Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

[viva_360]

Hi, i need some decison making helping here i have narrowed it down to 2 guitars ... either the Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S... I will be drop tuning to Drop C or Drop D .... so i think the ibanez RG321 is in the favour but i was thinking of getting the Yamaha RGX420S and putting a block in the floyd rose ... and be able to Tune in drop C or D or in Standard E and be able to do dive bombs ... but will i go out of tune when i have partially blocked the floyd rose (the gap near the neck of the guitar) when i dive bomb on drop d or drop c?

I know both guitars are just ok entry level guitars but better hen nothing ehehe

thanks!

 

[UCSDBoy]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

Hi, i need some decison making helping here i have narrowed it down to 2 guitars ... either the Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S... I will be drop tuning to Drop C or Drop D .... so i think the ibanez RG321 is in the favour but i was thinking of getting the Yamaha RGX420S and putting a block in the floyd rose ... and be able to Tune in drop C or D or in Standard E and be able to do dive bombs ... but will i go out of tune when i have partially blocked the floyd rose (the gap near the neck of the guitar) when i dive bomb on drop d or drop c?

I know both guitars are just ok entry level guitars but better hen nothing ehehe

thanks!

I'd consider going with the RG, as that crappy floyd does amount to some cost to the manufacturer that you're basically having to pay for, or compromise somewhere else on.

On the other hand, your best bet is to play a few of both and take home the one you like. I wanted to buy the RG a little while ago as a beater, but when I picked one up at the store it looked like crap so... probably i got a bad one but hey...

 

[viva_360]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

HI UCSDBoy thats wht i was thinking also about the RG .... i thought it look kool form the pics of the site but when i picked it up on my hands it feel wierd ..... maybe i am use to my jackson .. due to the pointy headstock ...

 

[sac]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

Check out the new LTD M400 also, upgraded to alder this year.

 

[bigheadood]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

I just got a new RG321 2 weeks ago.
Great player, good acoustic tone and probably the lightest guitar I've ever played. I had to swap out the bridge pickup. The stock INF4 was just to thin and weak. So I installed a CC Trembucker. Great metal axe now, but will still do blues when split.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

RG321 owner here.

why i bought the guitar:

*whammyless: easy re-stringing/ tuning stability
*neck not too thin like other RGs
*good construction/ fit/ finish

sounds superb after having Duncans in there:

 

[viva_360]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

RG321 owner here.

why i bought the guitar:

*whammyless: easy re-stringing/ tuning stability
*neck not too thin like other RGs
*good construction/ fit/ finish

sounds superb after having Duncans in there:

Hi bloodswords! Your RG321 kicks ass ... i think i might go with it ... but where is yours made from? I saw one today and it was made in Indonisia ..... I THOUGHT Korea .....

But hey what duncan pickups do you have??

THanks!

I was thinking of getting the Yamaha then wait till the Tremel-no to come out ... this device to lock the floyd rose as a hard tail or to dive mode only or just floyd rose .. ehehe but i not sure how that device would fair considering ... i would have to adjust the whole guitar if i want to tune from Standard Eb to Standad D ...

 

[FretFire]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

I used to have an RG321, and though I couldn't come to terms with the Wizard II neck and eventually sold it, it was a pretty solid guitar for the money. Guitars with trems in that price range are usually a nightmare, so I would tend to avoid them if possible.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

Wow, this pic is a blast from the past lol.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

Hi bloodswords! Your RG321 kicks ass ... i think i might go with it ... but where is yours made from? I saw one today and it was made in Indonisia ..... I THOUGHT Korea .....

But hey what duncan pickups do you have??

THanks!

I was thinking of getting the Yamaha then wait till the Tremel-no to come out ... this device to lock the floyd rose as a hard tail or to dive mode only or just floyd rose .. ehehe but i not sure how that device would fair considering ... i would have to adjust the whole guitar if i want to tune from Standard Eb to Standad D ...

hi my friend- my 321 is korean. WEF 2006, ibanez has designated the 321 to the indonesian factory.

i have Duncan Custom (b)/ Distortion in there.

ibanez currently has the ZR vibrato bridge (S series guitars) which has a tremsetter device as default, which means you can enjoy the floating mechanism without worrying about the unit 'caving-in' if you snap a string. very pleasant re-stringing experience for sure.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

I used to have an RG321, and though I couldn't come to terms with the Wizard II neck and eventually sold it...

on the contrary, i bought the 321 because of the Wizard II neck...

