is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

[subatenome]

hey, im trying to buy a rg350exz bk online, and the reason why online is because there are better deals online than in music stores however there's always the risk of getting ripped off, this guy works at a computer store called tekne. I already called him and he claims that the guitar is new and legit, he says that a company partnered with his store and as a gift they gave him the guitar or something like that.
http://imgur.com/FZ6tQOd
http://imgur.com/OOtjerk
http://imgur.com/QDwjX1i
http://imgur.com/XVBYTD7
http://imgur.com/xXq7u9o
http://imgur.com/mrTWsi9
http://imgur.com/Lhriylq
http://imgur.com/fnWqYUG
http://imgur.com/jpwH82E
http://imgur.com/Y4cIh8F
what do you guys think? Im not a guitar expert so I dont know how to tell a real one from a fake.

 

[ginormous]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

Welcome to the forum. I hope we can help you.

There's a risk of getting ripped off, period. The Latin is "caveat emptor", let the buyer beware.
Having said that, the Imgur pics prove it's a nice-looking guitar. It's made in Indonesia, so that lines up.
An Ibby counterfeiter wouldn't bother to fake things like the QC stickers, and the cardboard tag with the production-line stamps, unless it was a high-ticket item.
For example, if a counterfeiter was trying to pass off a fake vintage Fender as real, these details (and more) are things the serious buyer would be able to investigate.

If the seller has the paperwork, even if it says "gift receipt", then there's some proof it didn't 'fall off a truck' .
Obviously, you need to get your hands on it and see/feel for yourself. What's the price?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

Hmm, the plastic covers on the pickups are something I've not seen...but I don't have a clue how those come brand new. Buying online without being able to play it first is not the ideal way to buy something, IMO.

 

[subatenome]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

he's selling it for 350$US, what scares me is the 9th picture, the end of the scratch plate is slightly sticking out where the neck starts, im not sure if thats supposed to be like that i mean just some minor details but then again i dont want to accidentally buy a counterfeit

 

[kramersteen]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

he's selling it for 350$US, what scares me is the 9th picture, the end of the scratch plate is slightly sticking out where the neck starts, im not sure if thats supposed to be like that i mean just some minor details but then again i dont want to accidentally buy a counterfeit

man its not worth worrying about its just warped slightly. Plastic will do that.
No one would fake a ibanez of that value.

 

[dominus]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

Yeah, no one is faking the Edge Zero II tremolo. That's real.

 

[Demanic]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

Nice guitar. US$350 is what I remember seeing them go for new BTW.

 

[greekdude]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

The trem looks like "genuine" edge zero ii , which it self is the chinese ripoff of the japanese edge zero . I mean no one would bother faking a chinese trem. (good trem btw no matter what)

 

[subatenome]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

so, what do you guys think? is it a good guitar? is it worth the 350 dollars?

 

[Demanic]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

Well, I would negotiate a bit.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[kramersteen]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

yeah 200-250 max

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

Looks genuine. This is precisely why I would refrain from purchasing it.

Factor in the additional cost of upgrading the less-than-wonderful parts, you might as well buy a pre-owned example from higher up the RG range.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

yea the price is about the going rate new

since is still has stickers and appears unplayed

it may dip only slightly
but $200-250 in good shape
$250-300 in mint

looks mint

 

[bloodswords]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

The date stamped on the QC card lines up with the instrument's serial number. :headbang:

But I wouldn't pay that much- it's almost paying for something new off the shelf.

 

[subatenome]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

so where have you guys seen this guitar on sale for 350 or less? this guy and I arranged a little meeting, I went to his store. He pulled out an Ibanez box out of his office, inside was laying, you guessed right! the RG! it was wrapped up inside that foam wrapping paper thingy. After unwrapping the guitar I noticed the QC card hanging from the headstock, the guitar feels great if I may say so myself, I would say the guitar is brand new. Inside the box there was the whammy bar with the amp cable both inside a plastic bag. The manual was also there and inside the manual was a gift certificate from a music store I cant remember for some reason :S, I didn't find anything related to the guitar's warranty. Anyways it seems to me like its safe to buy however wanted to double check if the price is fair, I can tell it's brand new, apparently he has pulled the guitar out of the box about three times, one to take those pictures I posted and the other two to show it to some other guys who were interested in buying it before me, what do u guys think?

 

[greekdude]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

Play it/test it and watch for :
- any annoyingly sharp fret edges
- severe buzz on some fret
- check for neck alignment (google it)
- check for neck stability, dive the trem arm all way down and then crank it all the way up and check for potential neck movement/instability. That's where the Ibanez AANJ design hurts.
- check its sustain. Does it sound good? This is the most important part. You can fix most of the above, but not this one.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

inside the manual was a gift certificate from a music store I cant remember for some reason :S, I didn't find anything related to the guitar's warranty.

I suggest that you pursue this aspect.

Without the warranty paperwork, the guitar could be pre-owned - even if it has never been played. (The classic unwanted birthday gift.) This has consequences for your consumer rights. If the vendor cannot produce the warranty paperwork and the store voucher is not for his emporium, this is your leverage for a discount.

 

[greekdude]

Re: is this ibanez rg350exz bk real or fake?

Personally didn't have any luck ever going the "legal" official route of warranty. Shortest path is to actually fix the problem or sell the item. The trem alone sells for 100 EUR from Indo. Pups (INF)/electronics for another 100, and I'd guess more than 150 EUR for body/neck. Not a bad deal if it is pristine condition.