Ibanez A528-CMG

Ibanez A528-CMG: technical review

The Ibanez A528-CMG is an eight-string electric guitar with a multiscale fretboard, active humbucking pickups, and a five-piece bolt-on neck. Its listed price is 1845, with no currency specified in the supplied details. The model has been available since February 2026. Those facts establish its basic position and specification, but there are no customer reviews or hands-on observations available here. This assessment therefore focuses on what the published construction and hardware indicate, not on unverified claims about sound, comfort, or build quality.

Body, neck, and fretboard

The body is made from basswood, also called linden, and has no separate top. Its finish is Coral Mirage, described in the specifications as pink, with black hardware. The neck uses five pieces of maple and walnut and attaches to the body with bolts. Ibanez specifies a Parallel Wizard AS neck profile, an ebony fretboard, and mother-of-pearl Step Off-Set Dot inlays.

The fretboard has 24 jumbo frets and a stated radius of 508 mm, or 20 inches. The nut is plastic and measures 48 mm, or 1.89 inches, across. That width is a useful reference for players considering the demands of an eight-string neck, though the measurement alone cannot establish how the neck will feel in the hand. The same applies to the profile name: it identifies the design, but actual comfort depends on individual hand size and playing technique.

Multiscale layout

The A528-CMG has a multiscale length running from 648 mm on the shorter side to 698 mm on the longer side, equivalent to 25.51 to 27.48 inches. The specifications also list 648 mm as the short scale and 698 mm as the long scale. In practical terms, the frets are arranged at varying angles rather than following one scale length across all eight strings. This layout gives the instrument distinct scale lengths across the fretboard, a design choice that players should evaluate in person if they are unfamiliar with multiscale guitars.

The longer measurement is relevant when considering the lowest string, while the shorter measurement applies to the opposite end of the layout. The supplied information does not state tuning recommendations or string gauges beyond naming the included string set, so specific claims about tension or ideal tuning would be speculative.

Pickups and controls

Ibanez equips the guitar with Fishman Fluence Modern ceramic humbuckers at the bridge and an Alnico humbucker at the neck. They are active pickups. The control set consists of one volume control, one tone control, a three-way pickup selector, and a Fishman Fluence voicing switch. These details indicate that the instrument offers a selectable voicing feature alongside conventional pickup selection and basic level and tone controls. The available specifications do not describe the voicing options, so their exact tonal differences cannot be confirmed here.

There is no tremolo or vibrato system. The fixed Mono-Rail G2 bridge is paired with Gotoh MG-T machine heads. Players looking for a tremolo-equipped guitar should note that this model does not include one. The supplied D'Addario EXL120-8 string set is identified by name, but the gauge details are not included in the product information provided.

What the specifications establish

The combination of eight strings, a 48 mm nut, a 648 to 698 mm multiscale layout, and active pickups defines the A528-CMG's core design. The five-piece maple and walnut neck, ebony fretboard, and fixed bridge complete a specification aimed at players seeking an extended-range instrument with a fixed bridge and selectable active pickup voicing. These are design facts, not proof of a particular playing feel or sound. There are no customer impressions or measured performance results to support those judgments.

Included accessories and key details

• Included: Gig bag, multi-tool, and hex wrench.
• Not included: A hard case.
• Construction: Basswood body, five-piece maple and walnut bolt-on neck, ebony fretboard.
• Electronics: Active Fishman Fluence Modern ceramic bridge and Alnico neck humbuckers, with a voicing switch.
• Hardware: Mono-Rail G2 bridge, Gotoh MG-T machine heads, black finish.

Bottom line

The Ibanez A528-CMG is specified as an eight-string multiscale guitar with active Fishman Fluence pickups, a fixed bridge, and a gig bag. Its measurements and hardware are clearly documented, while details such as the voicing options and real-world playing response are not. Buyers should treat the listed price of 1845 as incomplete without a stated currency and confirm local pricing, availability, and the neck feel before purchasing.