Malkav
For those who don't know Ibanez are doing an amazing range of awesome new guitars this year, featuring better parts and design concepts than before ?
First off there's all the new additions to the RGA series which has now gone from being fixed bridge to arched top so you can now get edge equipped RG's that aren't flat ? yay. also there's a fixed bridge seven string available in that range now as well, using the much beloved giant sounding gibraltar bridge ?. these guitars seem to all have Ibanez's own designed active pickups and I don't know what those are like so no comments there though they look interesting ?
Ibanez have also brought back the RG550 neck dimensions which were originally too thin to remain stable but are now reinforced with dual titanium truss rods ? so no more problems there. they also have a new neck called the ultra HP - seems to resemble a wide D apparently it's 18mm at the first and 20mm at the 12th ?
There's a new range called the RGD series which are RGs with longer scale lengths for drop tuning (27") and deeper lower cutaways for high stretching, looks quite a bit sharper than a normal RG but still sexy as hell ? for those shredders who are into their D standard tuning ? though the pickups are custom V series and if they're anything like the old V's you'll wanna take em out straight away ?
The high end prestiges are now all featuring the new neck with the titanium and dimarzio pickups again ? yay! though something still needs to be done about these bridges of theirs. speaking of which on the vai and satch signatures you can now get the original edge pro and unfortunately only the herman li signature has the Lo-Pro edge, though I may be wrong about that and honestly I hope I am.
Andy Timmons also has a new signature model which is more strat like than ever before so finally us Ibanez players can stick with our brand and still get that awful plonk in recording that only a strat can get ? way to go andy ?
PLUS and this one's my favourite ? there are now 2 RETAIL available 8-strings !!!!!!!! they're edge fixed bridges which makes me bleak cause I would love to have a functioning trem like the Meshuggah guys 8-strings and I don't like EMGs but it makes sense from a balance in volume across the whole range kinda perspective. But most importantly it's got 8 strings F*** YEAH!!!!
Tosin Abasi of instrumental progressive metal band Animals As Leaders talking 8-strings ?
ZarK
Good info.
Note: Herman Li plays Edge Zero. Not Lo Pro Edge... (A few years ago he did play LPE, however...) Also, the Edge Pro has been discontinued and replaced by the Edge Zero. Jems and JS's have been retrofitted with the original Edge trem...
MoJo-JoJoe
Cool doing the "report" Chad. Just want to point out that EDGE and Edge Pro are NOT the same trem. And it's EDGE that's back in the Jem and JS models. There's now a 24-fret JS model and all S models are now 24 frets. Good on Ibanez for responding to market demand! All those old RG's now have access to replacement bridge parts ... YAY~~
arjunmenon
Yeah, nicely done Chad.
Thank god Ibanez finally decided to change the S models to 24 fret jobs.
Wouldn't mind getting my hands on the RG1527M or the RGA 7 string.
Malkav
@zark - sorry my bad on the Herman Li thing, saw a picture of his new cheaper signature model and didn't realise it was an Edge III not a Lo-Pro ?
What's also really cool is that you can now get 24 fret S series 7-strings ? talk about covering all the bases ?
Oh yeah forgot about the Satriani 24 fret, also you can now get a slightly cheaper but still japanese made version of the Jem and Satriani has 2 signature acoustic guitars available ? Paul Gilbert's signature is a reisssue of an old paint job with Dimarzio Air Classic pickups instead of PAF Pro's and the original tilted neck joint instead of the sculpted heel, the body is ash and the headstock is also non-reverse.
That Xiphos thing is also now available in a 27-fret model but I sadly can't hold the puke back for long enough to check it's other specs.
My apologies on the bridge thing, Ibanez should seriously get a little more diverse with their part names. :-[
Most importantly again though RETAIL AVAILABLE 8-STRING!!!!!! ?
ZarK
Just to ad to your info: The fact that the S-series has gone 24 frets is great for most. Only down side is that the neck pup had to move towards the bridge and away from the 24th fret double octave sweet spot it had when in 22 fret guise... This will change the tone and harmonic response of the new Sabers.... Some might still prefer the 22's for this reason. This is also the reason why the new JS2400 has a blade type humbucker in the neck position instead of a regular humbucker. To stay as close to the two octave sweet spot as possible...
Kind Regards.
