Fell in love with an Ibanez!

[Blue Calx]

Never thought I'd say this but.... I think I wanna sell my strat for an RG. But not just any RG, it was as if god himself had shone down upon this particular guitar (which, arbitrarily I'm assuming, just happened to be a low-end Ibanez), making its satiny, oiled mahogany finish glare hazily.

It played so... so easily! And it was hardtailed, just like I like em, and MAHOGANY!, it sounded pretty sweet, even unplugged (though a new set of p'ups would definatly be in order) and... it was really cheap.

Can anyone think of any reason that I shouldn't sell the old fagocaster and pick this RG up? Is there some kinda dark secret about lower end Ibanezes (like herpes, or something) that I'll find out a few months down the road and regret ever setting eyes on it?

http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=RG321MH

 

[mrid]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

Damn, now you got me gassin'! :laugh2:

 

[Farkus]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

Never thought I'd say this but.... I think I wanna sell my strat for an RG. But not just any RG, it was as if god himself had shone down upon this particular guitar (which, arbitrarily I'm assuming, just happened to be a low-end Ibanez), making its satiny, oiled mahogany finish glare hazily.

It played so... so easily! And it was hardtailed, just like I like em, and MAHOGANY!, it sounded pretty sweet, even unplugged (though a new set of p'ups would definatly be in order) and... it was really cheap.

Can anyone think of any reason that I shouldn't sell the old fagocaster and pick this RG up? Is there some kinda dark secret about lower end Ibanezes (like herpes, or something) that I'll find out a few months down the road and regret ever setting eyes on it?

http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=RG321MH

Dude-I kid you not, but about 10 years ago I was in a great rock band with another guitarist. I had an Ibanez USA custom, he had the $350 EX-POS. His sounded a thousand times better. There was a difference in our playing style, sure, but it was the same deal if we switched guitars and amps! I set his Ibanez up...I didn't find anything wrong with it in the five years he and I played together. In terms of your strat...well, for the most part, for metal and heavier styles, an Ibanez is better 'out of the box' for that, but my strat with FSb...well, I think it rules. Just do whatever SOUNDS best to you.

Rock on :burnout:

Farkus


Farkus

 

[Fatty]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

I'd say play it for a long time (like an hour or so) and make sure your hand doesn't start to cramp up from the thinner Wizard neck. If it doesn't.. then it was meant to be.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

Ibanez make great guitars. I had one of the first RG560s that were bought into the country and it was a great guitar. Nowadays, I wouldn't play that type of instrument, but that doesn't mean they aren't really well made, well thought out pieces.

Choosing a hardtail on a low end model is a good idea, too. No cheap floyd copy to fall apart on you.

Good advice from Fatty about the neck.

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

Ooh, I'd never thought about a thinner neck tiring your hand out...

I'll have to see if I actually have an hour's worth of "music store licks" to test that theory out.

Thanks for the, what sounds like encouragement, everyone.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

bro, if it's within your means, do keep your strat, especially if it sports the 3XSC pickup combo. i'm an ibanez fan myself but IMO the ibanez can't pull off a strat-type single coil tone well, especially when you acquire that 321 which is dual humbucking... unless you have other guitars in your arsenal which can adequately cover strat-tyoe tones.

the RG321 sports default humbuckers which are IMO midrange inclined. i'd suggest you audition one other ibanez which has Dimarzio/ Dimarzio-Ibz pickups in it for comparison. if you like these default humbuckers, then maybe they are your thing.

glad to know that there are people out there who appreciate guitars based on its merits, rather than dismissing it for its far eastern origin...

 

[Radeon]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

I would definatly keep the the strat god I miss my 1962. How ever I have been playing with Ibanez for years and I love em. I also have a LP that I would take a bullet for as well. Ibanez are good quality with so so pups, nothing a good set of SD's couldnt change. But over all i play my Ibanez more I just am happy with the neck and how it feels. But, you have to play what you like take your time and dont rush the decision.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

like what has been said...keep the strat...you'll regret getting rid of it...

but as far as the ibanez...GO FOR IT!!!

if i looked good, played good, felt good...then i'm starting to think it was good...

 

[Biu]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

This sounds like a situation I was in during this past summer. Until then, I'd been a 100% Gibson Les Paul guy. Then I played some Ibanez S series and RG's and fell in love. Sold the Gibson Les Paul Custom immediately and bought me my Prestige RG3120. I never regretted it either! I think you'll know if this is true love :13:

 

[Davey]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

another one on this forum recently got this one.. i dont have any 1st hand experience on this one, but usually i steer away from ibanez guitars. (their necks suck) but that peticular one seems to be good (but you HAVE!!! to change the pups)

go for what you feel best with

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

That 321 shure is the way to go for Ibanez IMHO. They should offer more RG's with Mahogany bodies AND hardtails. Or even better a Gibraltar III bridge with string through body design (like on the SZ series).
Ibanez is getting a lot of slack on this forum but IMHO they are fine, well build, super playable and affordable guitars. If it's calling you, better listen to what it has to say!
So what pickups will you put in the RG?

