The lure of the dark side is strong...

[Inazone]

I saw this guitar when I stopped by a couple weeks ago, and now it haunts my dreams! I've never given an Ibanez guitar a second thought before this.

[Newc]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

I can do that on a Jackson - Krylon and slightly diluted Mineral Spirits. You can avoid going Ibenhad, there are alternatives! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

Resist, young one, you must.

[skorb]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

the only Ibanez electric I ever liked was the blue RG Dave Navarro used in the early 90's. and it had dots, which for me is the way to go.

ok, backpedal a bit, the new Artcore series really look and sound promising. I gotta get me one of those and upgrade it, that would round out my collection nicely.

[GWARGHOUL]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

yeah, we at NewcNGhoul guitars (Newc and Ghoul guitar works, LTD)...can definitley do that to you Jackson/Charvel.

Newc is the finish guru.

We really enjoy doing finishes like that on Strathead Charvels, and San Dimas era Jackson. That original finish peels right down.

[Charlz]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

It haunts your dreams 'cuz it's ugly! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Charlz]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

[ QUOTE ]
It haunts your dreams 'cuz it's ugly! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

(The guitar, not the finish...) [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[Inazone]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

If they weren't asking $700, I would probably own it by now. It's not so much the finish style as it is the color scheme and the inlays. Not sure what they're made out of, but it's like dark gray mirror material with green edges. And neck binding. And the general weirdness of it.

[AfterForever]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

don't do it! Ibanez gets your interest by a strange or cool looking axe.. then you buy it and never play it because the neck is too thin. That's what happened to me haha [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[quiksilver]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

Or you buy it and the neck feels so great that you sell everything else. That's what happened to me (now up to 4 Ibanezes). [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

That's gorgeous. The smoked mirror inlays go really well with that finish. If it looks as good in person as it does in the photo, I say go for it.

[shredmonster]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

The plus side of Ibanez is that the necks are super thin and they have great upper fret access because of the AANJ. And they are nice looking guitars.

Now the bad stuff. Basswood - muddy sounding and not articulate at all. Thin necks and lack of mass at neck joint are a combination that reduces sustain and gives a thin week tone unless you use a lot of effects. Parts are cheap and tremelos suck.

Because of the cheap springs used in the tremelos vibrato is counteracted because the tremelos bend back when you bend the strings. So you can vibrato like crazy and not get a good sounding vibrato because of the tremelo giving way.

If you have big hands the necks have a tendancy to tire your hands out because you have nothing to anchor with when doing vibrato technique.

If you decide to go for it bring in a Jackson and play them side by side clean and then distorted. Notice the difference in tone and sustain. Try different vibrato techniques and notice the feel of the necks and the difference in overall feel of the guitars.

You can always buy it and resell it later as long as you don't lose much money doing so.

[Inazone]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

They claim it has a mahogany body, but regardless of the specs, I'll have to let it slide. Otherwise I'd have to factor in the cost of a space heater, as my wife would probably make me sleep in the garage to think about what I'd done.

No, there's no sleeping space in the living room, with all the guitars and amps there... [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[quiksilver]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

[ QUOTE ]
The plus side of Ibanez is that the necks are super thin and they have great upper fret access because of the AANJ. And they are nice looking guitars.

Now the bad stuff. Basswood - muddy sounding and not articulate at all. Thin necks and lack of mass at neck joint are a combination that reduces sustain and gives a thin week tone unless you use a lot of effects. Parts are cheap and tremelos suck.

Because of the cheap springs used in the tremelos vibrato is counteracted because the tremelos bend back when you bend the strings. So you can vibrato like crazy and not get a good sounding vibrato because of the tremelo giving way.

If you have big hands the necks have a tendancy to tire your hands out because you have nothing to anchor with when doing vibrato technique.

If you decide to go for it bring in a Jackson and play them side by side clean and then distorted. Notice the difference in tone and sustain. Try different vibrato techniques and notice the feel of the necks and the difference in overall feel of the guitars.

You can always buy it and resell it later as long as you don't lose much money doing so.

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree with most of that.

Necks: Ibanez necks aren't always super thin. My Ibanez RG2120KKB's neck is thicker than any Jackson or Charvel I've owned.

Bodies: Ibanez bodies are not all Basswood. In fact, the ad for this swirl says it's Mahogany. Of my 4 Ibanezes, 1 is Alder, 2 are Mahogany, and 1 is Basswood (and the Basswood model does not sound muddy or lack articulation, compared to my other guitars). Also, other companies use Basswood, too. Heck, that's what the EVH Signature Charvels are made of.

Neck joint: The AANJ does not reduce sustain. My JEM 7VWH w/AANJ has probably the best sustain of any guitar I've ever owned (which includes bolt-ons with full block heels, neck-throughs and set necks). All of my Ibanezes have the AANJ, and none exhibit weaker sustain or tone than my non-AANJ guitars.

Parts: Ibanez typically uses DiMarzio, Gotoh or Ibanez-branded parts, and they are as good as anything else IMO (including the Seymour Duncan, Schaller and Jackson-branded parts that Jackson uses) - EXCEPT that the Cosmo finish lacks durability (so does the Gold, but no moreso than any other brand).

Trems: All vibrato springs react to string bending; the brand is immaterial, and it's not because of cheap springs - it's the nature of the design, with springs balanced against string tension. This effect can be counteracted with setup, technique and/or devices like the TremSetter, ESP Arming Adjuster and Ibanez BackStop.

Both are great brands, IMO. My Jackson finishes seem more chip-resistant, and I like Jackson's USA Custom Shop heritage, and its use of Ebony, MOP, metal backplates, etc. OTOH, Ibanez offers features like the AANJ, Double Edge (piezo-equipped locking trem), direct-mounted pickups, vine inlays, partial fret scallops, swirl finishes, unique routing (monkey grip, lion's claw, etc.), and super cases (J-Craft).

[jgcable]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

Don't do it bro. Ibanez are junk guitars. They play like crap, most of their high level endorsers are hacks (Vai, Satriani, Paul Gilbert etc..) and I heard they are in financial trouble. Oh yea.. another thing.. their trems suck and everybody knows that the UV1000 case is garbage.
Have you EVER heard anybody say ANYTHING good about Jems, Universe and Prestige models? Well... have you?
What about those old garbage Ibanez Artist models? Junk I say!!
They also have US Customs and USRG models that are really crappy. Steve Vai hates his guitars.
IBANEZ IS NOT THE DARK SIDE. I'll put my Sabers and RBM1 against ANY guitar on the planet for playability. IMHO... there is no trem better than the Low Pro.
That guitar is work every friggin penny of $700.00

[RR05xx]

Re: The lure of the dark side is strong...

[ QUOTE ]

We really enjoy doing finishes like that on Strathead Charvels, and San Dimas era Jackson. That original finish peels right down.

[/ QUOTE ]

Step away from the s-head and no one gets hurt [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Ibenhad unfinshed Jem necks were cool from my memory, I had a floral Jem briefy in '88-9 time frame or so that was fugly but played well (neck was a little too thin but hey). Was not a good guitar for a death metal band so it had to go. [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

All things being equal, I will take an old s-head hands down. However, with price/availabilty what they are, sometimes you have to go with what you can get.