Wylde Audio Ironworks Barbarian

From the flaming forges of Wylde Audio comes a heavy metal beast ready to unleash sonic mayhem – the Ironworks Barbarian. Crafted for the modern day barbarian, this warrior axe provides crushing tones and looks ready to vanquish thy foes.

The Ironworks Barbarian takes the iconic Barbarian model to new extremes, built for shredders and rockers who need a battle-ready guitar to conquer any stage. Outfitted with custom Wylde Audio pickups and components, this Barbarian variant pushes the boundaries of design and performance.

Pricing – Ready for Pillaging at Under $1,500

A barbarian needs to be wise with gold in order to survive the wilderness. Luckily, the Ironworks Barbarian provides savage tone at a cost-effective price point for such a premium instrument. The base model rings up for around $1,399 direct from Wylde Audio. Considering the quality components and USA craftsmanship involved, this Barbarian is a steal ready to plunder.

Optional custom finishes, inlays, and other appointments can increase the price, but the core Ironworks Barbarian model remains under $1,500. This positions it as an obtainable high-end guitar for serious shredders compared to offerings from the big mainstream brands.

Specs – Built for Speed, Power, and Conquest

The Ironworks Barbarian isn’t just about looks – this beast was engineered for speed, versatility, and relentless tone. Here are some of its key specs:

• Body Wood: Mahogany
• Neck Wood: Maple
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Scale length: 25.5”
• Nut width: 1.6875”
• Frets: 22 X-Jumbo
• Bridge: Fixed
• Tuning: Locking tuners
• Pickups: Wylde Audio DeathGrip-X humbuckers
• Controls: 2 volume, 1 tone, 3-way selector

Premium components like the ebony fretboard, Grover tuners, and GraphTech nut and saddles come standard. It’s built for aggression with its powerful neck profile, reduced body thickness, and beveled arm and forearm contours.

Simply put, the Ironworks Barbarian leaves no detail unchecked to crush your enemies on the battlefield of metal.

The Wylde Audio Advantage – Odin-Approved Tone

What truly sets the Ironworks Barbarian apart is Wylde Audio’s unique approach to crafting electric guitars. Founded by legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde, Wylde Audio obsesses over every construction detail to create some of the most responsive, resonant, and great-sounding guitars money can buy.

Wylde Audio guitars are designed to be played loud and hard. There’s no fluff – just pure, unadulterated rock and roll fury. Meticulous attention is given to wood selection, neck profiles, fretwork, wiring, and more. Even the pickups are custom-made to Zakk’s demanding specifications. Simply put, the Ironworks Barbarian is a shred machine.

DeathGrip-X Pickups – The Secret Sauce

The real magic happens when you plug this beast in. The Ironworks Barbarian wields a pair of Wylde Audio DeathGrip-X humbuckers designed exclusively for maximum crunch and girth. They boast ceramic magnets and proprietary construction that captures every nuance.

These pickups render bone-crushing rhythms with tremendous dynamic response. Chords ring clearly even under insane gain, retaining their character instead of disintegrating into mush. Of course, the DeathGrip-X set also delivers soaring solos and squeals with detail and articulation. Want to conquer the lands? This is your battle horn.

Slaying Dragons and Eardrums Alike

One listen to the Ironworks Barbarian confirms this is a shred machine designed for heavy metal. The mahogany body and ebony fretboard produce a darker, aggressive tone that cuts through a mix. Those DeathGrip-X pickups have endless output and sustain for days when you want to make the audience scream for mercy.

Yet despite its metal leanings, the Ironworks retains enough versatility for hard rock and other raucous styles. It has the richness to handle bluesy leads and a responsive dynamic range. Bottom line, wherever your adventures take you, the Ironworks Barbarian has the sonic firepower to back you up.

Compare to Standard Barbarian – More Weaponry

The Ironworks Barbarian takes everything that makes the original Barbarian great and amplifies it to the extreme. Both models share similar body shapes and neck profiles for comfortable, high-speed shredding. Opting for the Ironworks nets you upgraded components across the board.

The Ironworks swaps the standard pickups for the DeathGrip-X set, boosting output and dynamics. It also comes stock with locking tuners, a GraphTech nut, an ebony fretboard compared to rosewood, and beveled body contours for improved ergonomics. Basically, it’s a Barbarian on steroids ready for the front lines.