NorioDS
Nice video by Joe on the JS2400... (links to Ibanez website)
BMU
I really want to see the RGD2027 (is that the model number? The Prestige 7-string) in person. It's pretty sweet having access to a 26.5" 7-string like my Schecter Loom but with a much higher build quality, AND a new body shape to change up the usual RG boredeom. The only problem is the new body shape doesn't really grab me that much, and dealing with a trem is just a major turnoff for me.
Oh and it only comes in black I think? Bummer. Big bummer. The new Jackson SLAT3-7 might just win the day since it comes in natural finish and a few other really nice finish options.
[deleted]
Norio wrote
Nice video by Joe on the JS2400... (links to Ibanez website)
Ooof, that's nice tone.
NorioDS
Stratisfear wrote
Norio wrote
Nice video by Joe on the JS2400... (links to Ibanez website)
Ooof, that's nice tone.
I know what you mean! I want one now so bad. I'm used to 24-fretters and I LOVE the white-JSes, so this is probably 'it' for me. The JS guitar made just for me ? (Oh, and Joe)
8)
Explorerlover
I'd still love one of those DN500's in black. The PP1 pups really work for me.
Malkav
@ BMU - it's invisible shadow, not black, it's a stealthy looking mat finish. Just remember no matter how pretty the Jackson looks it wont play as well as the RGD cause the RGD has the HP neck with dual titanium reinforcement so it'll sound better, feel better and to be honest be an Ibanez which from a coolness perspective makes it better anyway ? To be honest I really like the shape cause it reminds me of an Ernie Ball but sexier (Ernie Ball's only shortcoming is that their guitars simply don't have the looks ☹ IMO) and remember that the ZR tremelo is a best of both scenario because of the stop bar, which allows you to stop it from being a full floating system, it's also lighter in weight which will improve sustain and to my knowledge it comes with an intonation setting device (which is just a thing that stops the saddles from moving but damn it helps). These are all things to keep in mind cause from a versatility point of view I rate the Ibanez will always come out on top, plus the necks are way nicer for 7-strings ?.
@explorerlover - the DN500 as in the Darkstone? Wow...I didn't think anyone would ever like those things ???
AlanRatcliffe
I like rails at the neck position of a 24 fretter. The 24 fret "sweet spot" is a myth anyway - the harmonic node points change depending on the note you are playing.
BMU
Chad Adam Browne wrote
@ BMU - it's invisible shadow
LOL ok ok. To a 1st-order approximation it's black. ? As opposed to natural which is what I'd like.
Malkav
@BMU - ROFL dude, I just had to point out the invisible shadow cause it is black...I just love the sexy sleek hype names they give things ? but still to be honest the RGD is most likely a better guitar. ?
For the Curious, this guy is Jesse Ketive and he's from a band called Emmure I think. I haven't actually watched this video yet but maybe there'll be something in there of interest as it is Ibanez' official video.
Explorerlover
Chad Adam Browne wrote
@explorerlover - the DN500 as in the Darkstone? Wow...I didn't think anyone would ever like those things ???
I know, but GAS makes you lose all common sense
BMU
Regarding the new RGD models - anyone spotted one in SA yet? Especially the Prestige 7-string. Impressions/price? Or if not, any idea of planned arrival date & price?
Malkav
I got on the phone with the agents and they tell me that the RGD320 is R4 999 however it'll still be a month or two before they get any stock or prices for the prestige models. The RG2228 is R24 995 in case anyone other than me cares ?
BMU
Chad Adam Browne wrote
I got on the phone with the agents and they tell me that the RGD320 is R4 999 however it'll still be a month or two before they get any stock or prices for the prestige models. The RG2228 is R24 995 in case anyone other than me cares ?
Thanks! RG2228: I care. R24k? Insane. Even the list price of $2666 plus VAT comes out slightly less than that. And no-one pays list price, c'mon. Or is that the price before the ubiquitous 20% "cash" discount?? Hope so.
Malkav
The R24k is the full retail price that the agent quoted me, realistically you could definitly call up to 25% off for cash but I'd push for more discount than that cause the RG2228 can't possibly be generating much interest so if you offered to take it off their hands it'd probably save them from leaving on the floor for the next 5 years ? also Ibanez make an RG8 which is an arched top version of the 8-string however the pickups are Ibanez designed and the neck isn't prestige, don't know how much it goes for but I wouldn't want an 8 string without a prestige neck - that could get scary ☹
