Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

[Lucy Diamond]

Hi folks,

For some reason, I was drawn to the Ibanez website a couple of days ago and I saw that (for however long it has been) they are selling the destroyers again.

What do we know about these reissues? Have any of you played them?

Can any of you compare them to older ones?

From an ebay pic of the back of the headstock, it looks like it says "made in china"

Where were the old ones made??

Just asking.

I'm very curious.

Thanks folks,

~LD


http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_eg_series13.php?series_id=181&year=2013&cat_id=1

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

I just got back from Guitar Center.

I played a black Destroyer reissue (unplugged) and here is what I know so far:

Fit and Finish are above average and this guitar is definitely made in China.

The fretboard is a pretty standard wide Ibanez fretboard and the neck is super fat and chunky.

Overall, she felt pretty good and with a $699.99 price tag, she was really hard to put down and the whole guitar is light as F#^k. \m/,

I didn't bother plugging in because the pickups are coming out anyway. :sad:

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

Pics?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

click on the web link in ops thread and it shows em.
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_eg_series13.php?series_id=181&year=2013&cat_id=1

Lucy,
Im not big on chunky necks.. I have ALWAYS wanted a DT555 neck thru with the kahler like Phil Collen used to play in Lep way back when.. OMG!! These are set neck, very cool! Love the black one! dont like the covered and uncovered pup.. (?)

My local GC had one of the originals in used a few months ago. Made in Japan. It was natural colored but had the nice inlays and all. Very cool.. It sold fast.

 

[GAS-a-holic]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

I just got back from Guitar Center.

I played a black Destroyer reissue (unplugged) and here is what I know so far:

Fit and Finish are above average and this guitar is definitely made in China.

The fretboard is a pretty standard wide Ibanez fretboard and the neck is super fat and chunky.

Overall, she felt pretty good and with a $699.99 price tag, she was really hard to put down and the whole guitar is light as F#^k. \m/,

I didn't bother plugging in because the pickups are coming out anyway. :sad:

I played the flametop through a Marshall SL-5 not long ago and sounded pretty good clean and with some gain.

Felt very comfortable to play and light as a feather just like you mentioned.

FWIW, the pickups are Dimarzios; Air Norton in the neck and Tonezone in the bridge.

The one I played was $799 - flame maple top adds $100 to the price.

Good guitar, just not what I need right now.

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

I played the flametop through a Marshall SL-5 not long ago and sounded pretty good clean and with some gain.

Felt very comfortable to play and light as a feather just like you mentioned.

FWIW, the pickups are Dimarzios; Air Norton in the neck and Tonezone in the bridge.

The one I played was $799 - flame maple top adds $100 to the price.

Good guitar, just not what I need right now.

Yeah man...I just really like that it is available again.


@ Bloodrose. The neck is chunky but manageable. It is wider than a gibson neck but doesn't stick out as far. It is a weird kind of a chunky and is almost purposefully NOT Gibson.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

Diggin' teh Black...



















A LOT!!!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

Destroyer is a Destroyer. Ibanez doesn't put out crap generally. Especially not in that range.

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

Destroyer is a Destroyer. Ibanez doesn't put out crap generally. Especially not in that range.

Do you mean price range or line of guitars...as in Destroyer range?

I'm only asking because I have a Jem and a USA Custom from the early 90's and they both blow away the korean versions that Ibanez makes now. The latest Japanese ones are just fine, but this Destroyer is made in China, so that was my original concern.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

I think he means in the price range. they are pretty solid unless you really go low line.
Lucy, when you played it, how were the frets? the website description says Jumbos but the specs say medium..??

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

I see great mij destroyers go for cheap on ebay us every so often.

I would much rather a 1980's dt50 then any of the new reissue models. You can get them for a under $500 on the right day. Stock pickups scream.

I wouldn't trade mine i love it.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

Let me see if I can take a stab at this...

On the left is my 1982 MIJ DX400 "Destroyer II." On the right is my very recently acquired 2013 MIC DT520 "Destroyer" without a numeral. I picked up the '13 so that I wouldn't ever have to bring my precious MIJ out of the house, but the new model is no compromise.

They have the same scale and dimensions, similar hardware, and the same inlay style. The '82 has an (aged) nitro finish with several crack lines, where the current model is poly. The 3-D depth of the grain on the new one is hypnotic.

The mismatched pickup covers were off-putting at first, but I quickly forgot about that. For pickups, the '82 has a V2 in the bridge and a Super 70 in the neck, against the Dmz Air Norton (N) and Tone Zone (B) today. So they are voiced a bit differently - the '82 has classic crunch on tap, where the '13 is just a bit more snarly. And yet...

