New Wylde Audio IronWorks Barbarian with hints of Zemaitis
New Zack Wylde metal topped Barbarian on the loose!
4,3 / 5,0 | 
The Wylde Audio IronWorks Barbarian is the newest release by Zakk Wylde’s guitar company. Built by Schecter Guitars this new metal-fronted model has some serious Zemaitis vibes to it. Covered in Nordic runes and with plenty of attitude for mighty riffs!
IronWorks Barbarian
This latest Wylde Audio release has an SG-style body with extra pointy bits and is named the IronWorks Barbarian. It certainly looks like something that Conan could wield to defeat his enemies and so the name is very apt.
Wylde Audio IronWorks Barbarian · Source: Schecter
Metal Plate
The guitar has an all-mahogany body and Zakk’s favourite three-piece maple neck, for stability and snappiness of tone. I love that formula myself, and it is something I really like about old ’70s Norlin Gibson models. These come with an ebony fretboard fitted with 22 X-Jumbo frets, Pearloid Rune inlays and a Graph Tech XL Ivory Tusq.
It is a classic set-neck formula, and as I just mentioned one that I think works really well. Zakk knows all about guitar tone and this model screams quality, that is if you want to play hard.
What makes this Barbarian even more magnificent is the engraved IronWorks Metal Top which is where I draw the comparison with Zemaitis guitars, who are famous for this style of work.
The guitar comes in a Black Burst finish with matching satin chrome hardware throughout.
Engraved Ironworks Metal Top and EMG active pickups · Source: Schecter
EMGs
It is a Zakk Wylde guitar, so of course it comes factory fitted with active EMG pickups. There is an EMG 81 bridge position and an EMG 85 in the neck. These are controlled by two volume controls, plus a master tone and a three-way selector switch. This is a no-frills setup and it will no doubt cut through the mix like a charm.
Hardware includes a TonePros T3BP TOM bridge paired with a matching T1SZ tailpiece and a set of Grover Rotomatic tuners. I would expect this guitar’s tuning to be as solid as a rock.
Black Burst finish · Source: Schecter
Verdict
Certainly a head-turning guitar and one made to rock hard. It comes in at a reasonable price point for a quality set-neck guitar, with great hardware. But then factor in that engraved top and I think it makes it just a bit more interesting. Well worth the money in my opinion, especially if you like Black Label Society, Zakk Wylde and heavy riffing with pinch harmonic pentatonic leads.
MSRP – USD 1799 case sold separately
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3 responses to “New Wylde Audio IronWorks Barbarian with hints of Zemaitis”
Always been very suspect of Zakk after seeing him play that confederate flag Les Paul, but honestly the designs on this new model are kind of the final nail in the coffin to seal my opinion of him… This isn’t just a dog whistle it’s an air horn.
Agreed. There’s a reason why nobody else has done a guitar that looks like this before. And it’s not because the world was waiting for Zakk Wylde to design it. ‘Magnificent’? Really?? Wow…
What do you mean? The guitar looks amazing!