In 1989, a band was formed that would become a massive inspiration for the future of metal music. Fear Factory is that band. The massive, industrial sound that they crafted became one of the most sought after sound of 90s metal bands. Even today, over 27 years later, Fear Factory is an inspiration for up-and-coming bands. For years, fans craved a Dino Cazares signature guitar, and finally in 2015, Ibanez delivered one.

Let’s check out the massively hyped Ibanez DCM100.

Features:

– Mahogany Body

– 3Pc Maple/Bubinga Neck w/ Titanium Truss Rod

– Rosewood Fretboard w/ MOP Offset Dots

– Jumbo Frets with Prestige Fret Edge Treatment

– Lo-Pro Edge 7 Bridge

– 26.5″ Scale Length

– Matte Burgundy Finish

– Seymour Duncan Retribution Active Pickups

Opening the hardshell case that’s included with this guitar was a purely blissful moment. The case is beautifully form-fitting and features a gorgeous red velvet material. More importantly, what’s in the case is a marvelous beast of a guitar.

The finish is the first thing that drew me to this one. The matte burgundy is definitely different from what you are used to seeing from Ibanez. It’s a perfect balance of elegant and aggressive. Obviously, the guitar is based on the RGD shape and as such is highly comfortable to shred on.

(If you are looking for a cheaper RGD 7-string, check out our review of the RGDIX7MPB)

Some neat choices by Ibanez are the reverese headstock, which you really don’t see very often on Ibanez guitars, and the 26.5″ scale length. I’m usually a fan of 27″ scale length 7’s, but the 26.5 is very comfortable if you are a shredder, or are more used to a shorter scale length.

The Lo-Pro edge bridge is probably my absolute favorite tremolo system on the market. It’s insanely smooth, and it has plenty of room for movement. I find it to be one of the easier FR-style bridges to work with regarding setup and string changing, but if you still have trouble, we have a really helpful guide to setting up a tremolo.

Tone:

This guitar is made of a healthy cut of solid mahogany. The use of this wood without a top makes for a huge and warm bottom end. Unfortunately, solid mahogany guitars can have a bit of a flubby low end, which isn’t great when you like a fast attack. Luckily, Ibanez has combatted this buy using a bolt-on maple/bubinga neck. It’s not as snappy as some other bolt-ons that I’ve played, but it’s got a nice attack, while retaining the warm bottom of the mahogany.

The pickup used is Dino’s signature Seymour Duncan Retribution. Dino was actually heavily involved with this pickup design and helped design the EQ curve from the ground up.

EQ-wise, the Retribution has a really massive low end. I personally wish there were a bit more highs. It’s hard to get a lead sound that really cuts through the mix. Obviously, the guitar is meant to be a rhythm player’s guitar, it doesn’t even have a neck pickup. I found the neck to be really comfortable for shredding, and that’s what I wanted to do with it. Alas, it’s just not what it’s made for. If you’re looking for something that has a massive rhythm sound, you won’t be disappointed here.

What’s neat about these pickups are the special preamp designed just for them which offer just enough gain for the breakup you need, without killing all of the dynamics. You get plenty of headroom, enhanced pick definition, and a solid amount of clarity when tuning low.

Cleans aren’t amazing, but are better than a lot of other active pickups on the market, so I can’t really complain about that.

Build Quality:

In terms of quality of the instrument, the most stand out feature is how great the neck feels. It features a titanium truss rod, which offers pretty much the ultimate neck stability.

This guitar also received the Prestige Fret End Treatment, which, in case you don’t know, is pretty much the crown jewel of Ibanez Prestige guitars. These guitars come with some of the smoothest fret jobs you’ll ever see.

Let’s just take a moment to appreciate the wonderful luthiers in the Japanese Ibanez shop….

Okay, that’s enough.

I actually couldn’t find anything wrong with this guitar at all. It’s not a cheap guitar, coming in at around $2300. So I expect nothing less than the best, and I was satisfied.

Final Verdict:

The Ibanez DCM100 is a low-tuning rhythm guitarist’s dream. It offers a massive bottom end and a ton of low-string clarity.

My biggest complaint is the lack of a great lead tone. I can’t complain about the lack of a neck pickup, because that’s just the design of the guitar. You know what you are buying, so it’s not really a flaw. It’s just that with a neck so smooth I want to play some sweet leads sometimes!

The finish is gorgeous and the other aesthetics are pleasing to the eye as well. The neck is amazing, and it features one of the best tremolos out there.

I wouldn’t hesitate on this one if you’re looking for one of the meanest sounding Ibanez guitars out there.
8-10-8

Don’t forget! We are authorized Ibanez dealers and can set you up with a DCM100 or any other current Ibanez model. Not that this guitar needs it, but our Free Guitar Enhancement Package ensures that you get a perfect guitar with an insane setup every time.

We also hope you enjoyed this review. Besides reviews, we write a lot of technical articles, theory pieces, and more!Click here to find those!

This article was written by Zac Buras, our editor located in Louisiana.

 

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