...the '13 has one new feature - a pull switch on the volume knob that splits both pickups. To be honest, I usually find split coils to sound like nothing more than a thinner copy of the humbucking mode, so I rarely use it on other guitars. This is really the first time I've used a setup that sounded as good or better split than humbucking mode in all three pickup combinations. The split is very tasty for leads and makes this already versatile design just that much closer to perfect. EDIT: This may not be a standard feature on all DT520s!

Time will tell, but I think they are of comparable build quality. The dark blood finish on the back of the '82 is opaque, so I don't know how many pieces that body is made of. The '13 has a translucent finish, and I can see a single seam down the middle of the body that seems to line up with the join of the flamed top. Fit and finish are excellent.

Overall, the re-issue is worthy to wear the name on the headstock.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

^^ That's quite an endorsement of the new one.

They changed the spec of the old ones slightly in 1984 whereby they had a nickel covered Super 58 in the neck, and I think they had ebony fingerboards at some point.

Nice pair :fing2:.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

^^ That's quite an endorsement of the new one.

They changed the spec of the old ones slightly in 1984 whereby they had a nickel covered Super 58 in the neck, and I think they had ebony fingerboards at some point.

Nice pair :fing2:.

Indeed! Thanks!

I almost didn't buy the new one. I had played it a few times at the local GC, and each time it got harder to put down. I joked to the sales guy that I'd be back in 2 years to buy it off the used rack, but then I was back 2 days later because I couldn't stand the thought of getting somebody else's sloppy seconds on such a fine instrument. They hung a black Destroyer in its place on the wall. (Drooooool...)

From what I've seen the Made In China Ibby's are a mixed bag, but they seem to be a notch more consistent than the models coming out of Korea or Indonesia. I have successfully resisted the urge to buy any one of the three MIC Iceman's (Icemen?) that are hanging in the same store because they just don't feel right. Play several and if you find a good one, step on it!

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

I think he means in the price range. they are pretty solid unless you really go low line.
Lucy, when you played it, how were the frets? the website description says Jumbos but the specs say medium..??

They seemed really perfect to me. Good question by the way and I should have definitely brought that up. They weren't too high and they weren't too low.

@ Dr. Vegetable!!! That's what I'm talkin about Maaaaaaaaaan!!!!

Thank you so much.

I'm gonna pick up a black one when I can.

Man that was a great post.

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

Indeed! Thanks!

I almost didn't buy the new one. I had played it a few times at the local GC, and each time it got harder to put down. I joked to the sales guy that I'd be back in 2 years to buy it off the used rack, but then I was back 2 days later because I couldn't stand the thought of getting somebody else's sloppy seconds on such a fine instrument. They hung a black Destroyer in its place on the wall. (Drooooool...)

From what I've seen the Made In China Ibby's are a mixed bag, but they seem to be a notch more consistent than the models coming out of Korea or Indonesia. I have successfully resisted the urge to buy any one of the three MIC Iceman's (Icemen?) that are hanging in the same store because they just don't feel right. Play several and if you find a good one, step on it!

Did you change the bridge on your '13?

The Destroyer I played yesterday and a way different bridge.

It was still a tune - o - matic type but....I don't know...more....involved some how.

Yours looks like a tune - o - matic with the wider metric mounts.

I'm just wondering if you changed yours or if Ibanez is using a different bridge now.

 

[Shadow1psc]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

I've been GASing for an Explorer type shape, and I love Ibanez, I may have to look into this. I just wish there were different color options, I've never been a flat black or burst kinda guy.

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

I've been GASing for an Explorer type shape, and I love Ibanez, I may have to look into this. I just wish there were different color options, I've never been a flat black or burst kinda guy.

The black is practically a mirror finish so you are in luck. There is nothing flat about it. It is like shiny black judgement for your soul!!!

 

[MojoMonster]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

I played the sunburst at the local GC and was actually gassing for it when I was done, even tho I've never been much of a Destroyer fan.

Glad to hear that it compares well to a vintage MIJ model.

If I pull the trigger, I'll wait and pick one up on markdown or used.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Ibanez Destroyer Reissues - What do we know?

I think he means in the price range. they are pretty solid unless you really go low line.
Lucy, when you played it, how were the frets? the website description says Jumbos but the specs say medium..??

Yes. WHile you can get a decent Ibby for 3-4 hunnard, after 6 or so excellence generally kicks in.