My new Ibanez

[quiksilver]

Re: My new Ibanez

I just answered one of my own questions, at Jemsite, where it says you can swap in an OFR for a Lo-TRS II with no modifications.

[1trussell]

Re: My new Ibanez

Anything over 5xx designates the Prestige line (with the new system an RG550 would actually be an RG1550). The term Prestige just refers to the Japanese manufacture instead of Korean. Supposedly it means that more attention was paid to the quality and construction of the neck (but this goes without saying by being made in Japan).

The higher you go with the numbers, the more expensive. Not necessarily better, just different options (pickups, piezos, etc.)

[quiksilver]

Re: My new Ibanez

Thanks, Travis!
I'm getting the search narrowed down. I just read an old Ibanez catalog that someone had scanned and placed on-line, and it looks like Ibanez started using the All Access Neck Joint (a necessity for me) in 1994, so now I'm looking for a post-1994 RG 5xx. In fact, I actually just put a bid in on a 1995 RG550 on eBay, but I didn't meet the reserve. This is kinda fun, learning about a different line of guitars.

[gemini8026]

Re: My new Ibanez

quik, I recommend goign with a NEW model with the Edge Pro Tremolo. They can be had for 400-500$

IT's pretty much a full floating double locking trem that feels like a VINTAGE trem in terms of the profile. No fine tuners in the way, very little bending out of pitch. It's great.

The lo-pro is also a great trem. Look into it!

[1trussell]

Re: My new Ibanez

gemini, I just realized I forgot to congratulate you on your new acquisition. Here's to ya. [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[pro-fusion]

Re: My new Ibanez

[ QUOTE ]
I know very little about Ibanez. I gather that the higher the number, the higher end the guitar (like most other products, e.g. BMW has 3 series, 5 series, 7 series, then models within them, such as 325, 330, 540, etc., and you move up to the higher end models as the model number increases).

[/ QUOTE ]

You basically have it right. On the pre-'03 guitars, any guitar with a model number below 400 is Korean, any with a number 400 or higher is Japanese. The 400 series are Japanese, but have the LO-TRS II trem. If you don't know which model number one of these guitars is, the easiest way to tell the difference is that the Japanese guitars have a raised shiny silver logo on the headstock (from the mid-'90s on--basically started at the same time as the all-access neck joint)

The 500 series are the 'heart' of the Japanese RG line--mainly the 550 and 570. Only a few 600 series guitars were sold in the USA, principally the RG620x (which I have) and the RG7620 7-string (which I also have--note Ibanez's pre-'03 convention of throwing a 7 in front of the name to denote the 7 string.) In the early '90s, Ibanez also had a 700 series of RGs, which featured sharkfin inlays and the Lo-Pro Edge trem from the JEM guitars, as opposed to the regular Edge trem on the 500 and 600 series. All of the 700s were made before the all-access neck joint, and some are really cool, with maple fretboards and inlays that match the body color.

Prior to 2003, the Prestige line was a series of high-end guitars with four-digit model numbers (such as the RG-3120) that were built to the same quality standards as the various signature guitars, with Lo-Pro Edge trems and DiMarzio pickups. Nice guitars, and they don't go very cheap on eBay. Starting in 2003, every Japanese-made Ibanez (other than signature models) became a "Prestige." Supposedly this is an upgrade--more likely, I suspect, is that this is purely a marketing move and that the lower-end Prestige guitars are the same as the old 'regular' guitars, but with the Prestige neck profile. The replacements for the old 500 and 600 guitars are the new 1500 and 1600 series. The 2500 guitars are a step up, and the 3000 guitars are still the tops. By the way, the Japanese market gets a whole bunch of models that we don't anymore, including high-end "J-Custom" guitars like the RG-8527.

The big news I saw on Jemsite recently is that Ibanez is going to shift production of all of its non-signature lines to Korea starting next year. I'm curious to see what effect that will have.

[1trussell]

Re: My new Ibanez

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

The big news I saw on Jemsite recently is that Ibanez is going to shift production of all of its non-signature lines to Korea starting next year. I'm curious to see what effect that will have.

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That's crap. Even the high end Japanese non-signature stuff is going to Korea? Crap, I say. Crap!

[gemini8026]

Re: My new Ibanez

Thanks.


The more im playing it, the more I like it.

Right now I dont have the action maxxed out too low, but seeing as how it IS fairly low with no buzzing, im thinkign I'll be able to get it REALLY low with a few tweeks.

When im changing the trem height, is it WRONG to have it stringed up? Will I damage any screws or anything by lowering the bridge a little?

This guitar resonates like nothing else, it really has a solid feel to it and the pickups although a tad bassy) give some great sounds. The the 5 way switch, Piezo, I feel I have lots of options!

Anyhow, Can anyone answer my Question, is it wrong to change bridge height while the guitar is strung and tuned??

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: My new Ibanez

I've lowered and raised the action by raising and lowering double-locking trems... it's fine to do with the strings tuned to pitch. You may have to retune and reintonate though.

Seems like a cool guitar you've got there. The only Ibanez I have ever played was strangely enough the ONLY Ibanez I've owned and that was the electric guitar I've had the longest and learned the most about guitar setups from by messing around with. I only recently sold it as I had found out I just could not dedicate enough time to all five of my guitars and could not justify to myself owning them all and not playing them at least occasionally. My RG560 had the original Edge trem and it stayed in tune like nobody's business... definitely up there with the Original Floyd Rose and very similar in feel, quality, and looks, in my opinion.

[No Use]

Re: My new Ibanez

would RG 560's be recommended? i was thinking about the one scott @ V wall had...looks real nice, but i hope it doesn;t have those neck pocket cracks...

[gemini8026]

Re: My new Ibanez

For what it's worth, you may as well pick up something newer with the All Access NEck Joint.

It's really handy. You can pick up decent RG 570's and such that are a few years old for 200-300$ in mint shape.

[No Use]

Re: My new Ibanez

i hear you man. but that red 560 sure looks good gemini, real good. plus, i'm so used to having that big block of a heel my Strat's got, that i love it. i played a bud's soloist, and the heel-less was weird to me. plus, i've been a bit weary on how those ferrules and the neck screws hold up.
by the way, congrats on your score, brother! sorry if i kinda got your topic off!

[pro-fusion]

Re: My new Ibanez

The old-school RGs like that 560 are pretty nice, even with the bigger neck heel--the necks are VERY thin, though. Some folks have claimed that Ibanez had a little bit better quality control back then, but I don't have any firsthand info on that.