uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
Is a RG550 guaranteed to be MIJ?
Any timeline traps they layed?
Is a RG550 guaranteed to be MIJ?
Any timeline traps they layed?
Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
- Thread starter BGtelecaster
- Start date
cayle_6
New member
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
is it the RG550 reissue?? i think its MIJ.
watch this. http://youtube.com/watch?v=EWLNPk2U1Io
is it the RG550 reissue?? i think its MIJ.
watch this. http://youtube.com/watch?v=EWLNPk2U1Io
Ayrton
New member
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
Yes, all 500 series were MIJ, and even the older 400 series were MIJ. In 2003 the RG570 became the RG1570 "Prestige", but basically the same guitar. The 550 became (you guessed it) the RG1550.
The tremolos started with the original edge, which even Floyd Rose said was better than his original. The edge became the "Lo Pro" edge around 2001 and is the best choice IMO. The Lo Pro then became the "Edge Pro" which was used up until this last year. The edge pro is still used on artist models (JEM) and the 1570, but most other prestige level guitars get the new "Edge Zero".
Yes, all 500 series were MIJ, and even the older 400 series were MIJ. In 2003 the RG570 became the RG1570 "Prestige", but basically the same guitar. The 550 became (you guessed it) the RG1550.
The tremolos started with the original edge, which even Floyd Rose said was better than his original. The edge became the "Lo Pro" edge around 2001 and is the best choice IMO. The Lo Pro then became the "Edge Pro" which was used up until this last year. The edge pro is still used on artist models (JEM) and the 1570, but most other prestige level guitars get the new "Edge Zero".
S
Skarekrough
Guest
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
Funny this thread should come up...
Recently my hands and wrists have been under alot of stress with extra hours at work and some projects at home.
I loathed picking up my Les Paul clone because after twenty minutes of playing 11's my hands felt like they'd been nailed by a hammer.
Before the last band rehearsal I went down and hauled out my RG from the basement where its been cased since the fall. I think I opened the case to make sure the strings were still on it and then brought it to rehearsal.
Maybe it's just me....but that thing seems SO versatile to me now. The smaller strings also meant that my hands weren't blown out after half an hour of playing.
I'll be gigging it on Wednesday along side my Paul.
Funny this thread should come up...
Recently my hands and wrists have been under alot of stress with extra hours at work and some projects at home.
I loathed picking up my Les Paul clone because after twenty minutes of playing 11's my hands felt like they'd been nailed by a hammer.
Before the last band rehearsal I went down and hauled out my RG from the basement where its been cased since the fall. I think I opened the case to make sure the strings were still on it and then brought it to rehearsal.
Maybe it's just me....but that thing seems SO versatile to me now. The smaller strings also meant that my hands weren't blown out after half an hour of playing.
I'll be gigging it on Wednesday along side my Paul.
danut
New member
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
I have a '97 RG470L to which I changed the Lo-TRS II tremolo to an Original Floyd Rose and the INF pickups to Duncans (TB-6, SSL-4, SH-2N). Apart of a little fret wear, it's an outstanding guitar, very balanced and versatile. If it only wasn't black...
I have a '97 RG470L to which I changed the Lo-TRS II tremolo to an Original Floyd Rose and the INF pickups to Duncans (TB-6, SSL-4, SH-2N). Apart of a little fret wear, it's an outstanding guitar, very balanced and versatile. If it only wasn't black...
JohnnyGuitarCA
New member
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
Ain't no shame in MY game...I loves me some RG's. RAWK!!!
Ain't no shame in MY game...I loves me some RG's. RAWK!!!
Nagash
New member
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
The first Ibanez I got, I sold almost immediately. It was a RG350DX full of problems. But I'd love a JEM7V or a RG Premium/Prestige.
All in all, Ibanez RGs are the standard superstrat, cool versatile pickup configuration, a nice (AND CHEAP) tremolo alternative to the Floyd Rose, and flat fast necks made for shred. If they have become very popular, it's for good reason I guess.
