Part of Ibanez's cutting-edge Axe Design Lab, the SML721 is built from the ground up for clear tone, bold performance, and smooth playability. The SML721 is compact and lightweight with an ergonomic nyatoh body that resonates with a rich low-mid emphasis that’s a natural fit for high-gain applications. The SML721’s unique multi-scale fanned fret rosewood fingerboard and Ibanez’ high-performance Wizard neck profile are perfect for effortless upper-fret riffs, but with a traditional feel below the 5th fret that makes chords and rhythm playing effortless and familiar. Powering performance are two custom Q58 pickups, built for ultra-clear articulation with deep versatility expanded by Ibanez's acclaimed dyna-MIX10 switching system. What’s more, this guitar boasts premium performance-boosting hardware, including stainless steel frets, Gotoh locking tuners, and Ibanez’ Mono-Rail bridge. If you've been hunting for a high-value axe that’s optimized from headstock to heel, then Ibanez's SML721 is guaranteed to deliver.

Ergonomic design meets top-tier tonewoods

The SML721 sports an incredibly light but robust body made from nyatoh. Nyatoh is a modern favorite prized for its rich mid-low emphasis and strong sustain. It’s often compared to mahogany but with a dash more transparency as favored by modern shredders. The SML721 plays silky and smooth at either end of the fretboard; a multi-scale setup of 25.5-inches on the low E string and 25-inches on the high E gives your highest strings a smoother, more supple feel (like that of a low roundwound string) for easier riffage and tapping. An extra-deep upper cutaway ensures you can squeal and shriek on the highest fanned frets, while the SML721 keeps a very traditional fret feel from the fifth fret down. This unique multi-scale approach offers the best of both worlds for players who need to effortlessly hop between rhythm and leads. What’s more, the SML721’s 5-piece maple/walnut neck is incredible stable, great for travel, and features Ibanez’ acclaimed Wizard profile for a thin, flat, and fast feel.

Custom Q58 pickups

Originally designed for headless guitars, passive Ibanez Q58 humbuckers churn out divine sonic textures with astonishing levels of articulation and definition — a must-have for elaborate riffing and intricate, rapid-fire leads. The tonal balance of these pickups is unprecedented throughout the instrument's entire range. Plug into your favorite amp, and you'll experience muscular lows devoid of muddiness and mix-piercing highs that eschew harshness for sublime clarity. These pickups exhibit little self-noise, even in high-gain applications, and they play nice with both digital and analog effects. The SML721 incudes dyna-MIX10 switching, which provides 10 different pickup combinations (humbucking and coil-tap selection) via an Alter Switch and 5-way lever switch. Guitarists here have found the SML721 to be incredibly versatile — it offers a zero-drag playing experience for technical metal, jazz-rock fusion, and any genre you throw at it!

High-performance hardware stands up to aggression

The SML721 is teeming with cutting-edge, near-bulletproof hardware. Locking Gotoh tuning machines make for fewer tuning breaks and fast string changes while an Ibanez Mono-Rail bridge opens pathways to perfect intonation control and stronger string individual string clarity. This fingerboard also includes stainless steel frets, which ensure long-lasting durability and effortless note bending.

Features

• Tight and balanced electric guitar with a hybrid multi-scale taper for enhanced upper fretwork
• 5-piece maple and walnut neck with classic thin, flat, fast Wizard neck profile
• Smooth rosewood fingerboard with 24 fanned frets
• Comfortable multi-scale setup — 25.5-inches on the low E string and 25-inches on the high E
• Slanted frets for easy tapping, fingerstyle, bass-inspired slapping, and other intricate maneuvers
• Lowest frets have very mild fanning for easier chording and rhythm work
• Solid nyatoh body powers playing with rich mid-low emphasis and great sustain
• Premium Gotoh MG-T locking tuning machines cuts down on tuning and string change times
• 2 Q58 humbucking pickups, designed low noise performance and bold clarity
• Dyna-MIX 10 system with alter switch streamlines humbucker and coil-tap selection with 10 sound variations onboard
• Ibanez Mono-Rail bridge minimizes crosstalk between strings for boosted clarity
• Stainless steel frets ensure long-lasting durability and effortless note bending

Specifications

• Model:SML721 Axe Design Lab
• Neck Finish:Satin Polyurethane
• Scale Length Type:Multi-scale
• Number of Strings:6
• Left-/Right-handed:Right-handed
• Body Type:Solidbody
• Body Shape:S Doublecut
• Body Material:Nyatoh
• Body Finish:Satin Polyurethane
• Color:Midnight Arctic Ocean
• Neck Material:5-piece Maple/Walnut
• Neck Shape:Wizard
• Neck Joint:Bolt-on
• Radius:15.74"
• Fingerboard Material:Rosewood
• Fingerboard Inlay:Offset Dots
• Number of Frets:24
• Scale Length:25.0"-25.5"
• Nut Material:Plastic
• Bridge/Tailpiece:Ibanez Mono-rail
• Tuners:Gotoh MG-T Locking
• Neck Pickup:Ibanez Q58 Humbucker
• Bridge Pickup:Ibanez Q58 Humbucker
• Controls:1 x volume, 1 x tone
• Switching:5-way blade pickup switch (dyna-MIX10), alter switch
• Strings:.010-.046
• Manufacturer Part Number:SML721MAM