les Paul with a fixed bridge.
The sound is not that disimilar to a Les Paul. It has something to do the the fact that it is made from mahogany. It is farily heavy. Something to think about if you play standing up.
The V7 and V8 provide a fat gibson like tone. The combination of wood, pick ups and locking system provide ample sustain. If you want a bright sounding guitar to play lots of solos you will have to put in a pick up with more trebble and a little more gain. If you use something like a pod to get your distortion that these pick ups will work really well. They take off that buzzy edge you get from Pods.

I really like the neck on this guitar. It is a bit slimmer than my KH602. The frets are a nice height too. It is easy to get your hands around and play some light touch soloing.

Unlike other Ibanez guitars i have seen and owned it has a really good paint job. There are no seems or runs. It is a very nice looking guitar.

This guitar is built for down tunning and heavy riffing. If you want to solo alot by an RG with a floating tremlo. I would probably recommend changing the pick ups too if you tune down. Things could get muddy. All in all it is good value and if you don't expect too much from it you won't be disapointed. 7.5/10