The Guitar Player's Resource
Ibanez PGM333: Paul Gilbert's 30-Year Evolution Distilled. You'll recognize this guitar's shred credentials immediately - it's cut from the same high-performance cloth that enabled Paul Gilbert to redefine what lightning-fast technique could accomplish.
But the PGM333 isn't just another signature model; it's a celebration of three decades of refinement, representing everything Ibanez and Gilbert have learned about building the perfect shred machine.
Here's what makes this guitar special: it's a limited edition that commemorates 30 years of the PGM series, and when you're dealing with that kind of milestone, every detail matters. Made in Japan by FujiGen, this isn't some overseas budget model - it's crafted with the same attention to detail that goes into Ibanez's most prestigious instruments.
That African mahogany body tells an interesting story about tone and sustain. While many shred guitars opt for lighter woods to emphasize attack and clarity, mahogany brings warmth and thickness that helps single notes sing with authority. But here's the clever part: those painted f-holes aren't just aesthetic flourishes. They subtly affect the guitar's resonant characteristics, adding a touch of that hollow-body airiness without sacrificing the sustain and feedback resistance you need for high-gain playing.
The reverse headstock is pure Paul Gilbert DNA - it's been his calling card for decades, and there are practical reasons beyond just looking distinctive. The reversed tuners create different string angles that subtly affect tension and tone, particularly on the lower strings. It's one of those details that might seem cosmetic but actually influences how the instrument feels and sounds under your fingers.
Let's talk about those DiMarzio PG-13 mini humbuckers, because this is where things get really interesting. Most shred guitars rely on full-sized humbuckers for maximum output, but Gilbert's chosen a different path. These mini humbuckers deliver all the clarity and definition you need for lightning-fast runs while providing a slightly different tonal character - a bit more focused, with less midrange bloom than their full-sized cousins. It's like having a high-performance sports car engine that's been precision-tuned for a specific type of driving.
The triple pickup configuration gives you more tonal options than the typical two-humbucker setup. That middle pickup opens up combinations that can help you find the perfect voice for rhythm work or lead passages that need to cut through dense arrangements. With that simple 3-way selector and master volume, you're not dealing with complex switching schemes - just straightforward access to three distinct voices.
That 5-piece maple and walnut neck deserves special attention because it represents serious engineering. The multi-piece construction provides incredible stability - crucial when you're dealing with the kind of string bending and aggressive playing that defines shred guitar. The walnut stripes aren't just pretty; they add strength and contribute to the neck's tonal characteristics.
The Macassar ebony fingerboard with Prestige edge treatment creates a playing surface that's built for speed. Ebony's density and hardness provide excellent note definition, while those perfectly dressed fret edges mean your fingers glide effortlessly across the surface during the most demanding passages. Those acrylic and abalone split block inlays aren't just decorative - they provide clear position markers that help with navigation during rapid-fire runs.
Here's something that sets this guitar apart from many modern shred machines: that Gotoh GTC101 fixed bridge with through-body string routing. While floating bridges offer expressive possibilities, a fixed bridge provides rock-solid tuning stability and maximum sustain transfer. The through-body stringing creates excellent string-to-body contact, ensuring that every bit of your playing energy gets translated into sound.
Those locking Gotoh tuning machines work in perfect harmony with the Graph Tech TUSQ XL nut to create a system that stays in tune even under the most aggressive playing conditions. When you're executing the kind of techniques that made Gilbert famous - those lightning-fast alternate picking runs, dramatic string bends, and percussive playing techniques - you need hardware that won't let you down.
The gold hardware against that mahogany body creates a visual statement that's both elegant and aggressive. This isn't a guitar that apologizes for taking itself seriously. Every component, from those premium tuners to the carefully voiced pickups, serves the larger goal of creating an instrument that responds instantly to your musical intentions.
What really makes this guitar special is how it represents the evolution of Paul Gilbert's requirements over 30 years of professional playing. This isn't just a replica of his early instruments - it's what happens when decades of experience meet modern manufacturing capabilities. Every specification has been tested in the real world of recording studios and concert stages.
Model name: PGM333
Made in: Japan
Body type: Solid body
Body material: African Mahogany
Neck joint: Tilt Joint
Bridge: Gotoh GTC101 fixed (10.8mm string spacing)
Knob style: Plastic top hat (black)
Hardware color: Gold
Neck type: PGM Prestige
Neck material: 5-piece maple/ walnut
Scale length: 648mm/ 25½"
Fingerboard material: Macassar ebony
Fingerboard inlays: Acrylic & abalone split block
Frets: 24 / medium nickel silver (Prestige edge treatment)
Nut: Graph Tech Black TUSQ XL (43mm)
Machine heads: Gotoh SG381 MG-T locking
Pickup configuration: HHH
Bridge pickup: DiMarzio PG-13 bridge (H) mini-humbucker
Middle pickup: DiMarzio PG-13 middle (H) mini-humbucker
Neck pickup: DiMarzio PG-13 neck (H) mini-humbucker
Controls: Master volume / 3-way lever pickup selector
