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Ibanez Q52PB
PRS Pauls Guitar
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Playability
78
Sound
68
Build
63
Value
70
Score
70
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Playability
70
Sound
76
Build
73
Value
58
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez Q52PB vs PRS Pauls Guitar

Reasons to Get
Ibanez Q52PB over PRS Pauls Guitar

Fret Material
Gold vs Nickel Silver
Almost as durable as stainless steel with an exotic look
Release Year
2023 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Wizard C vs Pattern
Thin neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.827'' (21mm) vs 0.88'' (22.4mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.95'' (24.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 25'' (635mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 10'' (254mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
70 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
PRS Pauls Guitar over Ibanez Q52PB

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Pattern vs Wizard C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
PRS vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.88'' (22.4mm) vs 0.827'' (21mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.95'' (24.1mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
25'' (635mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
10'' (254mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Ibanez Q52PB vs PRS Pauls Guitar

Bridge Pickup
Q58 vs PRS TCI
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Q58 vs PRS TCI
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Nyatoh vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Birdseye Maple vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
Headless vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez Q52PB vs PRS Pauls Guitar

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Poplar Burl vs Carved Figured Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the PRS Pauls Guitar is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Ibanez Q52PB's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The PRS Pauls Guitar wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Ibanez Q52PB has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Ibanez Q52PB is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez Q52PB
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

PRS Pauls Guitar
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Ibanez Q52PB Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2023 Q series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar Burl top
  • Nyatoh body
  • 3pc Roasted Maple/Bubinga neck
  • Roasted Birdseye Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Q58 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Q58 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Ibanez Mono-Tune bridge
  • Wizard C Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo Gold frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >

PRS Pauls Guitar Overview

  • From PRS's 2018 Core series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Carved Figured Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Honduran Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: PRS TCI (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: PRS TCI (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • PRS Stoptail w/ Brass Inserts bridge
  • Pattern Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • PRS Phase III Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in the Ibanez Q52PB

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Birdseye Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Birdseye Maple
Nyatoh wood pattern used for guitar building
Nyatoh

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

Nyatoh has been replacing Mahogany for guitar building. It's fairly hard, durable, more sustentable and common than Mahogany. Find out more about Nyatoh.

Woods Used in the PRS Pauls Guitar

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: PRS Pauls Guitar.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

The PRS Pauls Guitar pickups from a more specialized brand than the Ibanez Q52PB. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: PRS Pauls Guitar.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The Ibanez Q52PB gives you 5 switch options while the PRS Pauls Guitar gives you 3. This means that the Ibanez Q52PB gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: Coil Tap.

Coil Tap is similar to Coil Split but it works a bit differently. Instead of completely cancelling one of the coils of the humbucker, it only cuts part of the output once activated. Some people believe this gives the split pickups a more real single-coil sound.

Ibanez Q52PB pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez Q52PB's switch options
PRS Pauls Guitar pickups switch and push knobs diagram
PRS Pauls Guitar's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Ibanez Q52PB.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez Q52PB
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 68
PRS Pauls Guitar
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 76

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Ibanez Q52PB compares to the PRS Pauls Guitar.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez Q52PB is built in Indonesia while the PRS Pauls Guitar is made in United States.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: PRS Pauls Guitar

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Ibanez Q52PB has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the PRS Pauls Guitar comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: PRS Pauls Guitar.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the PRS Pauls Guitar is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: PRS Pauls Guitar.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The PRS Pauls Guitar has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: PRS Pauls Guitar.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

The Ibanez Q52PB has a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

On the other hand, the PRS Pauls Guitar comes with Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Ibanez Q52PB.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez Q52PB
  • Gold Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Coil Tap Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
PRS Pauls Guitar
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Tap Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez Q52PB
Quality of materials 55
Features 60
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 63
PRS Pauls Guitar
Quality of materials 55
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 73

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Ibanez Q52PB Nut Width
Ibanez Q52PB Nut Width
PRS Pauls Guitar Nut Width
PRS Pauls Guitar Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the PRS Pauls Guitar has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the PRS Pauls Guitar, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Ibanez Q52PB's Scale Length
Ibanez Q52PB's Scale Length
PRS Pauls Guitar's Scale Length
PRS Pauls Guitar's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Ibanez Q52PB has the longest scale: 25.5". The PRS Pauls Guitar is only 25" long. This is a 0.5'' (12.7mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Ibanez Q52PB Neck Profile
Ibanez Q52PB's neck profile
PRS Pauls Guitar Neck Profile
PRS Pauls Guitar's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Ibanez Q52PB has a Wizard type of neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

The PRS Pauls Guitar, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Ibanez Q52PB Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez Q52PB's Fingerboard radius
PRS Pauls Guitar Fingerboard Radius
PRS Pauls Guitar's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the PRS Pauls Guitar's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez Q52PB's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Ibanez Q52PB.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the PRS Pauls Guitar favors large hands more than the Ibanez Q52PB.

Ibanez Q52PB:
Big Hands
Small Hands
PRS Pauls Guitar:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez Q52PB Frets Size
Ibanez Q52PB's Frets Size
PRS Pauls Guitar Frets Size
PRS Pauls Guitar's Frets Size

The Ibanez Q52PB has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the PRS Pauls Guitar's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Ibanez Q52PB
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78
PRS Pauls Guitar
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 65
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez Q52PB vs PRS Pauls Guitar
General Ibanez Q52PB PRS Pauls Guitar
Brand: Ibanez PRS
Year: 2023 2018
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia United States
Series: Q Core
Colors: Natural Gold, White, Black, Blue, Green, Black Burst, Orange, Purple, Yellow, Red Burst, Gold Burst, Dark Cherry Sunburst, McCarty Sunburst, McCarty Tobacco Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Nyatoh Mahogany
Bridge: Ibanez Mono-Tune PRS Stoptail w/ Brass Inserts
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Ibanez PRS Phase III Locking
Fretboard: Roasted Birdseye Maple Honduran Rosewood
Neck Material: 3pc Roasted Maple/Bubinga Mahogany
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Step off-set dot Brushstroke Birds
Scale Size: 25.5" 25"
Shape: Wizard C Pattern
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: 0.88'' (22.4mm) - 12th Fret: 0.95'' (24.1mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Gold 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 10"
Nut: Plastic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Q58 (Humbucker / Passive) PRS TCI (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Q58 (Humbucker / Passive) PRS TCI (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: Coil Tap Coil Tap
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1