Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

BartOfDarkness

BartOfDarkness

New member
I've been looking to get a new guitar with an HS pickup configuration for a couple months and had been torn by a few different guitars, but I got paid yesterday and bought an RG560. With shipping and taxes it was $450, but my coworkers gave me a $50 guitar center giftcard for Christmas, so I only paid $400. The plan is to order a Perle pickguard in HS configuration and replace the EMG's with a DiMArzio Megadrive and a Heavy Blues 2. This will be my first Japanese Ibanez, so I'm excited to see how it compares to the Indonesian ones.
lost guitar.jpg
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

Congrats!! Good price for a Japanese 'Nez! I wish I hadnt sold my 570. Got it in mint shape w/hsc for fourfiddy
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

Thanks guys! Yeah, the price was too good to pass up, though I should mention that there are quite a few dings on it in the pictures. I forgot to mention that my Shock wave unit is going in this one too.
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

Congrats man, make it sing and Happy New Guitar Day :headbang:
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

Cool score. You won't be disappointed with a MIJ Ibanez :), when I got mine, it was like night and day compared to MIK.

Looks like an early model, they had the volume pot right next to the bridge pu.
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

Those old RG's are one of the best bang for the buck guitars that you can buy. You will be able to recoup some cash after you sell your Indonesian made Ibby.:joke:
I agree with the H/S idea totally.
What year is it?
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

You guys are actually getting me more excited haha! I just hope I can tolerate whatever EMG's it has until I get paid again.

metalchurch79 said:
Those old RG's are one of the best bang for the buck guitars that you can buy. You will be able to recoup some cash after you sell your Indonesian made Ibby.:joke:
I agree with the H/S idea totally.
What year is it?
Click to expand...

I'm still waiting for it to arrive (estimated delivery is Wednesday), so I can't check the serial number yet. I'm hoping it's a 1988, but I suppose it doesn't really matter too much.
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

BartOfDarkness said:
You guys are actually getting me more excited haha! I just hope I can tolerate whatever EMG's it has until I get paid again.



I'm still waiting for it to arrive (estimated delivery is Wednesday), so I can't check the serial number yet. I'm hoping it's a 1988, but I suppose it doesn't really matter too much.
Click to expand...

Just curious why you're hoping it's specifically an 88? Year born? Year you first got the noodle dipped? haha Must be something like that.
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

Nope, nothing cool like that. It's simply because it's the year they started making RG 560's.
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

Sweet guitar. I have a late 80's one I bought for less than $200 around 2000 or 01. Best floating trem i've ever had on a guitar. Sadly when I purchased it was a pink color, can't remember what they called it but younger me didn't know what I had so it has been covered in stickers,duct tape, set on fire, had the single coils filled with wood putty (talk about killing sustain) and stained, had putty removed and spray painted, extra holes drilled in it, spray painted again and finally removed all paint and stained. Sometimes I wish I would have left it stock but man that pink was terrible
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

The problems with early RGs are they have square heel which makes it harder to access fret 23 up, and the locking nut is screwed from behind, making the neck prone to crack.
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

bearded madman said:
Sweet guitar. I have a late 80's one I bought for less than $200 around 2000 or 01. Best floating trem i've ever had on a guitar. Sadly when I purchased it was a pink color, can't remember what they called it but younger me didn't know what I had so it has been covered in stickers,duct tape, set on fire, had the single coils filled with wood putty (talk about killing sustain) and stained, had putty removed and spray painted, extra holes drilled in it, spray painted again and finally removed all paint and stained. Sometimes I wish I would have left it stock but man that pink was terrible
Click to expand...

Sounds like yours has been through quite a journey! Feel free to post pics, as I'm kinda curious about how it looks with the stained finish! I'm actually considering having my tech do minor paint work, with putting an f-hole on it like a PGM, but part of me is afraid I'll regret it in the long run.

Obsessive Compulsive said:
The problems with early RGs are they have square heel which makes it harder to access fret 23 up, and the locking nut is screwed from behind, making the neck prone to crack.
Click to expand...

I actually don't mind square heels too much. On the other hand, I was looking at the pictures guitar center had of the guitar, and there isn't a single photo of the locking nut screws or the back of the neck... Hopefully everythings fine back there, because they seem to have a photo for all the other damage the guitar has sustained over the years.
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

The RG 550/560/570 are all great guitars; especially if you grab a Japanese one. Congrats and enjoy!
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

bearded madman said:
Sweet guitar. I have a late 80's one I bought for less than $200 around 2000 or 01. Best floating trem i've ever had on a guitar. Sadly when I purchased it was a pink color, can't remember what they called it but younger me didn't know what I had so it has been covered in stickers,duct tape, set on fire, had the single coils filled with wood putty (talk about killing sustain) and stained, had putty removed and spray painted, extra holes drilled in it, spray painted again and finally removed all paint and stained. Sometimes I wish I would have left it stock but man that pink was terrible
Click to expand...

I had a 570 that was a flip flop color from pinkish to light purple.. Was a great deal an mint cond. Tried to embrace the color cuz it was 80s model
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

It arrived today and this thing is absolutely terrific! I grew up playing cheaper Ibanez guitars and the difference is mind blowing. The natural tone and feel is 100 times better than any Ibanez I've laid my hands on and better than most guitars I've played in general. On the other hand, while the tone of the guitar is great unplugged, there is some weirdness going on with the controls and I really dislike like the bridge pickup, which I'm assuming is an EMG 89. It has a weird mix of congested, honky mids, while being very squishy in the low end. Also the push pull seems to be adding the bridge pickup no matter where the switch is, rather than coil tapping the 89. Part of me also wonders if the 89 wired to only be a singlecoil...

Enough of the negativity about the electronics though, I planned on pulling them out anyway. I have to say, this probably the only guitar I own that has some real mojo, though maybe that's just the impression it leaves with all the battle scars it has and the aged white finish that is a lot creamier in person (my older brother says it looks like an old super nintendo). I'll try to get you guys some pictures in the next few days!

P.S checked the serial number and it's an 89!
 
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Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

Sorry if i missed it,,, but what you planning on slapping in there eventually?
 
Re: Finally pulled the trigger (Ibanez content)

Nice score. You have more generous coworkers than I do! That was made during a golden age for MIJ Ibanez shredders.

I've been casually keeping an eye out for an unmolested bone stock RG770 for years in either black or laser blue. A lot of people tend to like to do cheesey cosmetic things to them, and people don't coddle them like they would a LP or PRS, so many are poorly kept. I wanted one so badly when I was starting out, but they were a bit expensive for me then when new. So I started my MIJ Charvel quest, which I have now completed except for the mighty 750 XL.

Make sure to report back after you get the new pickups in!
 
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