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I used to be a huge Ibanez fan. Obtained an '87 RG560 in '88, and still have it. I've also owned RG550s (2 desert yellows!) a 540P (like Alex Skolnick had, w/bensalem neck plate, no SN), a 565DX, another RG550 in black, a 540 (sabre), and a few others.
...this one is the nicest. I'm going to compare it to my RG560 that I kept, all my other Ibani were sold or traded off long ago.
520QS features I preferred:
Mahogany body. Guitar just plain sounds better to me than the basswood 560. I like the top too, even it it's sapele, it looks like quilted maple. Very classy.
Neck w/reinforcement strip. Neck seems much more rigid and stiff. I could/can bend the neck on the 560 while I play it - this neck won't do that as easily. I also think the neck is a tiny bit bigger too, both wider and thicker. Sure feels that way. 560 doesn't have the 'truss rod stripe' along the back.
Neck joint on the 520 is the AANJ - it's rounded and much more friendly to get up on the high notes than on the 560's regular 'squared off' heel.
Pickups on the 520 seem to be improved a bit also over the late 80s 560. I still will probably replace them, but the 520 sounds pretty good for stock.
Trems are the same. One thing I forgot about the edge trems is how much range the fine tuners have, and now smooth they are. Both guitars hold tune perfectly no matter how violent you get with the trem.
Fretwork - the same. Jumbos, great setup, super low action.
Things I don't like about the 520 vs the 560?
520 is a few pounds heavier. Damn you mahogany! It's worth it, but the basswood guitars are more comfortable.
uh... damn, that's about it. From all the RG's I've owned, I prefer this 520 over em all. I played a set and a few songs with it, and it was great. Plus the top looked awesome when the spotlight hit it. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
BTW, I also *grimace* prefer this over a lot of the Jacksons I've owned. Flame away...
...this one is the nicest. I'm going to compare it to my RG560 that I kept, all my other Ibani were sold or traded off long ago.
520QS features I preferred:
Mahogany body. Guitar just plain sounds better to me than the basswood 560. I like the top too, even it it's sapele, it looks like quilted maple. Very classy.
Neck w/reinforcement strip. Neck seems much more rigid and stiff. I could/can bend the neck on the 560 while I play it - this neck won't do that as easily. I also think the neck is a tiny bit bigger too, both wider and thicker. Sure feels that way. 560 doesn't have the 'truss rod stripe' along the back.
Neck joint on the 520 is the AANJ - it's rounded and much more friendly to get up on the high notes than on the 560's regular 'squared off' heel.
Pickups on the 520 seem to be improved a bit also over the late 80s 560. I still will probably replace them, but the 520 sounds pretty good for stock.
Trems are the same. One thing I forgot about the edge trems is how much range the fine tuners have, and now smooth they are. Both guitars hold tune perfectly no matter how violent you get with the trem.
Fretwork - the same. Jumbos, great setup, super low action.
Things I don't like about the 520 vs the 560?
520 is a few pounds heavier. Damn you mahogany! It's worth it, but the basswood guitars are more comfortable.
uh... damn, that's about it. From all the RG's I've owned, I prefer this 520 over em all. I played a set and a few songs with it, and it was great. Plus the top looked awesome when the spotlight hit it. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
BTW, I also *grimace* prefer this over a lot of the Jacksons I've owned. Flame away...
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