 

[FretFire]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

on the contrary, i bought the 321 because of the Wizard II neck...

Different strokes, I prefer a bit more meat to my necks, and the flat spot on the back of the WII (it's a D-shape, not so much a standard C) made my long, lanky hands cramp up when chording. However, many people swear by the WII, so it's not bad by any means. However I think the WII is actually thinner than the regular Wizard neck, though I could be remembering the specs incorrectly.

EDIT: Nope, I was mistaken, the WII is 2mm thicker than the Wizard.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

the wizard II is thicker than the Wizard.

neck profile is indeed a personal preference. personally, i kinda play better on certain days with a certain neck profile, the reason i choose to own several guitars, not just ibanez: fender/ gibson/ music man/ PRS/ BC Rich... o

coming soon: CORT Katana

 

[viva_360]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

hi bloodsword i tested the RG321 today and i must say it is pretty good for the price .... i was expecting er ... ok ok so so .. but it was pretty good feel when i picked it up and started jamming on the guitar ... but the pickups .. at least the bridge needs to be replaced alright ... but otherwise ... i can see why you chose it .. The neck is pretty comfie ... not ot thin not to thick ... maybe because i got use to my Jackson ...

But otherwise i might pick it up

But Er does any one know how is the Ibanex S540X? how does that fair?

I forgot to pick that up today to test drive ... was in a rush ...

damn ..
I heard you can do drop tuning on that floyd rose due to it's system ..
like you break a string it is still in tune ...

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

hi bro- would that be the S520EX (pic) instead? i can't find any 540EX, i own a 540 but it's an 'S540LTD' to be precise...

 

[viva_360]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

Hi Bloodswords i also wanted to ask how is the duncan custom? Is it great for thrash metal? Is it any where near a EMg 81? or comparable? How is the tone of the pickup? I am thinking of getting the custom or jb or distortion but not sure which ....

I will be needing a pickup for doing thoses machine gun palm mutes ... and palm mute clarity is needed ....

Think slayer+ some hardcore ... maybe something like the new Sworn Enemy Album or Stampin Ground type music ....

but leads and solos are a must!

Yup it is that one alright .... how is it? I forgot to pick that up today to test drive ... was in a rush ...

damn ..
I heard you can do drop tuning on that floyd rose due to it's system ..
like you break a string it is still in tune ...

well thanks!

by the way you got any clips of the custom?

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

the Custom, or any other passive units, are in a different league to the active EMGs. if you need a compareable active Duncan, the Live Wires are the way to go.

as for the Custom per se, it responds well to high gain/ drive settings & has more low-end than the JB/ Distortion model. i chose the Custom for my RG321 because the guitar is lightweight, it needs a bottom end boost which the Custom does + i need to get a responsive pickup (drive-wise) for black metal. the Custom managed to address these concerns.

yes the ZR floating vibrato in the S-series stay put when you snap a string. it has an in-built tremsetter.

 

[viva_360]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

Hi bloodwords thanks for the reply but i thought the 321is made of Mahogany which is the best ype of wood for a guitar ... as it has a good amount of bass.... well in my terms of knowledge ....

What other pickups have you used? how is the Jb or distortion in the 321 would sound?

Thanks!!

By the way what kind of black metal sounds are you trying to get?

the Custom, or any other passive units, are in a different league to the active EMGs. if you need a compareable active Duncan, the Live Wires are the way to go.

as for the Custom per se, it responds well to high gain/ drive settings & has more low-end than the JB/ Distortion model. i chose the Custom for my RG321 because the guitar is lightweight, it needs a bottom end boost which the Custom does + i need to get a responsive pickup (drive-wise) for black metal. the Custom managed to address these concerns.

yes the ZR floating vibrato in the S-series stay put when you snap a string. it has an in-built tremsetter.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Ibanez RG321 or Yamaha RGX420S?

Hi bloodwords thanks for the reply but i thought the 321is made of Mahogany which is the best ype of wood for a guitar ... as it has a good amount of bass.... well in my terms of knowledge ....

The 321 with the natural finish (like the pics I posted) is made of mahogany. The one with a solid finish might be basswood.