The first Ibanez I got, I sold almost immediately. It was a RG350DX full of problems. But I'd love a JEM7V or a RG Premium/Prestige.
All in all, Ibanez RGs are the standard superstrat, cool versatile pickup configuration, a nice (AND CHEAP) tremolo alternative to the Floyd Rose, and flat fast necks made for shred. If they have become very popular, it's for good reason I guess.
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
The better RG guitars are terrific instruments.
The better RG guitars are terrific instruments.
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
I be a fan.
I be a fan.
Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
I've got a 320 mutt - '00 body and '03 neck from another 320. The Lo-TRS II trem continues to defy criticism by staying in tune ten years on; both pups have been air-modded, the neck hybridized, bridge mag flipped for ootp mix positions. Not much of a fan of the railroad frets and flat radius combination but I can live with it. Photo quilt makes it look a bit better than it otherwise would.
The nicest RG I've played was an old 2027X, 7 string with mahogany body and piezo trem. Like others have said, Jap ones are good, Korean ones hit and miss.
As for the tiny feeling Wizard neck, well, I don't think you can play it with your thumb wrapped over the top without your hand feeling cramped/fatigued.
I've got a 320 mutt - '00 body and '03 neck from another 320. The Lo-TRS II trem continues to defy criticism by staying in tune ten years on; both pups have been air-modded, the neck hybridized, bridge mag flipped for ootp mix positions. Not much of a fan of the railroad frets and flat radius combination but I can live with it. Photo quilt makes it look a bit better than it otherwise would.
The nicest RG I've played was an old 2027X, 7 string with mahogany body and piezo trem. Like others have said, Jap ones are good, Korean ones hit and miss.
As for the tiny feeling Wizard neck, well, I don't think you can play it with your thumb wrapped over the top without your hand feeling cramped/fatigued.
Diego
New member
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
And I sold my RG1550.
Miss it sometimes, but I just didn't like that floating trem.
There should be a place in Hell for the guy at Ibanez who took a peek at the Edge trem, said "I can do better than this!" and designed that piece of idiocy called the Edge Pro.
And another room next to him for everyone who agreed it should go into production.
That trem is badly designed, and it's a misfire as far as I'm concerned. Period.
I never gelled with the RG's looks either. It just looked geeky.
I associate it with guys who think Dream Theater is the best band in music history, or with Death Metal.
None of which I'm really into.
Also, the frets went from flawless to being completely shot in two years. WTF?
It was a stunning guitar, ruined.
I hope the new Edge Zero trems are actually better.
And I sold my RG1550.
Miss it sometimes, but I just didn't like that floating trem.
There should be a place in Hell for the guy at Ibanez who took a peek at the Edge trem, said "I can do better than this!" and designed that piece of idiocy called the Edge Pro.
And another room next to him for everyone who agreed it should go into production.
That trem is badly designed, and it's a misfire as far as I'm concerned. Period.
I never gelled with the RG's looks either. It just looked geeky.
I associate it with guys who think Dream Theater is the best band in music history, or with Death Metal.
None of which I'm really into.
Also, the frets went from flawless to being completely shot in two years. WTF?
It was a stunning guitar, ruined.
I hope the new Edge Zero trems are actually better.
UberMetalDood
New member
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
I absolutely love my RG1570 and 3550MZ. I have another Prestige 1570 on order.
I absolutely love my RG1570 and 3550MZ. I have another Prestige 1570 on order.
Petrovsk Mizinski
New member
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
I own two RGs at the moment.
A 7421 with Blackouts, an aftermarket Hipshot bridge as well as Schaller locking strap buttons
And a 1527, which came modified before I bought it, but yeah, has a Blaze set, locking studs and Schaller locking strap buttons.
I've always found the 6 string Wizard I and particularly the Super Wizard necks to be uncomfortably thin.
The 7 string Wizard I neck doesn't have this issue. It's a few mm thicker than the 6 string Wizard I, so it's closer to medium sized neck territory, which is just perfect for me.
I own two RGs at the moment.