Where To Raid Your Village For This Axe

As part of Zakk’s mission to make high-end instruments more accessible, Wylde Audio sells directly to customers online. Head over to www.wyldeaudio.com to pick from available Ironworks Barbarian models in stock.

Of course, you can also check with local dealers to see if they have any plunder to inspect in person. But buying direct from Wylde Audio gets you custom options and the full barbarian treatment.

Housing This Beast – Gig Bag or Hard Case?

The choice between a gig bag or hardshell case comes down to how much protection you need trekking the wildlands. A padded gig bag keeps the Ironworks safe from dings, dust, and inclement weather. It’s also lighter and easier to carry.

However, a custom hard case offers maximum security, especially for air travel and heavily stacked road cases. There’s no chance of crunching the Ironworks if a stack of amps shifts in transit. The included case also looks slick with the Wylde Audio logo.

So get the hard case if this axe will see serious touring action. But the gig bag likely has ample protection for rides to local pillaging grounds. Both options provide sturdy storage for your weapon.

Wood Selection Like a Druid’s Staff

The Ironworks Barbarian features a mahogany body with a maple neck and ebony fretboard – a classic tonewood formula.

Mahogany gives this axe a strong, focused midrange punch for cutting through a mix. It also enhances sustain and resonance for endless notes that echo through the mountains.

The maple neck adds snap, brightness, and stability. Combined with the ebony fretboard, it ensures comfortable high-speed shredding no matter how cold the winds blow.

The ebony ‘board itself makes bends and vibrato buttery smooth. Ebony yields excellent tuning stability and sustain as well, perfect for dive bombs and other metal tricks.

Finish Options – Choose Your War Paint Wisely

A good barbarian understands that while skill matters most in battle, intimidation can weaken thy foe’s resolve. So choose your Ironworks Barbarian war paint wisely.

The stock model comes in a Vintage Black Satin finish that looks sleek and imposing. However, you can also customize the finish for further uniqueness:

• Gloss colors like purple, blue, or Ferrari red
• Two-tone sunbursts for a classic vibe
• Tiger eye and other exotic wood pattern prints
• Hand-stained bursts with custom fading and blotches
• Distressed finishes for road-worn mojo
• Airbrushed artwork to show your tribe allegiance

Just remember – neutral finishes help the Ironworks’ tones shine, while glossy colors soften the attack a bit. Choose what’s right for your battle plans.

Scale Length – Primed for Fast Runs

The Ironworks Barbarian features a 25.5″ scale length – the typical scale for most Fender and Gibson style guitars. This facilitates speedy soloing and wide string bends.

Shorter than a long scale, 25.5″ keeps string tension moderate for comfort. It also provides warmer, rounder tones perfect for blues and classic rock. Combined with the reduced 1.6875″ nut width, it’s easy to fly around the ‘board during tricky rhythm passages too.

In short, the Ironworks feels fast, slick, and primed for conquering any lead run or riff imaginable. Your hands will thank you in long battles.

Beginner Friendly With Premium Gear

Here’s the thing – the Ironworks Barbarian is built for experienced gladiators ready to wage epic guitar warfare. The hot output and resonant construction demand volume and aggression. This is not meant for the meek or easily intimidated. You must be prepared to wield this blade.

However, the premium components like the GraphTech nut and Grover tuners also provide tuning stability and comfortable playing. So while the Ironworks may overwhelm a fresh-faced squire, a beginner with fire in their belly can grow nicely on this axe. Just be prepared to put in the practice hours to unlock its potential. Soon you’ll be vanquishing foes alongside seasoned warriors.

Southpaw Models – Lefties Get Some Love

Good news for left-handed marauders – select Ironworks Barbarian models are available for southpaws. They offer identical specs and components to the standard versions.

The only change is moving the volume/tone controls and output jack to the opposite side. Unfortunately not all finishes or options are available left-handed, but the essential Ironworks vibe remains intact.

Just don’t expect massive discounts; producing left-handed models costs Wylde Audio just as much work and care. But for lefties craving top-tier metal tone, the Ironworks Barbarian delivers.

Neck Profile – Built to Hold Fast in Battle

Wylde Audio obsesses over every neck carve to ensure all-night shredding comfort. For the Ironworks Barbarian, they selected a custom Vintage C oval profile. It measures .850″ at the 1st fret and .930″ at the 12th fret.