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

Never thought I'd say this but.... I think I wanna sell my strat for an RG. But not just any RG, it was as if god himself had shone down upon this particular guitar (which, arbitrarily I'm assuming, just happened to be a low-end Ibanez), making its satiny, oiled mahogany finish glare hazily.

It played so... so easily! And it was hardtailed, just like I like em, and MAHOGANY!, it sounded pretty sweet, even unplugged (though a new set of p'ups would definatly be in order) and... it was really cheap.

Can anyone think of any reason that I shouldn't sell the old fagocaster and pick this RG up? Is there some kinda dark secret about lower end Ibanezes (like herpes, or something) that I'll find out a few months down the road and regret ever setting eyes on it?

http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=RG321MH

the same thing happened to me when I first picked up and played a Schecter C-1 Classic. It felt like buttah from the first note to the last, and the SD pups that come with that model sounded as sweet as anything....even played with a Crate amp (store demo). I knew I had to have one.
That RG looks like a real nice-playing axe. I wouldn't mind trying one myself....that and one of those Ibanez Artcore semi-hollow guitars. I read somewhere that those guitars play real nice as well.
FWIY, I agree with those who stated that if you can afford to keep your Strat it might be a good idea to hold onto it.
If not, you gotta follow your bliss!
Good luck
-Bob

 

[Artie]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

You may want to hold on to your wallet for a week or so. I was gassing for an Ibby Jetking awhile back, but it passed. (Figuratively speaking.)

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

Ehh...sell the strat. Get it man, I miss my RG, even though it was the crappiest model you could get. After a poweramp, I'm gunna pick up the 7 string version of that guitar. Tell me how it goes if you get it!

 

[strat_master]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

I wouldn't sell my strat for ALL THE IBANEZ GUITARS on the planet.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

I wouldn't sell my strat for ALL THE IBANEZ GUITARS on the planet.

 

[ranger1bn75inf]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

Never thought I'd say this but.... I think I wanna sell my strat for an RG. But not just any RG, it was as if god himself had shone down upon this particular guitar (which, arbitrarily I'm assuming, just happened to be a low-end Ibanez), making its satiny, oiled mahogany finish glare hazily.

It played so... so easily! And it was hardtailed, just like I like em, and MAHOGANY!, it sounded pretty sweet, even unplugged (though a new set of p'ups would definatly be in order) and... it was really cheap.

Can anyone think of any reason that I shouldn't sell the old fagocaster and pick this RG up? Is there some kinda dark secret about lower end Ibanezes (like herpes, or something) that I'll find out a few months down the road and regret ever setting eyes on it?

http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=RG321MH

Blue,

I was browsing the Ibanez site the other day and saw that RG model for the first time. It does look nice and for the price a pickup upgrade would be rather affordable! :cool3:

oiled mahogany :32:

You test it and we will await your findings.

Jon

 

[y2stevo]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

bro, if it's within your means, do keep your strat, especially if it sports the 3XSC pickup combo. i'm an ibanez fan myself but IMO the ibanez can't pull off a strat-type single coil tone well, especially when you acquire that 321 which is dual humbucking... unless you have other guitars in your arsenal which can adequately cover strat-tyoe tones.

the RG321 sports default humbuckers which are IMO midrange inclined. i'd suggest you audition one other ibanez which has Dimarzio/ Dimarzio-Ibz pickups in it for comparison. if you like these default humbuckers, then maybe they are your thing.

glad to know that there are people out there who appreciate guitars based on its merits, rather than dismissing it for its far eastern origin...

the main reason most people will dismiss far eastern origin guitars isnt because of their quality but the actual fact that people are paid next to nothing slaving away making these things, although there treated not near as bad as those poor souls working for nike and those footwear companies in the east there still being taken advantage of..
if it werent for this fact there would be alot more people prasing korean indian and eastern made guitars..
There are a good few people on this board that have very strong opinions towards this and also know more about what is happening..

But still, ive played the Jackson MG series recently and they are excellent guitars, so the quality thats coming our of the east isn't poor only the workers that made them..

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: Fell in love with an Ibanez!

Sam ash wanted $270 for the RG. I would like to get about $500 for the strat, considering I bought it for $450, upgraded the p'ups and pickguard, rewired it and such. That would leave some $$ for new p'ups, a strap, AND lunch on the way home!

as far as strat tones are concerned... I've already metal-fied it (JB neck/Dime bridge)
So I'd not be missing out on any spank or chime that I'd eventually gain back next time an extra wad of cash came my way (yeah freaking right!)

I think I may go for the RG. The main thing that's steered me away from ibanez in the past has been the basswood bodies, but this of course changes everything.

I was thinking a DD bridge with a...hmmmm, maybe a JB in the neck again - i really liked it there! Either that or an active EMG set, though I'm not sure if I wanna do that, as I've heard that it completely paves over any character the guitar's wood may have.