A 7421 with Blackouts, an aftermarket Hipshot bridge as well as Schaller locking strap buttons
And a 1527, which came modified before I bought it, but yeah, has a Blaze set, locking studs and Schaller locking strap buttons.
I've always found the 6 string Wizard I and particularly the Super Wizard necks to be uncomfortably thin.
The 7 string Wizard I neck doesn't have this issue. It's a few mm thicker than the 6 string Wizard I, so it's closer to medium sized neck territory, which is just perfect for me.
Petrovsk Mizinski
New member
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
I do believe reading somewhere that the fretwire used on some Ibanez guitars is quite soft unfortunately.
I don't play my 1527 much, which is a Prestige model made sometime in the last 5 years I believe, but have been playing my RG7421 (which is an MIJ) regularly for the last 2 years and the frets haven't really worn faster than expected.
The RG7421 was around before the whole Prestige series existed, back in the period when Ibanez was making some of their best 7 string instruments, so must have been a bit after they started using the Prestige tag on MIJ Ibanez guitars that the softer fretwire came into use.
Replacement necks are relatively inexpensive for what they are for RGs anyway so it's not a huge issue for me. It actually costs about the same to get a fully fretted, aftermarket neck that will fit an RG neckpocket as it does to get a refret job.
Also, no issues with the trem either, but I do have the locking stud mod which more or less makes it almost the same as a Lo-Pro trem like what has been on the Korn signature series, which apparently alleviates the main issue people have with the Edge Pro anyway.
I do believe reading somewhere that the fretwire used on some Ibanez guitars is quite soft unfortunately.
I don't play my 1527 much, which is a Prestige model made sometime in the last 5 years I believe, but have been playing my RG7421 (which is an MIJ) regularly for the last 2 years and the frets haven't really worn faster than expected.
The RG7421 was around before the whole Prestige series existed, back in the period when Ibanez was making some of their best 7 string instruments, so must have been a bit after they started using the Prestige tag on MIJ Ibanez guitars that the softer fretwire came into use.
Replacement necks are relatively inexpensive for what they are for RGs anyway so it's not a huge issue for me. It actually costs about the same to get a fully fretted, aftermarket neck that will fit an RG neckpocket as it does to get a refret job.
Also, no issues with the trem either, but I do have the locking stud mod which more or less makes it almost the same as a Lo-Pro trem like what has been on the Korn signature series, which apparently alleviates the main issue people have with the Edge Pro anyway.
Diego
New member
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
That was one of the two main problems I remember. The crappy wavy studs that came stock.
The other was the fact that the knife edges of my Edge Pro trem were also getting chomped away at an alarming rate.
You could see them getting more and more worn, and that was making the return point of the trem even more unpredictable.
A quick search on the Interwebs revealed that I wasn't alone on that issue.
I just can't see the Edge Pros lasting 20 years like the original Edge trems have.
Not without some modifications like you did, at least. Well played, by the way.
Thankfully refrets are really cheap around here, even by master luthiers. $100-$120 tops.
That was one of the two main problems I remember. The crappy wavy studs that came stock.
The other was the fact that the knife edges of my Edge Pro trem were also getting chomped away at an alarming rate.
You could see them getting more and more worn, and that was making the return point of the trem even more unpredictable.
A quick search on the Interwebs revealed that I wasn't alone on that issue.
I just can't see the Edge Pros lasting 20 years like the original Edge trems have.
Not without some modifications like you did, at least. Well played, by the way.
Thankfully refrets are really cheap around here, even by master luthiers. $100-$120 tops.
Last edited:
Mosher Zone
New member
Re: Anybody else love-playing Ibanez RG guitars
I have had my RG550 for a few for about 5 years & use it as a second guitar live, i love it, i've tried a few different pickups in it but it now has a set of Livewires Classics in it so i will just leave it like that now.
I have had my RG550 for a few for about 5 years & use it as a second guitar live, i love it, i've tried a few different pickups in it but it now has a set of Livewires Classics in it so i will just leave it like that now.
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