This neck strikes the perfect balance of chunky and elegant. It feels substantial without being too bulky or cumbersome. Rounded edges make fast position changes seamless. There’s enough meat to really dig in when conquering epic solos or chugging rhythms. Basically, it’s built for speed, stamina, and all-out tonal warfare.

Sonic Review – This Barbarian Brings the Carnage

When wielded by a skilled guitarist, the Ironworks Barbarian comes alive with absolutely crushing tone. It has the guts, growl, and aggression demanded by heavy metal, but retains enough richness and resonance to master other realms.

Rhythm: Chords burst with attitude and bite thanks to the hot DeathGrip-X pickups. The mahogany body adds just enough warmth to fatten up palm mutes while retaining pick attack articulation. Fight riffs cut through with unyielding authority even at absurd volumes.

Leads: Blazing solo runs sing with endless sustain and harmonic feedback for days. The maple neck delivers articulate note definition to really make lightning-fast licks sing. And the DeathGrip-X bridge pickup screams heavenly highs that pierce right through the mix.

Cleans: Back off the volume and this Barbarian reveals some unexpected clean versatility. It musters pretty convincing Fender-esque bell tones that work for poppier songs. The overall tone remains muscular, but it cleans up nicely with warm sparkle.

In summary, the Ironworks Barbarian truly conquers any genre thanks to its broad tonal range and excellent playability. Ready thy axe for battle.

Light Weight But Heavy Tone

Even with its mahogany body, the Ironworks Barbarian tips the scales at just 7.6 lbs. That’s a surprisingly light weight for such a hard-hitting instrument. The ergonomic body contours paired with the exquisite neck balance make this axe feel like an extension of your hands even during long raids. Your shoulder, back, and hands will thank you after hours of pillaging.

Amps – Choose High Gain Allies For Maximum Carnage

The Ironworks Barbarian demands a mighty rig to truly unleash its potential. This guitar begs to be played loud and proud through tubes that saturate and sing.

For maximum metal fury, a high-gain amp like an EVH 5150 or Peavey 6505 does the trick. The abundance of gain lets you dial in sweet spot saturation without losing tight response. Of course, a cranked 100-watt Marshall stack never fails either.

Just be sure to dial back the treble a bit; the Ironworks’ ceramic pickups can get icepick sharp with the wrong EQ. And make sure your rig can keep up with this guitar’s massive output. You want tubes on the verge of meltdown to realize the Ironworks’ full fury.

Customization – Make This Axe Truly Yours

The skilled luthiers at Wylde Audio can customize select Ironworks Barbarians with upgraded components and options. This lets you spec out your dream metal machine forged to your exact vision.

Pickups: Choose from DiMarzio, Bare Knuckle, EMG, and others if the DeathGrip-X set isn’t your flavor.

Tuners: Opt for gold, black, or antique tuner knobs to match your vibe.

Inlays: Swap the standard block fretboard markers for blood drops, skulls, and other ominous symbols.

Hardware: Gold, black, or chrome – whatever highlights your war paint best.

Electronics: Add push/pull coil splits or a MIDI interface to expand the Ironworks’ capabilities.

Just keep in mind such custom work increases both the cost and production time. But if you seek a truly one-of-a-kind warrior axe, the options are there.

Signature Artists – Proven in the Field

The Ironworks Barbarian has quickly become a go-to instrument for metal’s finest. Here are just a few of the artists wielding it in battle:

• Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne)
• Dimebag Darrell Abbott
• Kerry King (Slayer)
• Chris Broderick (Megadeth, Act of Defiance)
• Zach Myers (Shinedown)
• Gus G (Firewind, Ozzy Osbourne)
• Michael Wilton (Queensryche)

With cred like that, you can be sure this guitar has been tested and proven to conquer any metal stage. The Ironworks Barbarian lets you summon the same devastating tone as the legends.

So there you have it – whether you seek a trusty axe for pillaging northern villages or crushing the local Battle of the Bands, the Wylde Audio Ironworks Barbarian has the fury you need. This metal monster combines savage tone and premium components ready for the front lines. Make your next guitar conquest in brutal barbarian style with this heavy metal beast. The time for battle draws nigh.